Don't forget to arrive early, seats will fill up fast.
National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) for Students Refresh Review
Presented by: Jill Brown, ISTE board member
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) released the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) for Students in June 1998. Since then they have received acceptance and widespread use across the US and other countries. ISTE, a nonprofit membership organization, is the trusted source for professional development, knowledge generation, advocacy, and leadership for innovation. ISTE provides leadership by advancing the effective use of technology in schools. Last year, ISTE embarked on a year-long effort to gather feedback and refresh the NETS*S(tm), which were released at NECC 2007 in Atlanta. Jill Brown, Director of Educational Technology at Albuquerque Academy served, as an ISTE board member, on the NETS refresh committee throughout this refresh process. She will discuss which standards have remained essentially the same, which standards reflect the changes we have seen and the future changes we may see in our classrooms.
How can online courses best serve students needing remediation?
Presented by: Dale Emmert, Academy del Sol Alternative High School
This presentation will consist of reviewing portions of an online course in United States History and Geography written by Dale Emmert for the Southeastern New Mexico Educational Resource Center (SNMERC).
The course is text book based and stresses the development of reading skills and vocabulary which will enable students to access and comprehend the text. The course is rich in graphics and is written at a low reading level. It makes extensive use of the many
United States History resources available on the World Wide Web.
The principal difference between an online course and a self paced computer based course like PLATO is that a real teacher interacts with each student and provides prescriptive learning activities based upon the students' individual needs. Online courses can be designed to be flexible enough to adapt to Individualized Educational Plans.
Examples of the following aspects of this course will be presented:
- Graphic representations of key vocabulary from individual
chapters activate students' interest and comprehension by outlining
major points. - Multiple choice test questions also guide students through the
content of each chapter. - Short answer and ACE questions encourage expansive and critical
thinking and serve as a basis for teacher-student interaction and
evaluation. - Carefully selected web sites bring aspects of United States
History alive.
This course has not been taught yet. Possible instruments to use for
evaluation and continuous improvement will be discussed.
Essential Skills for District Technology Leaders
Presented by: Keith Krueger, CEO of Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) & Sheryl Abshire, Past Chair of Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)
O.K., you are the person in charge of technology at your school district. What are the essential skills that you need to succeed? Where do you turn to continuously fresh and expand your knowledge base? While the responsibilities of Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) vary by district, the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) has developed a Framework of Essential Skills for CTO’s. Learn about the Framework, and then participate in an interactive exercise to identify your strengths/weaknesses. Then learn about the NM CIO state chapter of CoSN and how you can connect with the professional development YOU need to succeed. Hear about terrific leadership resources designed for technology leaders.
Presented by: Doug Byers, Chaparral Middle School, Jo Black, Holloman Middle School, and Sylvia Martinez, GenYes, Inc.
Today, many students possess the skills and abilities to network, communicate, store and retrieve data… entirely on their cell phones. However, advances in technology are so rapid that most teachers are not able to keep pace with their students. Teachers need to acquire the knowledge and skills to navigate the ever-changing realm of technology. Unfortunately, with all the requirements placed on teachers at the federal, state and local level, when is their time to find, learn to use and implement technology in their classroom? In addition, much of the hardware and software available is expensive and therefore unobtainable for most teachers. What is the solution?
We will discuss three easy to use, affordable options available to teachers to integrate and use technology in their classroom: The GenYes program, using e-mail to communicate with students and parents and two affordable/user friendly course management options for teachers. GenYes is a program that partners teachers with students, where the student assists the teacher with the integration of technology into their curriculum. The use of e-mail as a communication tool with students and parents is a simple way to integrated technology in any classroom. E-mail is a terrific means of submitting and providing feedback on student work, providing after-hours support to students and keeping your classroom Learning Community informed. Network based course management uses the school or district network that the students can access using the computer lab(s) in the school. Web-based course management uses a website that the students can access anywhere they have internet access.
SIF – Interoperability between applications is it just a theory?
