| Transcript: Janet: Hello, I’m Janet McLendon "live from the Crystal Coast".I hope you had a chance to view the clip art on the Teachers Connect Town Meeting home page. How many times have you been pulled by the people on each island? Are you drowning or just treading water because others are pulling from all directions? Hopefully, this forum will connect Instructional Technologists across the state. I am really looking forward to additional and innovative strategies that will help all Instructional Technologists "keep their heads above water and rescue a few along the way". Using a chat medium for quality discussion requires some ground (or water) rules. I would like for us to get as much information as possible in the next hour. I have taken the liberty of preparing some text that I will paste in and give you time to read. I am going to pose a generic question followed by some background information. Then I will ask you to "jump in the water" -- by that I mean offer some specifics that could benefit us all. To show that we understand the format, please acknowledge by stating who you are and that you agree. Cabarrus County: Hello from Cabarrus County. We're Andy Watson, Brenda Lange, and Beverly Randall--technology specialists in elementary school settings. Joe: Hi, Joe here, I’m on board Morehead City Primary: Hi! We agree at Morehead City Primary Sue Wood: Hi, I'm ready too. Glenn Gurley: Same here from Gaston County - Glenn Gurley I agree
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Janet: OK ----let’s begin to swim. What does it mean to empower people? Morehead City Primary: Give them the tools and let them go and do on their own. Be a leader! Cabarrus County: We think it means that you give them the skill set to do their job comfortably. Sue Wood: To give the knowledge and understanding to move ahead with their ideas. Janet: Great! Keep it up! To empower means to give teachers a voice in the decision making process to accomplish their objectives. Empowerment includes a balance of trust, open communication, recognition and appreciation of hard work. That balance will impact their self-esteem and a sense of being successful. It also means sharing the leadership roles. Morehead City Primary: Can you tell us how you empower your teachers? Janet: That's our next question. We will address it in a couple of minutes. Janet: To empower means to give teachers a voice in the decision making process to accomplish their objectives. Empowerment includes a balance of trust, open communication, recognition and appreciation of hard work. That balance will impact their self-esteem and a sense of being successful. It also means sharing the leadership roles. Janet: The goal of this session is to provide tools for Instructional Technologists (IT) to function as change agents and to empower teachers to think of more effective ways to integrate technology into the curriculum. Hopefully, each of you will nurture teachers with the instructional and technology skills necessary for them to function at their optimal capacities.
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| Janet: Ok, What are some specific strategies you have
used to empower teachers with technology? Morehead City Primary: Model lessons, software and work with them to put together class projects. South Smithfield: We have after school technology staff development Morehead City Primary: So do we. I have found mini homework activities as follow ups get the teachers using the staff development knowledge. If they do not see a reason to use it, they will not. Cabarrus County: Large, small group workshops, one on one Janet: Great! South Smithfield: We have set up two Internet connections per classroom. We still need to purchase hardware to use all the connections Cabarrus County: I meet weekly with each grade level to plan the next week's activities, provide inservice.
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| South Smithfield: We participated in a
live estuary using video conferencing software in November. Janet: So did we. How did you empower your teachers to get them on board the estuary project? Morehead City Primary: I kind of just drafted the teacher I worked with. Cabarrus County: Letting them know the project exists is part of the picture. Then finding where it ties into the curriculum is also a key component. South Smithfield: I invited our science resource to join in and we combined classrooms and expertise
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| Janet: Ready to move? What are some of the broad
functions of your job? There will be a 5 minute cap for obvious reasons that only ITs
know. Janet: Staff Development Coordinator Cabarrus County: Walk on water; leap tall building with a single bound... Janet: I hear you! Janet: Network Administrators Morehead City Primary: Preview software, load computers, troubleshoot computers and PRINTERS, demonstrate, model, word processing skills. Cabarrus County: AMEN, Morehead City, plus staff development on the 14 educators’ strands, purchase hardware & software, have fundraisers for the previously mentioned items Janet: Everyone is welcome to join in! Janet: Techy Janet: Teacher South Smithfield: We will be introducing the Alpha Smart program in our school this spring. I feel this will involve the teachers with their students using technology Morehead City Primary: Do you use Alpha Smart for keyboarding skills? South Smithfield: yes and for all writing skills Cabarrus County: All our teachers (44 of them) have one but I don't think they are used. Hoping to upgrade to Alpha 2000, which seem better Janet: Purchase Orders of hardware and software, Fortune Tellers, Testing Glenn Gurley: Preparation for testing Janet: Help, I’m drowning!!!!!!!! How about you? Janet: Would it help if we broke our jobs into three components? "Keeping your eye on the BIG picture" is a start. The BIG picture includes the following components: integration, staff development and the techy stuff. Glenn Gurley: That will help...
