The right choice for Texas
EasyTech is the foundation for technology enhanced learning—in the classroom, in the tech lab, at home. It provides Texas educators with a rich, web-delivered curriculum that makes it easy to integrate technology and 21st century skills into core instruction—and gives Texas students and teachers the support they need when, and where, they need it.
EasyTech, updated and expanded for 2012-2013, includes TEKS-aligned projects that integrate technology into math, social studies, language arts, science and more. EasyTech’s implementation guides, PD, assessments and Texas proven instructional content help you cover the TA-TEKS while providing students with invaluable skills that improve academic achievement and prepare them for the 21st century.
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Schedule a demo, talk with an expert, see how EasyTech supports Texas students and teachers:
EasyTech: Setting the standard for the 21st century
Benefits:
- Easy implementation—get started right away and use it how you need it
- Prepares students for education, career and life in the 21st century
- Helps increase rigor of core instruction and improve academic achievement
- Covers the new TA-TEKS
- Provides projects for core instruction that enable students to demonstrate technology and 21st century learning skills
- Supports teachers with practical PD (NETS-T)
- Satisfies E-Rate requirements and provides documentation for funding
- Self-paced, guided practice with immediate feedback support independent learning
- Can be used in classrooms, tech labs, at home and in blended models
- Personalized interface enhances sense of ownership of digital learning experience
- Continuously updated
- Proven in Texas
Features:
- Complete Tech Apps curriculum aligned to TA-TEKS
- Lessons from mouse basics to basic HTML
- Units for new TA-TEKS including Creativity and Innovation, Research and Information Fluency, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, Communication and Collaboration, Decision Making and Digital Citizenship
- Prescriptive keyboarding
- Online safety instruction and reporting for E-Rate compliance
- Pacing and implementation guides and models
- Grade appropriate integration projects for math, social studies, science, language arts and cross-curricular studies
- STAAR practice tests
- 5th and 8th grade pre- and post- assessment of technology proficiency
- New student user interface that changes with students as they grow
- Parent resources
- Training and support
EasyTech is adopted and fully funded under the K-8 Technology Applications subject area of the State of Texas Instructional Materials Allotment (IMA).
EasyTech lives up to its name
With EasyTech, teachers can use what they want, how they want. If you need a comprehensive curriculum to cover the TA-TEKS and certify TEKS compliance, ET offers that. If you need to improve your students' keyboarding skills, bring students up to speed on MS Office, teach data management or even basic HTML, we support that too.
We provide support for the ELA teacher who needs to help students with research guidance that includes online safety and for the social studies teacher whose students need to format documents and provide proper citations.
In the classroom, in the lab and in between
Because it is self-paced and interactive, EasyTech is ideal for use in multiple settings. Use EasyTech in the classroom, in computer labs, in extended day programs, and even at home and strengthen the school to home connection.
Because we know that different districts and even different schools have their own unique approaches to integrating technology instruction, we’ve provided professional development tools and guidance for core curriculum teachers, tech apps teachers, and for those working with a blended model.
However you use EasyTech, we’ve bundled and embedded PD, pacing calendars, new units and project plans so that any educator can use it in any teaching environment and be more successful.
EasyTech: enhancing rigor of core curriculum
Schools and districts throughout Texas are taking advantage of EasyTech to enhance the rigor of core instruction. In EasyTech, students immediately and authentically apply technology skills within language arts, math, science, and social studies lessons. EasyTech provides Texas students an opportunity to strengthen core competencies while developing higher order thinking skills that have lifelong benefits.
Studies have shown that, beyond meeting state mandates for tech literacy instruction, there are additional benefits that accrue for students who use EasyTech to master 21st Century skills and apply those skills in the classroom:
- New opportunities arise for students to express their creativity, problem solving, communication skills and critical thinking
- Engagement and motivation increases across schoolwork
- Academic success follows
In these studies, reading and math scores have been observed to improve by up to 13 and 14% in schools where EasyTech has been used. Review the study >
Texas Tested
Nearly 24 million content items – that’s lessons, games, quizzes, journals, activities and more – were launched on Learning.com in Texas over the last two years. Our platform and web-delivered curricula were used by 86,970 teachers last year in Texas alone. We’ve been supporting the TA-TEKS with the number one tech apps solution in Texas for nine years.
