TexasEdTechNews | Diigo Group Forum

Virtual Learning Environments

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:26:20 -0000

moodle |vle | post by mguhlin on 2008-04-01

Wondering how to get started on Moodle? There are several folks--who I hope will speak up--who can help you out in Texas. In the meantime, check out these no-cost resources:

http://snipurl.com/moodlemambo

Don't be afraid to speak up and share how you're using Moodle in your school district. In mine, we're using it to facilitate Online Literature Circles, and we've just embarked on a nifty project to deliver professional learning online.

Here's a snippet of the email that went out to staff:

The Office of Instructional Technology and the Office of Advanced Academics are pleased to announce a collaborative effort to provide you with online professional learning. The first class offered to you is Teaching and Learning with Graphic Organizers: Featuring Inspiration. Electronic graphic organizers can help students organize ideas, convey complex concepts, progress through the steps of the writing process, and develop their mathematical and scientific thinking skills. Address different learning styles by presenting information in a visual format that shows the connections between concepts. For more information please visit http://itls.saisd.net/epath and search the class catalog.

Is Online Learning Right for You?
As a member of this learning community you are expected to support the learning and professional development of your fellow learners. Specifically, you must:

* Participate and actively engage in discussions with your fellow learners while contributing to the social construction of knowledge. The sooner you post your ideas and questions, the more time others have to respond and deepen the discussion.
* Reflect on newly acquired knowledge and assess your own progress.
* Create a time management structure that works for you and complete all assignments accordingly.
* Be self-directed and self-motivated.

How Long Will the Course Last?
Part One of Three will begin April 14 and end on April 27. It takes approximately ten hours to complete the course and you will receive ten hours of GT credit upon completion that will count towards days 4,5, or 6 for GT Training. Please be aware that you must complete all three portions to receive credit.

Miguel
post by mguhlin on 2008-04-01
I have installed Moodle before but as we were implementing the pages I left the district. I know that teacher buy in from the beginning is truly the key to making any program work great. One of the biggest factors here lately is trying to get everything to integrate into one login. My current district seems to be logging into this system or that system every 5 minutes.

While looking around I found a similar program called Drupal that was recommended. Does anyone have any information or opinion of that CMS program? I am not sure if it has AD integration capabilities.

BTW, Miguel, thanks for the post, I am always grateful for the wonderful information you share. If we aren't supposed to comment here please let me know.

Bryan
post by brbrown72 on 2008-04-03
Bryan:
Actually, great question. Single login is key...Moodle does LDAP, so you can have everyone login that way.
I shared a question from Lori Gracey (Bastrop ISD in Texas) here:
http://mguhlin.net/archives/2008/03/entry_6862.htm

One of the responses was great and about Drupal:
http://tinyurl.com/24yh52

Here's a video on Drupal:
http://tinyurl.com/2apw7l

Hoping this is helpful,
Miguel
post by mguhlin on 2008-04-03

TEA Vision 20/20 Summary

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 05:49:24 -0000

grants |tea |vision2020 | post by mguhlin on 2008-03-30

Share your ideas and questions. The more we put out in the open, the better, right?

Miguel
post by mguhlin on 2008-03-30
Miguel's notes...

TEA Vision 20/20 Grant Overview

The purpose of the Vision 2020 Grant is to provide funding for Technology Immersion. Technology Immersion funding will provide high-need schools with the necessary resources to create a totally immersed campus or grade level. Title II D requires that 25% of the award amount be used for professional development. This grant provides schools the opportunity to explore the relationship between student performance and educational technology in Texas schools.

A technology immersed campus uses technology as a bridge to more engaged, relevant, meaningful, and personalized student learning. The end goal for campuses using immersion is a teaching and learning environment where:

o Technology is integrated into teaching and learning via ongoing professional development
o Technology provides greater levels of student interest, inquiry, collaboration, and content production
o Technology provides anytime, anywhere learning through a variety of delivery systems

Year 1: $250K for teacher
Year 2: $250K for student implementation

Research: Third-Year Findings on Technology Immersion

* Technology immersion significantly increased studnts' technology proficiency and reduced the proficiency gap between economically advantaged and disadvantaged students
* Technology immersion significantly increased the frequency of students' classroom technology use and their interactions with peers in small-group activities
* Technology immersion had no statistically significant effect on students' TAKS reading achievement. The immersion effects were positive but not by significant margins.
* Technology immersion had a statistically significant effect on TAKS mathematics achievement, particularly for economically advantaged and higher achieving students.
* Students who had greater access to laptops and used laptops for learning to a greater extent, especially outside of school, had significantly higher TAKS reading and mathematics scores.
* The effects of technology immersion on reading and mathematics achievement generally became stronger over time as teachers and students became more accomplished technology users.

