TM: Keys to Successful Tech Fairs (Tech Spec)

Transcript: Glenn Gurley: Glad to have you here this afternoon... we will start the meeting in about three minutes Glenn Gurley: We would like to welcome Debbie Core. She will share some keys to successful technology fairs... Shaw Univ.: Can we define our terms to start with? CS Debbie Core: The Tech Fair is a showcase of technology in our school system. Teachers, administrators, and students share how they are using technology in the classroom. This is an opportunity for the teachers to learn and share with one another. Debbie Core: Let me tell you about how it started. The tech fair began four years ago as part of initiative of the technology plan when software vendors came to share. The teachers ask to have sessions that showed how to use the software in classroom setting. Therefore, we decided to begin our tech fair. This year was the third year of implementation.
	Debbie Core: Feel free to jump in at any time to ask questions... Teachers Connect: How did you find people to present uses of the technology? Did the vendors do it or were there already people in your school district? Others? Debbie Core: The tech fair is a one-day event. It usually begins at 8:30 AM and ends at 3:00 PM. There are special guests who kick off the tech fair. Last year the featured speaker was Lucy Miller and this year was Glenn Gurley... Debbie Core: The teachers and administrators from Gaston County presented. I basically had to go into the schools and convince the teachers that they were doing a great job integrating technology. Therefore, I encouraged them to present. Usually the teachers who present the first year will return each year to present and we add to the list. There is an application to present that teachers may fill out to present. It is like a mini-conference.
Debbie Core: There are also vendors who come to share. This past year we had twelve vendors to present. Most of them are local. Shaw Univ.: Do the vendors seem to be prepared to do this on short notice? Debbie Core: The tech fair is a series of on-going events. There are booth presentations, roundtable discussions, and formal presentations. Debbie Core: Vendors know six months in advance that the fair is taking place. We usually send a letter that informs them of the date of the tech fair. Then, we follow up with an invitation about two months before the event. We have held the event each year in November... Shaw Univ.: What are some of the new and nifty gizmos being offered? Debbie Core: The night before the Tech Fair we honor the system operators at the school. We have a featured speaker, give door prizes, and provide a meal. Glenn Gurley from Teachers Connect and Dave Lloyd from Data Networks talked to the system operators. They did a Network Feud modeled after the Family Feud and they asked technology questions. Of course, everything is decorated and attractive to make the system operators feel as special as they are. Debbie Core: Hach brings some great devices that are used in special education to enable students to use technology. They provide headgear, switches, etc... Shaw Univ.: LCD projectors with floppy or zip drives built in? Debbie Core: This year Dr. Shellman, Director of Technology Support Services in Gaston County Schools, provided a Palm Pilot as a door prize. Debbie Core: The projection devices that were used were projectors and AVerKey
	Debbie Core: Any questions... Shaw Univ.: Knowing that not all classes can have many computers, what are some examples of involving students in technology in the classroom? CS Debbie Core: There are lots of teachers who only have one computer in their classroom. Teacher presented ideas that taught how to use the Internet using one computer. The teacher created a PowerPoint presentation that taught the students how to get on the Internet. The students then went to the classroom computer to use the Internet. Middle school teachers on a team use one computer in the science and social studies classroom to locate information using the Internet. Debbie Core: In fact, most of the teachers who presented at the Tech Fair use one computer in their classroom. A second grade teacher teaches dinosaurs and used a CD-ROM to introduce the dinosaurs. Then students make a dinosaur book. The sentences telling about the dinosaurs are word processed on the one classroom computer and then placed in the books that the students create. Some of the student use paint and draw a dinosaur to go into the book. Debbie Core: A brochure is given to the participants who attend the tech fair. It gives them an overview of the booths, roundtable discussions, and formal presentations. Glenn is holding the brochure in front of the camera. This will be attached to an article in Connected Classroom. Debbie Core: The technology renewal credit is given to the teachers who present and who attend the formal presentations and the roundtable discussions...