Presented by: Laurie Collins, Schools Interoperability Framework Association (SIFA) & Dave Moravec, Integrity Technology Solutions, Inc., Bloomington, IL Chairman Membership & Marketing Committee, SIF Association
Interoperability between “Best of Breed” applications is the goal of many districts as they strive to lessen reporting burdens. Learn what SIF is all about and how the SIF Association is developing the data interoperability standard for pK-12 and beyond to enable the interoperability we all seek.
In this session we will discuss the components of SIF and how they are used and implemented. Models of real working SIF implementations will be displayed along with the types of information that can be shared between systems. The participants will visual see and understand that implementing SIF can be tailored to fit many different district environments and scaled
The SIF implementation tools that are available for districts and states to use highlighted, along with how the Schools Interoperability Framework Association is working to improve the SIF Certification program.
Movement of Data Using SIF – Las Cruces and Alamogordo Public School’s vision and solution
Presented by: Jeff Harris, Las Cruces Public Schools & Tony Korwin, Alamogordo Public Schools, & Laurie Collins, Schools Interoperability Framework Association (SIFA), & Dave Moravec, Integrity Technology Solutions, Inc., Bloomington, IL, Chairman Membership & Marketing Committee, SIF Association
This session will focus on how Las Cruces and Alamogordo are creating administrative efficiencies using the latest data integration technology called Schools Interoperability Framework, SIF. We will discuss:
- Who has implemented SIF as a data integration solution across the state and country?
- What can you do to select the correct administrative software and utilize the software currently with SIF?
- When is the best time to make the transition to a Zone Integration Server?
- Why will the SIF technology help districts create efficiencies and save money?
- How can SIF be used by your staff to make better use of your data and better decisions about teaching & learning?
This session is intended not only to provide an introduction to SIF solutions, but also to provide practical use case scenarios right here in New Mexico. A second session entitled Student Record Exchange, the Evolution of Paperless Transcripts and Records for pK-20 will focus on the use of SIF technology in higher education to help create and move student’s transcripts with the latest SIF 2 standard.
SIF - Student Record Exchange the Evolution of Paperless Transcripts and Records for pK-20
Presented by: Laurie Collins, Schools Interoperability Framework Association (SIFA)
Summary: The SIF Association has responded to districts, higher education and states needs for a standard methodology for seamless and reliable automated movement of a student’s record. By using the Student Record Exchange (SRE) Objects in the SIF 2.0r1 Implementation Specification learn how moving an entire student record electronically is possible in an automated secure environment.
We will discuss what is involved in the process, the necessary technology and how it can be implemented by districts to share records in an automated fashion between other districts, the state and higher education institutions along with the benefits that can be achieved by doing so. Also, how the Association is working with the Post Secondary Standards Council (PESC) to enable movement of e-transcripts between secondary and post secondary institutions. We will also highlight and discuss FERPA concerns and considerations as districts and states move forward to an all electronic setting, best practices districts, states and vendors are working on currently along with our SRE Pilot activities.
NM STE, New Mexico ISTE Affiliate meeting
Presented by: Jill Brown, ISTE board member
Meeting of all current and possibly interested members of the new NM STE, ISTE affiliate. Attendees will discuss progress towards organization, board members, by-laws, etc.
Presented by: Michelle Lewis, Public Education Department
Discussion on issues related to the NM Learning Laptop Initiative.
Computational Science Activities from the Real World for Mid School
Presented by: Betsy Frederick & Celia Einhorn, Supercomputing Challenge & Irene Lee, Project GUTS – Growing Up Thinking Scientifically
The purpose of the presentation is to share work we are doing within the framework of the Supercomputing Challenge to build interest in computational science in middle school students. The Challenge is an established school-year long project in which teams of secondary students design and implement computational science projects of their own choosing. Challenge milestones begin with a Kickoff event with workshops on problem design, mathematical and agent based modeling, programming, project management, teamwork, model testing, and reporting of findings. Student work is monitored and supported by mentors and judges and final work is presented at an Expo at the end of the second semester. Every team presents a written and oral presentation with visualizations of their results. Awards and scholarships are presented.