Application Guidelines

* Districts may apply for both strands but may only receive funding for one strand
* Applicants must submit a separate application for each strand
* Deadline for submission - May 1, 2008

Funding

* NCLB TItle 2, Part D
* Total Funds $11,334,858 approx
* Estimated Grant Awards: 20-50
* Awards ranging from min of $25K to max of $500K
* Funding for 2 strands:
o Technology Immersion strand
o Virtual Learning Strand
* Focusing on best practices from earlier state pilots (TxVSP and TIP)

Use of Funds
Applicants may use grant funds to provide (refer to page 23 of app):

1. hardware to achieve 1 to 1 immersion for teachers (Y1) and students (Y2)
2. Online Content
3. Productivity Tools
4. Professional development for teachers and administrators
5. Online Assessment Tools
6. Technical Support
7. Pedagogical support

Funds may also be used to purchase hardware and software for classrooms to implement the goals and objectives of the program. Examples include, but are not limited to:

* Student and teacher computers
* projection devices
* digital cameras
* flash drives
* portable digital devices
* interactive white boards

Unallowable Uses of Funds

* Debt Service (lease-purchase or lease to own)
* Computer labs and furniture
* Warranties on previously purchased computers and laptops
*

what strand are you applying for? or are you applying for both? Will we need to pilot at one campus?
Web site:
http://burleson.tea.state.tx.us/GrantOpportunities/forms/GrantProgramSearch.aspx

Technology Immersion Strand

* RFA: Appendix 2
* Provides the opportunity to explore relationship between student performance and educational technology in Texas schools.
* Explore impact of student program on student progress.
* Six Basic components of TIP (refer to section below for the complete list).
* Early indicators:
o increased comm. among students, teachers, parents and administrators
o increased community involvement
o TIP Toolkit reflects these components available at www.tea.state.tx.us/technology/tip/toolkitmenu.html
* Evaluation purpose
o Conduct a scientifically based evaluation to test the effectiveness of technology immersion in increasing middle school students' achievement
o To examine the relationships that exist among contextual conditions, technology immersion, intervening factors (school, teacher, and student) and student achievement.
* Improved Student Achievement
o As a result of its participation in the TIP, Brady Middl School saw significant gains in student achievement on the TAKS between 2004 and 2005.
o Percentage of students passing (2004,2006).
o 6th Grade
+ Reading: 80 to 97%
+ Math: 71 to 84%
o 7th Grade
+ Reading: 78 to 88%
+ Math: 73 to 86%
+ Writing: 90 to 95%
o 8th Grade
+ Reading: 81 to 83%
+ Math: 69 to 71%
+ Writing: 88 to 90%
o It took a few years to see those result
o Brady was not meeting AYP but then it improved as a result of TIP. http://www.thejournal.com/articles/20931 (07/01/2007).
* Impact on Teachers and Teaching
o Immersion teachers continue to grow in proficiency and use of technology faster than control teachers
o Teachers at schools with higher concentration of student poverty grew in technology proficiency at a slower rate
o Teacher had more collegial interactions related to technology and students used technology more often
o Students in immersion schools experienced more intellectually demanding work.
* Effects on Students and Learning
o Technology immersion...
+ Significantly increased students' technology proficiency and reduced the gap between economically advantaged and disadvantaged students
+ Significantly increased the frequency of student technology use and interaction with peers in small groups.
+ Students who had greater access to laptops and used laptops for learning to a greater extent,especially outside of school, had significantly higher TAKS reading and mathematics scores.
* Technology Immersion Strand Goals
o Provide high-need schools with the necessary resources to create a totally immersed campus or grade level.
o Focus to immerse all students and teachers at a particular grade level on one or more campuses or all students and teachers on an entire campus

* Immersion strand applicants must identify the following:
o grade level(s) to be immersed
o number of teachers to be immersed
o number of students to be immersed

