School Desk to Help Improve Communications and Sharing

As part of the implementation of Socorro Consolidated Schools’ new web hosting program through School Desk, all teachers will be encouraged to create web sites for the classes that they teach. The goal is to improve communications and the sharing of information between teachers and their students (and the students’ families).

This new project was developed by the Technology Department for several reasons. First, several innovative teachers were already creating their own web pages through a number of different providers, and the School Desk solution will give all teachers a single source for their web hosting needs.

The site is very user friendly, so parents and students will be able to easily search and locate the home page for any teacher. Pages are easy to create and modify, and teachers can create as many pages as they need. Teachers will love the site because there are a number of great modules that can be included on their page.

Some of the modules immediately available will allow teachers to publish Announcements, Assignments, Blogs, Calendars, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s), Recommended Links, School Supply Lists, and Surveys. Teachers can also upload digital video and audio media that will stream ON their website’s built-in media player.

Please click below to continue reading!

The practical classroom applications of the new teacher websites include the ability to post homework assignments, announcements for parents, a calendar of activities and test dates, and even classroom productions recorded using audio and video tools. Some teachers may decide to create podcasts of their lessons or, even better, they will let their students create podcasts.

These new tools will make it easy for students and their families to be more in touch with what is happening in the classroom. The ease and convenience of Internet access combines well with the simplicity by which content can be created and made available on School Desk. Teachers will have plenty of support and coaching from their in-school web masters, the Tech Team and the School Desk online support tools.

As the first level of tools are mastered by teachers, the Technology Departnment plans to make even more tools and modules available.

Once this facet of the web site development is completed, Director of Technology Vernon Smith plans to provide every student 13 years of age an older with a school-issued email account. While this is a necessity as part of several Federal programs, it is just one more step in enhancing the communication process between teacher and student.

Although the plan is still evolving, the likelihood is that students below 11th Grade will only be allowed to communicate internally within the school district (other students and staff). Juniors and Seniors at Socorro High School will likely be allowed external email privileges to help them communicate with colleges and employers. Students under the age of 13 will hopefully receive “student-safe” email accounts as well.

Smith said, “Students are not going to learn how to communicate in today’s world unless thay have access to email. In my day, we wrote letters in class all the time, whether it was to GI’s serving overseas, senior citizens or children half-way across the world. Writing letters the old-fashioned way is becoming a lost art that we should revive, but email is the contemporary counterpart of the handwritten or typewritten letter.”

The opportunities for students will improve even more once the new teacher web sites are fully operational. Teachers will then help students set up their own web pages that will include many of the same features as teacher sites.

Ultimately, the plan is that the teachers and students of Socorro Consolidated Schools will be generating lots of web content that will be shared among other students and teachers, staff members, the Socorro community and the entire planet via the World Wide Web.

SCSD Receives over $151,000 to Support Communications

The Technology Department at Socorro Consolidated Schools is pleased to announce that SCSD has received its 2009-2010 Funding Commitment from the Schools and Libraries Divison of the Universal Service Administrative Company (commonly known as Erate) for a total of $151,289.60. This is the largest amount of Priority One funding that SCSD has ever received.

These funds will support several initiatives from the Technology Department. Most importantly, SCSD is upgrading its Internet service from two blended T1 lines that provide 3 mbps (mega bits per second) to a DS3 service which carries data at 45 mbps. This will dramatically increase the user experience for staff and students across the district and will also make streaming video/audio more accessible.

SCSD is also making dramatic imrovements to its web site with a new vendor, School Desk. Besides a new, crisp look, the site is “state-of-the-art” and it will allow users (teachers and students) to create and publish web content rather than reading content developed by a few at the district level (or from other web sites). This is the current trend in technology, often referred to as Web 2.0. Each school will have its own web site, created and managed by their own personnel with support from the Tech Department.

The funding will partially pay for the new district’s new wireless provider, Sprint, in addition to the monthly Qwest phone bills. Funding has also been approved to develop a faster, wireless connection between the Network Operations Center (on Franklin Street) and the two “remote” schools (Midway Elementary and San Antonio Elementary). The wireless project, however. is pending another joint venture that involves New Mexico Tech.

