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Successful Strategies for MLTI
What makes for the successful implementation of one-to-one technology in the classroom? Read below to find a list of fourteen strategies that will assure a healthy approach to the Maine Learning Technology Initiative. Each strategy links to supporting resources, including many from Maine schools.
Vision and Goal Setting
Leadership
- Regular meetings with the leadership team
- Review the job description of the Teacher Leader
- Develop a matrix of skilled folks within the building
Professional Development
- Encourage teachers to attend the Content Meetings in their areas
- Provide time for techno shows, teacher sharing and problem solving
- Scheduled time for teachers to meet regularly to problem solve and learn from one another during the school day
- Work with library media specialists and staff on information literacy
Technical Support
Procedures and Policies
- Do you have an acceptable use policy?
- Do you have a home use policy?
- Staff meetings to set standards re: policies and practices around technology management and FirstClass email
- iBook resource pages from Maine schools: helpful hints, iBook Guidelines, AUP's and more
- Insurance Options
Other Resources
Freeport Middle School Principal, Chris Toy's, on-line journal of his MLTI experience.
Vision
Supporting Change in Student Practice- pdf document. The transition from a traditional teaching model to the effective utilization of 1 – 1 laptop access for all learners in Maine’s schools recognizes that changing student practice is a core responsibility. Summary and graphic organizer.
Where Will They be in 2015?- pdf document. A brainstorming document that helps participants to visualize where students will be in the future.
NCREL Forward Thinking, Shared Vision- http://www.ncrel.org/engauge/framewk/vis/visin.htm Guiding Question: How is the education system building a shared, community-based vision that prepares students to learn, work, and live successfully in the Digital Age?
Technology Vision Statement Guidelines- http://www.rmcdenver.com/eetnet/vision.htm
What is Your Vision of Learning? http://www.ncrtec.org/capacity/guidewww/vision.htm
Changing Educational Systems- http://www.glef.org/getstarted/policymakers/ed_systems.php
Superintendents in Action http://www.glef.org/php/article.php?id=Art_1054
Fears and Hopes
Fears and Hopes Activity- pdf download
Regular meetings with the leadership team
The Leadership Team includes, but is not limited to, the principal, teacher leader, technology coordinator, and the school librarian. Meetings should be weekly when first implementing the MLTI in your school. As things progress they should then be filtered to every two weeks, then three, and so on as start up issues and major concerns are addressed.
Three lenses should be applied to any decision that involves the utilization of technology as a teaching and learning tool: the curriculum content lens, the technical lens, and the school culture lens. Always consider implications on each of these three levels as you proceed with the MLTI.
Review the job description of the Teacher Leader
Review the job description of a Teacher Leader, making sure that the person in that role is not only meeting their stated responsibilities, but also that they are not being expected to take on responsibilities that are realistically in the domain of the administration or the Technology Coordinator. Remember the piece about the team of principal, technology coordinator and teacher leader meeting regularly..?
Teacher Leader job description-pdf.download
Original MLTI document outlining purpose, requisite qualities, and job description of teacher leader- pdf.download
Develop a matrix of skilled folks within the building
Studies show that the best kind of tech support is "just in time" support. Not all schools have the tech staff to provide that kind of support on a daily basis but often there are staff members who have become proficient in certain skills or have had experience in teaching with technology. Compiling and publishing a matrix of skilled people in your building can help teachers find the kind of support they need right when they need it. Knowing that there's someone nearby who has "been there, done that" can give teachers the confidence they need to take some risks and try something new.
We've provided two matrices that you can use as examples when compiling your own. The first is an example of a tech skills matrix organized by grade level. The second is a technology integration chart, organized by content area, that shows which teachers have resources or ideas to share. Both matrices are MS Word documents that you can download and revise for your own school's use.
Matrix 1- .doc download. Sample guide to which staff members have specific tech skills and are willing to help others.
Matrix 2- .doc download. Sample guide to which staff members have curriculum-related ideas and resources and are willing to share.
Encourage teachers to attend the Content Meetings in their areas
The MLTI Content Meetings serve as a catalyst for teacher collaboration around the utilization of technology for learning. We provide facilitators and a space where educators are encouraged to learn, share, and participate in day long sessions that are focused on teaching and learning with practical technological applications. The strength of the Content Meetings lies in the flexibility of the agenda, thus better meeting the overall needs of the group, and in the connections made and sharing extended by participants.
To this date, there have been four rounds of MLTI Content Meetings, two in the spring of 2003, one in fall 2003 and one in spring 2004. Each round consists of a week of facilitated learning in each of Maine's nine superintendent regions. As MLTI has grown, so have the activities and skill level of the participants. It is an ever-evolving process.