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| Janet: As Instructional Technologists, we
must give teachers the authority and responsibility to achieve integrating the technology
curriculum into their curriculum. We need to listen to teachers’ needs, benefit from
their curriculum expertise, and try to subsidize their needs with strategies. Morehead City Primary: We do have help in Carteret County with a technology specialist who will come and troubleshoot difficult computers. We do have quite a few of those kinds of computers lately! Janet: Here are some of my tried and true empowerment strategies to help Instructional Technologists do all the jobs required. Let’s visit some familiar islands!!! Janet: First, the Isle of Staff Development Janet: Strategy: Welcome and encourage teacher participation in decision making process about staff development (when, where and how it will be conducted). Listen to their concerns about time and ask for ways to accommodate their schedules instead of our own. Make them the focus! Morehead City Primary: Be careful that you do not try and accommodate too many different groups of teachers. I did that in Nov. and Dec. and wore myself out. I had staff development everyday but Friday! Cabarrus County: Once a week for staff development is plenty! You can't spread yourself too thin - that's done for you. Morehead City Primary: How do you do that with a large school? Especially primary who do not have planning periods. They have to come after school and they want hands on. Our lab only has 26 computers. That did not even cover the assistants who need and want the training. Cabarrus County: You're really right. Some of our schools are large and there is no answer that we know of. Some of us have two labs so sometimes we can do inservice during the day.
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| Janet: Strategy: Create staff development lessons with
clear objectives they need to accomplish and let them work on their own. Remember the
syllabus the professors gave us in college? Sue Wood: Janet, that is a good idea. Maybe we need to do more individual field studies with an end product. Janet: We create (instructional) centers. Like in the Kindergarten class. Morehead City Primary: Janet, share some ideas with instructional centers. Cabarrus County: My staff does not work well on their own until after instruction coupled with very detailed handouts. Janet: Give the teachers instruction and cheat sheets and let them go!! They can do it at home or school. Cabarrus County: Our workshops include homework- Glenn Gurley: I like the idea of instructional centers...
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| Janet: Next stop...... the Techy Isle How long does it take a techy to walk to his/her office or room? A five-minute walk turns to a 30-minute walk. Janet: Most of us have been bombarded with technical questions on the way to and from our office or room. What are some suggestions to help us with this problem? Morehead City Primary: I try not to leave the computer lab:) If I do I borrow one of the media coordinators hats or masks:) Cabarrus County: Have them submit their tech request in writing - ask them politely to put it in your mailbox. Janet: Strategy: Ask teachers to write down the problem and date it or better yet email the description of the problem. Then they can be prioritized by importance and needs, and you can send them suggestions to try first. Cabarrus County: I always tell them they can tell it to me verbally, but I'll probably forget. Writing it down will get results much better. Morehead City Primary: I use a similar form that has really helped. It keeps me straight and I am more apt not to forget what I am doing. Cabarrus County: Plus it helps us when we have to document what we've been doing all day and it provides a paper trail to show what tech support that particular machine has required in the past.
