District+Technology+Training+Plan

District Technology Training Plan Prince George’s County Public Schools Robert K. Hobbs EDTC 640 – Summer 2013

As of the 2012-2013 school year, according to the district website, PGCPS has 204 schools, nearly 124,000 students and almost 18,000 employees. 60% of the student population are classified as economically disadvantaged, similar to the national norm, and almost 14% have limited English language proficiency. The national average for public students who have difficulty with English is close to 5%. Students come from rural, urban, and suburban communities. More than 67% of the student population is African or African American and over 22% are Hispanic (comprising 88% of the total student body.) More than 27% of the population were born outside the U.S. or speak a language other than English in the home. The county has 2 vocational High Schools, 5 alternative schools, 7 charter schools, and 9 special centers. PGCPS reports a four year graduation rate of almost 73% and nearly 79% of students complete High School within five years. The District Technology plan notes that access to technology has been expanded to provide all classroom teachers with laptops and widespread internet access in classroom with workstations, and digital projectors. Secondary school classrooms have printers, and high-volume digital copiers capable of networked printing are in most schools. Most schools also have mobile labs and file servers that support both staff and students. High schools use an integrated student information system for attendance, grading and scheduling. All staff have email accounts and access to an online human resources system. Schools have a wired network and are transitioning to wireless access throughout the buildings. There are currently over 50,000 computers on the district network. According to the Maryland State Department of Education Technology Inventory Survey, approximately 66% of all Prince George’s county students had access to the internet in their home as of 2010. One of the problems faced by the district is ensuring universality of access. Although schools have sufficient resources to allow students access in the classroom over the wired network, many students have limited online access at home or over personal devices. As in all districts, continuing to ensure adequate funding for ongoing and new initiatives is a concern. Going forward, one of the challenges is going to be keeping up with the expanding demand for access. The rapidly increasing number of devices accessing the networks, use of bandwidth-intensive applications such as video streaming and web-based software will require expanded network connectivity and support for ubiquitous computing. Staff must develop the skills and knowledge to utilize low cost solutions delivered via network in order to keep up with the pace of information technology developments. In planning for professional development, the district has to compensate for the disparity of technological literacy within the faculty. Administrators and teachers have come from a range of educational backgrounds over decades. While many are fully prepared to move forward, there is a substantial group who require remediation. Some of the following needs are identified in the Prince George’s County Technology Plan which was established in conjunction with the Maryland State Department of Education’s Technology Inventory Survey. Training opportunities are in places for several of the above items. I will be developing a district technology training plan to address the areas which are currently underserved. Specifically, I will focus on assessment and remediation for faculty and staff, use of low-cost ubiquitous computing solutions, and collaboration using web 2.0 instruments. These programs are for all teachers, administrators and staff. Some of the topics may focus on the needs of one group such as classroom teachers or special education case managers, while others will be directed generally and focus on the skills required to use the technology as appropriate to the situation. All faculty should participate in the skills assessment. Based on the data collected, individual faculty members can be assigned to appropriate groups for skills workshops that will be of value to each individual. The basis for evaluation will be the Maryland Teacher Technology Standards. In the same way that students are classified as Basic, Advanced, or Proficient on Maryland state assessment, faculty will be classified as Basic, Advanced or Proficient in each of the seven standards of the MTTS. Workshops will be divided between Basic and Advanced groups, with Proficient faculty being asked to help facilitate. The ubiquitous computing program is intended for the instructional staff. The collaborative tools program will be directed at all of the faculty, with administrative personnel, guidance, and support faculty involved in the creation of learning communities.
 * Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Problems: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Needs: **
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">1. Faculty need training in the exploitation of free and low cost solutions to instructional and organizational problems. The most significant changes in the computing paradigm over the last decade have come from free-to-use advertising-supported applications. Software such as Google’s application suite, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, et al. have changed the entire landscape of online usage without direct fees or residence on the host workstation. New applications of this type continue to appear (and disappear) rapidly. Faculty need to quickly evaluate and adopt practices that allow the use of such resources, while compensating for the changing surface of the playing field.
 * 2) //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">2. // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Prince George’s County Technology plan states, “Currently, the skills of our teaching staff vary widely. They can be considered ‘digital immigrants’ with expertise in academic areas, but still learning how to integrate technology into the curriculum. Teachers need to move from being comfortable with the hardware and expand their skills to include a variety of software applications that enhance and differentiate instruction. A challenge is that there is no mechanism in place to ensure that all staff continues their professional growth to develop necessary technology literacy skills, as well as skill in their content areas.” Assessing the level of individual teachers and bringing all instructional staff up to a highly functional minimum standard in technology use is the only way to provide all students with equal access and opportunity.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">3. Assessment of the efficacy and efficiency of technology initiatives is critical to identifying best practices in the classroom and in school management. All faculty must be able to assess programs based on objective measures.
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">4. Teachers and administrators need training in accurate data collection and the skills required to understand the reports generated and to make data-based decisions. Staff must be trained to use the test data warehouse, //Performance Matters.//
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">5. Instructional staff in all academic disciplines are directed to infuse technology into the curriculum. Training is needed to help teachers develop discipline-specific approaches to education which incorporates technology in an effective and appropriate manner.
 * 6) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">6. Professional development opportunities emphasizing collaboration through the use of learning communities, wikis, e-orgs, and similar venues should be provided.
 * 7) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">7. The county has invested in interactive equipment for schools, much of which is under-used. Faculty require hands-on training with equipment such as interactive whiteboards and visualizers to optimize the value of the investment.
 * 8) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">8. Schools are increasingly using an online test environment for administration of standardized tests. Professional development is necessary so that all potential test administrators and proctors are prepared to give tests in this environment without adding unnecessary complications for students.
 * 9) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">9. Professional development is needed to prepare staff to use digital libraries and implement the use of digital libraries by students.
 * 10) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">10. An assessment and training regimen for new teachers should be developed to ensure that they meet the same standards as existing faculty.
 * 11) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">11. As the school system moves toward offering more classes online, a process needs to be developed for identifying potential online instructors and mentors. They will require training and ongoing support as more students are able to take advantage of online classes offered by the school system.
 * 12) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">12. Train staff in use of Oracle self-service human resources modules to manage day-to-day activities such as request for leave and substitute assignment.
 * 13) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">13. Train staff in Warehouse Management system and Web-based Textbook Inventory Management.
 * 14) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">14. Train staff in compliance policy and procedures for the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
 * 15) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">15. Train staff in the regulations and directives contained in the county’s Acceptable Use Policy
 * 16) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">16. Train staff in Computer lab management software which is being installed in all schools.
