SESSION 1, 10:00-11:00
An Introduction to New Internet Literacies for Educators: Blogs, Wikis, RSS, Online Bookmarking
A number of new Internet technologies are changing the way we find, manage and distribute information. From Weblogs to Wikis to RSS to online bookmarking services, the possibilities for collaboration and sharing are almost limitless, as are the ways students and teachers can benefit in the classroom. Get an overview of the tools being used to foster this new literacy and a framework for integrating them into teaching practices.
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Will Richardson, Author, Chief Learning Officer, Connective Learning, Flemington, NJ |
Broadening Participation in Computing
The presence of female and under-represented minority students in computing classes and activities has been declining for over twenty years. Often referred to as the “Dilbert effect,” students see computer jobs as anti-social and lacking in social significance. What is being done to reach out to these under represented groups? What gender and ethnic biases currently exist within your programs? How do we need to think about technology differently to appeal to a broader audience? This presentation will discuss things teachers and schools can do, based on research and experience, to reach out to non-traditional computing students and bring them back to IT. The speakers represent a state-wide approach to understanding the problem and offering unique solutions, and a specific project within the state using the Revolving Museum in Lowell to have students relate to technology in a unique, project-based environment.
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Alana Wiens, Project Manager, Commonwealth Information Technology Initiative (CITI) Fred Martin, Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Fluency in Information Technology, Outreach
intermediate, high school |
Engaging and Involving the Digital Mindset - Student Voices
You're convinced. You want to engage and involve your students in decisions about leveraging technology for learning. Now what? How do you ASK them for ideas? How do you LISTEN to their ideas? How do you ACT with the digital mindsets of students to co-create a new future for your school? In this workshop, Deneen provides an interactive experience for school leaders to explore the recent data around student voice, investigate current case studies of districts exploring the student voice, and develop the foundation of an action plan around engaging your own students' voices.
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Deneen Frazier Bowen, Educator, Author, Actress, Austin, TX |
E&IHandout.pdf (75KB)
Advance Articles.pdf (111KB)
Engaging Workshop.pdf (2MB)
CLEAR Math: An Effective Algebra Program for Middle School and High School
We will report findings on using a dynamic software system developed by Massachusetts teachers and professors in collaboration with scientists and engineers. CLEAR Math is capable of monitoring and remediating students in a real-time environment. It is known to improve Algebra performance for at-risk, as well as average students.
Andrew Chen, Senior Research Scientist, MIT / EduTron
Mathematics, Multimedia
intermediate, high school
***Accessibility Tools – Free Software to Address Student Disabilities
Topics include: Accessibility tools built into Windows; Locating, downloading, installing and using free software from the Internet; Using commonly found software to address student disabilities. Participants will leave this session with free software.
John Judge, M.Ed., Director, Assistive Technology Services, Merrimack Special Education Collaborative
Using Digital Technology
This workshop will focus on a variety of methods teachers can use to incorporate digital technology into existing lessons including how to use digital photography and digital images from the Internet in order to enhance the curriculum. The presentation will include ideas for utilization of the technology and demonstrate how to download and manipulate images. It will include websites where participants can download freeware and shareware for both PC and Macintosh platforms.
Ellen McDonough, Instructional Technology Specialist, Bailey and Washington Schools, and Kathleen Sullivan, Retired Art Teacher, Bailey School, Lowell
Multimedia, Technology Integration
elementary, intermediate
Using Digital Technology.pdf (39KB)
Technology in the Foreign Language Classroom
This workshop is designed to help foreign language teachers and technology specialists to better support in-class work using readily available audio and document-based computer software. The software discussed is used on Macintosh computers, however, both Audacity and PowerPoint are available for the PC, and Windows Movie Maker may be used in place of iMovie. The workshop will also highlight opportunities for differentiated instruction and for more individualized student work. Projects will focus on auditory training, student self-assessment and revision, sharing of student work, and teacher evaluation in both an auditory and written format. Finally, the workshop will conclude with the use of technology in maintaining student foreign language portfolios K-12.
Cynthia Crimmin, K-12 Director of Foreign Language, Weston Public Schools
Mary O'Brien, Instructional Technology Specialist, Weston High School
Multimedia, Foreign Language
intermediate, high school
Community Funding Partnerships for Student Achievement
Are you challenged with funding student achievement initiatives that you know will bring tremendous value to your students, but do not have the program funds to cover the costs? Find out how one Massachusetts district partnered with Virtual High School and a local community bank to fund the expansion of Advanced Placement (AP), Pre-AP and elective offerings for their high school and middle school students.
Wendy Papkoff, Membership Development Specialist, Virtual High School
Brockton HS Superintendent/Representative
Distance Learning, Administration
high school, administration
Using MassONE to Enhance Teaching and Learning
Find out how you can take advantage of MassONE, the Commonwealth's collection of web-based tools and resources for students, teachers, and administrators. This session will focus on innovative uses of MassONE designed to enhance teaching, learning, and administration. You will also learn about MassONE's new and upgraded tools, including the workgroup creation wizard, discussion forums, Virtual Hard Drive, curriculum resources, lesson planning tool, survey tool, calendar, and Technology Self Assessment Tool (TSAT). Detailed information about MassONE is available at http://massone.mass.edu/.