Through it all our record of reliability, ease-of-use, and educator satisfaction has been extraordinary. How do we know? We ask.
Texas approved
Texas-based educators' user satisfaction and referral ratings of Learning.com and our offerings are exceptionally favorable.
Our NPS® scores are comparable to ratings for Google and Adobe and higher than industry averages for technology hardware, software or internet search and information services.
In the category of "Texas Educators highly likely to recommend" category, Learning.com scored 10 points higher than industry averages for online search and 21 points higher than industry averages for consumer software.
Our satisfaction ratings for customer service and professional development are also consistently impressive. Learning.com’s face-to-face professional development satisfaction rating is currently 96%. Our online PD satisfaction rating isn’t much lower at 95%.
We're thrilled with these results. We will use this data, the associated feedback, and consumer insights to continue to improve our products and services to serve you and the students of Texas even better.
Information from the Learning.com annual customer satisfaction survey completed June, 2011. The survey collects relevant data then calculates a Net Promoter Score® (NPS) to enable comparisons of Learning.com’s satisfaction rating to industry averages and to companies such as Google, Yahoo, Adobe, Apple and Verizon.
Customer Service and Professional Development satisfaction ratings are scored through ongoing anonymous surveys of existing customers.
EasyTech foundations
Our new K-5 offering goes beyond tech app instruction to help Texas teachers use integrated educational technology to build foundational skills across subject areas.
We’ve included more math and science projects. We’ve provided guidance for classroom integration into Language Arts and Social Studies. We’ve included STAAR practice tests, 5th grade pre- and post- assessments of technology proficiency, and more.
EasyTech K-5 includes:
- Fully scoped and sequenced EasyTech K-8 curriculum aligned to current and refreshed TA-TEKS (available in English and Spanish)
- Aha!Math for Teks for grades K-5, a supplemental math curriculum aligned to math TEKS
- Aha!Science for grades 3-5, a supplemental science curriculum aligned to science TEKS
- STAAR practice tests with prescriptive reporting to a variety of standards-aligned resources
- 5th grade pre and post assessment of TA-TEKS
- Pacing calendars for several common models of implementation for tech apps teachers, classroom teachers, and a blended approach
- Professional development resources including assessment and curriculum for NETS-T
- Grade appropriate TEKS-aligned projects that demonstrate technology integration into math, social studies, science, language arts and cross-curricular studies including STEM
- Implementation guidance, training and support
Tech apps are just the beginning
EasyTech for 6-8 helps Texas teachers use integrated technology instruction to build skills for academic success across subject areas.
We’ve built in rigor that Texas educators demand. We’ve included more math and science projects. We’ve provided guidance for classroom integration into Language Arts and Social Studies. We’ve included STAAR practice tests, 8th grade post- assessments of technology proficiency, and more.
EasyTech 6-8 includes:
- Fully scoped and sequenced EasyTech K-8 curriculum aligned to current and refreshed TA-TEKS
- STAAR practice tests with prescriptive reporting to a variety of standards-aligned resources
- Grade appropriate TEKS-aligned projects that demonstrate technology integration into math, social studies, science, language arts and cross-curricular studies
- STAAR practice tests with prescriptive reporting to a variety of standards-aligned resources
- 8th grade pre and post assessment of refreshed TA-TEKS
- A new student interface that enables students to customize their digital experience
- Pacing calendars for several common models of implementation for classroom teachers, tech lab teachers and for blended use
- Professional development resources including assessment and curriculum for NETS-T
- Implementation guidance, training and support
Integration Projects
One of the most exciting developments in the new EasyTech is the introduction of integration projects. What are they? They are grade appropriate, TEKS-aligned projects that demonstrate best practices for integrating technology into core instruction for math, social studies, science, language arts and cross-curricular studies.
In each of these subject areas, we’ve created projects for grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. Each project introduces core curriculum learning objectives. Each learning objective is explained and explored with a variety of supporting digital resources. Project resources may include lessons, games, discussions and activities.
Each project includes a culminating Journal Project that pulls everything together and gives the student an opportunity to demonstrate mastery of core objectives and 21st century skills.