The funding for 2009-2010 represents a major change in direction for SCSD. In his 2008-2011 Technology Plan approved by the State, Director of Technology Vern Smith promised to put more technology into the hands of students along with having faster Internet service and technolgies that are extremely “user friendly,” The SCSD Technology Committee will help advise and support Smith on a positive direction for the future integration of new technolgies into the schools.

The funds, which come from the Universal Service Fund charge that appears on all phone bills (both wireless and land-based services), provides millions of dollars in aid to needy school districts across the country. The basic Priority One funds help schools pay for Internet service, web hosting, telephone service and email. SCSD will be reimbursed for 86% of its Priority One expenditures during 2009-2010.

Also included in the Priority One funding is the Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections, which will be 90% reimbursed by USAC. This will help the Tech Department maintain its outstanding delivery of uninterrupted service throughout the district.

A second fund, called Priority Two, helps needy schools improve their communications infrastructure (such as the 2008-2009 project that won Socorro over $1,000,000 for a new Cisco phone system across the district and the installation of new cabling and wireless network. Districts are only allowed to apply for funding two years out of every five year period. Smith said that another Priority 2 application would probably be planned for the 2011-2012 funding period.

Smith explained the value of Erate funding as it relates to the district’s new DS3 Internet service which should be available in the next 30 days.

“The monthly cost of DS3 service in Socorro is over $3,600 per month, largely because we are located so far away from Albuquerque,” Smith said. “The cost of DS3 in Albuquerque is far less because it is a major communications hub, and there is little DS3-capable cabling that runs between Albuquerque and Socorro. $3,600 per month price is something that we cannot afford even though we desperately need it. However, thanks to Erate, our net cost will only be about $500 per month. That expense compared to the return our users will receive makes DS3 an excellent, affordable improvement for the district.”

Smith is also extremely proud of the district’s new web hosting provider, School Desk. “School Desk is a very user-friendly product. Rather than learning to use sophisticated HTML and XML coding, or an obsolete program like Front Page, or newer web development products, School Desk allows users to create web pages using a “rich-text editor” that is like using most email and word processing programs.”

“Teachers should find this very easy to use, and the list of tools and features available are amazing! Better still, I can’t wait to see some of the work that our students will create.”

Web Masters for the district and each school recently completed their basic training, and School Desk is making numerous changes based on feedback from the participants. The upgrade to School Desk’s services is scheduled to be completed by Thursday, Sept. 10. The next step will be to train teachers how to tap into the power of School Desk to improve their instruction and theor communications with parents and students.

Smith said, “We have to take some baby steps here. It would be unfair to expect every teacher to immediately jump on the bandwagon. However, there’s a good chance that teachers will find School Desk to be quite addictive! My team is ready to support teachers who want to get going right away, but everyone can move at a pace that is comfortable for them or whatever requirement are set by the administrator at each school.”

Once teachers are trained, they will then train their students with wahtever support and assitance they need from the Technology Department.

Socorro Consolidated Schools and Partners Win a $250,000 Grant

The Technology Department at Socorro Consolidated Schools is pleased to announce SCSD’s teachers will benefit from additional funding through the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) stimulus program from the Federal Government. As partners in the Consortium for 21st Century Learning (C21CL), SCSD will share in $250,000 dedicated to training teachers on how to integrate technology into their instructional practices.

The partnership falls under the umbrella of NMSU’s Regional Educational Technology Assistance program and includes Socorro Consolidated Schools (as the Local Educational Agency managing the funding), Carrizozo Municipal Schools, Dexter Consolidated Schools, Animas Public Schools, Las Cruces Public Schools, Lordsburg Municipal Schools and Truth or Consequences Municipal Schools. Please click HERE to download the complete 163-page grant application (prepared under the leadership of Holly Rae Bemis-Schurtz From RETA RETA, and it is truly a masterpiece!)

