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A Successful Model for School Improvement
http://4teachers.org/keynotes/lawrence/
In this Web-based article, Dr. Judith Lawrence describes the successful staff development efforts of Orange School District, New Jersey, to implement technology into every aspect of the curriculum.
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Accountability Design
http://www.ccsso.org/content/pdfs/designing_school_acct_syst.pdf
This document presents three different views of accountability design to address states' needs. One view presents an elaborated framework, with questions, criteria, and comments, intended to provide a structure for helping states move through the process of designing a school accountability system. The second view presents a concise checklist of characteristics to help states evaluate the consistency and coherence of existing programs. The third view provides examples of actual state experience with design features that might be considered and why. Available as pdf file online or in hard copy for $10.00.
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ALA ICONnect Online Courses
http://www.ala.org/ICONN/onlineco.html
The American Library Association offers free online courses for basic and advanced levels. Teachers and librarians register and participate in scheduled courses. Once the courses end, content continues to be available in archives via a listserv. These ALA offerings are an example of some of the valuable, free staff development courses and materials that are available through the Internet.
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America Goes Back to School
http://www.ed.gov/Family/agbts/
"America Goes Back to School" encourages families and
communities to make the most of the back-to-school time by launching or expanding
family-school-community partnerships.
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America's Learning eXchange
http://www.alx.org
Educators who desire training but have difficulty finding applicable coursework in their geographic area may want to consider distance-based or distributed courses. America's Learning eXchange is a searchable database of courses offered through a variety of media, including CD-ROM, television, satellite, and Web-based delivery. Teachers looking for professional development opportunities not available locally may find alternate training with the aid of this Web site.
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American School Board Journal
http://www.asbj.com/
This Web site from the National School Boards Association offers practical advice on a wide range of topics of interest to school board members and administrators. Although the journal covers many issues that face the nation's schools, technology is a common topic addressed on the Web site and companion print publications. The Archive section groups past articles based on subject. For technology-related articles look for key terms computers, technology, or Internet, or see the Electronic School Supplement .
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Apple Learning Interchange
http://ali.apple.com
Apple Computers has long been more than a manufacturer of hardware and software. Apple continues to provide research-based findings on the effective integration of technology in instruction, such as the landmark Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow (ACOT) studies. The Apple Learning Interchange provides this information in a variety of media formats which make this site more engaging than strict text presentation. This extensive site allows visitors to search for resources, participate in discussion forums and on-line professional development, and access "units of practice," which are detailed ideas and examples of technology integration mapped to state and national standards. These helpful integration ideas address all curriculum areas and levels and were developed in cooperation with the National Science Foundation and the New American Schools Development Corporation.
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Apple Learning: Professional Development
http://www.apple.com/education/professionaldevelopment/
Exciting learning environments, engaged students, and improved learning require more than computers. Teachers who understand how to integrate the technology are absolutely essential. Explore the four scenarios this site offers to see how Apple can assist you in creating a complete professional development program to address a pressing concern, or simply browse course offerings.
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Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
http://www.ascd.org
The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) is an international, nonprofit, nonpartisan education association. ASCD offers professional development opportunities both on-line and face-to-face through conferences, institutes, academies, and tutorials and courses on-line. Of particular interest to users of the Web site are the on-line tutorials, which are free to all users. These short lessons include a combination of text and multimedia elements and cover a wide range of topics, such as standards, performance assessment, curriculum integration, and cooperative learning.
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Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education
http://www.aace.org/
The Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE) disseminates the results of research in information technology in education through publications, conferences, and interorganizational projects. While some services and publications require membership, resources under the interorganizational projects include free electronic journals.
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Becoming a Technologically Savvy Administrator
http://www.eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?a
ccno=ED438593
The article by Joseph Slowinski guides administrators in ensuring productive technology use in their schools. The digest discusses legal issues, vision development, fund raising, and support for curriculum development.
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Building a Technology Library: The Experts' Choices
http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/tech003.shtml
The Tech Team at Education World makes the search for introductory books on technology less baffling by asking each of their experts to recommend one book he or she considers a teacher's best first resource for technology integration. You'll want to make room on your bookshelf for these!
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Building the 21st Century School
http://edc.techleaders.org/wkinf98/readings/bldg21st.htm#bldg21st
Planning for technology is the focus of the Building the 21st Century School Web site. It includes step-by-step directions for building an educational technology plan, detailed planning charts and tables, and a spreadsheet application (available via e-mail) that will help in developing fiscal plans for technology. The site also includes descriptions of classroom equipment and a short Quicktime movie tour of a possible future classroom. This highly detailed site is presented through a partnership between the North Central Regional Technology in Education Consortium (NCR*TEC), the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), and the Integrated Technology Education Group (ITEG).
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Center for Improved Engineering & Science Education (CIESE)
http://njnie.dl.stevens-tech.edu/
The Center for Improved Engineering and Science Education (CIESE) works with teachers, administrators, schools, and school districts to help promote the effective integration of technology into the curriculum, especially in the areas of science and math. CIESE focuses on long-term, systemic programs that emphasize hands-on training for teachers and administrative counseling. CIESE is centered in New Jersey but is currently working in five states. Teachers will find a wide variety of teaching resources in addition to links to integration strategies.
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CEO Forum
http://www.ceoforum.org/
The CEO Forum on Education and Technology has as its mission to help ensure that students graduating from America's schools are prepared to enter the nation's workforce. The Forum offers annual reports on benchmarks toward that goal, including the Teacher Preparation STaR Chart. The STaR chart is a self-assessment tool for use primarily by colleges of educaton. It is designed to help determine the level of teacher preparation for incorporating technology and can be downloaded as a print document or taken on-line.
