RONDOUT + ULSTER connectApril 10, 2010Donald Katt, President – Ulster County Community College

Rosario Agostaro, Superintendent – Rondout Valley CSD

“It is today we must create the world of the future.”

Eleanor Roosevelt

Our Focus• Collaboration• Paradigm shift• Bridging the gap

COLLABORATION

Two faculties but one focus• Seamless integration of technology• Establish an effective communication

network• Transform classrooms from isolated

learning environments to collaborative, connected teaching models in which teachers use on-line tools to share and build on best practices.

PARADIGM SHIFT

Teaching and learning• We must move beyond simply integrating technology

into the curriculum. It’s not about “toys”.• Changing how students learn and how we teach.• Learning is a very social thing. But we spend a lot of

time in schools trying to undo this concept.• Blogs, e-mail exchanges, whiteboard accessories,

video, podcasts, videos, etc. – what’s next?

BRIDGING THE GAP

Moving from K-12 to college • Grade level standards (grades 4, 8, & 12)• College readiness• Accessibility of technology• On-line learning• Textbooks vs. digital content (cost?)• Expanded use of multimedia curricula

Technology and the world of education.

Obama administration’s Ed-Tech Plan….• States that the “use of technology in schools

does not sufficiently reflect or build on the ways students use digital tools in their lives outside of school or how technology is used in the professional world”.

Rondout Valley CSD Technology Survey Highlights (2009-2010)

I would benefit from professional development on…• Learner-centered teaching strategies that incorporate

technology, e.g., project-based or cooperative learning (65% of staff).

In the settings where I work with children…• I use technology to communicate and collaborate with

other educators (60% of the staff).