3-5-09

Tech Plan Reading **
 * Tech Council Minutes on March 5, 2009 ** **
 *  EASTCONN is not doing a quality review, but will make notes/annotations.
 *  Technology Plans are being checked for completeness to make sure all objectives are addressed.
 *  Districts need to send 2 hard copies to EASTCONN for review. The state is expecting 1 hard copy and an electronic copy on CD in June.
 *  If you need longer than March 9th, let Jane know. Jane is hoping all plans will be in by March 31st so there will be enough time to read them and get them back to you.


 * State Department of Education News **
 *  Art is retiring as of March 31st. We are hopeful that Karen will take on his responsibilities, such as the E2T2 and Tech Plan, but she already has a full-time job.
 *  Everyone at SDE is unsure of their job security.
 *  <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The deficit mitigation bill (passed unanimously by both houses) killed the Online Writing grant funding.
 * <span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Karen is hopeful that some funding may be available through other sources.


 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">SRBI Assessment Options **
 * <span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">EASTCONN is exploring solutions that can assist districts with SRBI data analysis such as a FileMaker database based on CMT reporter and web-based applications using php.
 * <span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">STAR from Renaissance Learning is a solution Woodstock has selected. The benefit is that students can take assessments on the web.
 * <span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Ames web and Dibbles are popular but they require a lot of teacher time for testing and input.
 * <span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) is been a choice for some Connecticut districts (although none from our EASTCONN area).
 * <span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Study Island (multiple choice content exams) is available and has a reader for young children. Kids like it and it’s affordable. Study Island has added Science recently, but has no writing modules. Donna M. gave us a demo. The company representative is very accommodating. Steve S. pointed out how the data can be automatically emailed to the teachers. At Mansfield, some grade levels use it more than others and some are using just for remedial students.
 * <span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Blue Ribbon Testing online has not been as well received according to comments from Donna M. and Marian L.
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Easy CBM is another option for assessments.

> Suggestion is to go with the new ISTE NETS. Websites for Students ** Mansfield’s Internet Safety Presentation **
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">2007 ISTE NETS: Tech Integration into Curriculum **
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">New Hampshire has aligned their curriculum to the ISTE NETS. State law was passed to integrate technology into all content areas.
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The website for food donation of free rice is: []. Several subject areas are available. (Jane)
 * <span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">All about Explorers ([]) is a great site for finding errors on a website (grade 5 level). (Marji)
 * <span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Activity for rating websites’ reliability and validity at [], then go to Student Links on the lower left.
 * <span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Put real-world media under the microscope with these media tutorials – Analyzing a World Wide Web Page : [] (Donna)
 * <span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">//Social Bookmarking sites and favorites://
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Delicious: ferlazzo (web site of the day), coolcatteacher (Vicky Davis), mrsming, stevesoko, jcookgough, pskellyeastconn
 * Diigo: Another good social bookmarking service that Kathy Schrock uses; Steve likes that you can annotate the link and send it to your blog.
 * Riptidefirst from Twitter
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">
 * <span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Steve shared information regarding a program, Internet Awareness for Parents and Educators on April 14, 2009, 7-8 pm at the Mansfield Middle School Auditorium.
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">See more at [].


 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Discovery Education **
 * <span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Are you interested in joining Jane, Pam, Steve, Marian, Lynn, Rich, Glen
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Read more at our related wiki page: http://eastconntechcouncil.wikispaces.com/Discovery+Education+Network


 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Next Meeting, May 7 at the Willimantic Brew Pub **