SCSD will receive $35,000 through this program to fund professional development for technology integration by teachers and the GenYes program led by Sarracino’s Michael Torres. Included in SCSD’s allocation is an additional $16,000 for teacher stipends over the next two years. Combined with the district EETT grant awarded to SCSD, the Technology Department will have $31,000 in stipend funds available for teachers.

The goals of the C21CL Partnership are simple:

1. Improve academic achievement for New Mexico’s K-12 students, especially in rural areas, by implementing technology-enhanced teaching methods in alignment with standards [NM Content Standards and Benchmarks and National Educational Technology Standards for students (NETS)], which support 21st century learning and prepare students to meet NCLB technology literacy requirements.

2. Build NM K-12 educators’ capacity to transform their practice by providing access to high quality, ongoing professional development (via face-to-face workshops, online webinars and virtual professional learning community) in order to prepare educators to meet both National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS•T) and NM Teacher Competencies.

3. Create a research-based sustainable professional development model, which prepares NM K-12 educators, professional development specialists and technology coordinators to effectively support 21st century teaching & learning environments.

Dr. Cheryl Wilson, Superintendent of Socorro Consolidated Schools, said, “The Consortium for 21st Century Learning is a necessary and exciting partnership for our teachers. The professional development opportunities and the availability of more stipend money to encourage our staff to extend the use of technology in transforming our instructional practices couldn’t have come at a better time. This grant allows us to continue working with the great staff from RETA and our new and old partners from other innovative school districts across Southwest New Mexico.”

Director of Technology Vern Smith, recently appointed by New Mexico Secretary of Education Dr. Garcia to the Council on Technology in Education for a four-year term, was equally enthusiastic about the funding.

“SCSD is extremely fortunate to have all this funding available to train our teachers to infuse technology into their lesson plans,” Smith said. “It’s been said a thousand times: education is all about student engagement and nothing engages our students like technology. This training, combined with our new website that includes many exciting tools for teachers and students, offers all of us a wonderful opportunity to include technology in our efforts to improve student learning, student achievement and student test scores.”

The Technology Department recently finished a complete re-cabling and re-wiring project at Zimmerly, Parkview, Midway and Sarracino, and the installation of wireless networks at those four schools should be finished by the end of September. Also, in the next few weeks, the Tech Department expects to have completed the installation of a much faster (and long-awaited) DS3 Internet service.

Smith said that the improvements to the technology infrastructure and services will make it easier to add new technologies (such as Mimios, remote responders and mini laptops) into classrooms across the district. “These tools require specific training on how to combine the technology with curriculum and pedagogy to achieve effective, positive outcomes,” Smith said. “However, before we start investing a bunch of money into placing more technology in classrooms, there needs to be a commitment that teachers will properly use these resources. The Tech Department will provide the equipment, the training and the support to teachers committed to changing the face of instruction here in Socorro.”

In order to understand the obstacles to integrating Technology in the classroom, Smith is teaching Digital Media Arts at Socorro High School this year. The class is a dual-credit course with Western New Mexico University with instruction in Photoshop during the first half of the year. “I’ve actually sat in my classroom and said that the Director of Technology should be fired because I’ve faced my share of technology challenges, so I have an appreciation of the technology challenges that our teachers and students are facing in the classroom. The good news is that the Tech Team is more committed than ever to making sure that EVERY user throughout the district has a positive technology experience.”

Grant to Benefit Teachers and Students

On Friday, August 7, Dr. Cheryl Wilson received the long-awaited letter from Dr. Veronica Garcia, New Mexico’s Secretary of Education, with congratulations for having been awarded an Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) District Competitive Grant. The total allocation is for $60,000, including $15,000 committed to teacher stipends for technology training.

You can download and read the document that explains the entire project and its goals by clicking HERE. SCSD is still waiting for the State of New Mexico to release the award notification letters on Partnership grants, and SCSD could win another $35,000 (with an additional $16,000 dedicated to teacher stipends for technology training).

