DTTP for Charles County Public School District

The District Technology Training Plan for Public Schools of Charles County Maryland

March 5, 2012 Linda Lavinder Tavares EDTC 640 Professor Sponder University of Maryland University College

Linda Lavinder Tavares

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DTTP for Charles County Public School District

Our District Charles County Public School District has a total of 35 public schools serving 26,676 students as of fiscal year 2012 (www.publicschoolreview.com). Our districts goal of having a 3to-1 student-to-computer ratio at the elementary level and 1-to-1 student-to-computer ratio at the secondary level has been met through the installation of various types of hardware and software (www.2.ccboe.com?PDF/budget/fy12). According to the Maryland Technology Inventory Summary Report for Charles County, a partial list of equipment being utilized to help meet this goal includes: 694 Interactive Whiteboards, 181 Interactive Response Systems (Clickers), 269 Interactive Pads/slates, 4772 Classrooms with Internet Access and Wireless LAN Coverage, and an approximate total of 8,935 desktop and laptop computers available for use. (www.marylandpublicschools.org). Charles County has continued to build up a variety of core technologies that are available in all schools and all grade levels. In addition to computer hardware, schools have access to creative software such as Notebook (used with the Smartboard), Kidspiration, Inspiration, Microsoft Office and over a dozen digital library resources such as Thinkport, United Streaming, and Discovery Education. Technology Need In order to assess the needs of our district, I implemented a technology survey to the teachers and staff of Charles County Schools (see http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GHKF89W). Using the results of this survey, I am projecting the amount of additional technology training which our district teachers and administrators will find useful in reaching district wide technology goals. Of those who took part in this survey, 71% were teachers and 12% were
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members of Instructional Learning Teams (ILT). The survey questions were aimed at assessing the types of computer hardware and software currently being implemented by those taking the survey as well as their level of interest in learning more about different kinds of technology available at their schools. Survey results indicate 34% of those surveyed rate their technology skills as basic, 60% proficient and 6% advanced. This information helps determine the type of lessons which will best meet the needs of this kind of audience. The type of software responders currently use show 94% using Microsoft Word, Excel or PowerPoint presentations, and 80% use educational websites. Only 14% use Webquests, 6% Wikis or Blogs. As for hardware, the survey responders indicate they mostly use a VCR or DVD player (80%), Student Computer Stations (77%), and computer Lab (56%). Only 14% regularly use CPS Clickers and 2% of responders use a Livescribe Interactive Smartpen. Since CPS Clickers are readily available at each school in our district, the assumption is made not enough training has taken place and unfamiliarity with the system causes teachers to not fully utilize this technology (surveymonkey.com). Technology Currently Used in Teaching Rate Your Interest in Learning Technologies

Video/Digi PDA, iPod Blackberries CPS Clickers Laptops Ipad Tablets Computer Overhead Interactive VCR or Student 0 20 40 Series1

Classro Wiki Blog Moderate Webqu Clickers Livescri 0 10 20 Most

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When asked which technologies (hardware or software) they would be most interested in learning and those they feel would be most beneficial to their teaching, survey responders indicated they would be most or moderately interested in learning more about Livescribe Smartpens (90%), the CPS Clicker Response System (88%), and Classroom Websites (76%). 59% of responders are interested in learning more about Wikis and 45% Blogs. Since this survey demonstrates a low use of CPS Clickers and a high percentage of teachers who are interested in learning about them, the focus of this DTTP Plan will be workshops dedicated to advancing the knowledge of using Clickers in the Classroom. Existing Training Opportunities Charles County Public Schools provides technology training to their staff. The training is provided at the school and the district level for technology use. Typically lessons on technology are organized by individual schools. At the onset of the implementation of a new kind of hardware, schools will schedule a training session as an after school staff development meeting. Once the initial training has taken place schools will often assign one teacher to further training to become the resident specialist. This specialist then brings further lessons back to the schools and provides peer to peer support and ideas at the building level. According to the Charles County Board of Education Website, centralized evening classes are offered on SMART , CPS response pads, IGPro Grade Book, Microsoft Office, Kidspiration and Inspiration as well as other topics. Online training is offered through Charles County Board of Education with ISTE Technology webinars, online video tutorials, advertising the Thinkport classes and a CCPScreated online Boardmaker class (http://www2.ccboe.com/instruction/MasterPlan). According to The Charles County Board of Education Website, there are presently four online classes offered to support technology including Smart Board Basics, Video Production