Facilitators include: Barbara Greenstone and Kelly Arsenault, MLTI State Wide Integration Mentors; Jim Moulton, Technology Education Consultant, and Pam Buffington, Math/Technology Education Consultant from the Educational Development Center (EDC). Content Leaders from each superintendent region assist at Content Meetings as well as contributed to the design of each round.
Past Content Meeting Resources
Math Content Meetings- have mainly been led by Pam Buffington, education consultant from the Educational Development Center. Many resources utilized can be found at Neirtec Math Portal.
Fall 2003 Agenda and activities links. Teacher created resources from fall meetings: science, social studies, language arts, foreign language, special needs, health/phys.ed, family and consumer science
Scheduled time for teachers to meet regularly to problem solve and learn from one another during the school day
When teachers to meet regularly to problem solve and learn from one another during the school day, the organization as a whole grows. Teachers rarely have a chance to communicate with their peers. Creating that time is a task, but well worth the effort.
NSDC Standards for Staff Development-http://www.nsdc.org/standards/index.cfm
Practices for Creating Time for Staff Development
Making Time for Adult Learning- http://www.nsdc.org/library/publications/jsd/pardini202.cfm
Create Time for Professional Development- http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/educatrs/profdevl/pd3lk6.htmCritical Issue: Finding Time for Staff Development- http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/educatrs/profdevl/pd300.htm
Time for Learning- http://www.nsdc.org/library/resources/time.cfm#nsdc
Time Use Research Studies-http://www.nsdc.org/library/resources/time.cfm#res
Time Use Strategies and Scheduling Options- http://www.nsdc.org/library/resources/time.cfm#str
A Techno Show is a short presentation done at the beginning of a full staff meeting, usually focusing on one topic of interest to teachers who are teaching with technology. Bette Manchester began using this technique in her weekly staff meetings when she was principal of Mt. Ararat Middle School. The Techno Shows had three major purposes: 1) to make the staff aware of the hardware and software available to them, 2) to inspire teachers to use technology in their teaching, and 3) to make the staff aware of the support that the school's Technology/Literacy Integrators could provide. The success of these Techno Shows was evident in the increased awareness of and interest in technology at Mt. Ararat Middle School. The level of technology integration in the classrooms increased dramatically in just one year.
We believe that MLTI schools can also benefit from regular Techno Shows as part of their staff meetings. This PowerPoint presentation, prepared by Barbara Greenstone (former Technology/Literacy Integrator at Mt. Ararat Middle School) will give you an overview and some tips for producing your own Techno Shows
TechnoShow "How To" Quicktime-click on the movie to move each slide forward.
Work with library media specialists and staff on information literacy
Information literacy is an important part of educating today's students. Below are a few links to assist teachers in this task. Visit MaineLearns Research and Information Literacy Links for a more complete list.
Maine InfoNet/Marvel-"A single search scans more than 2,500,000 unique titles and nearly 6 million items. Starting with 60 of the largest libraries in Maine, the system will eventually include more than 300 library collections."
Internet Safety Links from Tech Corps- http://www.techcorps.org/resources/internetsafety/index.html
Media Awareness Network- http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/index.cfm
Education World's collection of web sites for teaching information literacy- http://www.education-world.com/a_sites/sites081.shtml
Quick- The Quality Information Checklist- Eight ways of checking information quality on a web site.
The ABC's of Website Evaluation- Kathy Schrock has put together a lesson to use with students on learning to effectively evaluate websites.
Develop a student "tech team"
Develop a student tech team, or, as folks are referring to them here in Maine, “iTeam.” The kids grew up in the technology, so why not give them a chance to be a formal part of the work? We all turn to kids for support in one way or another, but the successful schools are finding that it is the “formalization” of the iTeam through team-building and professional development that makes the real difference. And that professional development is in people skills as well as technical skills!
Cape Elizabeth Middle School iTEAM- http://capenet.cape.k12.me.us/%7Ecape_MLTI/Pages/iTeam.html
Hall Dale iTEAM- http://www.halldale.org/hdmiddle/default.htm Go to Resources-iTEAM
Student iTEAMs fix Tech Troubles- http://20below.mainetoday.com/press/pph/040110laptops.shtml
Auburn Middle School iTEAm Page- http://ams.auburnschl.edu/iteam.html
Student iTeam to Offer Peer Support- http://www.capeelizabeth.com/news/laptop3.html
Tech Team Book- http://www.kent.k12.wa.us/staff/epeto/tech_team/book.html
Intel Education: New to Technology: Tech Teams- http://www.intel.com/education/newtotech/tech_teams.htm
SWAT- Students Working to Advance Technology- http://www.swatweb.net/
Students develop leadership skills through technology http://www.shorelineschools.org/departments/technology/features/feature_0102.php
Student Technology Leadership- http://itd.usd259.com/leadership/
Kentucky's Student Technology Leadership Program- http://www.education.ky.gov/
Wisconsin STLP- http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/shabazz/tech/stlp/stlp.htm
Tech folks need to be reading the tech news
Assure that tech folks are reading the tech news, and making use of the information contained within. Regularly distributed by Apple, these bulletins contain the answers to many of the issues that can become bigger than they need to be if left unaddressed. Great preventive maintenance!