In summary, the awarded EETT project will create a model technology lab at Sarracino Middle School that will serve a number of functions. First, it provides a desperately-needed third lab for students to be used for work other than MAPS/Compass and basic technology classes. Secondly, the lab will include a variety of new technologies and video/audio production equipment that can be used by all students and teachers throughout the district.

However, and maybe most importantly, the lab will serve as a Technology Professional Development Center for every teacher in the district. The program includes stipends and plans to help teachers learn about the latest technologies. Teachers will learn how to effectively combine technology with curriculum and pedagogy.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, SCSD and its educators need to make a transition towards integrating more classroom technology for the benefit of our students. We are in the business of serving students and their families, and our obligation is to engage students so that learning can take place. The proper use of technology is undoubtedly an excellent way to improve engagement and, ultimately, student learning, student achievement and school test scores.

To that end, a portion of the district’s grant ($5,000) is committed to paying teachers a stipend for earning a “Technology Certification” from our district. The program will be offered in a self-paced, online environment using Moodle and Adobe Connect. Again, the offer still stands … any teacher who wants support and training in technology integration will get that support. But you have to ask!

Why is this CRITICAL?

You are encoraged to read Technological Literacy Framework for the 2012 National Assessment of Educational Progress. Starting in 2012 (yep, coming up in about TWO YEARS FROM NOW), students will be tested to determine their level of technology competencies. The grade levels and benchmarks are still being tossed around, but it is another hurdle that we will all have to cross.

As expected, some governmental and educational leaders are demanding that teachers complete a similar test. After all … how are students supposed to learn about technology when they have insufficient exposure to technology in the content areas?

The handwriting is on the wall, and the next two years will be important to students and teachers alike. Fortunately, we have the district grant and, hopefully, we’ll have the Partnership grant that will give us $31,000 for technology training for teachers.

Pardon the cliche … you all can see that the water will be cool, deep and ready … who is going to take a drink?

Great Things Happening in Technology

Welcome back from what we hope was a wonderful summer vacation full of rest, relaxation, fun and adventure! The start of school brings a high degree of energy and a fair dose of stress … just remember that we are all going to get through the next few days and that this is going to be a great year. From our perspective in Technology, this may be the most exciting year ever for our students and teachers.

Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. Actually, it is really a good news-bad news thing. The good news is that our $1,000,000 replacement of cabling and the installation of a wireless network at Sarracino, Zimmerly, Parkview and Midway is approaching completion. The bad news, as a result of delays with USAC and our contractors, is that we are behind schedule. Yuck!

Please … excuse the inconveniences and focus on the benefits. Any interruptions are temporary and will be worth the struggle. Tech wishes that we could have done more to make this happen faster and be done by the start of school, but please be assured that we have done everything we could. We are still pushing the contractors.

Now, let’s get to the good news. First, it is good to see that many of the schools have invested their stimulus money into technology products! The recognition of the connection between technology and student engagement is a major step in working towards improving student learning, performance and achievement. The popular choices seem to be interactive whiteboards and remote response devices. Please remember that technology needs to be properly blended with curriculum and pedagogical skills to be effective, and the Tech Team is prepared to help you in your lesson planning.

Let’s get to the really cool changes …

First, Tech purchased 100 new Mac minis and upgraded labs at Socorro High School including the library, Room 105 and Ms. Armijo’s lab. There are also plans to add an additional lab at the high school that will incorporate some new desktop technologies. Fifty or more of the computers that were replaced will be recycled into classroom pods at the high school and middle school. Tech is also investigating the purchase of mini-laptops to be used for classroom pods.

The second change that we have a new web hosting service called School Desk. Yes, things are a little different and it means becoming familiar with the new look and the location of data. Take some time and look around at www.socorro.k12.nm.us.

Teachers and students will eventually be able to build their own web pages using a simple rich-text editor, and there will be other features like calendars, digital drop boxes, online storage and so much more! Training on using the new web site will start with administrators and school webmasters on August 24-25, and after school sessions for teachers should start in September.