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Classrooms at Work, Models of Effective Technology Integration
http://www.netc.org/classrooms@work/
classrooms@work/tools@hand presents real classrooms and their
technology-rich learning projects. It offers classroom models of
technology integration for teacher professional development. The Web
site now features two classrooms at work--with more to come.
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Computer Learning Foundation: Teacher Hall of Fame
http://www.computerlearning.org
Computer Learning 2001 calls for nominations to its new Hall of Fame for Teachers. The Hall, which will be available in the spring of 2001, will include digital videos that show why these teachers were selected along with digital videos of the teachers. The Hall of Fame will provide online professional development through example.
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Computer Learning Foundation: Teachers Teaching Teachers
http://www.computerlearning.org/CLDownld.htm
The lead article in Computer Learning 2001 features teachers teaching teachers through use of digital video. Examples are given along with instructions for creating inspiring teaching videos. Videos submitted for the Foundation's competition for teachers will be used to showcase great teaching techniques through use of technologies.
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Computer Literacy for Community College
http://www.eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?a
ccno=ED438010
This Digest by Paula Zeszotarski expands the
definition of computer literacy to include information literacy, delineates issues
surrounding student access to new technologies, describes courses that include instruction
in computer-related skills, summarizes efforts at including computer literacy among
general education requirements, and addresses the faculty role in computer-skills.
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Computer Supported Intentional Learning Environments
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/EdTech/csile.html#Integrate
CSILE (Computer Supported Intentional Learning Environments) functions as a collaborative learning environment and a communal database, with both text and graphics capabilities. This networked multimedia environment lets students generate nodes, containing an idea or piece of information relevant to the topic under study. This site outlines CSILE, offering information on how to integrate it into the curriculum.
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Computers and Young Children
http://www.eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?a
ccno=ED438926
This Digest written by Susan W. Haugland discusses questions about when
children should start using computers; developmentally appropriate computer activities in
preschool, kindergarten, and early primary classrooms; benefits of computer use;
integration of computers into classrooms; and teacher training.
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Consortium for School Networking
http://www.cosn.org
The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) promotes the use of telecommunications to improve K-12 learning through the venues of leadership development, advocacy, coalition building, and emerging technology. CoSN offers reports on topical issues facing policymakers and educators at state and national levels and sponsors on-site training and a national conference. Of particular interest to administrators who are faced with planning for and implementing educational technology in their schools is the "Taking TCO to the Classroom" project--a discussion of the business concept of "Total Cost of Ownership" as it relates to education.
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Critical Issue: Developing a School or District Technology Plan
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/te300.htm
To realize the benefits of technology, schools must develop a plan for integrating technology
into the curriculum. An effective technology plan is based on the shared vision of educators, parents, community
members, and business leaders who have technological expertise. It ensures that technology strengthens existing
curricula and supports meaningful, engaged learning for all students. It also specifies how the technology will be
paid for and how its use will be supported.
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Critical Issue: Ensuring Equitable Use of Education Technology
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/te400.htm
When a school or district decides to implement education technology into the curriculum, one
of its overriding goals must be to create plans and policies for all members of the learning community to have
equitable access and use. Appropriate funding and professional development represent the key means of supporting
equitable access and use of technology to ensure technology literacy and to support meaningful learning for all
students.
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Critical Issue: Providing Professional Development for Effective
Technology Use
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/te1000.htm
The role of the classroom teacher is the crucial factor in the full
development and use of technology in the schools. A well-planned,
ongoing professional development program that is tied to the school's
curriculum goals, designed with built-in evaluation, and sustained by
adequate financial and staff support is essential if teachers are to
use technology appropriately to promote learning for all students in
the classroom. This site outlines such a program.
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Critical Issue: Using Technology to Enhance Engaged Learning for
At-Risk Students
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/students/atrisk/at400.htm
An increasing number of educators are calling for high standards and
challenging learning activities for at-risk students. New
technologies can provide meaningful learning experiences for all
children, especially those at risk of educational failure. This
document oulines a process for achieving such fundamental change.
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Critical Issue: Using Technology to Improve Student Achievement
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/te800.htm
Because effective use of technology must be supported by significant
investments in hardware, software, infrastructure, professional
development, and support services, there is a call for evidence
regarding the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of technology in K-12
schools (Panel on Educational Technology, 1997; Melmed, 1995).
Schools will be held accountable for these investments. How can
schools ensure that the promise that technology holds for student
achievement is realized? What factors need to be in place to support
the effective use of technology? What resources can school districts
use to help them plan for technology that will have a positive impact
on student achievement, and how can they justify that investment?
This document attempts to answer these questions and outlines a
policy for effectively implementing technology in the classroom.
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District Technology Planning for All Students: Helping to Meet the IDEA '97 Mandate
http://www.edc.org/LNT/news/Issue9/feature1.htm
School districts today are faced with multiple needs generated by standards-based reform, the implementation of technology, and the mandates of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Through the collaboration of general and special education in its technology planning, Concord, New Hampshire has worked to align those efforts.
Authors: Denise Ethier, Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC), with contributions from Donna Palley, Mark Denoncour, Steve Rothenberg of the Concord, NH School District, and Skip Stahl of the Center for Applied Special Technologies (CAST).
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E-Rate
http://www.fcc.gov/learnnet/
Knowledge of factors influencing the E-rate is essential for our nation's administrators. This site, sponsored by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is described as the "FCC's informal education page." While the page relies a great deal on text and informal presentation of material, any administrator may find valuable informaton concerning the E-rate on this page. Keep track of the latest E-rate developments by scrolling through the "What's New" section and follow up on related topics such as the Universal Service Proceedings and wireless classrooms. Help in processing and following E-rate applications may be found on the Schools and Libraries Division of the Universal Service Administrative Company Web site.