MLTI Tech Resources and more- http://www.middlemaine.org/
Do you have an acceptable use policy?
Most school districts already have an acceptable use policy that staff and students are required to follow. A number of districts have either integrated the use of the MLTI into their existing policy or have written ones specifically for the iBooks. The links below identify only a few of the MLTI iBook procedures, policies and guidelines implemented around the state. See "Staff Meetings to set guidelines and standards..." and "Do You Have a Home Use Policy?" for more iBook procedures and management practices.
Cape Elizabeth General iBook Guidelines
Frank H. Harrison-Yamouth-Apple iBook Guidelines
Noble Middle School Laptop Usage Guidelines
MSAD #2 and 38 Student Guidelines
MSAD#6 AUP and Permission to Post Guidelines
MSAD#40 AD Gray Laptop Policies
Freeport iBook Guidelines
Rockland District Middle School iBook Guidelines
Do you have a home use policy?
Allowing the MLTI iBooks to travel to and from school is integral to the Maine Learning Technology Initiative's goal of equal access to technology for all students. Being able to continue classroom work at home is only one of the many advantages of taking the iBooks home and, despite the concerns of many school boards and teachers, damage to iBooks traveling home with students has been close to none. Linked below are the "take home" procedures and policies for some Maine middle schools.
Buckfield Middle School Proposed Take Home Procedure
Cape Elizabeth iBook Take Home Procedures
Frank H. Harrison Take Home Guidelines
Greely Junior High Take Home Procedures
Lyman Moore Middle School Take Home Procedures
Skowhegan Middle School Take Home Procedures
Winslow Junior High Guidelines and Take Home Permission Slip
Staff meetings to set standards re: policies and practices around technology management and FirstClass email
It is important that all staff are on the "same page" when it comes to procedures and policies. While copies of handouts, forms, and policies are important to convey a message, nothing is better than a whole staff meeting to discuss and clarify procedures and concerns. Only when the entire staff has a clear view of expectations will the students be able to understand what is expected of them. Consistency and clarity are key for the successful utilization of this educational tool.
Practices
iBook Infractions- Observations that have occurred around the handling of iBook "infractions" have shown that schools accepting the iBooks as an integral part of student education use existing rules to deal with incidents of misuse. It has been found that taking away a student's iBook for infractions other than purposeful damage has more often led to student apathy and resentment rather than encouraged appropriate use and acceptance. For example, if a student mistakenly leaves her/his iBook in a classroom or doesn't store it appropriately, the iBook is not taken away for a period of time. Rather, a student may be required to make up the time from class that was lost during retrieval of the laptop or to make up work unable to be done because of the missing educational tool. .Removing the iBook impacts many subject areas, gives students an "out" for keeping up with assignments, and takes away the need to learn to be responsible.
Management
Lyman Moore Middle School iBook repair form- .doc download. Must be filled out completely before an iBook will be checked for repair.
FirstClass E-Mail
How do I get kids started with email? link to a .doc download
What are some guidelines for email etiquette? link to .doc or .pdf download
Insurance Options - This section is under development.
Shapleigh Middle School in Kittery has been successful with using a self-insurance program. A variety of accommodations are made for families that have difficulty with the cost so that all students have the same access to the technology. Download their 2003-2004 insurance form as either a PDF document.
School iBook Resource Pages- AUP, Take Home, iBook Guidelines, Teaching Resources
Buckfield Middle School Resource PageCape Elizabeth Middle School- MLTI Resource Page
Freeport Middle School iBook Connection
Greely Junior High Laptop Resource Page
Lewiston Middle School MLTI Resource Page
MSAD #4 Guilford- Piscataquis Community Middle School Laptop Project
Skowhegan Area Middle School Technology Page
Troy Howard Middle School Technology Initiative
Other
http://www.generationsatwork.com/articles/millenials.htm All about Millennials in the work force - a very interesting point of view.http://www.millennialsrising.com/ A site to accompany the book Millennials Rising.
http://www.apple.com/education/digitalkids/ The Apple site with info about digital kids
And a couple that are politically interesting but may or may not be helpful to us when talking about education:
http://reason.com/0312/co.js.misreading.shtml Misreading Millennials - another interesting point of view from Reason Online (Libertarian publication!)
http://www.millennialpolitics.com/ Millennial Politics - find out what's important to this generation.
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