Instructional Technology

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Instructional TechnologyInvestment,
Interactivity, Initiative

• ViTaL
• May 7, 2008

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Round Rock ISD Presenters

• Ed Zaiontz, Executive Director, Information
  Services
• Mary Jo Humphreys, Director, Instructional
  Technology Specialist
• Lannon Heflin, District Instructional Technology
  Specialist for Secondary Schools

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Elementary Interactive Classrooms

• MaryJo Humphreys

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Hardware
Ceiling Mounted Data Projector and Speakers
Laptop Computer
32 ActiVotes
ActiPen
Wall Mounted ActiveBoard
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Pilot Phase of Project 2006-2007

• Identified 3 campuses based on TAKS data, Title
  1, and Bilingual status
• Installed 10 classrooms in grades 3, 4, 5
• Two Instructional Technology staff members
  attended training in
• Conducted after school and full-day training

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Pilot Expansion Phase2007-2008

• (August 2007) Added a total of 8 additional
  classrooms at the 3 original elementary campuses
  and added 4 classes at 2 middle schools
• After school and whole day training by
  Instructional Technology
• Unit/Lesson planning with teachers during
  grade-level planning times
• Established after school user group

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Project Expansion Spring 2008

• Expanding project to include all Title 1 and
  bilingual elementary campuses
• 146 3rd, 4th, 5th classrooms on 11 campuses,

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Strengths

• Provides engaging environments and appeals to
  diverse learners through multiple intelligences
• Manipulatives
• Videos
• Interactivity
• Contextual learning opportunities
• Multiple opportunities for teacher collaboration
  with others in the district and throughout the
  world
• Engaged students less off-task behavior

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Challenges

• Cost factor to reproduce these environments
  across the district in all 3rd, 4th and 5th grade
  classrooms
• Teachers must be willing to change and spend more
  time learning the technology and creating
  student-centered classrooms
• Instructional Technology Specialists are not
  always on campus to support needs of teachers and
  students

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Secondary Interactive Classrooms

• Lannon Heflin

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High School Intelligent Classroom Project
Background

• Technology Long Range Planning Committee
• Project KIDS Recommendations for the 2005 Bond
  Election
• RRISDs Long Range Plan for Technology (2005
  2008)

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Differentiated Technology Matrix
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Initial Project Scope

• 16 high school classrooms
• 4 classrooms at each high school
• 1 language arts, 1 math, 1 science, and 1 social
  studies
• 8 Intelligent Classrooms funded by Dell
  Computer, Inc.
• 8 Intelligent Classrooms funded by Round Rock
  ISD

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Selecting Teachers

• Four teachers from each of the four high schools
  in the core subject areas (language arts, math,
  social studies, science)
• Teachers complete an application which is
  reviewed by the principal with input from campus
  instructional technology specialist and approved
  by Instructional Technology Department
• Teachers chosen for willingness and skill as an
  educator, not for affinity for technology
  leading to a wide spectrum of experience with
  technology

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Project Scope

• Core hardware/software
• 32 student notebook computers (2 carts)
• 1 teacher notebook computer
• 1 laser printer
• 1 ceiling-mounted data projector w/speakers
• 1 document camera
• 1 TurningPoint response system
• 1 Interactive Slate Pad
• Digital cameras, digital camcorders

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Project Scope Continued

• Core hardware/software
• TeacherWeb
• Quia accounts
• Access to Moodle (coming soon)
• Subject specific software (i.e. Geometer
  Sketchpad, GIS)

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Current Project Description

• 48 high school classrooms
• 12 classrooms at each high school
• 3 language arts, 3 math, 3 science, and 3 social
  studies
• Intention of adding 16 more classrooms in the
  08-09 academic year
• Classes range from intervention level to most
  advanced level

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Anticipated Outcomes

• Model Classrooms of Excellence
• Improve students overall attitudes towards their
  education resulting in better quality products
  and participation, better attendance, ownership
  and value in learning, more efficient use of
  classroom time
• Input from HS teachers, students, and parents for
  effective utilization of technology and input for
  a future RRISD instructional technology
  deployments (elemental expansion into middle and
  elementary schools)
• Share the HS Intelligent Classroom model with
  other school districts

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Observable Outcomes

• Research to support best practices including, but
  not limited to
• Texas STaR Chart Results
• Student attitudes towards school and school work
• Student attendance and on task behavior
• Student achievement and critical thinking skills
• Changes in instructional delivery
• Changes in productivity for students, teachers
  and administrators

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Professional Development

• Opportunities are provided
• In real-time, as needed interactions with
  teachers to assist in planning and supporting
  learning
• As periodic, after-school, specific learning
  topics delivered by fellow project teachers who
  can model best practices with a particular
  product or strategy
• Once per semester full day trainings that cover
  topics more deeply
• One full day of summer staff development (in
  July)

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Teachers Comments

• The implementation of the Intelligent Classrooms
  has provided students with access to real-time
  current events.
• Students are more aware of the happenings in the
  world.
• The resources available in the Intelligent
  Classroom project has propelled me to think out
  of the box, and I am teaching real-time events
  and using the text book only as a guide.
• The technology has increased the students
  creativity.

