Backrow: yes sir joe :o)

Joe: My job is simply to try to facilitate the flow of information. Some time after our chat, the edited transcripts will be available on Teachers Connect Town Meetings. Teachers Connect will host additional Town Meetings throughout the school year. This session is designed to start up the Teachers Connect Town Meetings for school year 1999-2000. More importantly, it is a time for us to share our comings and goings and what they might mean for teaching and learning this year.

Central Elem: When will the schedule of the rest of the Town Meetings be posted?

Backrow: YES!!!

Joe: What types of training--especially in technology--did you participate in over your summer vacation?

Backrow: Taught Internet courses and a Kids Pic course.

Joe: Go backrow!

Dana & Katha: None... we were on VACATION!!!

Joe: Here's to vacations!

Backrow: Taught Learn NC.

Willie: Power Point presentations.

Backrow: Thanks Joe!

Go Warriors: My oh… My backrow you look good on TV.

Backrow: We feel that it is imperative to teach Internet to as many people as we can because it is the wave of the future.

Joe: Ruby, what did you do?

Alice: I participated in Teacher Academy at Appalachian State.

Joe: Yay for Teacher Academy!

Elizabeth/Kathy: Not any over the summer. Want to know about last year during the school year?

Backrow: Please make sure you all check out my web site at: http://www.loloville.com/kt.htm. That was my project over the summer.

Hidday Jahan: My modem was struck by lightning over the summer!

Teachers Connect: Hello from Teacher Connect

Joe: Hey teacher Connect. What did ya'll do on your summer vacation?

Joe: Here's what I did....

Backrow: We cant wait to hear it Joe!

Joe: First, we made some cool on-line projects. They can be found on Teachers Connect Netivities. They are Ghostchasers across the Carolinas, Positively Trashy, and ART.iNC.  You must check them out and you must join them, please....

Backrow: Joe and Stephen have done an incredible job of teaching us about emails, ICQ, CU SeeMe.

Hidday Jahan: Internet training, email, and websites.

Backrow: We have accomplished an incredible amount of information through exploring the vast realms of the net.

Alice: NCCAT has been a wonderful week, there has been lot of information on the Internet.

Go Warriors: We are understanding what this Internet is all about. You in the Chat should be here.

Ronda-Clingman: Eating, sleeping, computing, shopping, watching movies, eating, etc.

Hidday Jahan: It has been a very, very educational week so far. I have learned a lot about the Internet and realize that I still have a lot more to learn. It has been nice to be able to have some time to work on the internet on our own and still have someone there that can answer our questions.

Dana & Katha: We're having a lot of fun! Playing on the Internet... learning how to download fun programs like www.spinner.com & www.real.com, searching on the net, etc. etc.

Backrow: Did we mention eating?

Elizabeth/Kathy: We've been setting up email accounts, signing on to spinners, learning about Teacher's Connect, saving web sites to disk…

Hidday Jahan: Eating, eating, eating,...

Joe: Hey, and tonight we get to groove to the eclectic and melodic sounds of the Oboe Mimosa Band.

Dana & Katha: Schools out there...How do you integrate the Internet into your classrooms?

Alice: Trying to pass the National Board.

Ronda-Clingman: 26 first graders, 24 kindergartners

Backrow: New challenges that await all of us are to take this valuable information and see how we can implement it in our classrooms.

KCS: Trying to get three different types of networks and 50-11 different computers to a standardization on a shoestring.

Hidday Jahan: Don't do it!!!!!

Backrow: Do we get our free cup of coffee for our great answers, Joe and Stephen?

Hidday Jahan: Please!!!

Ronda-Clingman: Going back to work after NCCAT.

Joe: OK, great responses and I'll buy you all some coffee.

Backrow: Thanks Joe

Alice: Oh!! Joe we like a big spinner.

Backrow: Welcome Iredell!!!! Great to see ya'll join us! Hey Barb

Elizabeth/Kathy: Hey Barb, glad you made it

Teachers Connect: Teachers Connect is gearing up for another awesome year. Many changes as always... I had an wonderful time at NCCAT developing the online projects this summer. Learned much that I can use with students!

Backrow: We really enjoyed perusing through teachers connect web site today!!! thanks for all the information!

Joe: Ready for a new thread?

Backrow: Class projects that have us most enthused are Globe, Mini Pond, Regions of the US, Science experiments, and Kid Made web pages

Hidday Jahan: Keep up the good work backrow.

Joe: We need to show ya'll how to recruit partner classes.

Alice: Connect technology with health and PE

Joe: Any science teachers out there?

Backrow: Elementary science is one of the Backrowers

KCS: Joe, did you tell them about the monitors your PE teachers were using?

Joe: Not yet, Brenda but I will.

Joe: PE classes used heartrate monitors and downloaded the info to spreadsheets.

Hidday Jahan: Who is using polar heart rate monitors?

Ronda-Clingman: Good deal

Joe: The net is overwhelming. Start small and keep projects manageable.