 * 17) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">17. Each school and central office is to have a TIFA (Technology Inclusion for All) team. These teams must be created and trained to share information on accessibility related topics with all teachers and staff.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Audience: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">1) Assessment and Remediation <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">a) Goal: Bring all faculty to a level of ability that will allow them to effectively use technology to improve their ability to meet their professional responsibilities. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">i) Objectives: Assess the current functional level of all faculty and staff in the use of technological resources. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">ii) Assign faculty members to appropriate training to address any areas in which they need further professional development. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">iii) Develop faculty mentors and facilitators who can assist in creating an environment that encourages continuing professional development in the use of technological resources. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">2) Ubiquitous Computing <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">a) Goal: To maximize the educational benefits of widespread connectivity. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">i) Objectives: Educate faculty members in best practices and lesson plan development that exploit the used of low cost, internet-based software solutions. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">ii) Help faculty members to develop lessons and practices that make use of students’ access to personal electronic devices, such as smart phones, tablets, etc. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">3) Web 2.0 Collaboration <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">a) Goal: A faculty that uses web 2.0 instruments to work collaboratively, leveraging group resources to improve individual best practices <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">i) Objectives: Create appropriate professional development activities that will educate faculty in and encourage the creation of learning communities, wikis, e-orgs, etc. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">ii) Make learning communities an ongoing part of professional practice.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Goals and Objectives **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Media specialists || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Guidance Counselors <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Media Specialists || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">(skills are based on the Maryland Teacher Technology Standards) || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Technology Literacy Assessment || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">All staff || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Program Coordinators || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Testing coordinators <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Computer Lab Managers || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Media Specialists ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Content **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Area ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Workshop ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Audience ** ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Low Cost Solutions and Ubiquitous Computing || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cloud Computing for educators || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Classroom teachers ||
 * || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cloud Computing Security and Infrastructure || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">School and district technology personnel ||
 * || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Free e-books as textbooks || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Classroom teachers, particularly language arts and social studies teachers
 * || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Using free apps in the classroom || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Classroom teachers ||
 * || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Publishing student work online || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Classroom teachers ||
 * || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Strategies for bridging the digital divide || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Classroom teachers
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Skills Remediation
 * || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Information access, evaluation, processing, and application || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Staff members who score below proficient on the corresponding area of the assessment. ||
 * || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Use technology effectively and appropriately to interact electronically || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Staff members who score below proficient on the corresponding area of the assessment. ||
 * || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Understand the legal, social, and ethical issues related to technology use. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Staff members who score below proficient on the corresponding area of the assessment. ||
 * || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Analyze problems and develop data-driven solutions for instructional and school improvement. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Staff members who score below proficient on the corresponding area of the assessment. ||
 * || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Develop and implement lessons that incorporate technology in curriculum-based learning activities. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Staff members who score below proficient on the corresponding area of the assessment. ||
 * || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Assistive technology to enhance student learning performance. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Staff members who score below proficient on the corresponding area of the assessment. ||
 * || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Creating a professional development plan || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">All Staff ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Program Assessment || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Program Assessment for Administrators and Program Coordinators || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Administrators
 * || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Program Assessment for Classroom Educators || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Teachers ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Data-based Decision-making || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Collecting data and using it to make decisions in an instructional setting. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">All Staff ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Technology Infusion || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Developing lessons and units that effectively incorporate technology to enhance student learning. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Teachers, by department ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Web 2.0 Collaboration || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Creating Learning Communities || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">All staff ||
 * || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Media-rich collaboration || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">All staff ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Interactive Equipment || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Best practices in using interactive equipment in the classroom. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Teachers ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Online Test Environment || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Preparing students to take tests online. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Teachers
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Digital Libraries || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Using Digital Libraries as professionals, and in the classroom. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Teachers
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">New Teacher Training || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">New teacher orientation and system initiatives. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">New teachers ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Online Instructor Program || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Teaching the curriculum online. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Teachers who are interested in becoming online teachers and mentors. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Oracle Self-Service HR || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Online self-service of benefits, leave management, professional development, reviews and assessment. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">All Staff ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Online Warehouse and Textbook Management || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Using online tools for warehouse management and textbook inventory management. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Department Chairs and Teacher Coordinators ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">CIPA and FERPA || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Policy and procedures for compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">All Staff ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Acceptable Use Policy || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Implementing and understanding the district’s Acceptable Use Policy. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">All Staff ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Computer Lab Management || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Using computer lab management software to ensure appropriate use of resources || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Teachers ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">TIFA Teams || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Technology Inclusion for All Accessibility || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">School and Central Office TIFA teams. ||