Debbie Core: The tech fair for the first two years was on a Saturday in November. This year the Tech Fair was on an optional workday. Teachers seemed more eager to present and the attendance increased. In fact, each year we have increased the number of presenters and well as the number who attended... Debbie Core: The tech fair has been held at the Linda Rader Staff Development Center in Cramerton. This is a rather large facility. However, we need to consider a larger facility this coming year. Debbie Core: Frieda Tate is here. She participated in the Tech Fair. She says that it is fun to see what other people are doing and share ideas. It also provides the time to share... Debbie Core: Glenn really appreciated all the food that is provided...There were snacks provided throughout the day and lunch! Debbie Core: Frieda Tate also adds that the decorations are wonderful! We use balloons on the evening before and the day of the fair. Glenn says you should see the six carloads of balloons heading to the staff development center... Debbie Core: The first year we thought that we had gotten all the balloons out of the center. When the one undiscovered balloon caused the alarm to go off at 2:00 AM.
	Debbie Core: Any questions... Joe: So, the primary push of tech fairs to laud the technological accomplishments of teachers and students? Debbie Core: Yes, the primary function of the Tech Fair is to showcase the methods and techniques that are being used in the classrooms to enhance learning through the use of technology. Some of the teachers bring the students. We usually have the Ashbrook students showcasing their award winning newspaper that is generated through Page Maker.
Mt. Pleasant Elemen: Greetings from MPES, May I ask to be updated seeing as there are just a few. I am very much interested in Tech Fair as I attended the session at Greensboro. Thanks Debbie Core: Welcome, Andy; Glenn will send what you missed in an e-mail after the session. Come and visit me and we will talk Tech Fair.
	Joe: You have 50 some odd schools--so a lot of balloons are required. How would you scale a tech fair to an LEA with 16 schools? Less balloons? Mt. Pleasant Elemen: I did a Mini fair when I had those who attended the conference share at a staff meeting Debbie Core: If there are only 16 school in the LEA, then you may want to join with another county. The great thing about Tech Fair in Gaston is that teachers have learned from other teacher here in Gaston County and these teachers have found mentors right here at home. Debbie Core: Great idea! Joe: We'll be out your way in late May Debbie Core: Great! Let me know the date and I look forward to seeing you.
Joe: I think we might integrate our tech fair into something like Parent Academy. Debbie Core: That is a great idea. We invite the parents to participate. In fact, some of the members of PTOs across the county attend. We also have a Parent Forum that will be held on Saturday, February 27th and we will present technology sessions at the forum. Mt. Pleasant Elemen: How would it work at just one school for teachers to share with each other what they are doing with technology in their classroom? Time to share is really at a premium at school. Joe: That sounds like an intriguing option. Debbie Core: The idea to share is a great idea. I did a tech fair at the middle school. It was a good experience. We called it Cracker Jack Teachers and used the Cracker Jack theme. Mt. Pleasant Elemen: Many teachers feel inadequate to share at a district or regional level but might be willing to share with others on the staff. We have over1000 students so our staff is quite large Debbie Core: We used the school tech fair to encourage more teachers to use technology. We wanted to reward the teachers who were integrating or using technology as a teaching tool. The Tech Fair takes a lot of encouragement throughout the county. I almost have to go out to the school and convince them that what they are doing is worth sharing. I also want them to know to share simple and easy to use ideas... Joe: Well said
	Debbie Core: Any questions.. Joe: Is there broad support for tech fair at the highest local level? Debbie Core: Yes, there is board support. Dr. Sadler, our superintendent, and many of the board members attend. It is publicized in the local and school newspapers. Joe: Are there any extensions yet or thoughts in the direction of say a Virtual Tech Fair? Debbie Core: A Virtual Tech Fair would be a great idea. Tell me more about it. Is it something that we can do through Teachers Connect? Joe: It just sounds like an option worth exploring. We're always looking for the great and useful ideas. Sounds really scalable. One tangent has it localized to one school; another has it global. But the uses have to be demonstrated and technology by its very nature is the tool with which to do that.
Debbie Core: Our tech fair is being planned for next year. We would love to experiment with a virtual tech fair and be a guinea pig for that project. You are all invited to the fair. Last year Stanley County brought some teachers. Joe: Thanks, Debbie Glenn Gurley: Thanks Debbie for giving us some keys to successful technology fairs... Mt. Pleasant Elemen: Sounds neat, Debbie Teachers Connect: Team - the virtual fair is something we could check into - with the Infoweb and the virtual conference setup - Joe make a note of it! Glenn Gurley: I think we could do that... Joe: Me and my big ideas! Glenn Gurley: The transcripts will be on Teacher Connects website sometime next week... Thanks for the attendance and questions! Glenn Gurley: Joe... our big idea man :)