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and Movie Making, Smart Board Notebook These classes are online, self-paced and ongoing. One event offered at the site is information related to registering for classes through UMUC campus (http://database.ccboe.com). There appears to be no training available for Classroom Performance System (Clicker) Technology. The Audience The 35 schools in our district employ 2,041 certified teachers who are categorized as highly qualified, 1,113 support staff including members of school based Instructional Learning Teams (reading resource teachers, gifted and talented resources teachers, math resource teachers), 72 technology employees, and 243 administrators (www.ccboe.com). Charles Countys technology staff includes 24 technology integration teacher specialists and 16 schools have full time technical experts among their support staff. Out of the 35 schools, only 24 schools have teachers on staff who have developed classroom websites (www.marylandpublic schools.org). My school, Arthur Middleton Elementary, has a Media Specialist on staff. Karen Ferruzza will be asked to take part in a Clickers workshop as a guest speaker. Goals/Objectives Technology Goal #1 Improve technology integration skills of teachers Objective: Teachers will be able to integrate technology into their lesson plans using available hardware and software. Technology Goal #2 Increase teacher knowledge of hardware and software Objective: Teachers will improve their instructional uses of technology and integrate technology into instruction Technology Goal #3 Increase technology proficiency of teachers and administrators. Objective: Teachers will investigate uses of hardware and software through demonstration and hands on activities in order to improve productivity. Technology Goal #4
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Enhance learning for all children through the appropriate use of technology in the classroom. Objective: Teachers will use up-to-date technology tools and resources to support curriculum objectives; tools and resources are readily available for teacher and student use; and training in the use of the tools and resources. Technology Goal #5 Support professional development practices that promote technology growth and collaboration for educators. Objective: Teachers will be able to facilitate the development and delivery of professional development opportunities that focus on effective technology use in specific core curricular areas. Content Analysis Workshop 1: Classroom Performance System (Clickers) Goal: Enhance learning for all children through the appropriate use of technology in the classroom. Description Learn to use CPS (Clickers) in the classroom as an anticipation guide, a form of preassessment, ongoing evaluation tool and summative assessment of student learning. Activities and Tasks --create a new database, detect CPS receiver, create a class roster, create verbal questions: out of the box or on the fly assessments, --create a fastgrade answer key for self paced testing, --add content form ExamView, --create their own content including teacher managed or as a challenge board, and use pre made or examView questions. Resources CPS unit kit Desktop computers ExamView Software downloaded on computers Timeline Days 1 - 10 9:00 3:00

Workshop 2: Livescribe Smart Pen Goal: Improve technology integration skills of teachers. Description Educators will learn about recording and playing back hours of audio Activities and Tasks Use pen to record everything they write and hear and to replay the recorded audio by tapping directly on the notes taken. --learn about capturing, saving and posting pages of notes to your computer. --learn about searching for words within your notes, sharing notes and recordings as a Pencast, PDF or audio file. Resources Desktop Computers Livescribe Echo Smartpens Livescribe A5 Notebooks Timeline Day 11 9:00 3:00

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--learn to customize their Smartpen with applications which are downloadable including dictionaries, translators, productivity tools, and games. --Incorporate saved files into a Wiki, Blog or classroom website.

Workshop 3: Classroom Website Development Goal: Support professional development practices that promote technology growth and collaboration for educators Description Learn to create an academically sound website containing meaningful information, activities and links. Activities and Tasks --Examine sample classroom web sites --Learn best practices for structuring a classroom web site including design elements and proper citations --Getting started with website creation including template options and free downloads --locating and exploring resources for creating a classroom website --Choosing and including information pertinent to grade level and content area --including appropriate material for students, their parents and teaching colleagues --publishing the completed site to the web --Designing a content based interactive WebQuest regarding state standards --Including WebQuest to classroom website Resources Desktop or Laptop computers Online resources for creating a classroom website Timeline Day 12 9:00 3:00 Day 13 9:00 3:00 Day 14 9:00 3:00 Day 15 9:00 3:00

