Andrew+-+Mar.+21st

Week ENDING March 21 - Onsite Consultations

 * Staff Developer:** Andrew Gallagher


 * Date:** Monday, March 17

Visit Overview:** I met with Ms. Hewitt (Principal), Ms. Rosario (Assistant Principal), Ms. Windram (Assistant Principal) and Joe Josephs (F Status Technology Coordinator). All are excited and open to the possibilities of increasing and enhancing technology integration within MS 101.
 * Time:** 9:00 - 12:30
 * School:** MS 101 (08X101)
 * Principal:** Ms. Kim Hewitt
 * Tech Liaison:** Jenny Rosario
 * Grades:** 6 - 8 (Middle School)
 * Other:

Ms. Rosario is already a regular attendee at our OITX monthly meeting and has returned to her school with lots of ideas but unsure how they can be implemented.

The school has participated in the Pearson Digital Arts Aliiance and have received their in-house digital artist as party of their program. However, they are very interested in doing more digital stories, and so we enrolled Dan Wolfe (Social Studies teacher) in both the Marco Torres seminar and the March 25, iCoach storytelling workshop.

There is NO computer lab, but travelling carts.

I showed the team our new OIT website, discussed professional development opportunities, and ideas for moving MS 101 forward with their technology integration. Ms. Hewitt is very keen to enroll as an iLead principal, and so I directed her to the contact details of the iLead team.

The school has a technician / tech coordinator who works one day per week on F-Status (Joe Josephs). He inquired as to the possibility of how the schools laptops can be upgraded. They have a mix of Mac and PC and would like to have them both upgraded as soon as possible. I said that I would return to the office to check the availability of the technicians. Mr. Josephs was very excited with the ideas presented, but made the point of how all of the school technology will be managed, especially as it increases (which he believes it will). The principal was more than agreeable, upon this point being made, to looking at how one (or more) people could be given direct coaching responsibilities for technoilogy. My suggestions were that the school implement either of the following suggestions:


 * 1) **Create a full-time Technology Coach role. This person would manage the infrastructure and work with content area teachers to integrate technology.**
 * 2) **Reduce the schedule of several people, preferably within each content area. These people would be responsible for integrating technology, and planning with other teachers in their subject.**

There is also a desire to create a MOUSE Squad / Tech-Squad within the school, as a means to assist with any future increases in hardware, and to provide daily support for basic technical issues. The general feeling was that 6th Grade students would be the ideal candidates, as they can grow, develop and progress within their roles.

One of the main desires within the school, is to look at implementing Google Apps. We spoke at length about the possibilities (both positive and negative) regarding Google. There was a general concern around online safety, which I was very honest about. I made the point, however, that if there are any issues of inappropriate behavior online, at least with the Google tools, there are accurate records of who posted what, at any given time. After discussions, it was decided that a small cohort of students would pilot Google Apps for the remainder of this year and to revisit the situation in readiness for September.


 * Technology Application(s) Covered:**


 * Goals:** During the articulation, the following goals were identified as achievable:
 * **Goal One:** Initial set-up of Google Apps, domain name, assignment of pilot classes - Ms. Rosario will be the only administrator (for now) who will control the accounts.
 * **Goal Two:** Digital Storytelling workshop on March 25th will be attended by Social Studies teacher. He will also attend the Marco Torres seminar, all with the aim of being able to return to the school willing and able to implement this resource in his classes.
 * Goal Three: Upgrade of Mac OS and reimaging of PC laptops


 * Items Discussed During Articulation:** During the articulation with the team, the following was discussed:
 * How to access PD opportunities for themselves, school administrators, teachers, and students
 * Creation of role (s) within school to increase technology integration
 * How MS 101 can better integrate Digital Storytelling.
 * Creation of MOUSE Squad (or alternative)


 * Curricular Focus/Theme:** During the articulation, the following curriculum focus was discussed:
 * How can the current (and future) curriculum be adapted to include technology instruction? Digital stories, podcasts, Google collaboration
 * Provision of increased time of content area specialists or creation of Tech Coach to work with content teachers as they work to infuse technology into their subjects.
 * Anticipated Outcomes:**
 * Outcome 1: A follow-up email will confirm date to return to MS 101 for initial Google Apps set-up
 * Outcome 2: Social Studies teacher will attend Marco Torres seminar and iCoach Digital Story workshop (March 25)
 * Outcome 3: iCoach technician(s) will visit school to update Mac OS and look at how Dell D510 can possibly be reimaged.

There is a great deal of enthusiasm amongst the teachers and administrators at MS 101, but there is a great deal of planning that needs to happen in order for a more cohesive plan of action to be implemented..
 * Areas of Concern (if any):**

Ms. Hewitt and Ms. Rosairo would both benefit from participation in some of the OIT workshops designed to assist in the implemetation of Technology plans, and coaching teachers. There will also need to be onsite support for the Google Apps.
 * Extra Support Needed:**


 * Model Site: (Yes/No):** No


 * Date:** Tuesday, March 18

Visit Overview:** I met with Mr. Santana (Principal) and Mr. Kollen (Technology Coordinator). Both are very much on board with the idea of increased technology integration, and made the point that before Mr. Santana took over the school two years ago, there was literally no technology. Mr. Kollen joined the team this academic year and has worked to increase the use of technology within content areas.
 * Time:** 1:00 - 15:30
 * School:** MS 391 (10X391)
 * Principal:** Mr. Pedro Santana
 * Tech Liaison:** Eric Kollen
 * Grades:** 6 - 8 (Middle School)
 * Other:

The school has increased the technology infrastructure, hardware etc. There are now a number of LCD projectors being used to enhance teaching. There is a SMART Board on each floor (4 total), one technology lab (PC) and two mini-labs.

