2009-‐2010 online Technology Survey
· New requirements for measuring proficiencies this year, including Administrator/Library Media Specialist/Teacher Technology proficiencies. There will also be separate versions for K-4 and 5-12 teachers. PILOT will have these available.
· It's a requirement through NCLB.
2010-‐2013 District Technology Planning
· Technology Planning – You should have received a bulletin from OSPI about the technology planning schedule for 2009-2010. Most districts need to complete a new plan by the end of June, 2010. All of the documents that support the process (templates, guidance, etc.) are available on the OSPI website .
· Before you submit a Form 470 for erate, you need to have a draft version of your tech plan completed. It needs to cover the basic elements of your erate requests. You should print out and date stamp the draft to have an auditable record of having the draft done before submitting your erate requests. File it with your other erate records.
· You need to use the SIP tool for the district plan, but including building plans is optional.
· The SIP tool is being revised in response to user comments, and should provide a better experience this year!
Basic E-‐rate videoconference, November 12, 9:00-‐12:00
· USAC VC – I will stream/record this year.
PILOT surveys for determining Tiers for reporting
· Opens on Nov 17th.
Changes to the Qwest grants for 2010
Qwest Update
Good news: The state got another $90,000 for grants (9 $10,000 awards) Nov 16 app available
Bad news: Have to be in a Qwest service area to be eligible (295 --> 100 districts now eligible)
Areas that have less than 5 applications, ESD can move 1 app forward; areas that have more than 5 apps, ESD can forward 2 apps to the general pool for review and decisions on the 9 recipients
Changes to Computers 4 Kids program
· Program changes C4K might have to cut back on refurbishing computers, or charge a nominal fee ($15-20) per computer.
Online learning status and progress on SB5410 (Digital Learning Department @ OSPI)
· Districts can use an unapproved provider now, only comes into play when state money is used 2011-2012
Sample policies out in February 2010, adopted by districts by August 31, 2010. Dennis and Jack Morris on WASA policy committee
Online testing implementation OSPI
· OSPI has a planning committee (with 5 tech folks from districts and assessment folks) to help guide the process. It is optional this year for 6th, 7th, or 8th graders to take the online version of the MSP (formerly WASL) test this year. Reading and math only will be piloted (about 25% of the buildings will be participating). For schools that choose to participate, the testing can be done in labs, but schools can administer it with any model (one-to-one, mobile labs, etc.) that makes sense. DAC (District Assessment Coordinators) will use special tools on ESD (WAMS) to indicate if they want to take part in online testing (what grade levels, what schools, what subject) between mid-November, sign up date is December 11. Already handed out guidelines for technology needs (local caching server recommended). Flash animation demo of the online test will be available mid-November, and how policies will be handled. Tutorials will be available January (reading) March (math).
Google Sketch-‐up and Apps for Education
· Google Sketchup Pro is available statewide for free. Let Dennis know if you haven’t received the codes for the software.
Educational Technology Equipment, EETT Grants, Digital Edge
· New contract awarded we be out in a couple weeks.
Other
· State Technology Standards and CBAs
o Must be ready by end of 2010-2011 school year; no requirement to use them yet
Collect model tech integration lessons State has postponed the requirements for districts to report their implementation of the tech standards. OSPI has a new staff person Tara Richerson that is working on technology CBAs.
· Title IID – Extra funds and extra work. The extra funds through ARRA are now available. Districts are receiving both years of funding now. They can be spent now, or spread over the two years at the discretion of the district. Carryover will be automatic. All districts need to report by Oct. 5 all of their use of ARRA funds (including all programs funded through this, not just tech funds, TL21 and Cadre 3 Peer Coaches) using form 491 in iGrants. The form is pre-slugged with most of the basic info, but districts need to report jobs saved or retained through the use of the funds (either district staff or impact on contractors – there’s an algorithm in the report for figuring this), if you’re spending more than $25,000 on any one vendor, and if you’re using funds for school construction (which no districts are doing with tech funds). This is a quarterly requirement, so expect it every three months, unfortunately with the same five-day turnaround time.
· Fiscal Year 2010 funding for Title IID/EETT looks like it’s going to be cut from $265 million nationally to $100 million, a 63% reduction.
5/23
Grant Application Teaching & Learning in the 21st Century (TL21) Program
We encourage educators in eligible school districts to apply for grant funding for the Teaching & Learning in the 21st Century (TL21) Program. TL21 is a new two-year course of professional development designed for educators who want to learn the basics of technology integration. It is structured with two strands – hands-on training that develops strong proficiencies with digital technologies, and the study and practice of instructional strategies that integrate technology into standards-based curricula. TL21 grant awardees will receive 62 hours of comprehensive professional development and be able to equip their classrooms with specific digital technologies. The new program is a component of the Title II, Part D, EETT (Enhancing Education Through Technology) Program funded by ARRA – American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009.
