We have been emphasizing STUDENT technology use and student generated documents and projects as part of curriculum-based activities.  Our entire 4^th grade class each made a web page as a result of our “Famous Americans” research project, incorporating social studies and language arts.  These student-created projects will be published on our school Intranet and Internet web sites. 

Each student in our entire 4^th grade class made a web page as part of our annual  “Famous Americans” research project, incorporating social studies and language arts.  These student-created projects will be published on our school Intranet and Internet web sites. 

This project jump-started our teachers into realizing that it isn’t hard to create student projects using computers.  This was the first time a whole grade created documents to publish.  (As you will read below, we are still having teachers proofread and students make corrections before the projects are published on the Internet.)

Classroom Management was the number one concern, ‘as usual’, when serving 25+ elementary students with each on a computer.  Step-by-step directions, showing examples, and explaining the finished product goals adequately with the students served to help each student get a digital image, basic facts, and even a bio-poem included in their web pages.

Another MAIN concern/challenge is the ‘vintage’ of the student computers in our lab, Mac PowerPC 5400’s, incapable of running multiple applications well.  Again, step-by-step instructions, proper planning to allow only one application to be running at a time, and good back-ups accommodated for this issue.

A practical concern is the need to have the files created and saved on the older Macs to be compatible and transferable and easily referenced using our Intranet server.  We were able to use email to transfer the files, and I used Mac-friendly software (Claris Homepage) to clear up & clean up the image references. 

The final concern is that I do not have permission to publish these documents yet from the teachers involved.  Apparently there were some factual information variances – some creative history research – that students still need to repair.  I look forward to publishing these files without student names as soon as this is cleared up.  I did have to deny that one of our teachers publish these documents using the student names, using my discretion and respect of the need for parent permissions and student information confidentiality issues when student names are published.

What a victory for each student to complete their Famous American research project with the grand finale of their own web page summarizing their research!  All involved including myself, the student lab instructor, the 4^th grade teachers, and each 4^th grader are truly proud to have such an accomplishment of creating these documents for the whole school to see!

FETC – Reflections and responses are coming from our teachers who have participated in the Florida Educational Technology Conference this week.  They are being compiled and are due after Spring Break (April 8).  Our participants are compiling technology tips and concepts learned from the conference to share with our faculty via email and faculty meetings.  These will serve as our logs and reflections of this beneficial technology event.

Update: Click here for faculty reflections from the FETC conference!

Feb 25 – Mar 1

What happened in technology infusion efforts due to the Technology Literacy Challenge?

 
 
 

Teachers' PowerPoint presentations are being USED and SHARED in-house, thanks to our Intranet

Teamwork has been used and promoted by sharing projects, thanks to training and our Intranet

Teachers have more access to computer time due to technology staff development sessions

What progress indicators are evident in teacher coaching and what do these suggest? What attitudinal shifts are apparent and how have these come about?

Each teacher has their own Intranet site & portfolio online.  Training on this has already occurred, more training is being held during Spring Break. 10 teachers have already completed some work with compiling their site.

Teachers are able to use their laptop computers, completely new to them before this year

The use of our Intranet share teacher projects while jump the hurdles of platform and browser variation with a single bound

These indicators suggest that once we finally have Intranet access & resources for our teachers, and with a little encouragement teachers are willing to take off and run with them!

What management challenges presented themselves and what is the plan for meeting them?

Now that we have network, Intranet, and Internet access…. The huge challenge is to keep it up and to adjust to necessary reconfigurations – such as our school changing network addressing because of a change in IP numbers required by our state service provider, ENA.  (Sounds like a small hurdle, but it has caused us to be without Intranet access for over 2 weeks.)

What celebrations of accomplishment have occurred and why have they been in order?

When everything is up and running, it is a celebration!  Having teachers get over ‘my first web page -itis’ and watching them compose their own Intranet sites with ease has been pure joy!