All administrators at MS 391 teach a class, and Mr. Santana and Mr. Kollen share the same class (just different subjects). They hold daily meetings, which are also open to teachers and even students. During these meetings, there are many discussions regrading technology and what is needed to move forward. Mr. Santana is very enthusiastic and very open to new ideas. Mr. Kollen, however, is a little more cautious, and with more experience in the field of technology wants to ensure any new tools we implement are done so correctly, and with the correct focus. Mr. Sanatana and his administration team communicates every night via email, and as one of the desires of the school is to become more transparent and collaborative, I suggested that Web 2.0 tools could be a more productive was to conduct this communication.

There is a Technology team in place at MS 391, consisting of approximately 8 people. Mr. Kollen has gethered this team to assist with the decision making process, and to help further integration within content areas.

Mr. Kollen had originally inquired only about Google Apps, and that is how this meeting was set-up in the first place. He had not realized that OIT could proivide further support, and so much of our meeting centered around the PD opportunities available to teachers, administrators and students. However, as Google Apps (and Web 2.0 tools) was a major interest within the school, I explained the basic premise of Wikis, Blogs, and Google Apps (including the need to be cautious regarding online safety). Mr. Santana was particularly open to my suggestion that despite concerns, there are many teachable moments regarding email etiquette, online collaboration etc.

It was decided, given the features of Google Apps, that they would begin the process of aquiring a domain name, and setting up a Google account. We arranged for a return visit to begin this process. After discussions, it was decided that a small cohort of staff would pilot Google Apps to increase the collaboration already present at MS 391.

There is **ONE** computer lab, and **TWO** mini-labs. There are **THREE** mobile carts also, with sign out sheets on each floor as the booking process. The school has a **TANDBERG** video conferencing unit, which could be used more.

I showed the team our new OIT website, discussed professional development opportunities, and ideas for moving MS 391 forward with their technology integration. Mr. Kollen is very enthusiastic about PowerPoint and feels students need to be able to use this software. I stressed the point that whilst PowerPoint is valuable to a degree, there is a view that the skills learned in create such presentations are increasingly seen as less significant than say the creation of a Digital Story or PodCast. Mr. Santana was enthusiastic about this, but Mr. Kollen far less so. If PowerPoint is still the route MS 391 wishes to pursue, I suggested the Presentation feature of Google Docs would be a way to allow greater collaboration between students.

The school has a technician who works with Mr. Kollen, and he is also very much included in the day to day decisions made regarding tech integration.

There is also a desire to create a MOUSE Squad / Tech-Squad within the school, as a means to assist with any future increases in hardware, and to provide daily support for basic technical issues. .


 * Technology Application(s) Covered:

Goals:** During the articulation, the following goals were identified as achievable:
 * **Goal One:** Initial set-up of Google Apps, domain name, assignment of pilot classes - Ms. Rosario will be the only administrator (for now) who will control the accounts.
 * **Goal Two:** Creation of MOUSE Squad or equivelant
 * **Goal Three:** Increased collaboration between the MS 391 Tech team


 * Items Discussed During Articulation:** During the articulation with the team, the following was discussed:
 * How to access PD opportunities for themselves, school administrators, teachers, and students
 * Creation of role Google Apps account, initially to be piloted with staff.
 * Creation of MOUSE Squad (or alternative)


 * Curricular Focus/Theme:** During the articulation, the following curriculum focus was discussed:
 * How can the current (and future) curriculum be adapted to include technology instruction? Digital stories, podcasts, Google collaboration
 * Moving EXIT PROJECTS somewhat away from PowerPoint software and possibly to Digital Stories or at least Google Docs


 * Anticipated Outcomes:**
 * **Outcome 1:** A follow-up date to return to MS 391 for initial Google Apps set-up has been confirmed for Thrusday March 20
 * **Outcome 2:** Mr. Kollen with work with administrators to use Google Apps
 * **Outcome 3:** Use of collaborative presentations as opposed to PowerPoint.

There is a great deal of enthusiasm amongst the teachers and administrators at MS 391, but my concern is that the principal is somewhat over anxious to implement every available tool, whereas Mr. Kollen is a little more cautious. I am also concerned that PowerPoint is heavily emphasized as the only option for exit projects.
 * Areas of Concern (if any):**

With Google Apps being implemented, there will need to be ongoing support as MS 391 move from using this as a teacher tool to allowing students to collaborate. The logistics of setting up student accounts etc will also need to be done carefully.
 * Extra Support Needed:**


 * Model Site: (Yes/No):** No