Tools for Instructors

PowerUp What Works provides three different types of tools:

  • The School Planner for the Leadership Teams to guide implementation.
  • The Lesson Plan Builder for teachers to translate information about UDL, evidence-based practices, and technology into practice.
  • Collaborative tools: Announcements, Favorites, Discussion Forum, Support Center, and Calendar.

In addition to these tools, PowerUp provides access to a resource and research database and a Learning Center where you can find “research-at-a-glance” slideshows and briefs, tips and tools, links, and videos. All of the resources that are right here at your fingertips will help you translate the PowerUp approach into action.

The School Planner for Leadership Teams

Across the four phases of implementation, the Leadership Team uses the School Planner.  The planner is organized into five key tasks.

  1. Work as a Leadership Team
  2. Gather Data to Guide Decision-Making
  3. Form a Vision and Set Goals
  4. Provide Professional Development
  5. Provide Access to Technology and Support

For each task, the School Planner includes How-to Guidelines and Tips to guide the team’s discussion and planning. Team members can read and discuss an Example written to show how a school might carry out the task. They can access supporting resources and research within the tool and within the Learning Center. Once they have discussed their plans, they can document their thinking in designated spaces (action boxes).  

When schools complete the School Planner, they can save it as a PDF for easy printing and sharing with colleagues. Click here to see what a completed School Planner looks like.

Lesson Plan Builder for Teachers

The Lesson Plan Builder guides teachers in translating principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) into technology-enhanced instruction of evidence-based practices. The Lesson Plan builder is organized into three sections.  

  1. Setting the context for the research-based practice: Here teachers (1) identify their learning goals based on the Common Core Standards and/or state standard; (2)  list available technology tools; and (3) plan assessment to guide instruction.
  2. Lesson: This section is divided into three parts: Before, During, and After the Lesson.
  3. Reflection: Here the teacher can note what worked and what can be strengthened in the future.

Embedded in the tool are How-to Guidelines, Tips, Examples, and links to valuable resources and supporting research. Within the Lesson Plan Builder, teachers draw on the knowledge and resources about Reading, Writing, and Math in the Learning Center.

When teachers are finished with their Lesson Planner, they can save it as a PDF for easy printing and sharing. Click here to see what a completed lesson plan on Visualization looks like.

Collaborative Tools

PowerUp provides a suite of collaborative tools to support communication among school leaders and teachers and to ensure ongoing support for teachers. These are accessible from a private web page for each participating district, school, Leadership Team, and teacher.

  • Announcements: Keeps everyone informed about school news.
  • Discussion: Online forum for sharing .
  • Support Center: Teachers can request support from members of the Leadership Team.
  • Calendar: Keeps everyone abreast of upcoming events.