Awareness of & use of Internet and Intranet Resources has increased

Use of Internet on large monitor for presentations increased
 
Web sites are now being used for stories and songs

Teachers have more access to computer time due to technology staff development sessions

Teachers have more understanding of Internet resources for education. (We have only just begun training efforts for Internet use, since we have only just begun to have access on our new computers.  Thus, I think this understanding has only just begun – the use of Internet resources needs to be increased and encouraged by further training sessions encouraging and promoting elementary resources online.)

Teachers are able to use their laptop computers, completely new to them before this year

Use of Internet resources such as digital images is prominent in teachers’ PowerPoint units

Use of Internet resources such as web sites for student research for the annual Famous Americans project

These indicators suggest that once we finally have Internet access & resources for our teachers, and with a little encouragement teachers are willing to take off and run with them!

Thanks to our Intranet and Internet network connections, our teachers have access to and are now sharing each other’s presentations for instructional use!  This is a real celebration but a lot of effort to set up server shared documents for Intranet use only, setting log-in privileges, file access rights, etc. – not to mention the construction and indexing of the sites, and mirroring the public access documents on our Intranet site.  The main challenge:  completing that necessary yet unseen work, and as well continuing with all of the other technology infusion efforts as necessary.  If I am to keep every initiative and training effort up and every teacher up and running on their computers, I must notice that paperwork is truly the only effort that could possibly be postponed until my Spring Break. (I cannot help but make the most efficient use of my time.)

Thanks to our Intranet and Internet network connections, our teachers have access to and are now sharing each other’s presentations for instructional use! (NO MORE taking disks of presentations to other classrooms to share a project, all projects are shared on our Intranet!) This is a real celebration but a lot of effort to set up server shared documents for Intranet use only, setting log-in privileges, file access rights, etc. – not to mention the construction and indexing of the sites, and mirroring the public access documents on our Intranet site.  Thanks to our Information Services department for the work with installing our new server.  (Note:  teachers have their own Intranet site & portfolio online.  More of this will be discussed in future logs.  Training on this has already occurred; more training is being held during Spring Break.)

Teachers’ comments & observations:

Sharing of projects is a celebration

Having all of us online immediately is super.

Viewing everyone's work was a celebration

The PowerPoint presentations have been excellent

Accessing other people's PowerPoint projects online is great

E-Mail is now more accessible (and easier to use) for teachers because of web mail, training efforts, and new computers with (finally) installed wireless network access.

Another of the Monthly Technology Nights is held, inviting parents, students, and community to use and share the school’s computer lab and software.

Email is promoted and encouraged as a method for sharing helpful ideas for technology use

After school workshops are good- well organized and functional, learning happens at every one. 

Many teachers and staff are making more progress than they would if they were left with only their own resources.

These suggest that continued training is beneficial.

These are teacher opinions / responses concerning their technology use:

·          Less wary of technology in general

·          More confident with using computers

·          More willing to try something new

·          Stressed more, but a bit more comfortable

These teacher opinions & responses apply to computer use in general, but also are descriptions of the slow but sure adoption of email as a standard and practical method of communicating.  Our e-mail training session was very helpful in encouraging the use of the school district’s Web Mail. Using a web based email system is practical, easy, and seems to be fairly easy to learn (HUGE reason to use this method) and to access for our teachers with their new computers.

Teacher machines have facilitated the promotion of email in our school for practical communications, although it was a long delay (1/2 of the school year) until our teachers’ laptops’ wireless Internet/network connections were installed and able to be in use.

As a school faculty we are beginning to enjoy the more widespread use of email for informational bulletins, to share documents, and ideas that are helpful to others.  One example of this is the use of our “All-Faculty” email address to send spread the information & to share the new technology uses that will be been gained from the individuals that attend the Florida Educational Technology Conference.

Since the beginning of the school year, Monthly Technology Nights are held, inviting parents, students, and community to use and share the school’s computer lab and software.  This has been a wonderful way to share and celebrate school technology activities with our students, their parents, and the community.  February’s Space Night event has been the largest to date, with at least 200 students, parents, and community members participating.    During this event, I shared Encarta’ interactive space resources with groups of participants, as well as Internet Resources and movies from NASA.  This event was well promoted and attended by faculty members and parent volunteers.  The efforts of Kris Light, our science resources teacher, and Kathleen Quinn, a vital PTO organizer, made for an incredible set of space education events.

