Conference/Workshop/Seminars
Instructional Technology Department will compile and distribute
a calendar of upcoming technology seminars/conference/workshops
Provide TLT training on site
TLTs may continue to provide competency training in their buildings
and receive Technology training credit in lieu of pay
Post-Competency Training offered in Individual Schools
'Experts' in Technology Integration or software applications may
provide training within schools for Technology Credit towards the
10 hour requirement
College Classes
In collaboration with the Professional Development Coordinator
and the Office of Staff Development, the Instructional Technology
department will develop and distribute a list of all local college
and university course offerings which will satisfy technology training
requirements.
Team Approach to Technology Integration and Training
Warrick/Streich/Ballard
During the past 2 years, Stafford County has derived great benefits
from the Technology Lead Teacher program. With well over 150 TLTs
in the buildings, teachers are moving quickly towards meeting the
technology competencies set forth by the state. While we continue
to offer training for teachers in the basic competencies, however,
we must turn our attention towards technology education for
our personnel.
The TLT program has provided our licensed personnel with the basic
skills of technology use. But while teachers are able now to use those
tools to a greater degree, It is now necessary for our focus on post-competency
training (advanced training) to be on the effective use of technology
tools to enhance instructional opportunities for our students.
It is now our task to devise a program for those TLTs and teachers
who have met the state competencies in technology. The focus on that
program must be on integrating technology into instruction.
Research indicates that by far the most effective method for providing
education in this area is through modeling in authentic situations
- in short, on the job training and mentoring.
The Instructional Technology department recommends a team approach
to this Advanced Training. In this model, members of the Instructional
Technology Department would sponsor and oversee the creation of a
number of 'teams' whose mission would be to mentor, model, and support
peers in technology integration techniques and methods. Members of
the teams would include teachers, CTTs, interested Technology Department
employees, and interested Administrators. TLTs in the Advanced Training
program will assist in the management, training, and administration
of these teams. The advantages to this approach are numerous:
AlphaSmart Team:
Goal: To increase integration and awareness of the AlphaSmart
among professionals working with students representing all grade
levels and abilities and to provide feedback to the Instructional
Technology, Assistive Technology, and Technology Departments on
the AlphaSmart use in SCPS.
During the 2000-2001 school year, the Assistive Technology Coordinator
conducted many AlphaSmart trainings throughout the county. Due to
the anticipated increase in Assistive Technology referrals for school
year 2001-2002 and the demand for more AlphaSmart training, the
Assistive Technology Coordinator has requested training support
form the Instructional Technology Office. To meet the increased
demand for AlphaSmart training in SCPS, the Instructional Technology
Office proposes that an AlphaSmart Team be established
This team will be made up of interested K- 12 teachers, TLTs, CTTs
and Service Providers who use the AlphaSmart in their educational
programs. This team is designed to provide a collaborative approach
to integrating the AlphaSmart across the curriculum, for students
of all grade levels and abilities.
Every Team member will:
* Provide at least 10 hours of training (either 1.5 hour introductions
or 2-5 hour PDSs on the AlphaSmart as a school-based training and
or PDS.
* Design at least three AlphaSmart Templates that parallel the SOLs
for their grade level of interest and post to Web Site for downloading.
* Design Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced trainings for SCPS.
* Design an AlphaSmart VSTE presentation to be presented as a team
at VSTE 2002.
* Review a new AlphaSmart product (Applet, print cable, etc.) and
present at year-end meeting.
* Attend all training and meetings on the AlphaSmart.
The Team members will receive from the Instructional Technology
and Assistive Technology Offices:
* Vendor incentives such as Curriculum books, T-Shirts, Catalogs
and AlphaSmart Accessories in their area of interest.
* Teams will have access to laptop, projection system, and AlphaSmart
Training Kits for trainings.
* Pay for all AlphaSmart PDSs presented.
* Paid attendance for VSTE 2002.
* Choice of either one AlphaSmart for professional use, accessories,
or Applet Software for use in their classroom as part of a product
review.
Software Review Team:
Goal: To increase awareness of educational software use in our
schools and offer input to Instructional Technology and Assistive
Technology Offices with regards to software purchases to support
the K-12 curriculum for general and special education programs.