Labels: Immersion Strand Overview
Six Components of Immersion:

1. Wireless mobile computing device for each educator and student on an immersed campus or in an immersed grade-level to ensure on-demand technology access at school and at home.
2. Productivity, communication, and presentation software for use as learning tools
3. Online instructional resources that support the state curriculum in English Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.
4. Online assessment tools to diagnose students' strengths and weaknesses or to assess mastery of the core curriculum.
5. Professional development for teachers to help them integrate technology into teaching, learning and the curriculum
6. Initial and ongoing technical and pedagogical support

Technology Immersed Campus

* A technology immersed campus uses technology as a bridge to more engaged, relevant, meaningful, and personalized student learning. The end goal for campuses using immersion is a teaching and learning environment where:
o Technology is integrated into teaching and learning via ongoing professional development
o Technology provides greater levels of student interest, inquiry, collaboration, and content production
o Technology provides anytime, anywhere learning through a variety of delivery systems

Technology Immersed Campus is defined as having the following characteristics:

* Integrates evolving technologies that transform the teaching process by allowing for greater levels of interest, inquiry, analysis, collaboration, creativity, and content production;
* provides on-demand access for students to all appropriate technologies to complete activities that have been seamlessly integrated into all core curriculum areas;
* regular use of online diagnostic assessment instruments promotes students to work collaboratively in communities of inquiry to propose, assess, and implement solutions to real world problems
* Ensures integration of appropriate technologies to maximize learning and teaching
* Involves and educates the school community around issues of technology integration
* Creates communities of inquiry and knowledge building
* Anytime, anywhere learning is available through a variety of delivery systems; the campus technology plan is:
1. actively supported by the local school board
2. collaboratively developed, guiding policy and practice; and
3. updated at least annually;
* Promotes the use of technology tools for administrators for planning and decision-making
* Has dedicated campus-based technical support
* Has direct connectivity to the Internet in ALL rooms on the campus or grade level being immersed
* Provides adequate bandwidth to each classroom over the local area network.

Eligibility Requirements for both Strands

* Primary eligibility
o High need LEAs or eligible local partnerships are eligible to apply for this grant. A high need LEA is an LEA that:
+ a. is among the LEAs with at least 2500 or 20 percent of children from families with incomes below the poverty line as identified by the 2004 U.S. Census data; AND
+ b. serves one or more schools identified for improvement or corrective action under Title 1 (section 1116) OR
has a substantial need for assistance in acquiring and using technology as reflected in the Texas Campus STaR Chart. The Chart has 22 indicators...must have a substantial need for acquiring and using technology. The campus still has work to be done in regards to the Campus STaR Chart.
* An eligible partnership means a partnership that includes at least one high-need LEA and at least one of the following:
o LEA must serve as mentor school to one or more high need schools
o Institution of Higher Education
o A for-profit business or organization
o A public or private nonprofit organization

Labels: Eligibility Requirements
Critical Dates

GRANT DEADLINES

* Friday, March 14 - Notice of Intent to Apply due to TEA
* Thursday, May 1 - Application is due in the TEA Document Control Center
* Monday, June 16-20, 2008 - Oral presentations (if needed)
* Friday, June 27, 2008 - Projects selected and notified
* Monday, Sept. 1, 2008 - Beginning Date of Project
* Wednesday, June 30, 2010 - Ending date of project
* Monday, August 2, 2010 - Final expediture report due to TEA
* Monday, August 2, 2010 - Final evaluation report and final product if applicable due to TEA

Notice of intent

* Due March 14, 2008
* Answer preliminary questions
* Failure to notify Agency of intent to apply or failure to answer the prelim questions will not disqualify the applicant from submitting an application

Reporting Dates

* First Interim - 09/01/08 - 12/31/08 - Due Date:01/15/2009
* Second Interim - 01/01/09 - 06/30/09 - Due Date: 07/15/09
* Third Interim - 07/01/09 - 12/31/09 - Due Date 07/15/09
* Fourth Interim - 01/01/10 - 06/30/10 - Due Date: 07/15/10
* Final Evaluation Report: 09/01/08 - 06/30/10 - Due Date 07/30/10
* Final Expenditure Report: 09/01/08-06/30/10 - Due Date: 07/30/10