Jeffrey St. Germain, MassONE Project Manager, Mass. Dept. of Education
Bob Kelley, MassONE Trainer/Analyst, Mass. Dept. of Education
MassONE_Overview_07.pdf (1MB)
MassONE_Admin_07.pdf (390KB)
New_Features.pdf (55KB)
Quickstart.pdf (1MB)
MassONE_poster.pdf (1MB)
PTPD course flyer.pdf (144KB)
COURTYARD PRESENTATIONS
Getting Beyond Testing- Putting the focus back in teaching using digital instructional solutions
Learn how instructional technology solutions focus the teacher and student on instruction. Nothing is more important than providing students with the individual instruction they need to succeed at each point along their continuum of learning.
Join us to explore Pearson Digital Learning's research-based instructional technology solutions that elevate the art and science of teaching and inspire students to reach their greatest potential.
Kelli Hodges, Pearson Digital Learning
RED, Scholastic's premier professional development online courses
Learn more about RED, state recognized professional online courses for teachers and administrators K-12. RED has been used very successfully in districts like Chicopee, Mass. Learn about the matrix of course offerings K-12, and see one or more RED courses demonstrations, as the new Adolescent Literacy course. See why all teachers need RED to help them teach reading regardless of their content area specialities!
Cindy Walowicz, Scholastic Sales Rep
RM Math Framework Edition
RM Math Framework Edition is a digital curriculum for Middle School Math. The program is designed for Whole class teaching, using interactive technology; it also supports individual instruction and remote learning. During the presentation you see a sample of the variety of 2000+ resources and activities that staff can use to engage and motive students to enjoy and understand Math. Harness the power of interactive whiteboard technology in the teaching and learning of mathematics! See how you can transform mathematics to motivate, excite, and engage students! Improve math performance and test scores! The presenter will demonstrate how to integrate interactive whiteboard and wireless technology into the curriculum with a particular focus on middle school grade levels.
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Sue Scott-Mitchell, Senior Educational Consultant, RM Educational Software
Mathematics, Teacher Productivity
Intermediate |
Requirements are changing. Are you ready?
Data collection and reporting have always been important, but with the onset of NCLB collecting data for state and federal reporting is a growing requirement. As a result, school districts need the most efficient way to comply with state and federal reporting and improvement requirements. UNICOM has the answer you are looking for and its name is Infinite Campus. We believe that Infinite Campus is the best and most cost effective comprehensive Student Information System on the market today. Currently managing more than 1.25 million student records in over 3,000 school districts nationwide, Infinite Campus is an integrated, web-based, and well-proven solution with capabilities that surpass those of its competitors. Infinite Campus is a tool that will help you improve operational efficiency and reduce costs.
UNICOM
IT staff and administrators
Merging School & Town Networks
An emerging trend across the State is a growing number of communities planning to merge their municipal and school networks. Come and learn why this has suddenly become popular and whether your community could benefit from such move.
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Paul Keleher, MECnet Consultant |
Improving Network Speed
Networks continue to grow more complex with additional traffic being transmitted across the same infrastructure. New devices like PDAs, new applications like video, and new pests like spyware all decrease network performance. To help manage these new challenges, we will be examining strategies to improve overall network speed. Among the things we will look at will include:
- What chews up network speed
- Network Backbone options
- Where Gigabit makes sense
- VLAN design and deployment
Michael Healey, CTO, GreenPages
FirstClass - More than Just Email!
Learn why districts and towns across Massachusetts are choosing FirstClass, the versatile collaboration suite that provides secure multi-platform, server-based access for messaging, permissions-controlled collaboration, and resource forums (secure intranet and professional learning community for staff), file & document storage, shared workspaces, teacher web publishing including easy blogging and podcasting tools, workflow development and more, all from within a single application. This session will highlight how FirstClass can become a powerful, single point of access for not only personal email and communication tools, but also group collaboration and resource areas. Having a single license for all of this functionality significantly decreases the total cost of ownership and minimizes the need for installing, connecting, and maintaining many separate systems from different vendors.
FirstClass —Open Text Corporation
Big6 Turbo Tools
Technology added to the Big6 process makes students more organized and successful information problem-solvers and assists educators in guiding and directing projects and meeting technology and information literacy standards. Technology added to the Big6 process makes students more organized and successful information problem-solvers and assists educators in guiding and directing projects and meeting technology and information literacy standards.
Stephen Kunzler, Alexandria / Big 6 Turbo Tools
New unitedstreaming
unitedstreaming has a ton of new features that include a Writing Prompt Builder, Audio Files, expanded Video Content, enhanced Professional Development Tools, improved Search Functionality and it is fully customizable. Come see all of the new features and learn ways that you can take unitedstreaming back to your classroom!
Discovery Education
Special Needs and Intervention Solutions to Engage Elementary and Middle School Math Learners
Join us for a look at an integrated instructional approach for all students including those with special needs. We will combine technology and research-based instructional strategies to build conceptual understanding of mathematical concepts ranging from place value, operations, whole numbers, fractions and decimals to geometry and algebraic thinking. Participants will receive a CD and lesson outlines which can be used in a variety of learning environments ranging from resource and intervention to enrichment as well as regular classroom use.
elementary, intermediate
Rudy Neufeld, Senior Author of Understanding Math
Fred Steitz, New England Consultant