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EASI Equal Access to Software and Information
http://www.rit.edu/~easi/
Sponsored by the Rochester Institute of Technology and partially sponsored by the National Science Foundation, this site utilizes a variety of Web-based media formats to present information designed to promote equal access to all persons. Features include webcasts, RealAudio files, and workshops offered both on-line and on-site.
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EdLiNC
http://www.edlinc.org/
The Education and Libraries Networks Coalition (EdLiNC) seeks to present the viewpoint of schools and libraies in the FCC proceedings dealing with the implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which established the E-rate program. Of greatest help to users may be the Publications and Filings section, which includes special reports designed to present elementary information about the E-rate program in an easy-to-understand format. The site also maintains an Action Center that allows registered users to receive free e-mail updates on emerging E-rate issues and to communicate with Members of Congress by e-mail via EdLiNC.
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Edtechnot.com
http://www.edtechnot.com/
This site might be called a meeting of ed tech leaders throughout the world. Its purpose is to bring those who are guiding technology use in schools together to discuss divergent opinions. The site includes information on plans, web logs, books, and ideas related to educational technology.
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Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC)
http://www.edc.org
Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) is a nonprofit education and health organization that has a global impact on learners of all ages. EDC designs curricula and other educational tools and manages projects on a wide range of topics, including early childhood education, improving schools, health and justice, and learning technologies. Technology leaders will be interested in the professional development opportunities. The Web site is searchable and includes links to project descriptions, publications, and culminating Web sites on numerous topics.
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Education Leadership Tool Kit
http://www.nsba.org/sbot/toolkit/
This project of the National School Boards Association is a collection of helpful tips, articles, case studies, and other resources for technology leaders in education. The site provides primarily text-based help but focuses on a wide range of key issues such as planning, community involvement, professional and leadership development, curriculum and assessment, and funding. Resources listed under each topic are primarily Web links to case studies or organizations that offer help in the topic.
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Education Week
http://www.edweek.org
Education Week is published by Editorial Projects in Education, Inc., a nonprofit organization which aims to help raise the level of awareness and understanding among education professionals and the general public concerning important issues in American education. Education Week is the sponsor of "Technology Counts," the most comprehensive analysis of teachers' use of educational software across the country. Education Week's useful "In Context" section organizes information based on pertinent strands of use, such as key issues in education, facts and articles about each state, and a helpful glossary.
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Educational Testing Service Network
http://www.ets.org/
Long known for developing and delivering crucial tests in education, such as the PSAT and SAT, the Educational Testing Service (ETS) also provides research-based training and products geared toward helping teachers and students at a variety of levels. ETS provides products such as the computer-based Learning Plus System for students and professional development programs tied to research-based standards, such as the Pathwise(r) Series.
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Educators' Website for Information Technology
http://www.edc.org/EWIT/resource.htm
The Educators' Website for Information Technology features career-related ideas and resources relating to technologies. Featured are a PDA brochure about technology in community colleges, technical assistance services, news, and resources.
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educause
http://www.educause.edu/
Educause is an international, nonprofit association focused on helping higher education and corporations serving higher education obtain the greatest benefit from information technologies. In addition to a wealth of information on current issues concerning information technologies and higher education institutions, the Educause Web site provides presentations and reports on national policy as well as links to conferences, seminars, and institutes.
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EDvancenet
http://www.edvancenet.org/
EDvancenet is a partnership between the Consortium for School Networking, the National School Boards Foundation, and MCI WorldCom. It advocates the use of telecommunications in K-12 classrooms to improve learning. This attractive and well designed site includes a Resource Center with useful information in a variety of formats, including research reports, case studies, and a library of presentations school leaders can download and present. The Community Center offers a forum for discussions on topical issues in instructional technology with experts in the area as well as a listserv. This is an extensive reference site.
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Electronic School
http://www.electronic-school.com/
Electronic School is published quarterly both in print and on-line as a supplement to American School Board Journal. The on-line version of this publication offers articles on current topics of interest related to technology integration in K-12 education as well as software reviews and an opportunity to communicate with other educators through discussion lists and chat sessions. Although school board members are the primary intended audience for Electronic School, school leaders and technology professionals will also find a variety of useful information here.
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Evolving with the Internet: Taking Technology for Granted-Finally
http://www.enc.org/topics/change/practice/cases/documents/0,
1341,FOC-000705-index,00.shtm
Colorado Middle School teacher Kristine Mueh relates the story of her evolution in use of technology in the classroom. She shows how she changed her teaching as the technology tools available to her students changed. The essay demonstrates how teachers, like Mueh, participate in their own program of staff development. They experiment and they learn; they have evolved.
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Five Keys to Effective Technology Management
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStory.cfm?ArticleID=3798
Article contains five keys to successful technology resource management. It promotes hands-on understanding and management by savvy school leaders.
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Four Directions for Lifelong Learning
http://www.oii.org/html/the_four_directions_explained.html
The Online Internet Institute offers this essay by Ferdi Serim that details four directions for lifelong learning. These include collaboration and communication, exploration and evaluation, navigation and research, and synthesis and presentation. These directions are important in use of technologies in K-12 classrooms, as well as for lifelong learning.
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From Generation X to Generation Y
http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/thornburg/thornburg499.shtm
This David Thornburg "Teaching with Technology" article discusses how teachers can learn from students. It's part of the PBS TeacherSource materials and includes information on the www.Y project in which students and teachers collaborated on projects that resulted in enhancing classroom curricula. Also included are ideas about methods of teaching.
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Generation www.Y
http://www.nwrel.org/eval/genwhy/overview.html
Generation www.Y is a unique program that pairs students and teachers in learning about technologies. It is the brainchild of Olympia School District in Washington and was made possible by the Technology Challenge Grants. Students first learn the computer and teaching skills they need. Then, with their partner teacher, they create ideas and projects for lessons. After that, it's on to teaching preservice teachers, community members, and of course, inservice teachers.