Applications must be received at OSPI by 3:00 on May 27, 2009. Successful grant recipients will receive $7,600, which pays for professional development, travel and substitute teacher costs, and hardware and software.
Attend the May 14 technical assistance videoconference from 3:30-4:30 at ESD123
2/3/09
EETT video conference scheduled for March 10th at 3:30 pm also can be seen streaming from EETT Grant page.
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1/24/09
We have posted the annual Building Technology Inventory on OSPI's Electronic Data System (EDS) at https://eds.ospi.k12.wa.us/ . Look for "Technology Survey" in the list of applications.
As in the past, we pre-populated this year's survey with the information you gave us for the 2007-08 school year. So, if there is no change in an item, leave the data as is, and move on to the next question.
Survey Deadline March 31, 2009
All districts must complete the technology inventory by March 31, 2009.
If you have a question about the terms we use on the survey or about the survey itself, read Frequently Asked Questions, http://www.k12.wa.us/EdTech/inventoryFAQ.aspx or contact the ETSC Director at your local ESD, http://www.edtech.wednet.edu/etsccorner/directory.shtml .
Here are the questions we used to create the survey: http://www.k12.wa.us/EdTech/Inventory.aspx .
Need Access to EDS?
Your District Security Manager is authorized to set up users and create accounts for your district.
Look for your security manager here: https://eds.ospi.k12.wa.us/SecurityManagerList.aspx .
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Educational Technology Update 1/09
Resources:
Learn360 - An online media streaming service through the Instruction Resource Center. For member districts staff may stream or download and use the video’s, pictures and audio files for instructional purposes. Please contact us if you or your staff would like to receive training on this great instructional resource.
WLS – Washington Learning Source is a collaborative project between all 9 ESD’s. The WLS objective is to provide a single source for the educational resources currently provided through the state's ESDs and provide lower pricing than a district could get on its own.
ESD123 Educational Technology Support Services –
We can provide customized technology support service to include technology planning, staff development, equipment evaluation, purchasing support, online learning solutions and consulting services.
Grants:
E-rate – Deadline for Form 471 is February 12th
Qwest – Deadline January 21st . Competitive process that will award $10,000 grants to individual teachers or teacher teams. These grants reward learning projects that integrate technology into standards-based curricula.
EETT Peer Coaching – Applications will be made available in February and will be due at the End of March. Through the Enhanced Peer Coaching Program, teacher leaders will receive 10 days of training and money to purchase instructional technology. Teachers train to become technology integration coaches for other teachers in their school.
Meetings/Conferences:
Statewide Technology Round Table – March 5th “Cool technologies from around the state." 9:00-12:00 Regional meeting 12:00-3:00.
NCCE – Portland, February 17th-20th The NCCE conference is the largest technology conference in the Northwest.
ACPE – Welches Oregon, May 6th -8th A regional organization of the educational technology community dedicated to the support of administrative and instructional technology in education.
Upcoming ESD Classes/Workshops:
STEM Summer Workshop – July 23-25 Science Technology Engineering and Math
Adobe Photoshop Elements - Feb. 24-26 4:00-7:00
Adobe Dreamweaver - March 24-25 4:00-7:00
Working with Digital Cameras- April 22 – 23 4:00-7:00 How to use them, how to make creations with photos
Digital Movie Creation - May 27 – 28 4:00-7:00 From capturing to editing to DVD
The Synthesis MIDI Workshop - March 20th
Other Dates to remember:
Annual Technology Inventory- Due March 31st 2009.
3-year technology plan (Spring 2010)
In the News:
Internet Safety – this topic is exploding. This is due to a couple of things, one a recent stories in the news regarding a student who committed suicide live in front of her web camera. Two, a new requirement by the Feds to include some sort of internet safety training to students in order to be eligible to receive E-Rate funding. Please contact me if you would like additional information or staff training. Here are some helpful sites: www.netsmatz.org and www.isafe.org
Video Games – It seems that I cannot pick up a magazine these days without reading why education needs to be take a page out of the video game designer’s playbook. Example, this quote from the Administrator Magazine: “Video game designers have created such an engaging system that [kids] don’t care if they have to fail 100 times before they actually succeed,” says Etuk. “If you ask any teacher how she would feel about a child failing 100 times at algebra, but never giving up and even asking his friends to help him succeed at algebra, that teacher would say, ‘That’s the dream.’”
The End of Textbooks? - There is a growing movement out there to move away from “dead tree media” into the digital “life” of online textbooks. These online books would remain up-to-date and would cost less to purchase. There are even some free options out there. One company is actually paying students every time they write a worthwhile student guide. http://www.flatworldknowledge.com As the price of Kindle’s come down and one to one laptops become more popular these new textbooks will revolutionize the way we purchase curriculum.
Edtech website – Updated statewide ETSC website launch.