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Addressing the assessing and remediation program, it is important to remember that those teachers who are not yet proficient in specific areas of educational technology are highly educated and accomplished professionals who should not be considered underperforming or ‘below grade level.’ Technology as a fundamental part of the educator’s toolkit is a relatively recent idea, so many educators who are otherwise brilliantly prepared to provide an exceptional instructional experience will require some additional support to meet the technology literacy standards. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Potential strategies to employ in these workshops include: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Creating podcasts in which teachers model best practices. Link the podcast to digital versions of the associated lesson plans, rubrics, student work, etc. so that teachers can see how the technology is integrated into and improves the lesson. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Creating a repository of tech resources and links that teachers can access. By having a common resource area, teachers will be able to access materials which are known to be tried and effective. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Completing activities and assignments that require uses of technology skills. Provide plenty of opportunity for practice. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Provide honest feedback that lets participants know where they are and what they need to work on. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Use faculty mentors for classroom observation and support. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Plan for follow-up sessions at regular intervals. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">This workshop addresses the need to raise and maintain a consistent level of expertise and implementation of technology among the faculty. It is aimed at bringing new and experienced teachers who need to improve their understanding of ways to develop and implement lessons that incorporate technology in curriculum-based learning activities. These workshops do not have prerequisites as they are aimed at the basic level.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Instructional Strategies **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Five Day Workshop **

