The MCOATT Due Dates are December 30.

What is the MCOATT for Teachers?

The Michigan Certificate for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching with Technology for practicing teachers is awarded to recognize individuals who have demonstrated their accomplishments in using technology for student learning. Michigan teachers can apply for the award by using technology in their classroom (typically over a school year), developing a portfolio to demonstrate their work, and submitting an application form to COATT.

The award is based on achieving high levels of performance on a set of educational technology standards for teachers based on the National Standards for Educational Technology for Teachers (NETS-T) developed by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and the Michigan Seventh Standard, a version of the ISTE standard adopted by the state Board of Education for teacher certification. The standards are the foundation for the COATT performance rubric against which portfolios are judged.

How to get started
Why work for the MCOATT?

Applying for the MCOATT

	Contact the COATT Representative nearest you. Each of the COATT member institutions has a contact person. You will find it useful to do this before you begin your portfolio so you have up-to-date information on what you need to successfully complete the COATT portfolio.
	Develop your COATT Portfolio. Your COATT portfolio is an online portfolio showcasing your teaching experience and showing how it has met the COATT standards. To help you develop your portfolio COATT has created a portfolio template for your use. For further information on developing your COATT portfolio, check the portfolio manual.
	Fill out the final portfolio form. Once you have completed your portfolio, you will need to submit a final portfolio form which gives us specifics about your portfolio and teaching (title, subject area, grade level, etc.). This form will tell us you are ready for your portfolio to be judged.

MCOATT Portfolio Downloads

	Portfolio Manual for Teachers version 1.0; last updated 10/21/04 Word Document The Portfolio Manual is a set of questions and answers with all the information you need to earn the MCOATT for Teachers. You don't need to read the whole thing, but will find the answers helpful in providing rules and tips for developing your unit and creating a portfolio.
	Portfolio Template for Teachers last updated 10/21/04 ZIP file To help make portfolio development easier, COATT has a new Portfolio Template ready for you to use. It has all the standards and required sections in place. Just replace the text instructions with your information, add your exhibits, and you are ready to go. You can create your own, but check this out to be sure you get it right.
	COATT Rubric Download Word document; last updated 10/21/04 The MCOATT rubric is the basis on which your portfolio will be judged. You must look at this so you know you have put in all the evidence needed to demonstrate outstanding achievement.

How to get started

A good way to get started is to look at the winning portfolios on the Web that received the MCOATT in previous years. This will give you an idea of what you will need to do in your teaching as well as how to develop materials for your portfolio. Most teachers need a full academic year to collect adequate materials to develop a winning portfolio which must include examples of how students used technology.

Next, read through the application materials. COATT provides an application form, portfolio instructions, and a rubric for required achievement levels. Links to all of these are below. You may find it helpful to contact a COATT representative from your ISD, local university or other professional organization who can give you hints and tips for how to be successful. COATT also sponsors workshops on portfolio development and presentations at conferences like MACUL that may be helpful to learn about the process. Doing this before you create a portfolio will ensure that you have all the vital information needed to come out a winner.

Why work for the MCOATT?

Winners give many reasons for deciding to submit a portfolio, including getting recognition for a job well done, gaining visibility for their accomplishments at their schools and districts, interest in moving into a tech leadership role at their school, or because a favorite colleague or mentor encouraged them to do so. While getting a great job is a powerful incentive, what MCOATT winners have all said in the end is that their students benefitted from the efforts they made to use technology and that changed their lives. So consider doing this because it will help your students as much as because you will get high honor for your work.

Application Information