Minutes+from+March+24,+2009

A meeting of the Technology Committee was held at 6:00 p.m. on March 24th, 2009, in the high school library. Hugh Torbert, Technology Coordinator, chaired the meeting. Those in attendance were: Angie McWilliams, Hugh Torbert, Wanda Elicker, Dominic Papa, Matt Jacobs, Dana Baker, Jeff Fenstermacher, Sue Kanigsberg, Patti Myers, Troy Wiestling, Christopher Cobb, Malinda Diehl, David Depew, Marie Hersh, Kari Miller, John Marc Murphy, Judy McIlvaine, Steve Walker Introductions (Hugh Torbert) toc

= Meeting Minutes from January 21, 2009  =
 * [|http:// dasdtechnologycommittee.wikispaces.com]
 * All minutes and documents will be posted on wiki
 * Notices to be sent when updates

= Building Level Reports  = Hugh Torbert met with each building to discuss technology curriculum issues = Technology Plan Review  =
 * ==Four main topics==
 * 1) Staff like the wireless and the laptops
 * K-4 looking at smaller units
 * Small laptop for students K-4
 * Portability works well
 * High density wireless installed at Intermediate School, High School and Administration Building
 * 1) IWB (Interactive Whiteboards, i.e. Promethean Boards)
 * Want more
 * Want professional development on them—integration
 * 1) Compass replacement—K-4 big issue
 * 2) Technology curriculum
 * K-4, K-6—how each grade relates
 * When does typing get in

Vision Statement

 * See handout for vision (DASD’s technology mission . . .”)
 * Will vote on the technology mission at the April meeting

Professional Development

 * Vision points to professional development

Initial Hardware Specifications

 * Majority of content discussed at building level centered on professional development and curriculum
 * Technology curriculum is at core of plan
 * Some specifications
 * Wireless
 * High density
 * Laptops
 * Replace staff machines with laptops beginning in 2009
 * Computers are five years old at elementary level


 * See handout: [[file:IT Decision Matrix.doc]]
 * Plan calls for three things: (1) Goals; (2) Objections; (3) Action Steps
 * Long-term development key to plan

= Technology Curriculum Report—Dr. Baker and Dr. Kanigsberg = = = Plan will be constantly changing

IWB Three-Year Plan

 * See[[file:interactive whiteboard Plan.xlsx]]
 * (Checkmarks are completed)
 * Staff need accountability
 * Go into year two as competent trainers
 * Over summer create an original flipchart and post it for others to use/see
 * Sue would like names of people who would like to work on a team (Hugh Torbert, Angie McWilliams, Dave Depew, Kari Miller, Chris Cobb)
 * Summer: staff development for core team
 * Ordering additional units (24 units to be ordered)
 * Staff surveyed to get a new group of 24
 * Peripherals to accommodate an Activ classroom environment (not listed on the plan but needs to be added)
 * Recommends the Promethean Boardss and not the Activslates
 * Kari Miller discussed the benefits of the Activotes; works well with Study Island
 * Dr. Kanigsberg recommends purchasing two Activotes and two Activslates to share among core teams
 * Discussion on ActivSlates

ISTE and Nets Standards
Discussed by Dr. Baker
 * Handouts: [[file:NETS_for_Students_2007_Standards.pdf]] and [[file:NETS_for_Teacher_2008_Standards.pdf]]
 * Asked us to read No. 3 under student standards
 * 1) Soft Skills: Skills that we want students to achieve before graduating
 * There are standards for students, teachers and administrators
 * Three areas in PA standards
 * 1) Hard skills
 * Knowing how to cut/paste, operate PB. ..
 * 1) Soft skills
 * Involve teaching kids ethical uses of technology
 * What is a good data source
 * We use “Turn it In”
 * 1) Tech Ed
 * How to use milling machines, wire a house, . ..
 * Tech ed folks are working on their revised curriculum now
 * Technology Curriculum Planning Meeting
 * Intensive effort K-12 next year on technology education for teachers/staff
 * How do we accomplish this?
 * All areas of core content will include technology that needs to be taught
 * i.e. math: using a graph/spreadsheet in grade 6
 * Skills to be remembered are best taught integrating into a curriculum
 * Have to write into curricular areas technology skills to be included
 * Grades 7 and 12
 * Board approved a survey to be given to these two grades
 * Educate staff; integration of technology skills in the curriculum
 * Curriculum mapping
 * Software available for curriculum mapping
 * Not talking about doing away with computer teachers
 * Documents for Review: [[file:TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION Evaluation Proposal.docx]] and [[file:TECHNOLOGY Professional Development -proposed.docx]]

