Nash


 * 1st Semester Report

1. Implementing my Technology Professional Development Plan** We started the year focussing on increasing teachers' personal productivity through Microsoft Office and use of the internet.

We then wanted to increase SmartBoard knowledge among those of us who have SmartBoards in our rooms and in the computer lab. However we found that those teachers who have SmartBoards were training themselves and we hired a full time Technology specialist to teach in our computer lab. We find this to be extremely helpful in standardizing our students' technology instruction.

We held a class which modeled differentiated instruction by taking a faculty meeting and introducing our teachers to Recipes4Success to teach Microsoft Office skills. It was a great success. Anecdotally, one of our teachers mentioned that she's including it in here Excell TIF Grant plan.
 * 2. Building Capacity**

We also held a class on EGP which was poorly attended. (Apparently people are quite comfortable using EGP.)

Other help has been given on an individual basis frequently.

21st Century skills include content knowledge, processing knowledge, collaborative and self-directed learning skills. Our lesson on differentiated instruction incorporated content knowledge and self-directed learning as the teachers' were asked to choose their own learning area.
 * 3. Incorporating 21st Century learning skills and tools**

We created a blog to go with our lesson, however, it didn't function well so we got minimal feedback electronically. Anecdotally, teachers appreciated being able to choose their own learning area and everyone felt the time was spent productively.
 * 4. Evaluating Effectiveness**

Further pursue having a SmartBoard Club
 * Future Plans**

Help our Technology Committee organize a "Technology Fair."


 * //Lourdes and Joanna//

2nd Semester Report

1. Implementing my Technology Professional Development Plan** Our goal was increase teachers' ability to create and use SmartBoard lessons among teachers who use SmartBoards and AverKeys by creating a cohort of teachers collaborating on lessons. However due to overwhelming schedules after school, such teachers teaching Achieve it was difficult to set up classes. Due to the Professional Development days and TIF prepartions we had no time to again set up classes. However, we were given the opportunity to have a Technology Fair. Technology Committe members volunteered to teach technology classes they were comfortable introducing. There were 6 classes that were each taught by two members of the Technology Committee. The class were 15 minutes long which gave teacher the opportunity to attend two of their choice. The purpose was to introduce to teachers that these topics exist and they can be easily implemented and studied further.

We then sent out a survey asking teachers what they like more trianing on. The survey indicated that SMART board training as the first choice, Teacher Web-pages coming next and Easy Grade pro coming third. This data gives us an idea on what to focus on next year. For our building capacity we had that will encourage at least one teacher from each grade level and special teaching area to participate in the collaborative cohort. The second grade team collaborated in converting all the math lessons into PowerPoint. The teachers who have SMART board importated the lessons into Notebook making the lesson interactive and hands-on.
 * 2. Building Capacity**

The following is how each grade level incorporated 21st Century skills: The second grade team attended 4 Intel Teach Essential classes. Part of the work for the class was to create lessons where students need to use higher level thinking skills. Each teacher created a lesson that integrates 21st century skills such as a WebQuest. In turn they also collaborated with each other to prepare and plan these lessons.
 * 3. Incorporating 21st Century learning skills and tools**

We are waiting for responses on how other grade level incorporated 21 century skills We are going to ask for responses from our teachers. These responses will be posted a at a later time.
 * 4. Evaluating Effectiveness**


 * //Lourdes and Joanna//**