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Generation www.Y: Student Follow-Up
http://www.nwrel.org/eval/genwhy/data/students/spring99/g991sf3.html
In the project Generation www.Y, individual students and teachers worked together as technology partners. The partners created collaborative projects that could be used in the teacher's lesson plans. This resource includes graphs describing student opinions of the project.
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Generation www.Y: Teacher Follow-Up
http://www.nwrel.org/eval/genwhy/data/partnerteachers/spring
99/g991ptf1.html
In the project Generation www.Y, individual students and teachers worked together as technology partners. The partners created collaborative projects that could be used in the teacher's lesson plans. This resource includes graphs describing teacher opinions of the project.
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Guiding Questions for Technology Planning
http://www.ncrtec.org/capacity/guidewww/gqhome.htm
In October 1995, six Regional Technology in Education Consortia
(RTEC) were funded by the Office of Educational Research and
Improvement (OERI), U.S. Department of Education. One of the RTECs'
tasks was to survey and analyze technology plans. To that end, they
formed a Technology Plan Task Force composed of representatives from
each of the RTECs. This task force was headed by the North Central
Regional Technology in Education Consortium (NCRTEC).
Two goals focused the efforts of the task force: to consider common
elements in planning documents and to generate a set of guiding
questions that would help technology planners as they consider the
most significant issues related to technology planning. This document
and tool, Guiding Questions for Technology Planning, Version 1.0, is
the result of that effort. ONLINE PUBLICATIONS, SITES,
ORGANIZATIONS, ETC
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Helping.org
http://www.helping.org
Helping.org is a partnership between the AOL Foundation and several partners. It is designed to help people volunteer both in their own community and beyond. Of particular interest to technology leaders is the site's comprehensive presentation of resources on nonprofits and information for bridging the "digital divide." These two sections present helpful information--some are step-by-step tutorials--developed by other nonprofits and organized by topic. The Resources for Nonprofits section includes a variety of items, such as a tutorial on creating Web pages, suggestions for purchasing hardware, and tips for finding Internet Service Providers.
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Hooking Teachers on Technology: Finding the Right Bait
http://techlearning.com/db_area/archives/WCE/archives/ferrell1.htm
As her district's technology coordinator, Karen Ferrell has netted many people in her computer workshops and watched them as they took the bait. Learn how she helps participants she calls coral reefs, guppies, octopuses, salmon, and sharks, and read her concern about the issues of training and one-shot workshops and some solutions.
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In Praise of Enthrallment
http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/thornburg/index.shtm
This "Teaching with Technology" article by David Thornburg is part of the PBS TeacherSource materials. It includes audio clips along with the text of Thornburg's ideas about use of technologies in the classroom. Learn how Thornburg compares the excitement of coming to school with a visit to Disneyworld. Links to other Thornburg essays are provided.
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Integrating Technology into the Instructional Process: Good Practice Guides the Way
http://www.ncrel.org/mands/docs/8-3.htm
Marianne Handler, of the National Louis University argues that the computer as a tool for students and teachers is not going to disappear from our world. Yet, even with that knowledge many teachers are still concerned and uncomfortable with finding ways in which a variety of technology-based experiences can expand and enhance what is happening in their classrooms. In order to alleviate these concerns, learning communities must find new ways of working and learning together. It is the intention of this article to encourage teachers to take the risks needed to teach in new ways, to try new tools and enjoy the challenge of learning with students.
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International Electronic Journal for Leadership in Learning
http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~iejll/
The Electronic Journal for Leadership in Learning is a refereed journal begun in 1997 by the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Articles in the journal deal with a wide variety of popular topics and issues concerning schooling and education; several articles in each issue concern technology. The journal captializes on the power of the electronic medium by stimulating responses to articles through a Talkback Forum and provides a listserv service.
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International Society for Technology in Education
http://www.iste.org/
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is a nonprofit professional organization that may be best known as the home of the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) Project and the National Center for Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology. ISTE also publishes the journals Learning & Leading with Technology and the Journal of Research on Computing in Education. This site contains a great deal of information for ISTE members; however, access to information is limited for nonmembers.
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ISTE NETS Essentials Conditions for Teacher Preparation
http://cnets.iste.org/essential.html
In order to teach teachers how to use technology effectively in the classroom, the conditions for teacher preparation must be considered. ISTE offers this essay and grid that details essential conditions. Categories covered include access, skilled educators, professional development, technological assistance, content standards and curriculum resources, student-centered learning, assessment, and community support.
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ISTE Standards for Teachers
http://cnets.iste.org/TeacherStandards.html
Performance indicators for evaluating teachers are available from the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). This grid includes indicators for all teachers, general preparation performance profiles, professional preparation performance profiles, student teaching/internship performance profiles, and first year teaching performance profiles. By using the grid, information can be found that specifies what teachers should know about technology.
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ISTE Technology Foundation Standards for Students
http://cnets.iste.org/students/
To live, learn, and work successfully in an increasingly complex and information-rich society, students must be able to use technology effectively. These ISTE standards provide guidelines for technology use in schools. The information provided includes links to performance indicators, curriculum examples, and scenarios.
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Justice for Kids & Youth
http://www.usdoj.gov/kidspage/
This web site is part of a joint effort by the U.S. Department of Justice and Information Technology Association of America to inform educators, parents, and students of computer ethics, including topics such as computer law, software piracy, and online cheating.
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Leadership and the New Technologies Library
http://www2.edc.org/urltrack/library.asp
This library contains a selected and annotated set of resources found to be most useful by members of the LNT community.