Instructional Software provides the interface between the technology
tools and the students and teachers. Yet, while we continue to purchase
and distribute software packages, training on its use and application
is nearly nonexistent. In order to fully exploit the benefits of
technology in the schools, we must break with the current practice
of simply sitting the child in front of a game or other software
and letting them 'play'. Teachers need to be made aware of the uses
and applications of instructional software to fully realize technology's
potential.
The Software Review team will be made up of any staff member interested
in learning more about educational software and its efficacy in
the K-12 classroom. This will be a collaborative team made up of
any employee working with regular and/or special education students
in the county.
Software Review Team Members will:
* Present on three pieces of software that they select (either
from inventory or purchase (3 presentations at 3 separate meetings).
* Attend all related trainings (2 prerequisite trainings/meetings).
* Write up a web review of 3 pieces of software to be posted on
SCPS Web Site.
Assistive Technology/Instructional Technology Offices will provide:
* Funding for educational software related to area of curriculum
interest per member.
* Training on Evaluating Educational Software Web Site Posting.
* Protocol for evaluation and presentation of software.
* Framework for Software Review Database and Web Page.
Technology Integration Team:
Goal: To increase awareness of the meaningful and appropriate
integration of instructional technologies to provide enhanced learning
opportunities for students.
The primary concern of our technology education program must be
the integration of technology - the appropriate and meaningful use
of technology tools to allow teachers to move beyond traditional
practices in the classroom. Rather than use new technologies to
complete 'old' tasks (i.e. using a word processor for report writing),
teachers must explore ways in which new tools can provide new learning
opportunities for students. The goal of the Technology Integration
Team will be to model lessons in actual classroom settings and to
provide collaborative support to teachers seeking to utilize technology.
The Technology Integration team will consist of licensed personnel
who will provide direct in-classroom collaboration with the classroom
teacher who is interested in a technology/curriculum project. In
other words, this team member will be responsible for demonstrating
the technology integration aspects of the project while the classroom
teacher will be responsible for the curriculum objective and lesson
plan.
Each team member will:
* Complete 2 project referrals with teachers per year. (one week
project support).
* Attend all trainings on protocol and collaboration.
* Complete technology integration lesson plan on project to be posted
on website for other teachers to use.
* Present one of the projects at the end of the year meeting.
* Presentation on Technology Integration Team Model at VSTE and/or
DOE Conferences.
* Shadow Instructional Technology/Assistive Technology Member on
a project.
Instructional Technology/Assistive Technology Offices will provide:
* Training on Project Model and Protocol.
* Substitute Support for these Instructional Technology Projects
(if necessary).
* Software, if necessary, for project completion.
Technology Grant Writing Team
Goal: The Technology Grant Writing Team will explore funding
source opportunities and develop grant proposals for submission
by individual schools and by the division to provide funding for
new and innovative instructional technology integration and teacher
technology education projects. The team will work under the direction
of division Assistive Technology/Instructional Technology personnel.
The growth in Stafford County Public Schools far exceeds the resources
available to meet the needs and interests of teachers and students
in the areas of instructional technology integration and teacher
education. Thus, the primary objective of the Grant Writing Team
will be the proactive development of alternative funding sources
to mitigate these shortfalls through grants.
Additionally, a number of teachers in the county have requested
the formation of such a team in order to learn more about the grant
writing and administrative processes, and to assist in securing
more funding to help meet instructional needs.
Each team member will:
* Attend required PDS(s);
* Participate in researching sources of grant funding, community
and academic partnerships and other non-traditional sources of funding
related to the integration of technology in classroom instruction;
* Assist in identifying need areas consistent with the goals and
requirements of possible grants;
* Assist in the development and writing of at least one grant proposal;
* Assist in the peer review of at least one other grant review;
* Assist in the formative and summative evaluation (if required)
of at least one grant;
* Assist in the administration and reporting of the grant funds
received.
Instructional Technology/Assistive Technology Office will provide
* Training opportunities
* Guidance
* Program coordination
Other ideas:
Instructional Technology/Technology Department Team: TLT Members
of both sides to report user needs four times a year to the Director
of Technology
Emerging Technology Team: TLTs interested in the latest technologies
and want to explore both hardware and software
PDS Team: Those TLT members that want to continue to support
PDSs in areas of need or interest
Web Site Development Team: Members will work to develop and
enhance existing SCPS web site to deliver content and support to teachers
in all curricular areas