A Texas-sized update
We continuously update EasyTech. It’s a point of pride. We stay on top of technology so you don’t have to. We also continuously improve by listening to educators, by listening to you. It’s in our DNA. EasyTech is the Texas-proven number one choice for tech apps for a reason. Why change? What’s different?
Texas has spoken
You need better integration. More flexibility. More grade appropriate content and design. Better support for teachers and administrators. You need to address all of the new TEKS and get students ready for the new STAAR assessments. You need to prepare students better to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
EasyTech 2012 is here to help.
Tech apps for Texas
More than ever students need tech and 21st century skills. That’s why Texas mandates tech apps instruction, provides funding through the State of Texas Instructional Materials Allotment (IMA) and requires districts to certify that they are addressing these needs. It’s also why Texas adopted EasyTech.
No one else offers a solution that is so easy for teachers and students to use, that is aligned to the new TA-TEKS, that is proven effective with Texas students, that is easy to integrate with core instruction and that provides comprehensive assessment and prescription and built in PD to support educators.
Global Competition in a changing world
Texas students compete with the world—in a landscape where creativity, innovation, problem solving, communication and collaboration and technology literacy are critical.
The new TA-TEKS address this challenge head on by identifying the requirements students need to compete in a world that is not only technology-driven but requires higher order thinking and digital literacy. The Tech Apps adoption provides both the funding and, through adopted curricula, the mechanism to prepare students for the world they will live in.
Tech Apps benefits:
- Learn 21st century skills, technology related terms, concepts, and data input strategies
- Practice digital citizenship by behaving responsibly while using technology tools and resources
- Understand how to acquire and evaluate digital content through research and information fluency
- Collaborate and communicate both locally and globally to reinforce and promote learning
- Develop critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making skills by collecting, analyzing, and reporting digital information, and
- Construct knowledge and develop products by using creative thinking and innovative processes
Tech Literacy effect
Technology literacy has benefits that go beyond complying with Texas state mandates. Research has shown that additional benefits accrue for students who master 21st century skills and apply those skills in the classroom:
- New opportunities to express their creativity arise
- Engagement and motivation increase across schoolwork
- Academic success follows
When technology literacy assessment scores improve, reading and math scores have been shown to improve as well. A recent Texas study showed improvements of 13% and 14% in these
core areas.
Read the study (PDF) >
Why EasyTech?
EasyTech is the leading K-8 technology literacy curriculum that integrates technology, 21st century skills, online safety and PD for the new TA-TEKS into core instruction. EasyTech helps students learn the way they live and helps teachers to teach 21st century skills.
Scroll down to view samples of included K-5 curriculum and assessments.
Be sure to review the Integration Projects here and STAAR Practice Tests here.
EasyTech
Each EasyTech curriculum unit includes lessons, activities, practices, discussions and quizzes that teach students to effectively apply technology skills to learn core curriculum objectives.
Units cover topics ranging from mouse basics to basic HTML.
We have provided sample screens to introduce you to EasyTech. For a more complete digital experience, please contact us to schedule
a demo.
Visual Mapping Basics: Grades K-2
The Visual Mapping Basics unit teaches students to organize ideas by using pictures and diagrams.
Web Browsing Basics: Grades 2-5
The Web Browsing Basics unit teaches students how to find information on the Internet and identify ethical issues involved in using information.
EasyTech Activities
The sample activities below are drawn from the K-2 Beginning Graphics unit and from the unit on Web Browsing for grades 3-5.
Aha!Math
Aha!Math provides engaging and motivating supplemental K-5 curriculum that builds students' foundational skills for math success. Fully aligned to the TEKS standards, Aha!Math supports teachers with multiple models of instruction, and the data to make informed decisions.
Aha!Science
Aha!Science provides an engaging, interactive curriculum—aligned to science TEKS—that excites student learning and creates science thinkers for life.
TechLiteracy Assessments
These sample questions have been excluded from the actual technology proficiency assessments, which are longer in length and use multiple items to assess each technology skill module. 5th grade technology proficiency pre- and post-assessment sample:
WayFind
WayFind helps educators home in on areas for professional development around technology skills and knowledge. It then provides targeted professional development curriculum to efficiently address identified areas for skill building.
Professional Learning Opportunities
This 7-item sample test gives you an idea of how WayFind Teacher Assessment uses a psychometrically validated blend of interactive, performance-based questions that allow teachers to authentically perform complex tasks in simulated applications, and knowledge-based, multiple choice questions.