Other Items to Note

* Administrative fees limited to no more than 3% of the total grant
* Supplement not supplant
* Maintenance of effort
* Private non-profit school participation
* See page 25 of Part 2

Labels: Critical Dates
Review Criteria

* General Review Criteria - 100 points
o See pages 7-9, Part 1
o Need for Proposed Project - 15 points
o Quality of the Project Design - 20 points
o Quality of Project Services - 10 points
o Quality of Management Plan - 20 points
o Quality of Project Evaluation - 10 points
o Appropriateness of Budget - 20 points
o Application is organized and completed according to instructions - 5 points
* Grant-specific Criteria - 20 points
o See pages 28-29 Part 2
* Total Possible Points - 120 points

Project Plan for Immersion Strand (refer to page 28 of grant app)

* Project plan transforms the teaching and learning process by allowing for greater levels of interest, inquiry, analysis, collaboration, creativity, and content production
o 4 points
* Project goals include student-on-demand access to technology to complete activities that have been seamlessly integrated into the core curriculum areas of English/Language Arts and reading, mathematics, science, and social studies
o 4 points
* Project plan transforms learning environments to allow students to become more self-determined learners through the acquisition of information and communication skills, thinking and problem-solving skills, and interpersonal and self-directional skills.
o 4 points
* Students are provided more opportunities to acquire academic content through real-world examples, problems, applications, and experiences both inside and outside of school.
o 4 points
* Teachers' use of technology is enhanced to support ongoing diagnostic assessment of student progress in the core content areas.
o 4 points

Additional Factors

* Establish programs that are cost effective (i.e. total grant amount divided by total number of students served equals cost per student)
* Establish programs that are replicable
* Establish programs that are diverse with respect to size of districts
* Establish programs that are diverse with respect to geographic location in Texas (i.e. education service center region or quadrant of the state); and
* establish programs in district/campuses that demonstrate the greatest need.

Leadership Conferences

These prove to be very beneficial to applicants and TEA. They serve as an opportunity to share best practices and enable TEA to provide ongoing support to applicants.

* Fall, 2008
* Summer, 2009
* Budget for minimum of 2 people to attend each conference
* Held in Austin, Tx
* Total of 4 days (2 days each)

Brainstorming District Implementation

Big Ideas/Concepts/Collaborations:
Standards to Adhere to:

* ISTE National Education Standards for Students, Teachers, Administrators
* Title 2, Part D Expectations
* Texas Long Range Plan for Technology
o Importance of accessing digital tools/resources 24/7
o Global workforce with changing economic implications
o Communications increase as parents have 24/7 access to learning resources and student information such as achievement, attendance and discipline
* School Technology and Readiness (STaR) - Focus on achieving Target Tech Level
post by mguhlin on 2008-03-30

TA:TEKS

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 03:29:04 -0000

tateks | post by mguhlin on 2008-03-30

How are you handling tateks? Share your resources here as bookmarks with the tag of "tateks" without quotes.
post by mguhlin on 2008-03-30

EdTech News

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 03:02:23 -0000

edtech |news | post by mguhlin on 2008-03-30

As you read web sites, newspapers online, tag Texas news with the following word:
"texasnews"
(without quotes)

This will enable the rest of us to track it.

Best wishes,
Miguel
post by mguhlin on 2008-03-30

Job Postings and Job Descriptions/Resources

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 02:59:32 -0000

jobs |texas | post by mguhlin on 2008-03-30

Use Diigo to bookmark job announcements that you want to share with educators in Texas, as well as resources for job applicants.

This is a Texas-wide list. Run across a job you're not interested in, qualified for? Share it anyways with others.
post by mguhlin on 2008-03-30

Welcome!

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 02:34:54 -0000

Finding an easy way to share information with a Texas wide audience is tough. How can we all contribute what we're finding out, learning, and doing with each other? This Texas wide list of educators is focused on sharing what's happening...some examples:

* Conferences
* Relevant Texas Education bookmarks, resources, web sites
* Asking for help or questions
* Announcing online workshops streamed via uStream.tv or other means.
* Sharing organizational resources.

Looking forward to seeing what we can learn together,

Miguel Guhlin
Around the Corner
http://mguhlin.net
post by mguhlin on 2008-03-30