One thing I would suggest right away is to dump the schedule you =
describe below and implement an "open" lab schedule. This open schedule =
will be uncomfortable for your teachers at first, but it is extremely =
important if you are to move your school in a direction that involves =
more project based activities in the lab. Encourage teachers to sign up =
for 4-5 days in a row for 60-90 minutes at a crack...then work with them =
to develop activities that are more project based and meet your =
organization's goals of teaching information literacy skills within the =
context of the project. Because the teachers are so accustomed to the =
traditional schedule, some will most likely try to sign up on the open =
lab schedule so it reflects what their used to (for example, they might =
sign up every Tuesday from 1:30-2:00)...encourage them to sign up for =
consecutive days in a row as described above. This model might mean =
that they only come in the lab once a month for 4-6 consecutive days, =
but this scenario IMHO is much better for fostering integration and =
higher level computer lab projects.
Also, I would examine the type of software that the students have been =
using under the traditional model...if it is the type of software where =
students put headphones on and participate in skill/drill activities =
that isolate them from one another, I would suggest making a change and =
working more towards developmentally appropriate productivity software =
that encourages teamwork/collaboration and dialogue amongst students.
Good luck with whatever change you decide upon...it will definitely not =
be popular out of the gate and it will take a few years to implement and =
be accepted, but it will definitely be worth it in the end. I've been =
through this change two times...we changed the schedule and the lab's =
software suite--it wasn't a popular change, but it was definitely one =
that needed to happen if we were to move to a more effective paradigm =
where the classroom teachers took more ownership for computer lab =
activities.
Matt Montagne
Middle School Academic Technology Coordinator
University School of Milwaukee
-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for independent school educators on behalf of Karen Ortiz
Sent: Fri 10/12/2007 12:04 PM
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Introduction and Question
=20
Hello everyone,=20
=20
John Threlkheld, my colleague at Graland Country Day School suggested I =
join this listserve. I am a new member of the Independent School =
community with an extensive background in Educational Technology =
Integration/Leadership in public school settings. I have worked at =
Graland since the Fall 2006. I am also on the Board of Directors for the =
annual state-wide Technology in Education conference.=20
=20
I am a K-4 Technology Specialist, seeing grade 2-4 classes an hour a =
week, 1st grades 1 hour every other week and Kindergarteners in half =
classes for =BD hour a week. During that time I engage our students in =
activities that are tied to their curricular units and Graland's =
Standards of Understanding. Information literacy and technology skill =
development is an intentional and embedded part of the lab experience.=20
=20
I was hired to help Graland create a strategic plan for technology. =
Thanks to those of you who graciously shared your plans and ideas with =
our team last year! The strategic plan is becoming a reality and our =
process towards true technology integration is moving along. =20
=20
My question: Do you have any suggestions as to how we can transition our =
teachers from the technology specialist's (pull out) model into the =
coaching/mentoring integrative model? Thank you in advance for your help
=20
Best regards,
=20
Karen M. Ortiz
Technology Integration Coach BoardMember, CO Technology In =
Education Conference
Graland Country Day School Wireless Dreams... June 24 - =
28, 2008
303.336.3771 Copper Mountain, =
Colorado
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Submissions to ISED-L are released under a Creative Commons license.
[ For info on ISED-L see http://www.gds.org/ISED-L ]
Submissions to ISED-L are released under a Creative Commons license.