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| Janet: Strategy: Create and send teachers cheat
sheets!!!!! Teachers will try a "fool proof" cheat sheet if the tech person
can’t come right away. It takes a little while to create cheat sheets but it seems
the same questions get asked repeatedly. If you have email, just cut and paste the
instructions they need to fix the problem and send it to them. Strategy: Show teachers how to do simple computer maintenance before they begin using their computer(s) for instruction that day (technical and staff development opportunity) (rebuilding the desktop, defragging, check connections etc). It is just like going through a flight check before take off. It may prevent a crash! Remember, our job is to make sure they fly with technology. Strategy: Model the technology portion of the lesson they already teach. "Proof is in the pudding" and if we show them how easy and meaningful the technology portion is to incorporate they will be quicker to do it again.
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Sue Wood: I know one county that is doing all their training with LearnNC with instruction sheets, assignment modules, etc. like a field study. When assignments are completed, they get their renewal credit. Janet: Strategy: Take teachers where they are in their technical skills and build from there. It is very important teachers feel successful each step of the way. The more technical skills they have, the less the ITs have to visit them. Janet: Strategy: There is one in every group! You know the closet computer user. Ask those teachers to be members of the tech team (if you are lucky, you may find one in each strategic area and/or grade level of your school). They can help with the decisions about staff development, hardware needs, and are even willing to help with the first line of defense--troubleshooting. The tech team can even show others how to use the technology. Use the resources within your school. There are usually teachers who specialize in a certain piece of software that can help others. You know ... the Integrade, spreadsheet, desktop publishing, email or Internet experts who are just waiting to show others what they know.
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| Janet: How many times has a techy been caught without
his/her tools? Cabarrus County: What does that mean - without his/her tools? Further info, please Janet: Strategy: Save a step... carry a container with a handle or better yet (if you are not to vain) wear a hands-free tool belt (free from most hardware stores). The contents of the container or tool belt should be tools (screwdriver, twisters, large paper clip---anything, to work on the hardware and reload software not loaded on the network), canned air, drive cleaners, extra Ethernet cords, etc. Cabarrus County: Personally I use my large pockets to hold my tools Morehead City Primary: You should definitely buy clothes with large pockets. Glenn Gurley: I have two bags that always stay in my car... Glenn Gurley: I travel from place to place... never know when you will need something...
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| Janet: Our last stop on this trip is to the Isle of
Instruction Janet: I hope this information demonstrates a methodology for approaching the integration of technology into existing lesson plans. Janet: Strategy: Allow teachers to define their curriculum needs first, then collaborate ways to include technology to promote applicable learning. Be highly interactive with teachers, build on previous work and personal experiences, and promote the technology competencies relevant to enhancing their lessons. Introduce the basic tools for using technology effectively and successfully. It may be necessary to model the lesson using technology the first time. Janet: Next time the lesson is taught, add additional technology by incorporating skills like databases, spreadsheets and the Internet to lesson. Try to make the lessons meaningful and have a purpose (not only because it is the Standard Course of Study but also because students can use the information to make decisions and transfer and apply what they have learned to other areas). We don’t like busy work and neither do students. Janet: Finally encourage teachers to use each other as resources for ideas, technical support and be sure to share, share, share with others.
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| Janet: What are your thoughts? Cabarrus County: It's always good to model first, team teach a follow up lesson, and then turn the teacher lose for the third and "lurk" in the room in case she needs ready assistance. Cabarrus County: Each grade level at our school is required to fill out a sheet on what their main topics are for the week. They are sent to all special area teachers, including the technology specialists so that when we meet with them we can come prepared with materials to share with them that include technology. Janet: Great! Other ideas? Sue Wood: Cab county, you could almost use the mentoring concept with technology training. Cabarrus County: it's been done! Cabarrus County: I currently have two mentees that I help out once a month Janet: Cabarrus has a wonderful setup also. Cabarrus County: People wise, yes. We are behind other folks as far as networking and possibly hardware is concerned. Janet: But you have a vision and a goal. Joe: Isn't that vision based somewhat on the ACOT research? Cabarrus County: Having a vision AND an instructional technology specialist in EACH school, plus four technicians doesn't hurt. Morehead City Primary: We are choosing 4 strands of the Technology Competencies, Part 1 to focus on this year. It has really been going well. We are spending one month on each strand. Assignments are given at the end to allow the teachers to practice and demonstrate their knowledge. Janet: Great, MCP! Morehead City Primary: We do not have coordinator in every school but the tech specialists are great. Cabarrus County: Those assignments are important. We call them homework assignments and give them a reasonable deadline to complete their tasks. Janet: Finally encourage teachers to use each other as resources for ideas, technical support and be sure to share, share, share with others. Cabarrus County: Sounds like our job description to me. Morehead City Primary: We do have a great tech team at our school. They are learning more everyday.