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Leadership and the New Technologies, Perspectives
http://www.edc.org/LNT/news.htm
LNT Perspectives is an online newsletter designed to help school
district leaders keep up-to-date about technology in education.
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Learning with Technology Course Resources
http://www.ncrtec.org/pd/lwtres/resource.htm
This site offers a series of resources from the Learning with Technology course of the North Central Regional Technology in Education Consortium. Topics covered include Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Technologies Tool, Constructive Friends Feedback Form, Engaged and Worthwhile Learning Activities, Examples of Technology Use Tools, Guide for Evaluating Software, and Print Scenario: Project-Based Science.
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Learning with Technology Profile Tool
http://www.ncrtec.org/capacity/profile/profile.htm
The Learning with Technology Profile Tool is a computer program intended to help educators think carefully about their practice in the areas of engaged learning and technology. The program presents indicators of engaged learning and indicators of technology. The tool is very useful for educators involved in creating a technology plan or evaluating best practices.
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Lesley College Online Readiness Survey
http://www.lesley.edu/online_learning/readiness/home.html
Lesley College offers many online courses in educational technology. Teachers, however, need to decide whether they are ready to take an online course. Although such courses may sound good, teachers may not have the equipment or background necessary for success in an online course. Therefore, Lesley offers this assessment instrument to help teachers evaluate their readiness relating to equipment, time and support, and technical skill.
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Lesley College School of Education: Technology in Education Programs
http://www.lesley.edu/soe/111tech.html#online
Lesley College offers an extensive program in Technology in Education. Many of its courses are based online; some include campus and online sessions. This resource details the educational technology-related offerings of the School of Education and provides an excellent example of professional development that can be offered both about and via technology.
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Level of Technology Implementation
http://www.lotilounge.com/
The National Business Education Alliance offers this framework (LOTI or Level of Technology Integration) and associated instruments for helping educators assess their level of implementation of instructional technology.
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Making Technology Happen
http://www.southern.org/pubs/MTH/makingtech.shtml
Making Technology Happen: Best Practices and Policies from Exemplary K-12 Schools, published by The Southern Growth Policy Board, addresses findings on best practices in the implementation of technology in schools. This online version of the book reviews how more than 200 exemplary schools are bringing technology into their classrooms. Areas of discussion include planning, training, providing technical support, re-engineering organizations, obtaining resources and evaluating how district, state and federal policies impact the process.
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Milken Family Foundation Education Technology
http://www.mff.org/edtech/
The Milken Family Foundation sponsors a wide variety of research-based projects based in teaching and learning. In relation to educational technology, the Milken Family Foundation has supported and helped to disseminate findings on the effectiveness of instructional technology programs through state-specific initiatives as well as in the annual Technology Counts survey published in Education Week. The foundation's Seven Dimensions for Gauging Progress of Technology in the Schools is a valuable tool for all schools to facilitate the decision-making process for the effective implementation of instructional technology.
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Millennium Project from AED
http://millennium.aed.org/
The Millennium Project offers a forum for the myriad issues facing educators in the age of instructional technology. The Millennium Project sponsors discussion on topics such as pedagogy, evaluation, and distance/distributed education. Participants have the opportunity to interact with other administrators, educators, and administrators as well as experts sponsored by the Millennium Project. The Web site also stores articles, references, and links to both on-line and off-line resources categorized by topic.
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National Association of Elementary School Principals
http://www.naesp.org/
The National Association of Elementary School Prinicpals supports its contingency of elementary and middle school students based on two findings from research: that a child's early years in school are the most crucial, and that the key figure in assuring quality schools is the principal. NAESP provides a wide range of training programs, publications, conferences, and professional meetings that support these prime assumptions.
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National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)
http://www.nassp.org/
The Web site for the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) deals less specifically with technology rather than with support for school leaders and the myriad of topics they face daily. Highlights of this site include links to scholarships and awards for principals and students alike, a bulletin board to share ideas with other school leaders, and links to NASSP publications such as High School Magazine. Sponsor of the National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society, NASSP has diverse offerings for student leaders which can be accessed through this site.
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National Center for Technology Planning
http://www.nctp.com/
The National Center for Technology Planning (NCTP) is a clearinghouse for the exchange of many types of information related to technology planning. The site offers school technology plans; technology planning aids (checklists, brochures, sample planning forms, PR announcement forms); and electronic monographs on timely, selected topics. The NCTP was created for those who don't want to reinvent the wheel when it comes to technology planning and can benefit from the fresh ideas and best practices discovered by other schools and districts.
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National Center to Improve Practice in Special Education Video Series Through Technology, Media, Materials
http://www2.edc.org/NCIP/videos/toc.htm
The National Center to Improve Practice (NCIP) was funded by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs to promote the effective use of technology to enhance educational outcomes for students with sensory, cognitive, physical and social/emotional disabilities. The video series provides a first hand look at the applications, implications, and benefits of technology integration for the student with special needs.
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National School Boards Association
http://www.nsba.org/
This Web site serves as a comprehensive storehouse for information created and distributed by the National School Boards Association. Of greatest interest to school board members and other policymakers, this site includes articles from School Board news, the Association's twice-monthly publication, SBA publications, as well as links to NSBA-sponsored meetings and conferences. The NSBA's "Teaching + Learning" Conference is one of the nation's largest and most comprehensive technology conferences for issues concerning educational technology and is well attended by all members of the education community.
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National Study Tour of District Technology Integration, Summary Report
http://www.edc.org/LNT/news/Issue4/cct14sum.htm
School districts all over the country have been grappling with the
difficult problems of integrating technologies for teaching and
learning. While there is considerable anecdotal advice, the
experience of districts who have successfully met these challenges
has not yet been systematically analyzed. The authors undertook a
national 'study tour' to examine eleven carefully selected sites
around the country that have developed a range of models for
integrating and using technologies well. This report by Jan Hawkins, Robert Spielvogel, and Erica Marks Panush, Education Development Center, Inc., Center for Children & Technology, summarizes the
results.
