ETAN - EdTech Action Network
Would you like to tell your legislators how you feel they should represent YOU on current pending Federal Educational Technology legislation in Washington, DC?
ETAN can help!
Through their robust portal you can enter your zip code and read their already developed email message to legislators and in simply 1 or 2 minutes, you can have this email sent to YOUR representatives in Washington, DC. You cna also rewrite the text, customizing it to suit your style or interests.
There is currently an issue with Maricopa zip codes, I have reported this to the ETAN webmaster and they are working to resolve the new zip (85238) which is not yet reflected in their database and some new addresses not being found in the 85239 area.
If you would like to take action before the on-line component is resolved, email me or contact ETAN directly. achayefsky@musd20.org
POSTED BY Amy Chayefsky AT 10/26/2007 9:31 PM
|
0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT
| DIGG IT
Bus Tour of 1:1 Computing Schools
On Friday, October 19th, Gina Pinch (Director of Technology) and I attended a bus tour of schools who have integrated 1:1 computing initiatives in Tucson, organized by AzTEA (Arizona Technology in Education Alliance). The tour included a number of Arizona K-12 administrators and related stakeholders, representing a statewide body of interest.
We toured Brichta Elementary in the Tucson Union School District and Empire High School in the Vail District.
This was an amazing opportunity to see 1:1 in action! Interestingly, like most things related to technology in the classroom, it is not the technology that is the transformative feature. What calls out is that the Superintendent's, Principal's and Teacher's had (have) a cohesive vision and focus. That focus is less to 'put technology into the hands of their students as it is to 'put 21st Century Tools into the hands of their students, preparing them for the real-world global workplace'.
They continue to reflect on their actions and the results. There were some other things that really made a strong impression upon me:
- School and Class size - The day of mega-campuses is waning! Vail has opted to design a smaller High School that supports the vision, focus, purpose of that campus. While the population was originally leaning toward students-at-risk and Special Needs students, these students have excelled in this very collaborative environment and the school now attracts parents and students who appreciate this sort of learner-centered environment. Vail boasts 2 other High Schools, so they are in a position to service different types of learners with a high degree of equity. They believe it is their mission as educators, to design the programs and buildings according to the needs of the students
- Teachers - Some teachers here clearly are master teachers and the others are well on the path to becoming so, they have migrated to these environments, or been successful in these environments because of their teaching abilities. Excellent technology merely helps them to reflect that to a higher degree, upon their students. They are highly engaged in learning and in the mission of their school's. It is acknowledged, by administration and teachers alike, that not all students or teachers excel in this environment, but that is true of any population. When the Principal at Brichta was asked if they 'screen' for technology skills during teacher recruitment, she said no, the questions and prompts in the interview will tell the story (example: how do you...) Interviewers are purposefully 'looking for' some technology supported response and often enough - an electronic portfolio.
- Physical Buildings - While Brichta is an older elementary school building in the heart of a residential area, smaller class sizes and highly motivated instructors are clearly supporting their focus. At Empire (only 4 years old) vast green areas and windows, open floor plans are welcoming and research now shows that windows and green areas improve student engagement and scores. Wisely, Empire has ramada's with Solar Panels, to help offset the electric bill. In Arizona, it makes sense that any new construction should incorporate solar where they can. Window areas are designed to not be south and west (hot) facing. There is significant deep shade in the student pathways between classes.
- Textbooks and Lockers - Empire does not possess any textbooks, nor do they purchase on-line texts (CD, on-line programs...), they rely on creativity, ingenuity, real-world text (library and internet and other relevant resources). They estimate that the district has saved $500 per student (offset between laptop purchases and textbook adoptions).
- The Dog Ate My Homework - At both schools teachers and administrators agreed that on-line delivery of appropriate content (most content, except art & drama) eliminated the excuses - I didn't know what the work was (It's posted on-line), the dog ate my homework (the dog did not eat your laptop). In fact, I heard an amazing comment from the Principal at Empire HS - Laptop failure is no excuse for not getting work done on time - students are expected to backup to flash drives and be aware of alternate electronic resources (home, library..). Students submit most work electronically through a program that scans for plagiarism.
In the shift to 1:1 computing, the real change happens in student-centered learning and student-responsibility. In the end, isn't that what we all want for our children and our students!
POSTED BY Amy Chayefsky AT 10/22/2007 12:59 PM
|
0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT
| DIGG IT
MUSD establishes its SECOND ITv Connection - and - TLA's are back!
