TechCommittee

A couple of things to add for the good of the group: 1. PAWS tutoring before school tends to be taught by teachers who are also involved in a lot of school activities/committees. I think it needs to be a priority to find times for the committee to meet as well as sessions to be offered at times when teachers who are involved in before/after school activities can participate. I heard a lot of the staff throughout the year say they would have gone to a session if it hadn't been for the scheduling conflict. 2. Math and Reading meetings with Nancy and Heather are mandatory for teams. I was under the impression that the meetings with Mel were optional, and I think that is the reason for the lack of participation. Why can't we make it mandatory? (Something to think about if we are going to push the Appendix D goals)

3. Next year as a future goal, I think it could be beneficial for the committee members to go into the classrooms and model using the technology if possible. I think it is great to sit in a meeting and be exposed to what //can// be used in the classroom, but if we had 5 members, and each member was responsible for demonstrating a lesson to 1 particular team (not their own preferably) it would create more interest. Sorry, again, that I couldn't make it to the meeting... gotta love tutoring!

Kristen = = =RBES Technology Committee= 5/13/09 In attendance: Mel McNamara, Eric Soskil, Gillian Spivey, Summer Bettinger

The committee discussed the many different technology workshops that were offered to staff this year. Everyone is in agreement that the number of workshops and topics were extensive. Attendance at workshops before and after school and even during the school day was discussed. Many of the teachers are involved in Panther Club and after school enrichment clubs. These extra assignments prohibit many people from participating in technology workshops.

The committee also discussed the low attendance during Mel McNamara’s technology sessions, which are scheduled during the teacher’s planning periods. A suggestion of requiring technology to be apart of people’s Appendix D is suggested to promote the use of technology and provide further incentive for individuals to attend trainings. On the weeks that Mel is scheduled to come team leaders were asked to be more flexible with their team meetings. Continued communication about these technology sessions from both the committee and administration is needed to improve attendance.

Throughout the year the committee shared numerous technology tips via email and the staff newsletters. Committee members also followed a train-the-trainer model for promoting the use of document cameras. These strategies were very effective and the suggestion is to continue there use. An updated schedule needs to be established to ensure all committee members have a designated time to share a tip.

In thinking about next year the committee discussed working with the administration to get a technology goal into the appendix D. Mel also suggests that next year’s PD offerings focus on Web 2.0 applications. The committee will work on developing a survey of staff needs before the school year ends. Eric also suggests that the use of the WiiMote, Interwrite pads, MP3 and portable DVD players continue to be emphasized. Gillian suggests that we also place an emphasis on mounting the LCD projectors to reduce the wires and eliminate the problem with stepping in the line of the projection. The committee feels that is a good suggestion to follow-up on with the administration.

A suggestion was also discussed to expand the technology tip section in the weekly newsletter and include a spotlight on a teacher integrating technology.

Finally, there are a few core computer skills that everyone needs to know. Finding time to share these skills with the entire staff and other tips on a more regular basis would be helpful. Numerous teachers lost a significant amount of data because of not properly backing up files and computer damage.

Agenda for 9/10 RBES Technology Committee Committee Members: Eric Soskil (chair), Mel McNammara (OMET rep.), Gillian Spivey Sue Polise, Summer Bettinger, Kristen Lorch, Shannon Callihan

Proposed Meeting Dates- Second Wednesday of each month. 9/10 2/11 10/8 3/11 11/12 4/8 12/10 5/13 1/14 6/10

Notes for 2-11-09:

Committee Members: Eric Soskil (chair), Mel McNammara (OMET rep.), Gillian Spivey, Sue Polise, Summer Bettinger, Kristen Lorch, Shannon Callihan

Focus: Continue to discuss how we can promote use of tech. equipment.

Sue P- Will monitor lab usage and sign-ups for the next couple of weeks. This step will help make sure that people are using the lab when they are signed up.

What equipment is not being well utilized? Document cameras PRS clickers Wireless mice and presenters

To promote the use of the document camera tech. committee members will present it at grade level meetings.