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Network of Regional Technology in Education Consortia
http://rtec.org/
The Regional Technology in Education Consortia (R*TEC) program is
established to help states, local educational agencies, teachers,
school library and media personnel, administrators, and other
education entities successfully integrate technologies into
kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) classrooms, library media
centers, and other educational settings, including adult literacy
centers.
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No Risk Internet Course
http://eruditio.asu.edu/~cwoods/class/ration.htm
Students need guidance when taking their first steps into cyberspace, and each step thereafter. This report, featuring a seven-week course, offers a simple, yet comprehensive curriculum for introducing the Internet to students.
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Performance Profiles for Teacher Preparation
http://cnets.iste.org/perfprofiles.html
Part of the ISTE National Education Technology Standards (NETS), this resource details standards for preservice teachers. It includes general preparation, professional preparation, student teaching/internship, and first-year teaching. Detailed standards are available in list or grid format.
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Planning for Technology Implementation
http://www.southern.org/pubs/MTH/makingtech.shtml
"Making Technology Happen: Best Practices and Policies from Exemplary k-12 Schools," published by The Southern Growth Policy Board, addresses their findings on best practices in the implementation of technology in schools. This on-line version of the book reviews how more than 200 exemplary schools are bringing technology into their classrooms. Chapter Three focuses on planning. Planning is a common first step in school-based technology implementation.
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Plugging In - Choosing and Using Educational Technology
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/edtalk/toc.htm
This EdTalk explains indicators of effective learning and high
technology performance, the framework and its use, policy issues in
the use of technology in learning, and key implementation issues in
the use of technology for learning. We conclude with a list of
recommendations about effectively using technology for learning.
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Plugging In: Choosing and Using Educational Technology
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/edtalk/intro.pdf
This Council for Educational Development and Research (CEDaR) EdTalk publication introduces what is known about effective learning and effective technology, and puts it together in planning a framework for educators and policymakers. The publication's chapters include New Times Demand New Ways of Learning, The Technology Effectiveness Framework, Policy Issues in Using Technology for Engaged Learning, Putting Policy into Place, and Recommendations for Policymakers and Educators. The study finds that technology that does not advance students' learning and has little value in the classroom.
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Principal Connections
http://www.principalconnections.org
This is a companion site to a CD-ROM developed by SEIR*TEC at AEL. Users of the CD will find supporting information related to this comprehensive CD, which covers a variety of topics specifically suited to school administrators. Visitors to the Web site may also find many of the on-line references helpful. The Web site provides monthly links to free and low-cost software for educators as well as answers to common questions concerning leadership issues in educational technology. Ordering information for the CD-ROM is available on the Web site.
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Professional Development and Training
http://www.southern.org/pubs/MTH/MT4.html
"Making Technology Happen: Best Practices and Policies from Exemplary K-12 Schools," published by The Southern Growth Policy Board, addresses their findings on best practices in the implementation of technology in schools. This online version of the book reviews how more than 200 exemplary schools are bringing technology into their classrooms. Chapter Four focuses on Professional Development and training, which are critical to the successful implementation of technologies being introduced to the classroom.
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QuickTime TV
http://www.ali.apple.com/events/aliqttv/
Professional development and video on the Internet have become exciting partners. At Apple's QuickTime TV site, teachers can watch live video or video archives streamed directly to their computers. This resource provides many videos from the US Department of Education, from convention keynote speeches, and from museums. Check the schedule for upcoming live events, but also check the archives for past staff development goodies.
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Recent Research on the Effects of Technology on Teaching and Learning
http://www.wested.org/techpolicy/research.html
What does research and experience tell us about the benefits and the most appropriate uses of technology and telecommunications to support and expand teaching and learning? This report provides a national perspective, provides research findings, including student and educator outcomes, conditions for technology to be effective, features of effective learning technologies, and state and federal program support factors. Although not a recent report, it contains information that will be valuable for educators.
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Scholastic Internet Center
http://www.scholastic.com/
This Web extension of the Scholastic publishing and media company contains information that will be most useful to classroom teachers, especially at the elementary and middle school level. However, school leaders will also find the Professional Resources for Teachers section useful. This section includes some help for common technology tasks as well as tips for teaching with technology and a discussion group on technology integration. The Scholastic Technology Guide is a searchable database of hardware and software designed to support both instruction and administration.
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School Case Studies (Technology & School Reform)
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/EdTech/schoolstories.html
How does use of technology support education reform? School Case Studies is a review of nine schools that incorporated technology into their reform efforts. The studies discuss reform history, technology support and outcomes.
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Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)
http://www.sl.universalservice.org/
While this site tracks and archives developments in the Universal Service Program for Schools and Libraries, commonly called the E-rate program, the greatest benefit to the users of this site may be in the on-line E-rate application help it provides. Users may follow the detailed step-by-step directions for filing for E-rate funding and may track their application. There is a great deal of information on this site, and users may want to print out portions and return to the site during the application process. Help is also available through e-mail, toll-free voice calls, and toll-free fax transmittals.
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Smarter College Classrooms Home Page
http://classrooms.com/
This Web site intends to catalog and present the latest guidelines and specifications, cost estimates, and design principles for classrooms. Designed for college classrooms, the wealth of information stored here will help any educator faced with making decisions regarding the design, development, or makeover of classrooms dependent on technology. Guidelines and specifications are also included on specific hardware such as screens, window coverings, chalkboards, VCRs, overhead projectors, and a wide range of video and audio equipment.