The third major change is that we have ordered DS3 Internet service. The entire district is currently operating on two blended T1 lines, giving us 3 megabits per second (mbps) of bandwidth. With the new service, we will be upgraded to 45 mbps, and all users should notice the improvement.

The district was also awarded a $60,000 Enhancing Education Though Technology (EETT) grant by NMPED. These funds will be used to create a model technology lab at Sarracino Middle School that will also serve as a center for Professional Development in Technology. The grant also includes extra funds for professional development stipends. We will be purchasing a variety of student-based technology that teachers from all over the district can learn to use in their classrooms.

We will also be investing those EETT funds in video and audio production equipment that will be available to teachers and students. Recordings will be available from our facilities for playback in classrooms or over the Internet. The opportunities to apply those facilities for a variety of student performances and professional development are endless.

We are still awaiting word on the final piece of EETT funding, the creation of a new partnership called the Consortium for 21st Century Learning. Socorro Consolidated Schools will be acting as the Local Educational Agency (LEA) for the consortium. This will be somewhat similar to our participation in the OpenLight Partnership last year, but we will have far more funding for professional development stipends.

Ultimately, the Tech Team is looking forward to helping teachers and school administrators learn how technology can increase student engagement. Yes, we will still handle your work orders as quickly as possible, but we hope to be in the classroom with you and your students as much as possible.

Best wishes for a GREAT year.

A Summer Reading List for Teachers

Wow! We are already approaching the end of July and that means the start of school isn’t too far away. I am personally looking forward to this coming year as I get a chance to get back into the classroom, teaching one period a day at the high school. “Digital Media Arts” is a dual credit course with Western New Mexico University, and the first semester is Photoshop!

The class will be available on Moodle, a FREE online learning management system, and I will make it open for every teacher to see. It will be a model for what we will call “Hybrid” on-line learning. There will be more to follow about hybrid (or blended) learning in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, I hope you will take a moment to look up some of the following articles about technology integration. (Most should be available from INFOTRAC from Marian Royal’s Library Media Center for Socorro High School). Given some of the peace and quiet that comes during the summer months, I personally scanned through at least 100 articles to share the best with you while keeping myself ahead of the learning curve. I promise you that you won’t be disappointed and there is at least one good article for every single teacher regardless of grade level or content area.

Where possible, an online reference has been given … if you would like a printed copy of the artcile, you may stop by the Tech Office and make a copy for your personal use.

Please click below to continue reading!

1. “K-12 Distance Educators at Work: Who’s Teaching Online Across the United States.” Leanna Archambault and Kent Crippen, Journal of Research on Technology in Education, Vol. 41, #4 Summer 2009, p363-391

This is one of the best and easiest-to-read writings about teaching online that I have seen in the last five years. The concept is easy, giving you as the teacher three options for integrating online learning in your classes. The three levels of online learning are ONLINE (at least 80% of the content and assignments), BLENDED/HYBRID (30-79% of the content and assignments) and WEB-FACILITATED (just 1-29% of the content and assignments). In the coming year, every teacher will have expanded opportunities for delivering course content and assigments in an online environment.

All high school teachers should take a moment to visit the Arizona Virtual School, a complete online high school with an excellent record of student achievement and innovative online learning. Its motto is “Learning Without Limits” … a much-needed concept for 21st Century learning.

2. “Teachers’ Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge and Learning.” Judith Harris, Punya Mishra and Matthew Koehler, Journal of Research on Technology in Education, Vol. 41, #4 Summer 2009, p393-416

SUMMARY: “Studies of K-12 teachers’ instructional applications of educational technology to date show many to be pedogogically unsophisticated; they are limited in breadth, variety and depth, and are not well integrated into curriculum-based teaching and learning … (there is) a mismatch between educational technology leaders’ vision for technology integration and how most practitioners use digital tools. Researchers emphasize technology uses that support inquiry, collaboration and reformed practiuce, whereas many teachers tend to focus on using presentation software, learner-friendly Web sites, and management tools to enhance existing practice.”