__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Robert Hobbs Incorporating Technology in the Classroom Day 1 __ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">As internet research is one of the most common uses for technology in the classroom (and at home,) we will begin with information literacy. This topic will include defining research tasks, developing effective searches, critically evaluating source material for relevance, validity, and reliability, and appropriately using the information found. Standards for academic integrity will be discussed as well as best practices for implementation in the lesson plan. Teachers will develop assignments that incorporate information literacy objectives and also develop effective assessments of student performance. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will be able to define research tasks and design effective research methods. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will be able to critically evaluate a range of sources. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will be able to design lessons that effectively incorporate information literacy objectives. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will demonstrate an understanding of the standards of academic integrity as they apply to online research. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will be able to create valid assessments of student performance on information literacy tasks. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Students will begin by completing the web-based assignment at <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> which involves researching the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide, evaluating the provided sources for bias, and drawing conclusions based on internet research. The assignment illustrates a number of the issues raised when students are asked to find information online. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Instructors will discuss best practices in information literacy such as breaking assignments into chunks, and limiting the sources available for a research project. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will work in groups to research and develop classroom standards for academic integrity. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will develop lesson plans that integrate information literacy objectives and create rubrics for assessing student performance on those objectives.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Information Literacy and Computer-based research **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Content: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Objectives: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Teaching the lesson: **

__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Robert Hobbs Incorporating Technology in the Classroom Day 2 __ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Creating Online Resources for Students <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will learn about creating materials that their students can access online. Materials will include websites, blogs, wikis, podcasts, video demonstrations, animations, online quizzes, and presentations. Participants will learn best practices for using online materials effectively and tools for assessing their effectiveness. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will create a basic website using a simple design tool such as Google sites or Weebly. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will start a blog and link it to their website. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will demonstrate an understanding of best practices in the creation of online materials for student use. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will be able to evaluate the effectiveness of created materials in enhancing student learning. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will be walked through the creation of a website using a template-based design and hosting platform such as Google sites, Weebly, or Wix. Instructor will lead a discussion on potential purposes for teacher-created websites. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will walk through the creation of a blog using a template-based site. Various applications for the blog will be discussed and participants will create a link to the blog on their previously created website. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The instructor will show some examples of podcasts, video demonstrations, and user-created animations. Participants will spend some time searching for video material in their subject area and link to it from their webpage. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will take an online quiz created using a tool such as ThatQuiz or Quizinator. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will create a brief presentation summarizing the day’s material and post it on a presentation hosting site such as Prezi or Slideshare, and link the presentation to their website.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Content: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Objectives **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Teaching the lesson: **

__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Robert Hobbs Incorporating Technology in the Classroom Day 3 __ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Interactive Equipment and Presentation Software <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will spend the morning working with equipment that is available at the school or facility where they are located. Possible equipment might include SmartBoards, Visualizers, tablets, and clickers. In the afternoon participants will learn effective ways of using presentation software, such as PowerPoint, both for their own presentations, and for student presentations. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will be able to effectively use the interactive equipment that is available to them. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will demonstrate knowledge of best practices in the incorporation of interactive equipment into instructional activities. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will be able to create effective presentations using the appropriate software. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will be able to incorporate the creation of effective presentations into instructional activities. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Morning activities will depend on the equipment at hand. Instructors will lead a discussion on best practices for interactive devices and participants will employ the equipment to demonstrate their understanding. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will look at a number of presentations which are ineffective and discuss the principles that they fail to follow. Participants will revise existing presentations to make them more effective. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will create a lesson plan in which students are to create a presentation. The lesson plan will include creating an effective presentation.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Content **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Objectives: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Teaching the lesson: **

