Technology in the Pelham Schools

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Technology in the Pelham Schools

• Report to Board of Education
• Kathy McGrath John Griffiths
• March 3, 2003

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BOE Presentation Overview

• Historical Perspective
• Technology in the Pelham Schools Today
• Tools for Teaching and Learning
• Life Skills
• Staff Development
• Administrative Functions
• Program Evaluation
• Challenges
• Recommendations
• Action Plan for Improvement
• Proposed Projects
• Emerging Technologies

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Technology in Pelham Schools An Historical
Perspective
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Technology in the Instructional Program
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Curriculum Tools Research Information
Centers DataCollection, access, display Web
Sites Foreign Language Lab Bio Tech
Lab Technology Classrooms Courseware Visuals Prese
ntation Materials Web Quests Journalism Publishing
Art Tools eCHalk
Assessment Tools Writing Process Presentations P
owerPoint TimeLiner HyperStudio KidPix
Studio Video Creation Web publishing Document
Creation Threaded Discussions Regents Exam
Practice Skill and conceptual practice Student
Response Pads new
The Tools
Instructional Tools Differentiation Learning
Styles Presentation Visualization Project-based
learning Interdisciplinary Learning Simulations
eChalk Threaded discussions
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Skills for Life

• Computer Science
• Computer Literacy
• e-mail
• Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Timeliner,
  Inspiration
• file management
• keyboarding
• Technology EducationTools for Problem-Solving
• structure design, music production, robotics,
  rocketry, etc.
• Information Literacy
• Data access, analysis and presentation
• Media Arts
• Graphic Design
• Digital Imaging
• Animation and 3-D development
• Video Production

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Supporting Student Learning Beyond the Classroom

• Guidance
• Academic Intervention Services
• Speech
• Special Education
• Extra-curriculum/Co-Curricular
• School Newspapers
• School Yearbooks
• Town Meetings

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Staff Development

• District Staff
• Technology Learning Facilitator
• Teacher Leaders
• Pace Interns
• Teacher Mentors
• District Programs
• Collegial Study Groups
• Professional Growth Plans
• Online courses
• Summer Curriculum Writing
• CIAC Curriculum Model
• Pelham Workshops
• Staff Networking formal and informal

• BEPT
• NYIT Instructional Technology Masters Program
• COURSES
• CONFERENCE DAYS
• Technology and Teaching Workshops
• Baseline of competencies
• Instructional Tools
• Interdisciplinary by nature
• Project-based
• Technology rich curriculum
• Includes presentation and materials

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What is eChalk?

• eChalk provides each school with its own private,
  secure, easy-to-use intranet.
• The eChalk application includes

• Student safe email
• A school directory
• Online classrooms
• Web-based file storage

• An online school calendar
• Web publishing tools
• Ongoing dedicated support

• Schools and districts use eChalk to improve
  communication between staff members, between
  teachers and students, and between the school,
  parents, and the local community.

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APPR
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Content Knowledge

• Best Practices
• Curriculum Mapping Software
• Access to state standards
• Access to online courses
• Access to list servs
• Video conference staff development
• BEPT

• Technology Learning Facilitator
• TnT

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Preparation

• Digital Content
• Engaging, interactive, simulations etc.
• Presentations -
• PowerPoint, Inspiration, Timeliner,
• Videos
• Curriculum Materials Preparations
• Access to Best Practices

• eChalk post files to eChalk

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Instructional Delivery

• Engage and motivate
• Internet field trips
• Access to experts in the field
• Monitor progress with Ischoolzone or other
  courseware packages
• Threaded discussion - gives all students
  opportunities to participate thus enabling
  embedded assessment
• Student Response Pads
• Supports the visual learners - graphing
  calculators, math software, simulations, visuals,
  presentations
• Technology use actively engages students
• computer lab, libraries, wireless, student
  response pads

• TnT curriculum design model
• Smart Boards/video boards

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Classroom Management

• Attendance, record keeping
• Electronic grade book
• Access to student data
• E-mail students and parents
• Paperwork reduction

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Student Development

• Technology empowers learners
• Technology supports differentiation of
  instruction
• different levels of software, different
  resources, provides for different learning styles
  - Inspiration, enables independent learning
• Technology supports cooperative learning - 1
  computer per group
• Technology enables a risk -free environment for
  learning
• eInstruction, threaded discussion, practice,
  writing,
• Provide access to assignments, quizzes,
  worksheets, notes, research sites, groups on web
• Life Skills video, graphic arts, MS Office,
  email,

• internet, computer science, animation etc.
• Creativity
• Appreciate diversity key pals , chats,
  synchronous class - to - class discussion

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Assessment

• Written work
• research paper, PowerPoint presentations,
  newsletters, travel brochures, interactive
  timelines
• Student Presentations
• Published works
• web pages, poetry, newsletters, discussions
• CAI - Ischoolzone, Riverdeep,
• Student Response Pads
• Threaded Discussions
• Video book reports
• Video broadcasts

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Administrative Tools
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Administrative Uses

• Pentamation Student Services
• Attendance Data Analysis
• Grade Reporting
• Scheduling
• Pentamation
• Financial Services
• Personnel Records
• eCHALK
• Home/School Communication
• e-mail system
• district and school web pages on-line
  classrooms

• School Report Cards
• LEAP STEP
• IEP Direct
• Special Education
• Facilities Management
• HVAC Systems
• Security Systems
• Phones
• Staff Recruitment

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Program Evaluation
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Program Evaluation

• Dr. Mojkowski Technology Application Associate
  1998 and 2003
• Staff Surveys
• Focus Groups
• Teachers
• Administrators
• Students
• On-line Course
• Instructional Technology Sharing Best Practices
• Student Work

• Curriculum Units, Lesson Plans

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Some Findings...