Be confident in the 21st century classroom
A comprehensive NETS-T curriculum for professional development is included with WayFind and EasyTech. This curriculum provides classroom teachers with resources and tools needed to:
- engage 21st century learners
- implement NETS-T standards
- support national and state technology standards
- support technology and 21st century skills that are present in core curriculum standards
- comfortably use technology in the classroom
The items in this curriculum are arranged in units that correspond to the 20 NETS-T performance indicators.
Scroll down to view samples of included 6-8 curriculum and assessments.
Be sure to review the Integration Projects here and STAAR Practice Tests here.
EasyTech
Each EasyTech curriculum unit includes lessons, activities, practices, discussions and quizzes that teach students to effectively apply technology skills to learn core curriculum objectives. Units for this age range provide more in-depth exploration of technology applications including a spiraling internet safety curriculum and topics ranging from technology fundamentals and data management to presentation applications.
We have provided sample screens to introduce you to EasyTech. For a more complete digital experience, please contact us to schedule a demo.
Get in touch >
Computer Fundamentals: Grades 6-8
The Computer Fundamentals unit teaches students about computer components and processes, including ethical issues, technology health issues, computer viruses, and more.
Word Processing Software: Grades 6-8
The Word Processing Software unit teaches students how to use the tools and commands required to create a variety of documents, how to use word processor collaboration tools, as well as an understanding of copyright, fair use, and how and when to cite sources (in either APA and MLA styles).
Web Browsing: Grades 6-8
The Web Browsing unit teaches students how to find information on the Internet, identify ethical issues involved in using information, recognize and avoid online and email scams, and more..
EasyTech Activities
The three sample activities below are drawn from units on Word Processing, Presentation Software and Communicating Online.
Imagine Mars
STEM comes alive in Imagine Mars. Students colonize the Red Planet and learn critical 21st century skills like communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving through project-based learning.
TechLiteracy Assessments
These sample questions have been excluded from the actual technology proficiency assessments, which are longer in length and use multiple items to assess each technology skill module.
5th grade technology proficiency pre- and post-assessment sample:
WayFind
WayFind helps educators home in on areas for professional development around technology skills and knowledge. It then provides targeted professional development curriculum to efficiently address identified areas for skill building.
Professional Learning Opportunities
This 7-item sample test gives you an idea of how WayFind Teacher Assessment uses a psychometrically validated blend of interactive, performance-based questions that allow teachers to authentically perform complex tasks in simulated applications, and knowledge-based, multiple choice questions.
Be confident in the 21st century classroom
A comprehensive NETS-T curriculum for professional development is included with WayFind and EasyTech. This curriculum provides classroom teachers with resources and tools needed to:
- engage 21st century learners
- implement NETS-T standards
- support national and state technology standards
- support technology and 21st century skills that are present in core curriculum standards
- comfortably use technology in the classroom
The items in this curriculum are arranged in units that correspond to the 20 NETS-T performance indicators.
Integration Projects
These grade appropriate, TEKS-aligned projects demonstrate best practices for integrating technology into core instruction for math, social studies, science, language arts and cross-curricular studies including STEM. In each of these subject areas, we’ve created projects for grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8.
Learn more about integration projects >
Sample project for 3-5 mathematics:
Culminating integration projects engage students, reinforce conceptual learning and require students to apply technology skills to core study areas.
Sample project for 6-8 social studies:
Open-ended projects with many possible solutions build 21st century skills while supporting core instruction.
Integration projects contain teacher notes and details as well as links to resources from EasyTech, TIME (the Texas Instructional Materials Exchange), and Learning.com that support students as they work on their projects.
Prepare your students for STAAR
Our STAAR Practice tests use practice test items released by TEA to prepare your students for STAAR assessments.
Sample practice test screen
Turn practice test data into actionable instruction
STAAR practice tests provide data which can be used to automatically prescribe content in the Learning.com system that can be used to address specific, identified learning gaps for individual students, groups or whole classes. This is an efficient, practical way to accelerate student learning and prepare your students for STAAR success.
To view all State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) resources,
visit the STAAR webpage.
Let's chat!
We love to get into the details. Give us a call today and get all your questions answered.
877-284-0160