Backrow: Thanks Joe!

Joe: Also, monitor the heck out of the projects. It may be most important to teach ethics and legal issues concerning the net first. The most important and available utility is e-mail. Connect with other classes and communicate. Have your students do this, too.

KCS: Joe - Amen to that!

Backrow: Email is incredible!

Joe: Yes, you should all be thinking of getting keypal classes.

Backrow: Yes that would be fantastic Joe!

Dana & Katha: Do all NC schools have filtering software to be used with the net?

Joe: Think how your students might be working.

Dana & Katha: More staff development with computer technology!

Hidday Jahan: It would be nice if everybody could have Internet in the classroom the next century!

KCS: Trying to get the computer skills integrated rather than using them as an add-on. Computers are the pencils and chalk of the 21st century.

Joe: What can we do to help them prepare. Be specific.

Alice: Technology, technology, technology as a collaboration tool.

KCS: Access, access, and more access!

Joe: Collaboration opportunities will help them.

Ruby Jones: Joe.....seriously.... we need equipment that doesn't let us down.... techies to get things back on track when we can't fix glitches....

Hidday Jahan: I think the state should offer low-income families a chance to get a computer and on the Internet. Most of my students can not afford a computer.

Joe: Great thoughts, run with them...

KCS: New technologies like phone-like machines to connect to the Internet are already starting to hit the market. They will become affordable even if a full-blown computer won't be.

Joe: Are our classes outfitted for 21st century work?

Dana & Katha: One thing ALL schools need is a computer instructor (full-time) in every school to make sure that all students K and up are learning the appropriate computer-based skills covered in the NCSCoS.

KCS: Who are you kidding?

Hidday Jahan: We need a technology teacher teaching in our computer lab, updated equipment, and resources to train out staff and students.

Joe: The personnel issue looms larger than ever.

Backrow: Our school is equipped for the 21st century.

KCS: HJ- Do you mean a teacher teaching the students for release time for the teacher or a facilitator?

Hidday Jahan: True, we have an assistant to monitor the students in the computer lab, not teach them anything!

Go Warriors: Ruby I hope that I will be able help the PTSO fund more Internet stuff.

Backrow: However the higher ups are not as comfortable with it as we are as teachers therefore it is not being implemented

Ronda-Clingman: We need space, equipment, computer specialists, and time to use them.

Joe: We need full time technology leaders. And I'm of the opinion that one per school is not going to be enough.... but we all have one now, right?

Dana & Katha: NO!!!

Hidday Jahan: NO!

Ronda-Clingman: No,

Backrow: No we do not have a full time computer person

Backrow: We wish!!!

Ruby Jones: Warriors..... would be super, eh?

Go Warriors: Ruby I hope someday that the kids will be able to use the lab without worrying about state test.

Joe: Just checking to see if you're still with us ;-)

Elizabeth/Kathy: I think Iredell/Statesville is doing a good job getting training to us at the school level.

Joe: That's a great comment, Warrior.

Backrow: Here is a question...why is the legislators not allowing more funds for full time computer techs in each school?

Hidday Jahan: I wish that my students could use the lab (first graders) without coming out crying because they don't know what to do!

Ruby Jones: I prefer doing my own teaching with technology in my classroom.... don't want a tech specialist....

Joe: If we must have the tests, though, cannot they be totally and seamlessly integrated with the technology? I think that is the challenge that confronts teachers.

Elizabeth/Kathy: But we could use more tech trainers and more repair people

Backrow: We need tech facilitators… teachers teaching teachers

Joe: Great comment there. We need the teckies and the repair folks.

KCS: Tech facilitators that are in collaboration with teachers creating seamless lessons.

Backrow: We need the funding first.

Ruby Jones: backrow.... We do the teachers training teachers in my system.

Ronda-Clingman: We need computer labs accessible to K-2.

Joe: Right now they tend to be one in the same who happen to double as full time teachers.

Backrow: Ruby, we would love to hear more about that

Teachers Connect: To have teachnology support that is proactive and not reactive!

Elizabeth/Kathy: Teachers Connect - exactly!

Backrow: Well, we do computer colleges but we are talking about techs in each school to implement specific NCSCoS goals for each level.

Joe: The state has just drawn up guidelines for tech people in schools.

Go Warriors: I don't know about the rest of you but when I get back I will have to do a workshop on the Internet for the members of the staff that wants it.

Ruby Jones: Our schools in Chatham are very fortunate... have net access in classrooms and labs.... all schools do....

KCS: Guidelines are a first step...

Backrow: Joe there is a far cry between drawing up guidelines and actually having people there.

Joe: True backrow, all I said was they had guidelines.....Mayber the funding will come.

KCS: But it will take a freightload of e-mail lobbying of our legislators to get them to see the importance of funding tech positions - not just specialists but repair folks, too.

Joe: That's cool, Ruby. All of our schools in Carteret are networked.

Go Warriors: Ruby: I am proud of your school system.