Overall Improvement of Teachers' General Computing Skills

Word Processing Skills have improved
 
Teachers have more access to computer time due to technology staff development sessions
 

-Teacher Observations & Comments:

Teachers are using Windows 2000 & MS Office 2000 applications due to training and teacher computers

Teachers are able to use their laptop computers, completely new to them before this year

There are many technology training events accessible to teachers

I am much more computer literate than before this year's training events

I use technology exponentially more daily in my room

Increase in overall teacher technology skill level

Refresher courses have been helpful

I have learned to use Excel in many creative ways, making my instruction more interesting to students

-What do these suggest?

These suggest that training efforts to raise basic computing skill levels of teachers have been effective.  This conclusion is supported not only by teacher observations and comments, but also by a midyear survey of skills & usage information.  The summary of these surveys is submitted with the midyear formative assessment.

It is evident that one of the most effective series of training events and workshop topics has been those sessions devoted to developing general application skills (word processing, spreadsheets, etc.), and instructional use of PowerPoint presentations. (PowerPoint is the software recommended for our teacher projects, each teacher is developing a curriculum-based project for publication on our Internet and Intranet sites.  These projects are a result of our technology training sessions and can be viewed at www.teacher1.com, see the New! Teacher projects menu. ) It is also evident that our hardware choice, multimedia laptops for use for teaching applications has been very effective, with the main emphasis of the use of these laptops being the development and use of multimedia presentations for instruction. (These presentations are our teacher projects, as mentioned above.)  However, without the mandatory initial training for all staff in the use of the laptops and their operating system and general applications, I can see that the PowerPoint training would not have been as effective.  (I required initial training in the use of the hardware, operating system, and a general introduction to Microsoft Office applications, in order for our teachers to receive their laptop computer.) 

-Teacher Observations & Comments:

I'm ready to USE technology MUCH MORE.

I am more confident and at ease when using my computer.

It has been a beneficial experience to have access to a trainer who is willing to help us in groups and individually

I am less wary of technology in general

I am a little more confident

Technology use IS possible - if we were given time...

Technology training sessions have allowed me to do some of the things that I have wanted to do with technology in my classroom

I'm more willing to try something new

I am more willing to try new software.  The tech coach has made technology easier to learn & quicker

-How have these come about?

These suggest that training efforts as well as time spent by individual teachers to practice basic computing skills is effective not only in improving skills, but also effective in improving attitudes and comfort levels toward use of technology in general.

-Time…..

These programs take an enormous amount of time

I've worked on my breaks and am needing more time to learn about my laptop

Challenge:  working after hours without total collapse

Great lengths of time are required for me to create projects, with improvement hoped for

There is not enough time to do all I want

Unfortunately, there is no time available for practice

-To find the time…

There is no avoiding it, teachers’ commitment and time is required to learn to use technology to make teaching more effective and efficient, as well as to expand the professional quality and appearance of teaching resources. Just as in learning to play a musical instrument, I need to continue to emphasize ‘practice, practice, practice.’

As well, scheduling time for teachers to attend staff development sessions is always a challenge.  Reflecting on the teachers’ comments and also judging on attendance for staff development events, I should continue offering many and varied after school sessions, as well as including some additional Saturday sessions, as will as continuing to work with teachers during their planning periods on request.  It is not mentioned in the teachers’ comments in this survey, but it is evident that our method of providing a stipend of $16/hour for technology staff development hours when teachers stay for additional hours of training beyond the regular school day has helped to promote and enable many of our teachers to incorporate technology training into their hectic schedules. 

-Teacher comment response:

I feel happy that I am more competent when using my computer and look forward to making more presentations in the future

-Reflection / Action plan:

There is a need for promotion & celebration of improved computer skills.  I am compiling a technology course completed list & list of project accomplishments for each teacher for their records.  I want to present these lists to teachers at a faculty meeting, and to also make this list available from teacher’s individual portfolio web sites.

