Thursday, February 07, 2008

February 2008 Edition

Hello Instructional Technology Leaders!


This is the sixth update of 2007-2008, and we continue with even more opportunities for professional development and other news related to technology use in our schools. You may choose to either receive future updates by e-mail or subscribe to it via RSS.


  1. Local District 5 Instructional Technology Leader Meeting for February

  2. 2008 California School Technology Survey – LD5 Deadline: February 29, 2008

  3. Building Quality Learning Using Periodic Assessments – A Salary Point Class

  4. CTAP Region 11 Technology Academies – $400 Compensation for Participating

  5. Infotech 2008 – Saturday, April 12, 2008

  6. Podcasting with SMART Board Software – A 2-Hour Seminar

  7. Integrating SMART Boards into Language Arts and History – A 2-Hour Seminar

  8. Salary Point Workshops on Learning Zone

  9. More LAUSD Teacher RSS Feeds to View and Subscribe To



1. Local District 5 Instructional Technology Leader Meeting for February


The next volunteer technology leadership/coordinator meeting of 2007-2008 for Local District 5 will be held 3:30-5:30pm on Thursday, February 21, 2008 at the Directors Conference Room, 2nd Floor, Local District 5, 2151 N. Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA 90032. This meeting will cover online image and audio generators that produce content to add to classroom projects. Attendance is voluntary but does also provide an occasion when technology leaders can share ideas as well as learn about the latest in instructional technology.


Below is a preview of the tentative agenda:

03:30pm – Updates on Technology in LAUSD

04:00pm – Online Tools that Generate Content for Projects

05:00pm – Open Forum/Technology Leader Networking


2. 2008 California School Technology Survey – LD5 Deadline: February 29, 2008


The completion of the annual California School Technology Survey is once again required by the California Department of Education. Local District 5 correspondence regarding this survey was sent on February 1, 2008 to all principals. This survey must be completed by one person at your school (by you or the faculty/staff member most familiar with your technology hardware, software, and employee proficiency).


Local District 5 is asking that this survey be completed by February 29, 2008 in order to avoid technical pitfalls that may hamper the ability to meet the CDE deadline and qualify for this year’s government-funded programs, including the Enhancing Education Through Technology Formula and Competitive grants. Failure to complete the survey will result in your school not receiving the various awards negotiated with the State of California.


To complete the online survey, visit the CDE website at the following web address and use the information provided below:


http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/et/rs/techsurvey.asp


Survey Type: School

County: Los Angeles

District: Los Angeles Unified

PIN (number): [contact ITAF for PIN]

System Password: [contact ITAF for Password]


Each section of the survey may be saved separately, and it is not necessary to complete the entire survey in one visit to the web site. Also, you may return to any previously completed section to make changes. The survey is "completed" when all sections have been saved.



3. Building Quality Learning Using Periodic Assessments – A Salary Point Class


Certificated employees can now take a salary point class focusing on the use of district periodic assessments to guide student learning. Participants will be introduced to the use of diagnostic Periodic Assessments as instructional tools for quality enhancement in: (1) planning standards-based instruction aligned to Instructional Guides, (2) assessing students, expediting data access using the reporting website, and communicating learning progress, (3) determining appropriate future teaching practices based upon assessment data, and (4) helping their students monitor their own learning through regular and consistent assessments.


There are several sessions to choose from, including some at the Local District 5 location.


To enroll: http://lz.lausd.net/ - Once logged on using your Single Sign-On information, you can enroll in any of the classes by doing the following:


1) Click on Courses

2) Click on Class Offerings

3) Select Periodic Assessment under Program and Click on Search

4) Click on any of the classes titled Building Quality Learning Using Periodic Assessments displayed in blue to begin enrollment process

5) Click on the orange Enroll Now button to add yourself to the enrollment list



4. CTAP Region 11 Technology Academies – $400 Compensation for Participating


New opportunities for teachers to increase technology proficiency are still available! Teachers can learn to effectively integrate technology into standards-based instruction by participating in a weeklong CTAP Region 11 Technology Academy. Several of the academies will be held at the ITD ITTB Training Room 2 located at the Local District 5 Office Building during Spring break as well as throughout the Summer, but you may choose to enroll in academies held at other locations. Visit http://ctap.lacoe.edu/content/Tech_Academies for details and to enroll in one of the academies.

The CTAP Technology Academies are five-day trainings, designed for educators that need educational technology professional development at their level of proficiency. The objective is to ensure that classroom educators have the requisite skills, knowledge, and ability to effectively integrate technology into the curriculum.