This article cuts to the heart of most problems that many school districts face as a result of wishy-washy approaches to technology integration. Most technology approaches are too technocentric because they begin with the allure of technology and then only later is an effort made to integrate it into content-based standards at different levels. (Seymour Papert, 1987)In other words, content and pedagogy suffer at the hands of nifty little gadgets.

As a technology director, my favorite example of the inappropriate application of technology is the interactive white board, a prime example of manufacturers promoting technology without the necessary pedagogy and content integration.

3. “Engaging Secondary School Students in Extended and Open Learning Supported by Online Technologies.” Howard Nicholas and Wan Ng, Journal of Research on Technology in Education, Vol. 41, #3 Spring 2009, p305-328

This article is an investigation of the online technologies (specifically Moodle) used to extend the learning of a group of junior secondary school students after attending a Sun, Science and Society camp. The students were either high ability or interested in science and required extension work.

4. “A Comparison of Traditional Homework to Computer-Supported Homework.” Michael Mendicino, Leena Razzaq and Neil T. Heffernan, Journal of Research on Technology in Education, Vol. 41, #3 Spring 2009, p331-359

This is a great article for middle school teachers, and something that high school teachers should also consider. The article is about a study of fifth grade math students in two different honmewok situations. One group had traditional homework, doing paper-and-pencil homework with a review of problems in class the next day. The other group did Web-based homework with immediate feedback that included hints on demand and step-by-step scaffolding. Who do you think did better? The difference was significant.

5. “Professional Learning in the Learning Profession: A Status Report on Teacher Development in the United States and Abroad” http://www.nsdc.org/stateproflearning.cfm

Guess what? Research shows that professional learning must be sustained, focused on important content, and imbedded the the work of collaborative professional learning teams that support ongoing improvements in teacher practice and student achievement. Sounds just like what we think our students should be doing, doesn’t it?

6. “Wikipedia: Friend or Foe?” Leading and Learning with Technology, June/July 2009, p. 6

FACT: The best value of Wikipedia is demonstrating how it was developed using dynamic consensus versus authoritative sourcing, leading to an excellent discussion of “what is the truth.”

7. Make Beliefs Comix … build voculabulary and literacy skills with children by creating comic strips and supplying the dialogue. http://www.makebeliefscomix.com

Simply stated, every teacher from Kindergarten to High School could create a highly enagaing, appropriate and authentic assignment using this FREE application.

8. “Teaching Online Made Me a Better Teacher: Studying the Impact of Virtual Course Experiences on Teachers’ Face-to-Face Practice.” M.D. Roblyer, Marclyn Porter, Talbot Beilefeldt and Martha B. Donaldson, Journal of Computing in Teacher Education, Vol 25, #4 Summer 2009, p. 121-126

SUMMARY: “Anecdotal accounts from teachers have long suggested the possibility that virtual teaching experience have a positive impact on teaching practices, a so-called “reverse impact” phenonenom … Findings from a study of teacher perceptions indicate that three-quarters of the teachers who teach in both virtual and traditional environments felt that virtual experiences improved their practice in face-to-face classrooms.”

9. “Kids Talk Tech.” Sara Bernard, Edutopia, June/July 2009, p.22 – 27 (Online version: http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-lesson-ideas

QUOTE: “I think students would retain a lot more information if they made a video about the person they’re studying or created an instant message dialogue in which they imagine a fictional conversation between characters, as opposed to just taking a test or writing an essay.”

The article goes on to explain how to use free tools like Skyp, Voice Thread, Wikis, Blogs, Garage Band and more across ALL content areas. Best of all, free training on these tools is available from the RETA Webinar Series.

Happy reading … see ya in a couple of weeks!

Movie by GenYes Students a Shining Moment for SCSD

Excerpt: Maybe old platitudes like “Nothing ventured, nothing gained” or “No pain, no gain” have become worn out and tired. But, then again, we have a tendency to forget that teachers do not need to expose themselves to risk when implementing a technology project. First, The Tech Team has two fully-certified K-12 teachers on staff experienced in coaching other teachers about technology integration. All you have to do is ask for help, suggestions, training, coaching and/or some good, old-fashioned TLC and hand-holding.