Teachers usage & skills with instruction via computer presentations continually increases
 
Teachers now have laptops for use with presentations in the classroom – new this year – now enabling every teacher to use a multimedia computer with their large screen TV for instructional purposes.
 
Students' attention to curriculum is extended with use of PowerPoint and Elmo.  (Elmo has been an addition to our technology toolbox – a ‘3-D’ overhead that easily enables teachers to enlarge instructional materials –on paper or of any kind and shape- on a big screen for students to easily see.)

-Comments / observations:

Teachers need to participate in instruction, observation, and practice of the skills of using and delivering presentations effectively in the classroom.

Teachers can now create PowerPoint presentations, even where previous knowledge was nonexistent!

The number of PowerPoint presentations already done by our faculty indicates effective technology infusion efforts

Many teachers and staff are making more progress than they would if they were left with only their own resources

-What do these suggest?

 I should be (and I am) continuing to encourage use of presentations in the classrooms, and presentation opportunities at faculty meetings and other events.  The skills of instructing with the use of presentations needs to be continually taught, observed, and practiced in order to develop the most effective uses and presenting methods. 

-Teacher responses / observations:

I am more aware of how to use technology in the classroom

When you see people present a PowerPoint presentation whom you KNOW were computer illiterate, it's inspiring. 

Everybody CAN do this, it's not a mystery - and it's fun!

I'm less nervous about using my laptop, but I need more time/experience

By using PowerPoint, my students retain more information

-Teacher responses / observations:

I've rearranged my classroom to accommodate PowerPoint presentations

I have had to set up my room and put the teacher's station where children can see it

Rearranging my room was necessary

- Plan for meeting classroom organizational needs:

I have set aside time for each grade level to individually be in each classroom to discuss & arrange furniture as necessary for teachers to efficiently and effectively use their laptops with their large screen TV’s for instructional purposes. 

Note:  The purpose for our hardware selection for our teachers was to have EACH teacher have a multimedia computer to use to create and present instructional resources, for use with the large screen TV in EVERY classroom. These laptop computers, the Dell Latitude C800, have a S-Video out port.  This port enables the laptop computer screen to be viewed on a TV requiring only a S-Video cable (or RCA video cable-the adapter is included) with NO additional equipment or converter (such as the Aver Key from AVER MEDIA) required.

Regularly scheduled celebrations:

I am and will be using faculty meetings as opportunities for celebrating accomplishments as well as for positive reinforcement of teachers’ technology accomplishments.  We have “Show & Tell” segments, and we also have the faculty ‘jury’ their peer’s technology presentation projects.

-Teachers continually discover new educational applications for computer (PowerPoint) presentations!

-Teachers’ skills with developing computer presentations for instruction continually improve!
 

-Teacher comments/observations:

Teachers are using Windows 2000 & MS Office 2000 applications due to training and teacher computers

Teachers have more understanding of technology use in elementary education

There are many technology training events accessible to teachers

Teachers can now create PowerPoint presentations, even where previous knowledge was nonexistent!

I use technology exponentially more daily in my room

The number of PowerPoint presentations already done by our faculty indicates effective technology infusion efforts

Increase in overall teacher technology skill level

Many teachers and staff are making more progress than they would if they were left with only their own resources

-What do these suggest?

 I should be (and I am) offering continual Presentation Construction Workshops, these naturally incorporate computer skills training. These have been beneficial and appreciated because teachers have been able to “make & take” presentations with ‘over the shoulder’ technical guidance readily available.  I must admit, these workshops are similar to an Olympic event for a tech trainer – I put miles in during these sessions, attempting to help each participant with their individual needs. 

-Teacher responses/observations:

Technology training sessions have allowed me to do some of the things that I have wanted to do with technology in my classroom

I am more aware of how to use technology in the classroom

When you see people present a PowerPoint presentation whom you KNOW were computer illiterate, it's inspiring. 

Everybody CAN do this, it's not a mystery - and it's fun!

-How have these come about?