If you have any questions, please contact the following consultant from CTAP 11:

Jeff Williams, williams_jeff@lacoe.edu, (562) 401-5382


Intended Audience: K-12 Teachers (Levels: Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced)


Los Angeles Unified School District will be providing compensation in the amount of $400 for those who attend a District-sponsored academy. You must be off-track (e.g. Single Track teachers must attend academies only during Spring and Summer breaks) to receive the compensation. Additionally, you can receive LAUSD salary point credit for completion of the Level II Academy.



5. Infotech 2008: Excellence Through Innovation – Saturday, April 12, 2008


Info Tech 2008: Excellence Through Innovation will be held Saturday, April 12, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center (1201 South Figueroa Street). This event is held in collaboration with the Parent Collaborative and serves as a great opportunity to showcase student work that integrates various uses of technology. All schools are encouraged to participate in this event. Come share teacher and student achievement. Below is a list of the InfoTech key features.


STUDENT SHOWCASES
InfoTech 2008 showcases will focus on student-created technology project demonstrations. Student Showcase Intent to Participate forms are available online at http://infotech.lausd.net/. Deadline to submit an application will be February 28, 2008. For further information, please contact John Kwan, ITAF, LAUSD Educational Technology Group, at john.kwan @ lausd.net or (213) 241-1278.


STUDENT COMPETITION
The student competition will include three categories: elementary, middle, and high school. Teacher-coached student teams will compete for prizes by creating short media projects. Finalists from each category will present their project at InfoTech 2008 and answer questions from a panel of experts. Entries will be voted on by the audience. If you have a team that would like to take part in the student competition, detailed rules and instructions on how to register may be found in LAUSD’s Learning Zone, http://lz.lausd.net/ under the program titled Infotech. For further information, please contact John Lenhardt, Educational Technology ITAF, at john.lenhardt @ lausd.net.


WORKSHOPS
Workshops for parents, teachers, and administrators will be held concurrently throughout the conference. Sessions will include the use of innovative technologies in today’s curricula, as well as presentations on how parents can use technology to help support their child’s education. For further information, please contact Martha Valencia, Specialist, LAUSD Educational Technology Group, at martha.valencia @ lausd.net or (213) 241-2631.


VENDOR EXHIBITS

Vendors will demonstrate and exhibit what they have to benefit instruction. For further information, please contact Mary Cervantes, Infotech Coordinator, LAUSD Educational Technology Group, at mary.cervantes @ lausd.net or (213) 241-2633.


Additionally, you may seek more information about this event by referring to Memorandum MEM-4058 as well as http://infotech.lausd.net/.



6. Podcasting with SMART Board Software – A 2-Hour Seminar


Hey SMART Board users, are you currently using Podcasting as a teaching tool? Would you like to? Podcasting is becoming an increasingly popular way to teach students and motivate them to learn. With SMART Board software you can use SMART Recorder and Notebook features to create a simple podcast to reinforce learning, deliver content or create student projects.


WHEN: Thursday, February 14, 3:30-5:30pm
WHERE: ITD ITTB East Los Angeles Training Room II, 2151 Soto Street, Los Angeles
COST: FREE!


To pre-register for this session: http://lz.lausd.net/ - Once logged on using your Single Sign-On information, you can enroll in any of the classes by doing the following:


1) Click on Courses

2) Click on Class Offerings

3) Select U.P.D.A.T.E. under Program and Click on Search

4) Click on Podcasting with SMART Board Software displayed in blue to begin registration process

5) Click on the orange Enroll Now button to add yourself to the training list



7. Integrating SMART Boards into Language Arts and History


This class in designed for experienced teachers who have either been Master trained or attended an introductory training session and want to maximize their use of the SMART Board in Language Arts or History. Teachers will learn how to integrate their curriculum with Notebook to create and present interactive lessons and activities. Learn how to make your lessons engaging by using Macromedia Flash activities, pictures, video, audio and the Internet.


WHEN: Wednesday, February 27, 4:00-6:00pm
WHERE: ITD ITTB East Los Angeles Training Room II, 2151 Soto Street, Los Angeles
COST: FREE!


To pre-register for this session: http://lz.lausd.net/ - Once logged on using your Single Sign-On information, you can enroll in any of the classes by doing the following:


1) Click on Courses

2) Click on Class Offerings

3) Select U.P.D.A.T.E. under Program and Click on Search

4) Click on Integrating SMART Boards into Language Arts and History displayed in blue to begin registration process

5) Click on the orange Enroll Now button to add yourself to the training list



8. Salary Point Workshops on Learning Zone


A list of newly posted salary point classes offered by LAUSD’s UPDATE program are available and listed below. For more information, please visit the UPDATE website at http://update.lausd.net/ or call (213) 241-1384.