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| Janet: Is it possible to bring the islands to the
mainland by combining staff development, technical skills and helping teachers incorporate
technology in their instruction at the same time? How? Janet: Strategy: Allow teachers to work together with you on curriculum projects that involve technology. They will learn about databases, spreadsheets, and use Internet skills when it is necessary to use them. Who says staff development has to be held from 3pm to 5pm after school? Spread the fun and responsibilities. Remember--two and three heads are better than one. Example: A seventh grade English/LA class is reading Where the Red Fern Grows, and wants to research different types of dogs (instructional, technical and staff development opportunity), great database idea huh? So take it a step higher; research to help match dogs to certain criteria they and their teachers have in mind for their next dog? Janet: Teachers were asked what desired size, color, type, where they originated (yes, they study some of those places in Social Studies) and other related information they would need about a dog they would like and the students. Teacher, students and IT defined the fields and students entered their dog’s information (technical opportunity). Students used their database skills to find the right dog for each teacher and themselves. Some teachers were not sure how to use the find, sort and match function of the database and so the database lesson was modeled (staff development opportunity) for the teachers until they felt comfortable teaching on their own. Janet: The math teachers jumped on board and decided to create a spreadsheet to find out how much it would cost to own a small, medium and large dog. They also researched (instructional, technical and staff development opportunity) the veterinarian, grooming, food and boarding costs. Students discovered why their parents kept saying no when they asked for a dog. Janet: Special needs teachers discovered the hands-on, high interest, meaningful lessons helped their students be more successful and the lessons didn’t need to be modified except lowering the number of questions asked not the difficulty (Note: some student’s had reading modifications which were honored). Janet: Social Studies teachers can compare the technology and the economics of the setting of Where the Red Fern Grows with today life. What did the young man in the book do to make enough money to buy a dog? How long did it take him? How much and what could you do to earn enough money to purchase the dog you want?
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| Cabarrus County: Time crunches seem to hold us back.
Elementary people don't have the planning space in their schedule to take time to think
and plan well. They have so many other meetings that we are the last people they want to
hear from sometimes. Glenn Gurley: It is important to model for many teachers. It is exciting to see their reactions when they really "see" how technology can be effectively utilized to enhance instruction... Joe: Great Job, Janet!!!!! Janet: Thanks Sue Wood: Do the teachers at your school go with their classes to the lab and work with the lab instructor? (elementary grades) Janet: Yes Cabarrus County: The teachers go to the lab but they teach the classes. There is NO lab instructor. Janet: I model, then they take over. Cabarrus County: Some of the best lessons I've been involved in were when I started the lesson and then tag teamed with the classroom teacher. Janet: I agree! Glenn Gurley: I appreciate what Janet has done in this Town Meeting to help us keep our heads above water. Shaw Univ: Good job, Janet. Did you cut and paste?
Janet: Yes Sue Wood: Thanks Janet, this has been most helpful. Glenn Gurley: There is a brand new forum on LEARN NC to help network technology leaders in schools... please e-mail me at glenn_alex@hotmail.com if you are interested in taking part... Glenn Gurley: Also, check on the Teachers Connect site for upcoming Town Meetings www.ofps.dpi.state.nc.us/OFPS/tc |