__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Robert Hobbs Incorporating Technology in the Classroom Day 4 __ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Publishing Student Work <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The internet provides new opportunities for publishing students work to the community or to the world. Participants will examine the use of blogs, image, presentation, and video-sharing sites, online newsletters and magazines. Participants will also look at ways of responding to internet-published material. They will discuss the promotion of appropriate online behavior in critiquing and replying to posted material and communication <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Participants will demonstrate a working understanding of the means and methods to publish student work online in various formats. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will engage in an online dialogue in response to published work, using an appropriate level of online etiquette. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will be able to evaluate the effectiveness of student publication projects in enhancing lesson plans. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will ‘tour’ a number of online venues to see how teachers and students are using classroom websites, blogs, audio, video, and image-sharing sites, online newsletters, and similar resources to publish student work and to engage students in responding to one another. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will work in groups to create classroom standards for responding to published work. The standards will include not only appropriate behavior, but also value, encouraging constructive and useful commentary and dialogue. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will create a product, (something quick, like a haiku) and post it to an instructor-created forum. They will then respond to their fellows’ products and reply to the responses they get. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will research and locate an online publication venue. They will assess its effectiveness in promoting the stated curriculum. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Instructor-created forum for the publication product should be stocked with some existing product and commentary. Comments can model both appropriate and inappropriate responses, as well as valuable and non-valuable responses.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Content: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Objectives **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Teaching the lesson: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Additional materials: **

__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Robert Hobbs Incorporating Technology in the Classroom Day 5 __ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Assessment and Evolution <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Evaluation of technology integration drives improvement and promotes an ongoing evolution of teaching practice. Teachers must examine each use of technology in their classroom to decide whether or not it meets the purposes for which it was intended. The workshop will suggest a process for evaluating technology integration on a periodic basis. In addition, this workshop will present some ideas for continuing to develop ideas to take advantage of the rapidly changing nature of educational technology. In the same way that professionals in any technologically advanced field require regular professional development to stay current, teachers need to develop a personal plan for continuing their education. Understanding that the teacher is the key element in the success of technology integration into lesson plans underscores the need for ongoing development of the educator as a resource. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will demonstrate the ability to evaluate the implementation of a technology resource in an educational setting. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will assess the suitability of technology resources for inclusion in future lesson planning. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will develop a personal professional development plan. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Instructor and participants will discuss the goals of technology integration. Participants will work in groups to define the indicators of success. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will use an instructor created tool to evaluate sample technology resource implementations for value, validity, and effectiveness. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will research resources for ongoing development of current technology ideas and the skills required to exploit them. Participants will develop a personal professional development plan. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sample materials: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Did the technology resource meet the goals of the lesson plan?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Content: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Objectives: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Teaching the lesson: **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Technology Integration Evaluation ** ||
 * || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Yes/No ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">How can this be improved? ** ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Does this technology expand the classroom to include outside elements? ||  ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Does the technology add value to the lesson? ||  ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Does the technology encourage authentic learning? ||  ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Does using the technology increase understanding of the material and not just information? ||  ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Does the technology enable diverse student performance? ||  ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Are students active users of the technology? ||  ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Are the technology tools being used current? ||  ||   ||

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Recommendation: (Continue, Revise, or Scrap)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The workshop as presented will be offered at a few locations to small groups with different instructors. Each instructor and participant will submit evaluations and suggestions for revision. Based on the feedback collected from the field tests, content will be added or deleted, activities will be adjusted for time, and ineffective activities will be replaced with activities that support the same objectives. If required revisions are substantial, further field tests will be conducted before roll out <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Each workshop participant will complete an evaluation survey to identify which elements were successful and valuable. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participants will engage in an ongoing evaluation process with facilitators to assess their continued use of technology in their lesson plans. An online learning community will be established that allows participants to provide feedback and to engage in continuing professional development in the workshop area. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Faculty mentors will informally observe the classrooms of participants to evaluate the application of workshop content on an ongoing basis. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Instructor time 30 hours at $40/hour $1200 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The workshops will use existing school system computer labs and equipment. Training will be scheduled during district-mandated professional development days and teachers will be paid as normal. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Creating a level playing field in which all faculty are able to effectively use technology is the only way to ensure that students have equal access. A systematic assessment of existing skills and knowledge enables targeted remediation to address areas of need. In addition, educators must be encouraged to keep up their own professional development in order to maintain currency in a rapidly-changing environment. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“If we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow.” – John Dewey //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Or to put it another way // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present.” – Abraham Lincoln
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Field Test and Revision: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Evaluation: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Budget **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">: (per workshop session)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Conclusion: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Prince George’s County Public Schools (2008). Technology Plan 2008-2012. Retrieved from <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">[|http://www1.pgcps.org] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Maryland State Department of Education Program Approval and Assessment Branch (2002). Maryland Teacher Technology Standards. Retrieved from <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">[]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">References **