On April 30 and May 1, Innovate-Educate New Mexico took place at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque. A well-attended show with over 450 teachers and technology leaders from across the state, it was an excellent opportunity for collaboration with peers and a look-ahead to technologies available today and on the horizon. The one horrible technology gaff: Albuquerque Convention Center does not have wireless Internet connections or Wi-Fi available for visitors and attendees. Shame! Shame!

Socorro Consolidated Schools was highly honored by the Open Light Partnership for our partipation in and support of the three Open Light Conferences in 2008-2009 and for our attendance in the RETA Webinar Series. Several of our teachers and technology specialists were featured in a brief movie filmed by Vincent Gargotta entitled Open Light Movie. A link is available on the SCSD Web Page.

Howver, the stars of the conference were three Socorro students named J.R., Joel and Autumn, part of the GenYes program led by Michael Torres. GenYES is an innovative program that creates 21st Century leaders and learners. GenYES students help teachers use technology in classrooms, supporting effective technology integration school-wide. Their film (CLICK HERE TO VIEW IT) made me prouder to be an educator than anything I’ve done since teaching Second Grade. Please watch their movie so you can appreciate the comments that follow. It is also available on the SCSD Web Page.

When we were first asked by Holly Rae Bemis-Schurtz from Open Light to put together something about our participation, it was quite flattering. When the idea to include a separate video by the GenYes students hit me, I had no idea that it would be one of the biggest highlights of Innovate-Educate. The compliments about the efforts of these students were sincere, touching and overwhelming.

The best testament to the success of these students comes from their teacher, Michael Torres. When I congratulated him for the quality of the work and the reception that the GenYes movie received, Michael said, “I didn’t do a thing. They did all the work and they deserve all the credit.” Amen, Mr. Torres.

While it has been my pleasure to oversee the launch of the GenYes program this year and to coach Michael (nominally), the work of J.R., Joel and Autumn gave me a great deal of satisfaction (as well as a great big chuckle). As technology director, my philosophy is to put the technology in the hands of the students and then get out of the way. These three highly-motivated students produced a demonstration of their learning that should make everyone from our district proud (students, teachers, administrators and parents alike). Please join me in applauding their production.

But, the work of J.R., Joel and Autumn leads to me to a question: how many more masterpieces would be created if students were given more opportunities to use technology?

Hmmmmmmmmmmm … in the words of Led Zeppelin, “… and it makes me wonder.” (Stairway to Heaven, 1971)

It is so easy to choose more traditional paths for assessments and grading … things like tests (T/F, multiple guess, short answer, etc.), essays, research papers or oral presentations are comfortable and safe. They’re like an old blanket that we know will keep us warm and feeling snuggly. It is understandable that, for many, technology seems like such a risky path full of unknowns, hidden dangers, man-eating crocodiles and the potential for falling off a ten-thousand foot precipice into boiling oil. After all, why should we take risks if we don’t have to?

Maybe old platitudes like “Nothing ventured, nothing gained” or “No pain, no gain” have become worn out and tired. But, then again, we have a tendency to forget that teachers do not need to expose themselves to risk when implementing a technology project. First, The Tech Team has two fully-certified K-12 teachers on staff experienced in coaching other teachers about technology integration. All you have to do is ask for help, suggestions, training, coaching and/or some good, old-fashioned TLC and hand-holding.

Secondly, although it is difficult, teachers should let go a little and trust their students. You’ll be surprised at what students can do when given a little elbow room. The best part is that technology projects are very easy to share, and it will be even easier next year when we roll-out our new, user-friendly web-site (budget allowing).

So … what masterpieces will your students be creating with technology? Will you let a student become engaged and express their creativity through technology? What path will you, as a teacher and educator, take? Maybe the road less traveled?