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Social Studies Teachers and Technology
http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~z06gkd/techproj/techproject2/
Reform efforts in the social studies have stressed a need to change the manner in which social studies has been taught and learned. One especially effective way to actively involve students in these activities is to incorporate technology into the social studies classroom. This paper provides activities developed in an attempt to integrate technology into the social studies curriculum while at the same time, encouraging skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, collaboration, creativity, and experience using various technological tools.
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Students Teaching Students with Technology
http://techlearning.com/db_area/archives/WCE/archives/hildreth.htm
This article from Technology and Learning magazine offers one teacher's perspective on integrating technology into art classes, as well as interdisciplinary art and social studies classes. She recognized that especially for students not planning a career in the arts, collaborative learning becomes an extremely valid and productive methodology when it is combined with technology.
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SWAT Savvy: A Model for Effective Classroom Technology Using Student Experts
http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/WCE/archives/bryan.htm
Overwhelmed by technology? Learn how to call in the SWAT (Student Workers Applying Technology) team! This article from Technology and Learning magazine outlines one teacher's successful use of student experts to promote and organize the use of technology in her classroom.
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Synergy Learning
http://www.synergylearning.org
Synergy Learning is a comprehensive site covering math, science, and design technology for Grades K-8. Many computer-using educators will be familiar with its magazine Connect®. Archives from the magazine, information on inquiry learning, a sample magazine issue, and resources for science labs are available on the site. Synergy Learning offers support materials through free online information, summer institutes and workshops, and magazine subscriptions.
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T.H.E. Journal and T.H.E. Institute
http://www.thejournal.com/
This is the on-line version of the T.H.E. Journal. T.H.E. (Technological Horizons in Education) publishes print and on-line versions of this free magazine and sponsors professional development activities through the T.H.E. Institute. These publications address every major trend and issue developing in educational technology and offers a wealth of resources for administrators, policymakers, classroom teachers, and instructional technology staff in language that is easy to understand. The EdTech Conference Listing is a comprehensive, searchable database; the EduHound feature categorizes Web-based resources on a variety of topics and includes tutorials, lesson plans, software demonstrations, and downloads.
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Taking A Good Look at Instructional Technology (TAGLIT)
http://www.bellsouth.com/education/pdfs/power-findings/tsld026.htm
Dr. Sheila Cory and Ms. Jennifer Peterson developed TAGLIT, a suite of assessment tools designed to help principals and other school leaders gather, analyze, and report information about how technology is used for teaching and learning in their schools. It was designed originally for use by North Carolina educators participating in "Principals as Technology Leaders," a professional development program offered by the Principals' Executive Program, a component program of the University of North Carolina Center for School Leadership Development.
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Teacher Education Mini-Cases
http://www.gse.uci.edu/cli/videocases.html
Digital videos can be excellent for use in teacher training. Through them, preservice and inservice teachers have the opportunity to observe master teachers in action. Here are some examples of how technology can used in staff development.
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Tech Corps
http://www.ustc.org/
America's Students Need a Technologically Advanced Education Today To Compete in the Workforce of Tomorrow Not all of our schools have the technological resources to enrich the education of today's students to adequately prepare them for the fierce competition that they will face as members of tomorrow's workforce. TECH CORPS is a national nonprofit that challenges Americans to help build the technology infrastructure of our nation's schools. Today TECH CORPS volunteers are helping put new technologies to effective use in schools and communities across the nation.
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Tech-Savvy: Educating Girls in the New Computer Age (2000)
http://www.aauw.org/research/girls_education/techsavvy.cfm
This description of TechSavvy Girls, a report published by the American Association of University Women, includes many of the details of the study. Statistical information such as percentages of girls taking AP and AB Computer Science tests and number of women receiving engineering degrees and computer science bachelor's degrees is offered. These facts, along with conclusions about girls and computer technology, electronic games, computer fluency, teacher education, and high tech work places are "must-knows" for professional development in the field of technology in education.
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TechLearning.com
http://www.techlearning.com/
Serving educators with ideas, tools, and resources for integrating
technology into the K-12 school, classroom and curriculum.
techlearning.com is produced by Technology & Learning Magazine, the
Well Connected Educator and SchoolTech Expo & Conference, with
contributions from hundreds of teachers, administrators and other
experts in the field.
TechLearning also provides an opportunity to subscribe to Technology
& Learning Magazing and The Well Connected Educator. The site
provides reviews, links, and buying guides.
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Technology and Math Scores: Do They Compute?
http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/thornburg/thornburg1298.shtm
In this article, David Thornburg discusses studies focused upon whether use of computers increases scores in mathematics. Learn what types of methods resulted in higher scores. Learn why teachers are so important when it comes to using computers in the classroom. This resource is available in both text and audio.
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Technology Briefs for NCLB Planners
http://www.neirtec.org/products/techbriefs/
NEIRTEC's 60-page packet includes a 3 -5 page brief on each of the fourteen issues identified in the U.S. Department of Education NCLB guidance document, and provides effective strategies, key questions, and selected resources to inform the application and planning process. Topics in the NEIRTEC packet include: strategies for improving academic achievement and teacher effectiveness; parental involvement; professional development; and accountability measures.
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Technology Planning: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
http://www.microsoft.com/education/?ID=PlanTMM
This article from the Microsoft collection helps teachers to write effective technology plans. Technology plans are required for approval of local technology resources, for acquiring federal and state monies, and for helping colleagues envision how technology can improve learning. This article identifies common mistakes and challenges found in the technology planning process, and offers practical solutions.
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Technology's Impact
http://www.electronic-school.com/0997f3.html
This 1997 article from Electronic School magazine outlines what the Educational Testing Service (ETS) found in its evaluation of the effectiveness of technology use. The study analyzes technology's benefits and limitations in the classroom, with an emphasis on the best uses of technology by classroom teachers.
