• The IDEportal workshops are specifically designed for teachers, focusing on instruction and using technology to enhance learning.
• The variety of self-paced IDEportal workshops allows teachers to complete those relevant to their needs when they need to complete them - differentiation of instruction and just-in-time learning for teachers!
• The IDEportal workshops can be integrated with existing professional development programs - staff members can deliver a workshop live using materials available on the IDEportal.
• Professional development credits can be awarded for completion of IDEportal workshops!

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Problem Based Learning (PBL) Tasks can be used as transdisciplinary units or culminating projects:

• Each PBL Task on the IDEportal includes an analytic rubric which can be used for assessment as well as to clarify expectations for students at the onset of a project.
• PBL Tasks can be used to differentiate instruction and allow students to take responsibility for their own learning - students can use the rubric to self-assess their progress!
• Well-developed, authentic PBL Task statements give students a felt-need to learn content, and promote higher-order thinking skills.
• An entire unit of instructional activities can be provided within the context of a single PBL Task!

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Tech Tonic articles about exciting new technologies will spur innovative thinking about technology in the curriculum:

• The Tech Tonic articles on the IDEportal are relevant to all educators - from PreK to Higher Education.
• Tech Tonic articles include links to Web-sites and resources on the IDEportal which will generate ideas about how to infuse technology into the classroom.
• All Tech Tonic articles are written with a focus on educational uses for technology, rather than business uses.

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How-To Sheets offer technology skills instruction in easy-to-follow, discrete pieces:

• How-To Sheets allow technology users to become more independent and help themselves - giving technology staff more time to pursue strategic technology initiatives.
• Step-by-step directions for specific technical tasks offer just-in-time learning - students and teachers can get instruction when it is relevant to them.
• How-To Sheets can be printed out and used as a classroom resource by students, freeing teachers to spend time teaching content-area skills rather than technology skills.
• The wide assortment of How-To Sheets available on the IDEportal includes different versions of PC, Apple, and MAC software, Inspiration and KidSpiration, and more!

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Emerging Thoughts articles will generate discussion and reflection on the art and science of teaching:

• A key element of professional development is reflection about our role as educators - Emerging Thoughts articles pose interesting points for educators to think and talk about.
• Articles from Emerging Thoughts can be used to spark dynamic dialogue at faculty meetings.
• Emerging Thoughts articles apply to all educators and have the power to transform perspectives on education.

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IDE Tools are materials used by IDE consultants to help teachers improve instruction:

• Various booklets and worksheets in IDE Tools will help you try new things in the classroom.
• The materials found in IDE Tools can be used in conjunction with other materials on the IDEportal.

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Other Features and Benefits of the IDEportal include:

• All materials on the IDEportal are created by the IDE consultants, who work on a daily basis with school district helping to transform instruction. All IDE consultants have at least five years of experience teaching in the classroom and a Masters degree.
• The IDEportal is Web-based and can be accessed with a password over any Internet connection - this allows all staff members to use the IDEportal from home or school.
• The IDEportal is continually updated with new materials and resources generated from IDE Corp.'s consulting work, providing subscribers with access to the intellectually property of IDE consultants.
• At a low per teacher cost to have access to such a comprehensive collection of high-quality resources, the IDEportal is a tremendous value.

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If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, go to the Adobe site and download and install your FREE copy of the Get Acrobat Reader.

If you are having difficulties printing, it might be simple to solve! When you are printing out any of our PDF files, it is important that you use the print command in the Acrobat toolbar, not the browser toolbar! Click on the printer icon (see illustration below) directly above the PDF document, which will launch the printer dialog box for Acrobat Reader. Use the print commands this dialog box. If you are still having a printing problem, you will need to check your settings and connections!

If you are having difficulties saving materials you find on the Portal be sure you use the Acrobat toolbar, not the browser toolbar (same as printing suggestion above). Click on the disk that is left of the printer icon as shown in the illustration above. When the "Save As" dialog box appears, select the location in which you would like to save your document by clicking on the name of that location. Once you have selected a location, click on the Save button.

When done viewing the PDF, select File Close (or the browser Close icon) to return to the IDEportal.

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To View a Microsoft PowerPoint Slideshow click on the link to the slideshow and, if requested, select the Option to Open the File (you may also select to Save the File to View it later offline). When opening the protected slideshows, a dialog box will provide an Option to either enter a password (to modify the protected slideshow file), or to Open it as Read Only. Choose the Read Only option to View it (you can not modify the slideshows). Click on each page / screen (or use the Page Down keys) to view the slides.

When done viewing the slideshow, select File Close (or the browser Close icon) to return to the IDEportal.

You can Download the free Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer For Windows by clicking here.

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To View a Microsoft Word Document click on the link to the document and, if requested, select the Option to Open the File (you may also select to Save the File to View it later offline).  To Edit a Word Document for your own use, you must either:
- Save the file (select Save File instead of Open File) (you may also Save any support materials by right clicking on the link and selecting Save Target As)
- If you have Opened the file in a new browser window you must use File Save As in that browser window before Editing it.

When done viewing the document, select File Close (or the browser Close icon) to return to the IDEportal.

You can Download the free Microsoft Word Viewer by clicking here.

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