It has been researched that teachers (adults) learn better when there is a comfortable environment for learning.  We have made every skill level of technology use welcome and I purposefully strive to make everyone ‘at ease’ and self-assured in training circumstances that could be humiliating for the learner.  Also, it is enormously encouraging for teachers to see each other’s technology projects, especially when they see low skill level teachers produce and present their impressive computer projects.

-Teacher comments/concerns:

These programs take an enormous amount of time

Great lengths of time are required for me to create projects, with improvement hoped for

There is not enough time to do all I want

Unfortunately, there is no time available for practice

Although it really gets easier, the time to create a lesson is a LARGE consideration

It is very hard to get the PowerPoint presentations completed without taking time away from planning

- Plan for meeting time concerns:

I should be (and I am) offering continual Presentation Construction Workshops, these naturally incorporate computer skills training. These have been beneficial and appreciated because teachers have been able to “make & take” presentations with ‘over the shoulder’ technical guidance readily available.

These workshops make the MOST efficient use of teacher time and hopefully limit the frustrations of low skill level computer users.  

Teacher observations/comments:

·          I've seen some great ideas from other presentations

·          I feel happy that I am more competent when using my computer and look forward to making more presentations in the future

·          We have enjoyed sharing presentations that are helpful to others

·          Sharing of ideas has taken place

·          PowerPoint presentations shared with the group have been wonderful

·          Children have enjoyed the PowerPoint sessions and always ask for a repeat of the presentations

·          Sharing of projects is a celebration

·          I'm glad to have learned PowerPoint

·          We've gotten together to share PowerPoint

·          We have had PowerPoint "Show & Tell" presentations.  It is good to see what other people have done.

·          The PowerPoint presentations have been excellent

·          Watching and learning about other people's PowerPoint uses

·          Sharing of ideas and PowerPoint presentations

·          Meetings to share technology uses with staff have been celebrations

·          I celebrate the joy of successful presenting using technology each time I do that.

Willow Brook’s Closed Circuit TV station now broadcasts regularly.
 
 
Student workers are trained to run the WB TV Station, and also are trained for the use of digital and video cameras. 
 
Use of Digital Photos, Scanners, etc. in presentations has increased

Photos are used to promote special events, encourage student academic activities, produce the school annual, etc. 

Teachers regularly use digital cameras to record instructional student activities, often requesting that these images be broadcasted on the WBES closed circuit TV station. These are a big hit!  Teachers have had to ask that this broadcast start very early and end before the regular instructional day, because students do NOT want to miss it! 

Teachers have more understanding of technology use and incorporating the use of digital images in elementary education.

Teachers can now create PowerPoint presentations incorporating digital images for instructional purposes, even where previous knowledge was nonexistent! For MULTIPLE examples:  See www.teacher1.com, and click New! Teacher Projects!

Use of scanned images, and digital images from digital cameras, and from the Internet for instructional resources has increased.

These indicators suggest that use of digital images is a high-interest technology use with many educational applications for the elementary setting.  It also suggests that with some standby instruction and encouragement, digital images are on of the best ‘foot-in-the-door’ technology uses to get teachers ‘hooked’ on integrating technology with their instruction.

-Comments from our teachers:

Technology training sessions have allowed me to do some of the things that I have wanted to do with technology in my classroom

I'm fascinated by what's "out there" and what I don't know yet - and are using technology much more as I learn more

Technology is more fun

I'm less nervous about using my laptop, but I need more time/experience

Increase in stress level

I'm trying to fit the classes into my schedule.  Technology is now more fun & exciting

I'm more willing to try something new

There is a positive attitudinal shift toward technology

-How have these come about?

It has been a constant effort of mine to keep a continual positive and encouraging attitude and climate toward technology in our school.  The nature of introducing and demonstrating technology uses to teachers is pure excitement for me anyway, so a positive attitude is natural for me to maintain (with the exception, of course, being when I am doing paperwork that excludes me from needed time with teachers and students).

-Comments from our teachers:

Challenge:  working after hours without total collapse

Great lengths of time are required for me to create projects, with improvement hoped for

There is not enough time to do all I want

It is hard to use all the tools available in such a short teaching day

It is hard to find times to do these projects.