Gillian – 4th and 5th Sue P.- K Callihan- 3rd Summer- 1 and 2

Possible uses for the document cameras: - Display a book for verbs or word choice - student writing - brainstorming - art display - math- students present math work - drawing silhouettes - present manipulatives - math games- explain to games and rules - science experiment - I (Eric) will continue to send out emails and offer training on these devices. I will also make time to present at grade level meetings. PRS Wireless clickers

Schedule for emails: Suggestions for presenting include the following: 1) Just send out a normal email including the picture of the equipment and integration suggestions. 2) Create a short PowerPoint like Troy did to announce the pot-luck luncheon. 3) Get real creative and come up with something different like a Podcast or short movie.

Reminder: Please remember to make sure you send out your tech. tips either via email like Shannon C. or through Troy’s newsletter.

Week of 12/15- Shannon C. – LCD’s and scanning with the copy machine 1/5- Summer B- video camera- writing, students listen to e/o, etc. 1/12- Sue P.- digital cameras and video distribution system 1/19- Gillian S- wireless mouse and presenters 1/26- Kristen- Interwrite pad 2/2- Eric – PRS clickers and wireless microphone 2/9- Shannon C.- computer lab – other than websites 2/16- Gillian – Mobile lab- tips for using it successfully 2/23- Sue P. – document camera 3/2- Summer b- share a favorite website or program 3/9- Eric – wireless speaker and iSight camera 3/16- Kristen- pick a program on the computer to spotlight, i.e. Photobooth, iPhoto 3/23- Eric- MP3 players and portable DVD player

Need to review for next time: - Do we want to continue to offer morning and afternoon tech trainings?

Upcoming Trainings: 12/18- Kristen- using CLC 4pm 1/13- Eric Test Pilot 8:15am 1/28- Gillian -4pm – great websites 2/3- Eric – Word forms – editing tools 8:20 2/10 – Mel – 10-4 4/15- Mel 5/13- Mel

Thoughts for 12/10 I know we have not meet since the first meeting in September. Initially we needed to talk about equipment and purchases. Those decisions were made. For quite some time I have felt that we are in a bit of a crisis and the administration concurs. The computer lab and mobile labs are not being utilized well. Beyond Fasttmath few teachers are using the labs to integrate technology. In addition, we have a lot of equipment that is also under utilized. I would like to meet Wed. the 10th to try and brainstorm ways the committee can encouarge the use of the existing technology.  Kristen - interwrite pad, LCD and DR - unit tests Shannon C- LCDs and scanning with the copy machine ERic - PRS, microphone, Sue P.- digital cameras, video distribution system Summer B- video camera- writing, student listen to e/o document camera, MP3 players, wireless mouse and presenters

KL: Tech. committee picture - put picture in newsletter - tool of the week

** GS- **   SB: - Time at staff meeting to discuss issues, a little scare. - Find a story from the district on someone who personally had to pay for the laptop. - have people sign that they watched a video or listened to Podcast.
 * Could we make technology part of the monthly staff meeting? At my old school we would get a tech focus for the month and then share what we did during our monthly staff meeting. Or sometimes, instead of sharing at our staff meeting, we emailed a list of what we did to our Tech Teacher, she compiled it, and then she posted it on our school conference so everyone could get ideas from it.
 * Maybe teachers need ideas on how to integrate technology into what they are teaching? I would be happy to help with that.
 * Also- teachers might need some demonstrations on how to use new technology. I would suggest going in and doing a demo lesson (I could help with this if needed) on what the teacher requests.
 * I wouldn't suggest adding anymore meetings as a means to an end.

SC: Take a picture of tech. equipment and have a list of suggestions on how people can integrate the equipment into instruction. - electronically - quick PowerPoint - find out ES-

SP- kids need to be supervised in the lab - find out what issues are for syncing?

ES- What would you do with a $1000. Agenda for 9/10 1. Discuss what committee members would like the committee to focus on. 2. Share individual strengths regarding technology. Something to keep in mind: How will our committee support the school improvement plan? **GS Equipment- I think all classrooms should have more than 2 computers each. GS Professional Development- offering classes on the clickers, web page creation, and imovie GS Assessing teacher needs- this may help with PD sessions as well as assist some teachers with their appendix D goal ** From Mel - We should consider introducing new staff to unitedstreaming resources. We should also consider looking at the ekits and some of the more advanced iPhoto features.
 * GS- PPT, online games (prefixes, suffixes, poetry, etc...), and word. **

Suggested focus ideas: Professional development - web resources - equipment - programs - promoting use of computer lab and mobile lab Purchasing Resource for teachers, parents Assessing teacher needs Seek new technologies through grants