• Principals report - more sophisticated use
• Teachers report the daily use of technology to
  support specific instructional objectives
• Mojkowski many teachers are making substantial,
  and in some cases optimal uses, of technology
• Evidence from threaded discussion and survey that
  teachers understand and value the use of
  technology as a tool for teaching and learning
• Best PracticesTnT curriculum units represent a
  substantial growth in the use of technology
• Some teachers need continued and different kinds
  of support to fully utilize the power of
  technology
• Students and administrators note that students
  are quite adept users of technology
• HS students would like to see more teachers
  use
• eChalk and other technology applications

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• Gap exists between use of technology in MS and
  expectations for use in HS
• Baseline of teacher competencies exists
• Need additional and more specific staff
  development opportunities
• Teachers remark that the support team is great
  but their time is limited
• Some teachers report they have done as much as
  they could with existing technology
• Teachers report that it was difficult to use the
  limited number of computers...
• Some teachers report they are frustrated because
  their computers dont always work
• Evidence that there is little if any resistance
  to using technology
• Teachers concerned about the 10 - 25 of students
  without adequate home technology
• Teachers value the large monitor in classrooms

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• Teachers identified the following impact on
  student learning
• increased motivation when students are engaged in
  real-world learning using real work tools
• increased independent and small group learning
• productive use of the Internet supports
  problem-solving and research
• more sophisticated approaches are used to
  identify and analyze information resources
• more sophisticated use of graphics and multimedia
• better understanding of concepts and principals
  in math and science
• improved writing
• increased productivity in organizing, analyzing
  and
• presenting information

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• Teachers identified other possible training and
  support services
• mastering specific skills and specific software
• develop additional technology -rich units and
  materials
• develop classroom procedures and routines for
  incorporating technology in day -to - day
  instruction
• using grading and attendance software
• developing class web pages
• in-depth training and support for using eChalk
• more effective use of the library computer labs
• in class demonstrations and modeling
• networking
• brief targeted sessions best

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Report on Current Projects

• Spectrum/Winnebago...Electronic Library
• eChalk District Web Page
• TnT Staff Development
• Wireless/Laptop Pilot
• Digital Video
• IEP Direct

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Recommendations
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Action Plan

• Develop and implement a new training model.
• Maximize existing support both technical and
  instructional.
• Research and make recommendations for citrix/thin
  client technologies.
• Develop and implement a replacement plan
  increase access, plan for laptops.
• Develop a workshop series for the Guidance Dept.
  and Administrative Team.
• Focus on technology applications for student
  services, administrative functions, data driven
  decision making.
• Increase use of technology in the instructional
  program in the HS.
• Increase the effective use of eChalk.
• Develop system-wide tools for evaluating the
  impact on student learning journals,
  self-assessment forms, observation protocol.

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Proposed Continuing Projects

• Video Conferencing - PEF Grant
• Increase use of Smart Board/Capture Board
  Technologies - PEF Grant
• eChalk and web-based resources
• Excelsior Software Electronic Gradebook with
  period by period attendance
• Atlas Software Curriculum Mapping
• Data Warehousing
• New Courses
• Broadcast Journalism
• Words and Images
• Computer Science
• Video Production

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Whats Next

• Increased importance of video in the
  instructional program
• Increased importance of technology in data
  analysis and decision making
• Distance Education (synchronous)
• video conferencing
• video field trips
• courses

• Systemic implementation
• Digital Books
• On-line Classrooms Courses (asynchronous)
• Homebound instruction
• Thin Client (Citrix Servers)
• Increased access to computers and/or devices for
  all teachers and students
• On-line assessments

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Challenges

• Planning for technology
• Rate of change
• Costs
• Equitable access
• home and school
• Infrastructure/bandwidth requirements

• Legal/Ethical uses
• Monitoring uses
• Unevenness of implementation
• Number of new teachers

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Technology Infrastructure

• Computers and other devices
• TI83, palms, student response pads, wireless,
  peripherals, cameras, storage devices, assistive,
  smart boards, interactive boards
• Local and Wider Area Networks
• Servers
• Services
• Internet
• Intranet
• Network consultant
• Distance Learning
• Assistive Technology Evaluations

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Guiding Documents and Policy

• Board Policy
• Staff Guidelines
• Student Guidelines
• Strategic Plan

Thank you for your interest in the technology of
the Pelham Public Schools