=Compass Replacement=
 * No longer supported technologically in district
 * Have to throw switch on Compass
 * Question: John Marc Murphy—Compass Replacement
 * Need to discuss the purpose of K-4 technology before we buy or replace Compass with something else
 * Dr. Kanigsberg: Need keyboarding but is it in a COW (computers on wheel)
 * Define what is needed first before program is purchased
 * It is an integrated learning system (ILS)
 * Research shows an ILS makes a difference for those with greatest needs
 * Our teachers have created their own lessons in Compass
 * Unfortunately, Compass on thin ice
 * Study Island in all grades except K-1 and 9-12
 * Training extensive this year
 * Looking at Study Island for K-1 in 2009-2010
 * Everyday Math
 * Grades K-6
 * CONCERN by Dr. Baker
 * For-profit cyberschools
 * 2006-2007: $8,500 lost from district for kids that quit
 * Blended Schools to give a presentation to school board (a not for profit) www.blendedschools.net
 * We have to join as a consortium member
 * Plagiarism software free
 * If one student brought back it will pay for a year’s subscription
 * Technology required
 * Budget
 * Hardware
 * Professional development
 * Accessed at home
 * Law allows for public school to run a cyber school
 * To start would buy 100 licenses for $9,000
 * Dominic Papa: Question on testing for a cyber school—is it done at home?
 * Can be done at home
 * Can be done in our school
 * PSSAs have to be taken in our school if enrolled in blendedschools.net
 * Quizzes, assignments done on line
 * Matt Jacobs: Question—are we responsible for maintenance
 * Possibly
 * Solanco gives stipends to tech people
 * Would have to add stipend into budget
 * We may start implementation in elementary
 * Dave Depew: can be an attendance issue
 * John Marc Murphy: Question—is someone from district responsible for overseeing the curriculum?
 * Would have to be an individual who is a single contact in the district
 * Chris Cobb: Flipside
 * If there’s a connection with home schooling, a 6th grader now at NS is reading at a 1st grade level

=Technology Professional Development=
 * [[file:SummerAcademy2009]]
 * 2010—Technology Camp
 * Long-Term Substitutes: Matt Jacobs’s idea
 * Offer a one-week snapshot of our technology for long-term subs
 * Hugh Torbert: Can also be addressed through hiring process
 * Wiki for new staff was begun this year and is a working document in progress with technology information for new hires and staff
 * Matt Jacobs: Directions for hardware, i.e., carts
 * Video clips

=Technology Education Evaluation=

=Technology Curriculum Planning Process=

=Comments by Attendees= Kari Miller—IWBs
 * When installed, make sure laptop is able to be taken home to create lessons
 * Hugh Torbert: security will go away
 * Top priority is to wrap up IWB software
 * Issues we had before
 * People decided to install their own things on computers
 * If teacher installs something tech department doesn’t know about, laptop will be reghosted

Jeff Fenstermacher (observations)
 * Likes 3-year plan—should be shorter though
 * Matrix: need to be “shovel ready” in upper right-hand corner

=Future= Postings will be made to the [|wiki]: Emails Hardware requirements—to get more documents Approve vision statement Try to show Activslate next time

Next meeting April 22 or April 29, May 20 or 27

Need representatives from Weigelstown and Leib

Adjournment: 8:05 p.m.