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The Algebra Connection
http://www.gse.uci.edu/cli/mathhtmls/math1video06big.html
Part of the PT3 grants, this Orange County resource demonstrates how video via the Internet can be used for staff development. Although this series of videos emphasizes Algebra, other videos are in the areas of language arts, science, and social studies.
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The BEST Model: Looking Back and Looking Ahead
http://techlearning.com/db_area/archives/WCE/archives/kaczynsk.htm
Teaching with technology and modeling teacher collaboration has become an empowering model at Brimfield Elementary School, one that encourages students to learn and communicate in a variety of ways. This article from Technology and Learning magazne outlines four years of the best practices discovered by the team approach of the Brimfield Elementary School Technology (BEST) model.
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The Florida Educational Technology Corporation Conference
http://www.fetc.org
The mission of the Florida Educational Technology Corporation (FETC, Inc.) is to advocate and support the use of technology in education by providing an annual world class conference and other initiatives for the education community. Information about the conference is provided on this site.
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The Nation's Report Card
http://www.nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/
The Nation's Report Card, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), stores and presents the results of ongoing assessment of student performance and instructional factors that lead to that performance. This information is conveniently categorized by user type, such as principal, teacher, or policymaker, or by subject area. Subjects include reading, mathematics, science, writing, history, civics, geography, and the arts. Results on these assessments are also available based upon state participation.
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The Secretary of Education's Conference on Educational Technology - Spotlight Schools
http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/tech/techconf99/index.html
The Secretary of Education's 1999 Conference on Educational Technology examines the shift in schools' focus on technology. Where once the emphasis was on building and implementing a technology infrastructure, it currently focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of its use in schools and classrooms. In Spotlight Schools, the conference evaluates over 40 schools that have demonstrated successful technology integration.
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The Secretary's Conference on Educational Technology: Evaluating the
http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/tech/techconf99/index.html
The Secretary's Conference on Educational Technology: Evaluating the
Effectiveness of Technology on July 12-13, 1999, in Washington, D.C.,
noted a shift in schools' focus on technology. Where once the
emphasis was on building and implementing a technology
infrastructure, today it is on evaluating the effectiveness of its
use in schools and classrooms. Parents and teachers, school boards
and administrators, governors and state legislatures, and Congress
all want to know if the nation's investment in technology is
providing a return in student achievement. Indeed, if resources are
to be expended on technology, it is becoming a political, economic,
and public policy necessity to demonstrate its vital effectiveness.
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The Six Commandments of Technology Implementation
http://techlearning.com/db_area/archives/WCE/archives/collette.htm
Implementing a technology program in a new school may seem a Herculean task, but you can do it if you follow this list of six commandments. These include never losing sight of the prize, cherishing voice mail, being flexible, knowing where everything is, sacrificing, and involving others in the process. The author adds other things to consider but assures the reader that the job can be done.
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The Teaching, Learning, and Technology Affiliate of the American Association for Higher Education
http://www.tltgroup.org/
The TLT (Teaching, Learning, and Technology) Group helps institutions of higher education cope with the rapidly changing developments in information technology. It suggests that its strength lies in the scope of its membership, with over 400 member colleges and universities participating in their roundtable discussions, over 6,500 members on their listserv, and a growing corporate membership. The TLT Group also offers Flashlight(tm), an extremely comprehensive on-line tool for assessing classroom technology use.
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The Vermont MIDI Project
http://www.vtmidi.org/
The Vermont MIDI Project, a network of over 60 schools across Vermont, is an online music mentoring project where students in grades 1-12 submit their music compositions for sharing and critique by professional composers, teachers and other students.
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U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology
http://www.ed.gov/Technology/
This Web site from the Department of Education is an essential bookmark for any educator concerned with educational technology. Here you'll find reports on the most current technology issues of concern to national legislators and policymakers. Links to state and regional support, funding opportunitites, conference summaries, and white papers are among the many references available for the nation's educators. The Office of Educational Technology also tracks key issues such as the "digital divide," distance learning, and assessing the impact of technology.
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Understanding the Impact of Media on Children and Teens
http://www.aap.org/family/mediaimpact.htm
American Academy of Pediatrics offers this overview of the impact of media on children and teens. Addressed is the power of the media, good and bad.
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Using Technology to Motivate Students
http://4teachers.org/kidspeak/prejudice/
Here?s a look at best practices from the other side of the desk. Five students from Beaverton, Oregon discuss how their teacher made an assignment on prejudice both enjoyable and meaningful by integrating technology. The site includes visual templates to help replicate the assignment.
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webTeacher
http://www.webteacher.org/macnet/indextc.html
For teachers interested in improving their knowledge of the World Wide Web, webTeacher offers an extensive array of free, online tutorials. These tutorials range from the basics of using the Web to learning to create your own videos for your own web site. webTeacher provides easy-to-schedule and easy-to-understand inservice activities that teachers can complete when convenient.
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Wired Schools: It Takes a Village
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-201-322933-0.html?feed.msnbc.alert
From C/Net News this site contains brief case studies of two schools and includes information on teacher training, the dream classroom, NetDay, access to equipment, at-risk students and technology.
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www4teachers (SCRTEC)
http://www.4teachers.org/
The South Central Regional Technology in Education Consortium has developed this Web site based around four topics: integrating technology, tools, professional development, and stars. The tools section includes web-based tools for teachers including an on-line quizzing environment and the popular Trackstar, which allows teachers to organize and annotate Web sites for ease of use in classrooms. The stars section highlights some of the best products and information developed in the remaining three areas. This site is intended primarily for teachers; however, resources on technology planning, funding, and assessment are also available.
