589 week Six - September 29, 2005

Implementation #1: Models and Impact

Dexter, S., Anderson, R. E., & Becker, H. J. (1999). Teachers' views of computers as catalysts for changes in their teaching practice.Journal of Research on Computing in Education, 31 (3), 221-239.

There is a fair amount to look over here. I indicate where to skim and where to read. In each of the sections a, b, and c, go to the online resources. As described in section d, within the TappedIn answer discussion area, answer a synthesis question. (Unlike last week this time you will make just one posting for all of the sections a, b, c, in the thread named for week six in TappedIn.) Please complete your posting by noon on the day of class Thursday 9.22.05, so we can all read each others' before our face to face meeting that night..

A. Technology Support

1. Read the article Quality technology support: What is it? Who has it? and What difference does it make? (Dexter, S., Anderson, R. E. & Ronnkvist, A. (2002). Journal of Educational Computing Research, 26 (3), 287-307). Focus on the definition of "quality technology support" and think about which of its elements are present in your setting, and thus how your site compares to this national, representative sample.
(Note: This is the published paper that is based upon the same data as Report #5 of the TLC'98 project in the next bullet, but it doesn't include the information that I emphasize below.)
2. Look over sections 1, 2, and 3 in REPORT #5 Technology Support: Its Depth, Breadth and Impact in America's Schools from Teaching, Learning, and Computing, 1998. Pay close attention to the "definition of technology support" and table 1---noting it has BOTH technical and instructional dimensions. In reviewing the tables and figures (and their accompanying text in sections 1, 2, 3) reporting the national data, get a sense of how your school site's technology support access compares, nationally.
(Note: this is data from the most recent national survey of technology use in education; I suggest you poke around its website, and bookmark it for future reference.)
Helpful: Useful Support Sites for Educators Who Have Technology Support Questions Search engines to a variety of support portals.
Helpful: Technology Support Index (TSI) The TSI is a framework that outlines effective technology support strategies. With the TSI self-assessment tool, school districts can appraise the quality of their technology support program and learn about possible improvements they can employ.
Helpful: Total Cost of Ownership : A model of calculating all of the costs associated with using and maintaining networked computers; it includes calculations of costs that may not turn up in a budget, but that can still have an impact on school district operations--for example, when teachers must take time out of their day to address their own tech support problems.

B. Professional Development

3. Go to the NSDC Professional Development Standards. These are the National Staff Development Council's revised Standards for Staff Development; they reflect what NSDC and the broader staff development community have learned about professional learning. Each standard has a link on the left (i.e. see Leadership, Resources, Data-driven, etc.) ; read each one's statement and rationale to build up a sense of the professional development environment they suggest should be present in a school. (Just for fun you may want to take the Professional Development IQ Test ; but don't peek ahead of time at the answers. )

C. Professional Community

4. Look over Let's build teachers' professional community . This provides a quick overview of "the benefits that schools enjoy when they develop strong professional communities, and what conditions and resources make the development of those communities possible."
5. Read closely the introduction and findings section of Dexter, S., Seashore, K. R., & Anderson, R. E. (2002). Contributions of professional community to exemplary use of ICT. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 18, 489-497 to note the relationship between educational technology and professional community in these schools.

D. Question

1. In a response to the thread with the week six question in TappedIn describe what you see as the relationships between quality technology support, professional development and professional community and the relative importance of each of these aspects of technology implementation. Conclude by discussing how well you think these ideals and models for technology implementation seem to recognize the "real" school context? and teacher culture? and that parents, students, teachers, and policy makers may have different points of view regarding the purposes of schools, and whether or not technology is important in them?

FYI: Technology Support Index (TSI) The TSI is a framework that outlines effective technology support strategies. With the TSI self-assessment tool, school districts can appraise the quality of their technology support program and learn about possible improvements they can employ.
FYI: Total Cost of Ownership : A model of calculating all of the costs associated with using and maintaining networked computers; it includes calculations of costs that may not turn up in a budget, but that can still have an impact on school district operations--for example, when teachers must take time out of their day to address their own tech support problems.
FYI:Staff Development Library: Resources For Staff Development
This selection of resources is all about the issue of time and strategies to use time wisely.
FYI:Journal of Staff Development
This well-respected, quarterly journal addresses timely issues such as restructuring, the role of principals, program planning, ensuring results with students, and follow-up strategies.
FYI:How Teachers Learn Technology Best. McKenzie, J (2001)
FYI:CEO Forum's Interactive School Technology and Readiness (STaR) Chart “The StaR Chart is a self-assessment tool designed to provide schools with the information they need to better integrate technology into their educational process. Here, you can complete an online, multiple-choice questionnaire that will provide you with instant feedback on how well your school is doing in this process.”
FYI: Useful Support Sites for Educators Who Have Technology Support Questions Search engines to a variety of support portals.

For next week:

Read all of Cuban's Teachers and Machines.