In the words of Led Zeppelin:

“Yes, there are two paths you can go by,
But in the long run,
There’s still time to change the road you’re on.
And it makes me wonder.”

Where is Technology Headed in 2009-2010?

Excerpt: Most leadership experts would tell you that great leaders facilitate change in many ways, one of which is to eliminate obstacles. Therefore, please accept the following statement as a commitment from the Technology Department. We will assist you in technology-rich lesson planning, we will train you to use the technology, we will make sure the technology is working and, if you’d like, we’ll be in your classroom to assist you with the lesson.

As the 2008-2009 school year enters into its final weeks, it is a good time for reflection by teachers and administrators alike. In the reality of budget crunches that stand juxtaposed with President Obama’s desire to enhance educational technology, we must wonder what we can do as educators to improve the technology experience of our students.

One of the best resources that has been available FREE OF CHARGE to every educator is the Regional Educational Technology Assistance (RETA) webinar series. RETA is dedicated to showing educators a broad variety of free tools that are teacher friendly and easy to integrate into instruction. At 6 PM on Thursday, April 23, RETA will present a webinar entitled Show and Tell, an opportunity to learn how your colleagues are using technology in their classrooms.

The Spring catalogue of the RETA webinar series concludes next week with sessions about two tools that students and teachers love. On Monday, April 27, at 6PM, Screencasting will show you how to use more audio and video technology in your classroom. On Thursday, April 30, at 6PM, Express Yourself Using Wordle will demonstrate this great tool that is can be used for any subject at any grade level.

Please, for your students’ sake, try to attend the live session or, if it is more convenient, view the recorded session at your leisure. All webinars are recorded and are available from the RETA Webinar Archive Page (click the ARCHIVED tab).

In examining our roles as educators, curriculum developers, lesson planners and instructional experts, the most common complaint about integrating technology is the amount of planning time involved. Secondary issues include concerns about the dependability of the technology, being unfamiliar with the technology or, more often than not, a failure to see value in integrating technology. Except for those brave souls with pioneering spirits that allow them to take tremendous leaps of faith, most of us understandably freeze in our tracks when faced with the obstacles that technology integration can impose.

Most leadership experts would tell you that great leaders facilitate change in many ways, one of which is to eliminate obstacles. Therefore, please accept the following statement as a commitment from your technology depoartment. We will assist you in technology-rich lesson planning, we will train you oin the technology, we will make sure the technology is working and, if you’d like, we’ll be in your classroom to assist you with the lesson.

Technology advocates consistently hear the “I don’t have enough time” argument. Clay Shirky, author of Here Comes Everybody, presents an interesting perspective in regards to the use of time. Are we really lacking the time or do we need to reallocate our time? Shirky argues that investing our time in learning these technologies or spending your extra time on the Internet learning is not useless, rather it is more productive than watching TV. Shirky suggests that we should reconsider how we “waste” our time.

Looking at the impact for educators, one argument for teachers who say they don’t have enough time is this: rather than watching that episode of “American Idol”, go online, develop and learn from a Personal Learning Network. You have the time and this is much more rewarding.

Granted, such an argument is radical but, then again, there has to be a happy medium between the two polar stances. As a technology director, my fear is that this battle is going to play out in stubborn resistance by some that will ultimately lead to mandates from state and federal levels that will requiring technology competency tests for teachers, required technology training and proof of technology integration. Force-fed technology integration, while a likely outcome in the future, is not desireable and could be avoided if we would all be willing to take some small steps now.

There are dozens of reasons to integrate technology into your lesson plans, including educational fundamentals like student engagement, authentic assignments, creative presentations, and immersion of students into life-skills training. As the leaders, coaches and guides for these young lives with whom we have been entrusted, it is only fair to ask if we are giving them what they need, or are we just giving them what is easy for us to serve. My personal experience as a student was that the teachers who made the greatest impact on me were the ones who went out of their way to give me what I needed.

So, what are you going to do? What are you going to serve? Are you Chef Boy R Dee from the can or Emeril Lagasse with a big, loud BAM when you spice up your lessons?

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