Through our active involvement with the Pinal County ITv Consortium, we have been awarded a 'portable' ITv unit. portable is a bit of a misnomer, it's a 52" plasma TV on a cart with a VSX5000 Codec. The word 'portable' refers to the fact that it is not hard mounted as in the HS ITv Distance Learning classroom.
Gina Pinch (Director of Technology) and John Hornketh (District Senior Technician) worked to secure the high speed access necessary to send and receive ITv audio/video transmissions.
Today John and I tested the new configuration are are delighted to announce that we connected to Jack Wallbrecht (CTE Director) at the HS ITv Classroom and to Chris Hanson and Central Arizona College in Coolidge, AZ. Chris manages the ITv/Distance Learning Bridge at CAC, overseeing a vast variety of ITv hosts across Pinal County and beyond. Thanks to Adrian Ingles (Consortium Tech Consultant) for his assistance today as well.
John finalizing configuration settings and connections!
What does this mean for MUSD? We can now expand our offerings of ITv sites from the HS ITv (Distance Learning) Lab to include the MES Library site. This will reduce some event bottlenecking that occurs during large scale events like Read Around the Planet, and provides teachers an option to bussing to the HS. We selected MES as this year's recipient due to incredible teacher support of ITv. These teachers will now have easier access and (we hope) broadened opportunities to use this incredible technolgoy with their students and for professional development.
John connects to Maricopa HS ITv Room
It is my expectation that MUSD will continue its robust partnership and
involvement with the Pinal County ITv Consortium, managed by Director Jill Dingman. It is my hope that, over
the next few years, the district, recognizing the value of this
educational tool, will look toward supporting the development of ITv at
each of our schools sites.
We reach Chris Hanson, at CAC Distance Learning Bridge
Our first events at both the HS and MES will happen in November. When teachers return from Fall Break after this coming week, I will begin promoting and registering teachers to participate in Read Across Arizona, a K-12 classroom-to-classroom event that connects Arizona classrooms via ITv, in celebration of literacy!
Tech Literacy Assessments (TLA) are back! The State Department of Education has again awarded MUSD several hundred assessment licenses. NCLB (No Child Left Behind) mandates that all 8th graders will be proficient at technology (based on AZ State and NETS Technology Standards). We originally became connected to TLA through our partnership with the Pinal County ITv Consortium.
From ADE Website: School Effectiveness Division
Student Technology Assessment
Arizona has partnered with Learning.com to assess the technology literacy skills of 25,000
students. This project will target districts receiving Title IID competitive grants and formula
grant funding over $30,000 in 2005-2006. Click here to learn more about the implementation of the
2006 TechLiteracy Assessment PreTest Instructions. Read details in press release.
Assessments will begin shortly after return from Fall Break and will continue into early November. This year we expect to assess about 277 fifth graders and 200 eighth graders. Fifth graders are assessed as a benchmark, the district is best able to determine where students are deficient and develop plans to improve those measures from 6th through the eighth grade.
This is MUSD's 3rd year participating in this state assessment process and each year Gina Pinch presents the resulting data to the Leadership Team.
Each year I have acted as both District Coordinator and Proctor for Mrs. Pinch (assessments are conducted and monitored in a manner similar to AIMS). This year I will be training MS lab instructors, several 5th grade teachers and an elementary lab aide to act as proctors in my stead. This time of year I am involved with TLA, Read Across Arizona, my regular scope of work and preparing for a series of upcoming Conferences (watch for conference updates) - so I am delighted that the impacted staff (and their Principal's) are being so gracious in lending their support in the way of time and availability for training.
If you would like to learn more about ITv at MUSD and Pinal County or about TLA, feel free to contact me:
Amy Chayefsky, Technology Integration, achayefsky@musd20.org
POSTED BY Amy Chayefsky AT 10/05/2007 5:03 PM
|
0 COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT
| DIGG IT
|
 |
MY PROFILE
Name: Amy Chayefsky
Location:
www.musd20.org/Amy/Amy.htm
RECENT POSTS
ETAN - EdTech Action Network
Bus Tour of 1:1 Computing Schools
MUSD establishes its SECOND ITv Connection - and - TLA's are back!
ARCHIVES
December 01, 2007
November 01, 2007
October 01, 2007
September 01, 2007
|
