Edina High School economics teacher Jason Szporn and Countryside Elementary third-grade teacher Jennifer Gross were honored as TIES exemplary teachers in technology during the organization’s annual Education Technology Conference in December at the Minneapolis Hyatt Regency. They were among 82 teachers from 43 districts statewide to receive awards.
According to a press release from Edina Public Schools, Szporn developed a blended AP economics course last year. Incorporating best practices in blended learning, he developed an elegant “no-scroll” course in Moodle that included video lessons that he used to assist his students. Seventy-one percent of Szporn’s students achieved a 4 or higher on the AP macroeconomics exam, a full 28 percent higher than his students from the previous year.
Meanwhile, the students in Gross’ classroom use technology to create, collaborate and share. She uses Google Apps for Education with her students to create websites about content they study. Students use media and video in the classroom to differentiate and personalize learning.
