Educational Technology in CT Where we are, where we could be

Educational Technology in CTWhere we are, where we could be

What I hope you get out of our morning together, your week here-• Clearer idea of what’s happening in CT with regard to

educational technology• Deeper understanding of “effective technology use”• Ideas for what *you* can do to advance student learning

through technology’s use in your school or district• A glimpse at tomorrow’s (?) tools

(and maybe… think about some things you haven’t before)

Time for a test…

Research:Technology In Schools• Technology serves as a bridge to more engaged,

relevant, meaningful, and personalized learning-all of which can lead to higher academic achievement.

• Research indicates that when technology is used appropriately, children learn more, even as measured by conventional tests. (NCREL)

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Percent of Americans In Age Group Online12-17   87%18-24   82%25-29   85%30-34   83%40-44   76%45-49   73%50-54   68%55-59   68%60-64   55%65-69   57%70-75   26%76+      17%

Age of Internet Users

Implications for educators?

(Source: Wash Post 2/6/06 quoting Pew Internet & American Life Project surveys conducted Oct.-Nov. 2004 (teens) and Jan.-June 2005 (adults)

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Internet Usage StatsJune 2006:• 91% of parents say that the Internet helps their kids explore things they’re passionate about• 77% of parents say they see the Internet as an important tool to help their kids learn

(Pew Internet and American Life Project, 2006, 2007)

March 2007:• >70% of American adults use the Internet; nearly 50% have a broadband connection at home (rates are higher in cities and suburbs than in rural areas)• 55% of teens (12-17yrs) use a social networking site

Internet and broadband adoption 1996-2006

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Mar-95 Mar-96 Mar-97 Mar-98 Mar-99 Mar-00 Mar-01 Mar-02 Mar-03 Mar-04 Mar-05 Mar-06

All internet - 147 mill.

Broadband - 83 mill.

What is the CEN?

Connecticut

Education

Network

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Where are we in CT in terms of educational technology?

• CEN: Statewide, to each school district, higher education institutions, and main public libraries

• Connectivity (high speed)

• Content?

• Through state and federal grants, 40+ school districts using artificially intelligent writing programs to improve writing

• PD done by RESCs and locally

• Some teachers doing great things with technology, few schools/districts doing significant things systemically

Policies/Standards/Regulations?• Standards for students, teachers, administrators (will be

updated soon to reflect “refreshed NETS”)• Requirement for teacher preparation programs• Requirement to take 1.5 CEUs in “technology” for

professional educator certificate to be renewed• Districts must have an updated technology plan, that

describes how technology will be integrated• Students must be technologically literate by 8th grade.

(Districts must describe how they will monitor and assess this.)

What policies, standards, or regulations related to educational technology

are in place in Connecticut?

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Funded Ed Tech in CT: 2007-08

• Statewide online learning system for schools ($850,000)• Pilot program for computer donation and Internet access

for low-income families ($200,000)• 3rd year of Computer Assisted Writing Pilot (HS) –

RFP will be issued in fall ($1,000,000)• Continued support for CEN ($3,200,000 + bond funds?)• Infrastructure bond funds?

Think about it…

Do kids really learn differently today?

or …

Do they just need to learn different things, and do we have different tools to help them learn things in better ways?

Rethinking things…

• http://www.vidipedia.org/Special:Video/234

• We need to rethink everything.

Implications of Friedman’s Bookfor Education in CT

• Preparing students with 21st Century Skills

• Interacting and communicating and collaborating with others around the world

• Changing the way we do things

Partnership for 21st Century Skills

www.21stcenturyskills.org/

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NETS-S

CT HS Redesign Initiative

Ed Tech: Key Issues for Leaders

• Fluff vs. Real Stuff • Evaluating and Supporting Effective Technology

What do you think?

Using PowerPoint to present information to students is an excellent example of technology integration.

True False

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What is effective technology integration?• Use of technology adds value:

• Allows for more interesting, engaging content• Simplifies complicated tasks and/or enables simulations

that aren’t otherwise possible• Allows for greater repetition, consistency, monitoring• Provides increased ways to differentiate instruction• Provides “real life” opportunities, helps students develop

21st Century skills

Global Awareness

• Imagine you were doing a unit on penguins and came upon this Website -

http://babelfish.altavista.com/tr

Penguin Cam

Problem Solving

Many people believe everything they read on the Internet is accurate.

True False

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Looking at the address of a Website can sometimes help you determine the credibility of the site’s content.

True False

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Information Literacy

Wikipedia is a good source of information for kids to use as reference.

True False

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Wikipedia

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Boys vs. Girlson Computers

• Girls take more time to read what they find, boys are more likely to click to move to the next link.

• Boys are more likely to seek and spend time on games.

• Girls use computers more heavily for communication.• Girls are more likely to “multi-task”.

13Implications?

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Recognizing Effective Integration

1. Students handwrite their drafts, edit them, recopy them with corrections made, then use a word processor to type them so that they look neat and can be posted on the bulletin board.

2. Students do their reports about Martin Luther King using PowerPoint.

3. Students use the Internet to answer questions on an assignment about China.

4. Students listen to a podcast of a lecture on their iPods.

Yes or No?

Engaging Students in the Content with Interactive Websites

• Simulations• Earthquake Simulator • Gas Law Exploration• Math Manipulatives

• Webcams• Traffic Cam• Baby Tigers, Gorillas • Old Faithful

• Quicktime Virtual Reality Sites• Mars• Ellis Island

Geographical Information Systems(GIS)

• Google Earth -

Other Areas of Interest…Social Networking Sites

• Facebook.com• Myspace.com• SecondLife.com

What can educational leaders do to advance technology and other 21st Century skills?• Recognize and support effective uses of technology (II.A-E)

• Encourage ‘different’ ways of doing things (I.C)

• Support and showcase teachers on the leading edge (I.B,D)

• Advocate for technology $ (IV.C)

• Model – participate in tech PD, use technology (III.A)

• Keep in touch with emerging uses of technology in education (III.F)

(Relates to CT Administrator Technology Standards)

Areas in need of greater attention:• CEN resources• Professional development for teachers• Professional development and support for administrators• Cyber-bullying : http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/

Think and Expect Different

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