To enroll in a class: http://lz.lausd.net/ - Once logged on using your Single Sign-On information, you can enroll in any of the classes by doing the following:


1) Click on Courses

2) Click on Class Offerings

3) Select U.P.D.A.T.E. under Program and Click on Search

4) Click on any of the class titles displayed in blue to begin enrollment process

5) Click on the orange Enroll Now button to add yourself to the training list



Course Title: Online Learning Experience – OLE

Time & Dates: 8:00am-5:00pm on 02/08 and 02/29/08

Location: ITD ITTB East Los Angeles Training Room II, 2151 Soto Street, Los Angeles


Course Title: Lights, Camera, Action! Create Cross Curriculum Lessons using iMovie

Time & Dates: 4:30pm-7:30pm on 02/11, 02/13, 02/15, and 02/18/08

Location: 68th Street Elementary School, 612 W. 68th Street, Los Angeles


Course Title: Scaffolding Higher-Order Thinking with WebQuests

Time & Dates: 8:00am-4:00pm on 02/16 and 03/15/08

Location: Taft High School, 5461 Winnetka Avenue, Woodland Hills


Course Title: Creating Dynamic Multimedia Projects to Showcase Student Learning

Time & Dates: 9am-4pm on 02/16 and 03/01/08

Location: South East High School, 2720 Tweety Boulevard, South Gate


Course Title: Standards-Based Virtual Field Trips with Video Conferencing Education

Time & Dates: 8am-4pm on 02/16 and 03/29/08

Location: University Conference Room, Local District 5, 2151 Soto Street, Los Angeles


Course Title: Smart Ways to Use Interactive Whiteboards Across the Disciplines

Time & Dates: 8am-4pm on 02/23 and 03/08/08

Location: Mann Middle School, 7001 S. Saint Andrews Place, Los Angeles


Course Title: Online Learning Experience – OLE

Time & Dates: 3:30pm-7:30pm on 03/05/08

Location: Foshay Learning Center, 3751 S. Harvard Boulevard, Los Angeles


Course Title: Creating Dynamic Multimedia Projects to Showcase Student Learning

Time & Dates: 8am-4pm on 03/08 and 03/29/08

Location: ITD ITTB East Los Angeles Training Room II, 2151 Soto Street, Los Angeles


Course Title: Using Safe Internet Skills to Promote Research and Collaboration

Time & Dates: 5:30pm-8:30pm on 03/11/08 and 03/25/08

Location: ITD ITTB East Los Angeles Training Room II, 2151 Soto Street, Los Angeles


Course Title: Standards-Based Virtual Field Trips with Video Conferencing Education

Time & Dates: 8am-4pm on 03/22 and 04/26/08

Location: 96th Street Elementary School, 1471 E 96th Street, Los Angeles


Course Title: Creating Language Arts Curriculum Using Microsoft PowerPoint

Time & Dates: 8am-4pm on 04/05 and 04/19/08

Location: ITD ITTB East Los Angeles Training Room II, 2151 Soto Street, Los Angeles


Course Title: Using Safe Internet Skills to Promote Research and Collaboration

Time & Dates: 5:30pm-8:30pm on 04/10/08 and 04/24/08

Location: ITD ITTB East Los Angeles Training Room II, 2151 Soto Street, Los Angeles


Course Title: Multimedia Enhanced Language Arts & ESL Instruction

Time & Dates: 9am-12pm on 04/12 and 04/26/08

Location: ITD ITTB East Los Angeles Training Room II, 2151 Soto Street, Los Angeles


Course Title: Lights, Camera, Action! Create Cross Curriculum Lessons using iMovie

Time & Dates: 8:00am-4:00pm on 05/03 and 05/17/08

Location: ITD ITTB East Los Angeles Training Room II, 2151 Soto Street, Los Angeles


Course Title: Standards-Based Virtual Field Trips with Video Conferencing Education

Time & Dates: 8am-4pm on 02/16 and 03/29/08

Location: ITD ITTB East Los Angeles Training Room II, 2151 Soto Street, Los Angeles



9. More LAUSD Blogs to View and Subscribe To


I continue to discover new blogs by LAUSD K-12 educators. The following selection of sites listed here is in addition to those I suggested in previous months (see LAUSD Blogroll in the newsletter sidebar):


Educator 2.0: The Milleneum Edition: http://web.mac.com/mindtroopers/Mindtroopers/Educator_2.0/Educator_2.0.html


Local District 4 Developing Readers & Writers: http://ld4drwc.edublogs.org/


Local District 4 Elementary Science: http://einstein.edublogs.org/


Local District 4 Secondary Math: http://ld4math.edublogs.org/


Secondary Literacy – Middle Schools: http://ld4elap.edublogs.org/


As usual, please let me know about your blog, wiki, or podcast to be featured in upcoming posts. You may contact me by e-mail or post a comment on the web version of this newsletter.