TRT Training Oct. 12, 2004

Introductions

Jeanine Butler passed out a checklist of “Students’ Integrated Technology Skills at the End of Grade Level” from kindergarten through high school with the point being we can’t expect our students to have these capabilities if their teachers don’t also have them.  She also said technology skills were indicated by a computer icon in the family guides.

Gary’s web management team came and demonstrated what they do.  Very impressive young men.

Professional development opportunities for teachers:  It is an expectation that all staff members will see this information by November at a staff meeting or some other staff gathering.

1.  Workshops on Demand: link on prodev web site.  It is facilitated learning while being paid.  Teachers sign up for their skill level.  TRTs need to advertise this and get info to staff at a staff meeting by Nov. 1 if possible. Walk them through a sign up, how to find other people with the same interest, and how to specify a time for the training.  Classified staff can also sign up.  Minimum number of people in a workshop is 3.

2.  iTeach awards for Wenatchee teachers who incorporate technology in their teaching.  The award goes to the classroom--iBook, projector, presentation mouse, and speakers.  Talk it up to teachers in our buildings.  The purpose is to share the great things teachers are doing.  The entry form is located on the prodev site at the “home” link.

3.  TeachWeb contest for WSD teachers who have a website or need to build one.  Staples will give $25 per month to the best educational website.  Starting in November submit a URL, it will be judged on posted categories.  The winner for the year will get a Palm Tungsten T for the school.  Encourage teachers to enter if they already have a page and those who are thinking of making a page.

4.  Tech Thursdays: if you are doing them tell the staff and begin sign up for it.

Levy Allocation presentation by Dave:

The original cost for the internet content filter was $3000 per year back in 1996,
purchase cost in 1999 was $6000 per year, 2002 costs were $8000, current
costs have jumped to $12000 per year..  Ron’s salary comes from levy funding and $10,000 for TRT trainings.  The TRA salaries all come from levy funds also.  The building allocations are set up to be equitable.  The principals are given the funding and order information before the order is sent.  It should be shared with the tech committee for final approval before the order is sent in. Dave will start CCing the TRTs.  Current levy runs out in 2 more windows.  Dave would like to get rid of equipment older than 6 years by the end of the current levy funding.  WSD technology standards were shared.  We need to look at whether we want to upgrade to Office2004.  If buildings want additional features to computers (CD/DVD burner) the building should pay the difference from the cost of the basic computer.

Demonstrations:

1.  Edutopia by the George Lucas Educational Foundation: an example of an exemplary instructional web site.

2. LDAP: is a server with all our e-mails on it.  We can’t assume an address is last name, first initial.  In Mail go to scripts and choose “create new LDAP server.”  Can do a search mail2, etc. and dump the whole group.  If you don’t set up the LDAP server, you can only search on your

machine rather than in the whole district.  There are tutorials on Ron’s page.

3.  Office 2004: New features but not enough difference to warrant buying the update for the building.  PowerPoint  has some good new features.  You can show 2 screens if you have a powerbook.  There is a note taker feature in Word.

4. Remote Desktop 2: $299 for site license.  Works for checking on computer use and for transferring files.  You can also take control of a teacher’s computer to help them remotely.

5. Contribute 3: web authoring software for the beginning user

6. Kid Pix Version 4: K-6, can replace HyperStudio.  $29 a copy. 

7. Print Shop: New version is well done with several additional features from the older versions.  $40.

Instructional technology spending:  We have to look at 2006-2010  for how the levy money will be spent.  Discussion of our membership in the ESD co-op.  An alternate is the Discovery Channel online video streaming.  TRTs will have an account to evaluate the service.  The videos can be dragged and dropped into PowerPoint or iMovie.  They will be instantly available from a district server.  Go on the whs web site web and go to help desk, faculty features, streaming video for the classroom.  New user login can be obtained from Ron.  We need to look at it and give Ron feedback about the feasibility.