Books: Having trouble getting your staff motivated to change? These books may be helpful.
The Six Secrets of Change: What the Best Leaders Do to Help Their Organizations Survive and Thrive – Michael Fullan
Change or Die: The Three Keys to Change at Work and in Life – Alan Deutschman
Nov '08
Internet Safety discussion - click here
$10,000 Grant - Apply Now!
Washington State K-12 educators are invited to apply for a 2009 Qwest Foundation Learning Technologies grant.
This grant application is the first step in a competitive process that will award $10,000 grants to individual public school teachers or teacher teams. These grants reward learning projects that integrate technology into standards-based curricula. The grant is managed by Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) Educational Technology unit. Completed grant applications are due at OSPI no later than 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 21, 2009.
For more information or to download the application materials, visit:
http://www.k12.wa.us/EdTech/QWEST.aspx
Oct '08
Instructional technology bids are in! Districts can now purchase instructional technology for a reduced price through this competitive bid process. In Washington State alone, almost $16 million worth of products were sold through this bid in 2007––saving the districts approximately 17% on their instructional technology purchase. Let the buying begin! Click here for more information.
Website/Tool of the Week: Using del.icio.us In Education
New's Alert:
District technology folks/E-rate contacts:
Important reminder! You must update your technology plan to reflect any changes to your eRate request for 2009-2010. Make your updates before you fill in the Form 470 for 2009-2010, which many of you will be doing in November or December. You must be able to show evidence of every change, so keep track of your revisions.
We recommend that you follow these steps to document your work on the eRate request:
--Make any changes using the online SIP tool.
--Use Plan Review (look for the tab) to generate an email notifying us that your change has been made.
--Look for an email from OSPI that confirms the change and acts as the date stamp you need for an audit.
--Save and print the updated sections, complete with the print date, just in case you your district undergoes an eRate audit.
Contact me or your ETSC Director at the local ESD (http://www.edtech.wednet.edu/etsccorner/directory.shtml) if have any questions or need some assistance.
-----------------------------------------
Dennis Small, Educational Technology Director
Research and Educator Development, OSPI
Old Capitol Bldg, PO BOX 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200
Phone: (360) 725-6384 FAX: (360) 586-7251 Cell: (253) 279-7641
Web Page: http://www.k12.wa.us E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
OSPI updates
Congress has passed a continuing resolution that covers half a year of the FY 2010 federal budget, including Title IID at current levels. This probably means that the Title IID program will continue with level funding for 2009-2010.
There will be a free statewide videoconference with e-rate training offered by USAC on November 12, from 10-1 at the ESDs. More details will follow.
Reminder - still a few districts need to send in their Form 479 and Letters of Agreement. The E-rate "window" has not been officially announced yet, but probably will open early to mid November, and closing probably mid to late January.
Be sure to update your tech plans to reflect any requests that will be in your eRate request in the coming year. Make the changes using the online tool, and then you can generate an email from OSPI confirming the change. Save and print this email for the audit trail. These audits are happening, and they can be extensive.
[Question - Will streaming video be erateable? Preliminary list of eligible items has been released for this year, and this is "implied." We will get final confirmation in a couple of weeks. ]
[There has been discussion of adding filtering and other CIPA-required services, virus protection, etc. to the list as well, with lots of support from professional organizations, but probably wouldn't be added until next year at the earliest given the slow process of making changes to the list.]
Technology Inventory is coming up. Trying to make as few changes to the questions as possible (mainly for clarity), but will be updating the definition of a standards-based computer. It will go live November 12, and be due March 31st. Reporting of teacher, library media, and administrator proficiencies will be added as an OPTIONAL item this year.
Third year of Qwest Grants will be released on November 12, $100,000 statewide to identify one outstanding technology-integrating teacher per region for a $10,000 award.
State Basic Education Task Force is considering adding tech funding to state NERC (Non Employee Related Costs) funding. They have been working over the summer, and should have some preliminary reports on their direction soon. Not a good year to hope for increased funding, but there is still an expectation that the issue will be addressed in some way. Update: This was released October 1: http://whatittakesforkids.com/?page_id=13
Process of defining Ed Tech standards is in process. They reflect the refreshed NETS standards, and they are trying to integrate standards into content areas as much as possible to keep from heaping more work on teachers. They will be done by December 1, with a "soft launch" at the OSPI Conference in January. There will be additional events for sharing the standards throughout the spring.
[Question - Have there been revisions to the PILOT survey? No, waiting until the teacher proficiencies sort out. Once those have been settled, the survey can be updated. That won't take place for this year's data collection.]
[Question - The reports, particularly for primary, are coming in low, and it's discouraging. Dennis - that is true, and we are looking at changes to the questions to better reflect technology use by those teachers.]
State technology plan is being updated, and will include recommendations on issues such as funding and will hopefully reinforce the funding questions being addressed by the State Basic Education Task Force.