We have tuned some of the strategies we use to better meet the needs of our younger participants. Although they attend some Kickoff sessions with the more senior students, we are now taking extra time to build their programming and model building skills. These kinds of projects meet state and national standards in core curriculum: problem solving, modeling and visualizations from experiments using data sets from real world issues.
Middle school students and beginning high school students are given existing models to explore and extend. In this practice, they can try different variable values, look at the graphs that result, and talk with each other about what they observe. Later they choose to either build on an existing model from the models library or develop a new model based on an interest of their own but taking advantage of structures from existing examples.
In this presentation, we will demonstrate easy-to-implement offline activities and online models as well. One offline activity is a puzzle that develops problem-solving skills in individual or team-work settings. Another activity models population growth. We will also show how we use StarLogo, a free, downloadable, agent-based modeling language developed by MIT. (It has recently been released as Open Source.). A classic predator-prey example and an infection model from the public StarLogo library will be demonstrated and suggestions for classroom applications will be made. A successful Challenge middle school project that models traffic flow at a busy intersection will be shared.
We will show how traditional “word wall” for vocabulary can be developed as topics or ideas for a concept mapping using Cmap, a freely downloadable and easy-to-use software package that compares favorably to Inspiration.
Presented by: Tom Ryan, Albuquerque Public Schools
Summary: Learn what Albuquerque Public Schools is doing with online learning. Albuquerque is developing K12 courses such as Algebra 1. Participant will be encouraged to view and critique our work. The district has developed several online training courses for teachers and staff. Stand alone training to teacher lead 40 hour professional development courses will be reviewed.
Designing Programs for eTeacher Professional Development
Presented by: Susie Bussman, & Julia Parra, & Holly Bemis-Schurtz, New Mexico State University
Summary: We will share information about the development, delivery, and progress of two projects in New Mexico for eTeacher professional development. One project, the Online Teaching and Learning Opportunities project is providing professional development for traditional high school teachers who want to develop and teach online courses. The second project, for the New Mexico Cyber Academy, is providing professional development for high school teachers who will teach existing (already developed) online high school courses.
Satellite-Based Video Conferencing in NWREC#2 - Piecing It Together
Presented by: Dr. Kris Baca & Adán Delgado & Pamela Lloyd & Eddie Quispe & Joshua Grillo, Jemez Mountain School District
Summary: Three years ago the NWREC #2 applied for a United States Department of Agriculture RUS Telemedicine Grant. The Telemedicine grant was funded in two phases. The first phase installed equipment at the following districts: Jemez Mountain, Dulce, Chama, and Mesa Vista. The second phase installed equipment at Questa, Penasco, Cuba, and Taos.
The REC went on to apply for a Consortium Telecom/Internet E-Rate application to fund the development of a stand-alone satellite-based video conferencing system utilizing the services of General Communications Corporation Incorporated out of Alaska.
Some of the challenges encountered during the implementation of this project have been:
- Lack of Terrestrial Telecom Services
- Lack of Vendor Support for Remote Locations
- Lack of Confidence in Technological Functionality
- Magnitude of Organizational Challenges to Accomplish Project
- Lack of Confidence in the Feasibility of the System
- Fear of E-Rate Complexities
- Investment of Time and Resources
Currently the NWREC #2 has a fully functional video conferencing system that is being utilized to broadcast and archive dual-enrollment classes, professional development sessions, Governing Council meetings, and collaborative opportunities.
Future applications and uses by District staff, students, and community members are:
- Seamless Implementation
- Natural Educational Resource
- Collaborative Meeting Place
- Hybrid Course Delivery
- Leverage for Other Grant Opportunities
- NCLB Highly Qualified Teacher Relief
Presented by Ronald Mitchell, Jr., Alamogordo Public Schools
High Speed Data Networks is but only one of many symbols of great human achievements. It gives us the ability to communicate volumes of information and ideas at dizzying speeds, and it's only going to get faster. At the same time, there are challenges to keeping this technology up, running, available, and working efficiently. These challenges may be mitigated by sharing our experiences, solutions, and brainstorming new ideas. Network Engineers, Administrators, and Technicians, please join us in supporting the High Tech back-end of education.