-Plan for meeting time-challenges:

CONTINUE working with teachers during the regular school day, offering to meet during planning periods, and offering to help develop lessons and to promote technology uses by being present and assisting teachers during regular instructional hours.  CONTINUE offering technology training courses at a varied schedule after hours, trying to offer times that would be available to a variety of schedules.  CONTINUE to appreciate the time-demanding pressures that teachers already experience, and to just be flexible enough to find time with teachers for technology integration instruction however I can.

Each morning on WBES (Closed circuit TV) the students celebrate our news!  It makes Willow Brook a friendlier place.

I celebrate the joy of successful presenting, using technology each time I do that. (WBES broadcasts have included teacher presentations.)

Having photos of student activities and photos of student work and activities put on TV (WBES) has been great.  (It is a self-esteem booster for students and it encourages students to attend and arrive on time to school.)

Increased use of Leap Frog Math

Leap Frog Math, a curriculum based skills practice & assessment software series, is now used by every 4^th grader 20-40 minutes a week (minimum.)  This was a goal of the grant, and one of the student uses of technology that we wanted to make as an addition to the traditional ways that math curriculum was being delivered.  Data on each student’s skill levels and progress has been collected using this software.  
 
Accelerated Reader usage increased

Unrelated to most of the technology infusion efforts, use of our Accelerated Reader program has increased.  This has been an unexpected benefit of our overall technology implementation efforts, apparently due to increased comfort levels with computer use by the faculty and/or increased examples and awareness of using classroom computers regularly with students.  OF COURSE our technology implementation goals go FAR beyond the increased use of this basic multiple-choice database that only emphasizes reading comprehension, BUT there IS a known benefit to having this program in use for early elementary students.

Comments from teachers:

·          Teachers are more confident, knowledgeable, and at ease when using their computer

·          There are many technology training events accessible to teachers

·          Teachers are willing to share helpful ideas for technology use

·          There is someone nearby to "refresh" memory on technology use questions

·          I am much more computer literate than before this year's training events

·          I use technology exponentially more daily in my room

·          Increase in overall teacher technology skill level

Reflective responses:

There is an increased use and comfort level with using computers in the classroom.  It is glaringly evident that time spent with developing and practicing teachers’ computer skills has a direct impact on the number of teachers that are implementing computer use with their instruction.

Other Indicators:

In January, the classroom by classroom scores of the previous Spring’s Terra Nova analysis is re-discussed with each teacher by our school’s Guidance Counselor, in order to address and to remind teachers of students’ academic weaknesses and strengths.  As a midyear assessment, the Technology Coach met with and gathered input from each 4^th grade teacher regarding midyear student achievement in Mathematics skills (the academic focus of our school’s grant).   This assessment was compared to the end-of year achievement of the previous year’s 4^th grade students.  We compared this year’s progress with last year’s, in order to see an overall status now and to find the curriculum areas that we need to address to catch up to and exceed last year’s progress.  Reports on this progress/status are included in our school’s formative assessment.  On average, our students were assessed by their teachers with the percent of students that whose overall math skills were in the mastery level or above for their grade as currently being 17% less than the corresponding scores of the previous grade’s end of year % in the mastery level or above.  (Keep in mind that this is comparing a midyear score with an end-of-year score, to discover what specific skills and concepts are not yet mastered as compared to the previous year’s achievement.)

Teachers are ready and willing to use technology more, and are realizing that technology is not as difficult to incorporate in the classroom as it first appears.  Technology skills practiced and having teachers as examples is helping with this process.

Getting everyone’s computers up and running (and everyone’s memories about how to deal with computer ‘glitches’) is a challenge after a long break.  The plan … after explaining their computer problem/solution to teachers so that they could ‘cure’ it next time of course, drop everything and get everyone’s computers going!

It was great to see the return of refreshed teachers from Winter Break.  Several teachers celebrated by spending time with their laptops at home, improving computer skills and preparing presentations during break.