Dana & Katha: Ruby, I don't mind teaching my 4th graders in the computer lab... covering the NC SCoS, but they aren't coming to me prepared from the lower grades. Don't you think one computer teacher teaching in the school would ensure the goals and objectives are being met at each level?

Ruby Jones: Joe.... Our system gives free home access to all school personnel as well.. ... gives us time to explore

Backrow: We agree with you Dana and Katha

KCS: Are we up to the task?

Teachers Connect: At least that is a goal to shoot for and to encourage funding... nice to begin with something on paper so the need is seen...

Backrow: We must have people lobbying for those funds. Unfortunately we spend more time writing up guidelines and not enough time implementing what we have written up

KCS: There may be "official" lobbyists doing that, but there's nothing like word from the "trenches" to get a legislator's attention.

Backrow: Therefore, where do we go from here? I agree KCS

Joe: Well, we must show that technology is worth it. What are we doing to evaluate our efforts?

Backrow: We agree!

Ruby Jones: Teachers have to have time to explore and do their thing in order to use technology effectively in the classroom

Teachers Connect: Yes - concentration should be on making the best of the technology we have while we are waiting for action

Backrow: Further explain your question Joe.

Joe: What I'm saying is the time has come for evaluation.

Backrow: Evaluating what we are doing in the classroom as far as technology?

KCS: Do you mean statistics about how the technology is being utilized? How often? How many?

Go Warriors: Joe your evaluation is a little lower than the foods. That is good.

Ruby Jones: Integration with technology is definitely the key ... just as it is with all subjects.

Joe: Yes statistics and other creative ways of measuring the impact of what we do. Are test scores rising?

Teachers Connect: Also Joe with that evaluation - evidence of what is being done in the classrooms to go with what could be done if more funds are allocated - speaks loudly :-)

Joe: Are kids coming to school?

Backrow: Joe, are there studies that have been conducted by the State Dept on the effects of the net on student learning?

KCS: I recently heard Darrin H. from Stanley County say that there are pockets of tech users in schools, but if someone from "R" were to walk into a school in his county he could not say that everyone was seamlessly using technology.

Joe: Are they anxious to work with technology?

Ruby Jones: Joe... our test scores have gone through the roof at my school.... think technology is one of the forces helping us along.

Backrow: Kids are craving to use technology.

Joe: The studies are up to us right now.

Go Warriors: I think it is one way to make something more interesting to the Kids. You know, not everyone is in love with history.

KCS: Darrin's solution is in his best practice file on the Teachers-Connect web page.

Go Warriors: KCS what is Darrin's solution?

Joe: We have to keep records and be researchers again.

Joe: It takes life-long learning to the next level.

Ruby Jones: Think technology ...especially net access is a wonderful resource and tool for primary as well as elementary

KCS: I have a unique situation in that my state legislator has an office right down the hall at KCS...I intend to lobby F2F before he heads back.

Joe: Think about it----a lot of the folks who pull the purse strings did not go to school the way school is now.

Backrow: I think that the research has been done however we aren't getting the information out to the teachers and administrators. I think that a lot of those that pull the purse strings don't want to understand what is now needed in our schools.

Joe: That's life-long learning again. We, the teachers, have access to information as much as anyone else.

KCS: It is also important to have a plan and work that plan. It's tough to make any progress if you're running in circles.

Backrow: The research is incredible as far as the effects of the computer on the child's brain....now we must force others to listen to that research.

Go Warriors: I think most school make it so difficult to get to the computers teachers do not work it into the lesson plans.

Ruby Jones: Adios.... Joe..... I have to go...but I have enjoyed seeing you and Glenn again.... wish I could stay and hear all the comments..... bye

Joe: I think NC is doing more than a lot of states with technology.

Joe: Ciao, Ruby.

Backrow: Great to see you Ruby...thanks for joining us

KCS: They DID lots more - let's not rest on the past several year's progress. Technology needs to keep moving or we'll get run over.

Backrow: We want to thank NCCAT for giving us this great opportunity!

Dana & Katha: I think it's a shame that there is so much diversity in the technology available within the schools across the state. Not to mention differences in technology within individual school systems!

Joe: Good point.

KCS: Do I hear An Action Plan coming up, Joe?

Backrow: how can we be apart of this action plan after NCCAT is over?

Joe: Not in this meeting, perhaps another. It's worth pursuing.

KCS: Not to mention diversity in technology even within schools...get a few now, get a few later...pretty soon you have a mismash quilt of technology.

Go Warriors: I think this is a chance that few have and many need. I have already started how I am going to help my students.

Joe: We have to log off at NCCAT now to resume our studies. But thanks for the initial Town Meeting. May we all have the best year yet. CU-later

Teachers Connect: Thanks Joe for being our guest during this meeting... Hope all will participate in the Town Meeting during the upcoming school year.

Backrow: yes...!!!!

Joe: You're welcome. Thanks to all for participating. CU