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Teacher Comments

• The Intelligent classroom has changed the way I
  have taught, students are presenting more of the
  material now rather than teacher-led discussions
  and lectures.
• For the first time I have been able to
  individualize instruction for my students.
• I am better able to prepare my students for the
  state test because I am able to immediately
  assess their understanding of the benchmarks, and
  I know when I need to re-teach skills.
• I have noticed students in Intelligent
  Classrooms were transferring higher-order
  thinking skills and technology knowledge they
  acquired in these classes to their other subject
  areas.

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Middle School Interactive Classrooms

• Currently
• 44 Electronic Whiteboards - 3M Digital Media
  System 800 Series received as a grant
• Installed in 36 8th grade math classrooms in
  spring of 2007
• Serving approximately 2900 students on eight
  campuses

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Middle School Interactive Classrooms

• Currently
• Additional boards kept to be installed in the 9th
  middle school currently under construction
• Training provided in the spring of 2007, fall of
  2008 (for those who needed it) and a full day
  will be given in summer 2008.

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New Schools Technology Infrastructure

• Ed Zaiontz

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PA, Bell Clock System

• IP based system

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PA, Bell Clock System
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Classroom PA Bell System
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Clocks

• Synchronized Digital Wall Clock System
• Classroom Clocks Elem. MS
• 4 inch single sided clock per classroom

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Classroom Video Projector System

• No TVs in the classrooms
• Limited coax cable
• No customized furniture for TV display
• No electrical infrastructure for TV displays
• Limited LCD displays on the campus
• All classrooms will have a ceiling-mounted data
  projector

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Classroom Video Projector System
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IP Video Media Distribution System
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Role of the Instructional Technology Specialist
and Professional Development

• MaryJo Humphreys

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Instructional Support Services

• Instructional Technology
• Curriculum
• Libraries, Counselors, Nurses
• Special Ed
• Leadership
• Fine Arts
• Student Diversity (ESL Bilingual)
• CTE (Career and Technical Education)
• College and Career Readiness
• Response to Intervention
• Professional Development
• Community Schools

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Campus ITS

• 45 campuses 32 Instructional Technology
  Specialists
• Ensure staff proficiency on all district systems
  (email, gradebook, ARRC, web pages, prof. dev.
  tracking, etc.)
• First line of defense for troubleshooting
• Maintain hardware/software and schedule use of
  equipment and facilities, including assistance
  with refresh cycle
• Assist teachers in integrating technology into
  the lessons and the aligned curriculum

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Campus ITS

• Work collaboratively to integrate technology
  solutions (interactive classroom initiatives)
• Maintain and troubleshoot campus network
• Align campus plans to STaR chart and District
  Technology Plan
• Maintain campus websites, assist teachers with
  teacher web site
• Assist with campus audio and video productions
• Provide input into use of campus technology funds

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Information Systems Support

• Information Systems (45 employees)
• MIS / Student Information System
• Network Specialists
• PC and Laptop Support
• Telecommunications
• Video Services
• Technical Operations

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Professional Development

• ITS support and training
• Monthly meetings
• TCEA
• Online collaborative tools

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Professional Development

• Campus-based
• ITS train in staff meetings or campus prof. dev.
  days
• ITS offer support in real time (in classrooms as
  needed)
• ITS works with departments/teams during
  conference times, before/after school, or during
  school days (substitutes provided by IT)

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Professional Development

• District-wide
• All Staff RRISD July 7 17
• TeacherWeb
• Office 2007
• Student Response Systems
• Web 2.0
• Digital Stories
• Webquests
• Technology component in all prof. dev. trainings
  (on evaluation tool)

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Professional Development

• New Initiative Web 2.0 Online course
• Developed by ITS
• 7 week course 7th week is 6 weeks after 6th
  week to get feedback from use in classroom
• Includes Blogs, RSS, Wikis, Podcasts, Media
  (photo, music, video), Web 2.0 tool of choice

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Professional Development

• New Initiative Robotics Pilot in the Middle
  Schools
• 1 math, 1 science and 1 ITS from 4 middle schools
• dTeach
• After-school club sponsor
• First Lego League
• Summer camp 2009

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Thank you!!!
http//www.roundrockisd.org/home/index.asp?page7
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