Software Carpentry lesson that teaches how to use databases and SQL In the late 1920s and early 1930s, William Dyer, Frank Pabodie, and Valentina Roerich led expeditions to the Pole of Inaccessibility in the South Pacific, and then onward to Antarctica. Two years ago, their expeditions were found in a storage locker at Miskatonic University. We have scanned and OCR the data they contain, and we now want to store that information in a way that will make search and analysis easy. Three common options for storage are text files, spreadsheets, and databases. Text files are easiest to create, and work well with version control, but then we would have to build search and analysis tools ourselves. Spreadsheets are good for doing simple analyses, but they don’t handle large or complex data sets well. Databases, however, include powerful tools for search and analysis, and can handle large, complex data sets. These lessons will show how to use a database to explore the expeditions’ data.

This resource includes multiple lesson plans developed by Washington State teacher John Zingale and can be taught as part of in-person, hybrid, or remote instructional settings. The core content areas include social studies, civics, and media literacy and are designed for use with students in grades 6-12. Additional integrations include ELA, world languages, mathematics, physical education and science. These lessons integrate both state and national civics instruction using project-based and collaborative learning strategies. Features of these lessons include:student researchcollaborative learningdigital learning strategieslateral readingdesign and creation of infographicsTo support these lessons, additional resources are provided to help educators and families with understanding and teaching information and media literacy to young people. Resources include:introductions to media literacyeducator guidesparent guidesstudent learning standards

The LIFT Framework is an asynchronous self-paced professional learning path designed to allow any educator to build expertise to lead, teach, and support their peers to innovate instruction and effectively use digital tools and adapt to rapidly changing and dynamic learning environments. Educators integrate research-based instructional practices including reflective professional collaboration, inclusive instructional design, social and emotional learning and culturally-responsive teaching. Developed in Washington State as an open education resource (OER), the LIFT Framework can be used and adapted without cost to educators and schools.

The SW Washington Media Literacy Project is a Washington State OSPI-funded grant to prototype the use of media literacy facilitators and Communities of Practice to promote media literacy instruction in K12 schools. This site documents the work and process of the project and includes resources and guidance to allow other schools or districts to replicate this model of professional learning and support.

These easy-to-use guides have been crafted by teacher librarians to help K12 educators select and effectively implement commonly-adopted digital learning tools in Washington State. Specifically designed for classroom educators, this resource bank provides links, support and guidance for the effective use of over 20 digital learning tools already in use in many classrooms and schools across the state.