Workshop 4: Creating Educational Weblogs (Blogs) Goal: providing teachers with tools for communicating with students and peers Description Educational Blogs are created which will motivate students, encourage Activities and Tasks --Learn to create a class blog using free online software --Use classroom management techniques in the creation of a blog Resources (www.blogger.com) Desktop or Laptop computers
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Timeline Day 16 9:00 3:00

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reading and writing, provide a forum for collaboration and discussing. which will be used to inform students of class requirements, post handouts and handout assignments and include and question and answer board. --learn to create a blog which provides a space for student teacher collaboration. --using a blog as a discussion board. A class blog opens the opportunity for students to discuss topics outside of the classroom. --using a blog for student portfolios to present, organize, and protect student work as digital portfolios.

Workshop 5: Creating and maintaining a Wiki site Goal: Educators will learn to create their own classroom Wiki Site by using a free download. Description Teachers will create a Classroom Wiki Site to engage and motivate students and to collaborate with peers. Activities and Tasks --Teachers will examine several quality educational wikis to determine elements they feel are most important for their own Wiki. -- Teachers will practice adding collaborators and members to their wiki. --create and publish google documents and learn to upload them to their Wiki --download personal illustrations or photographs onto Wiki Resources Examples of how Wikis can be used in the classroom can be found at this site: (http://wikisineducat ion.wetpaint.com /page/Wikis+in+ the+Classroom Free Wiki development sites: PikiWiki (pikiwiki.com) WikiSpaces (wikispaces.com) PBWorks online collaboration site: (pbworks.com) Timeline Day 17 9:00 3:00

Workshop 6: Smartboard Lessons Goal: Teachers will learn to use the Smartboard interactive white board to create dynamic curriculum based lessons and interactive activities. Description Teachers will examine Activities and Tasks Introduction includes gallery resources, online resources including online Resources Smart Board AV Cart Timeline Day 18 9:00 3:00
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attributes of Smart Board interactive white boards. ready- made lesson plans. Create lesson using Smart Board Interactive Resources, embedding video and graphic images from internet. Instructional Strategies A description of the workshop environment: The workshops will take place in a Media Center (preferably the one located at my school) which has a Smartboard, AV Cart and with a laptop or desktop for each student. The Power Point presentations will be displayed on the Smartboard along with setting up and using the Clicker CPS unit. Teachers will interact with the lesson on the Smartboard. They will explore the Clicker program with me since each teacher will have a handheld unit and they will interact with the software at their own computer. Our schools Library Media Specialist (Mrs. Ferruzza, will be invited to take part in the workshops. Mrs. Ferruzza has attended many workshops for the Clicker program and has extensive knowledge of how to use Clickers. During lessons Mrs. Ferruzza will be asked to share ideas with the class. Workshop Week 1: Classroom Performance System (CPS)--Clickers Response System Time 9:00 am 12:00 pm Monday Day 1 Introduction to E-Instruction Classroom Performance System Resources: *Power Point Presentation: Clickers and Using the Classroom Performance System (CPS)
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Tuesday Day 2 *Authentic learning experiences: ----Creating lessons and adding questions into CPS. --Editing classes on CPS. --Resources: *Power Point presentation: Clickers and Using the

Wednesday Day 3 Adding Video in CPS created questions

Thursday Day 4 Creating Tests with Exam View CPS-einstruction: Importing tests from exam view

Friday Day 5 Using Study Island.com with CPS

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*Handouts: CPA Classroom Spark CP Cards Performance System (CPS) Break for Lunch Break for Lunch Creating a Using Autodatabase and timer, show, classroom start, and student set deliver grid up/editing classes --Adding graphics to *Practice Time CPS created questions *Practice Time

12:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 3:00 pm

Break for Lunch Exporting grades to InteGrade Pro

Break for Lunch Exam View question options navigate through an ExamView lesson --Change Exam View delivery options *Practice Time

Break for Lunch Using PowerPoint Presentations with CPS *Practice Time

Workshop Week 2: Classroom Performance System (CPS)--Clickers Response System Time 9:00 am 12:00 pm Monday Day 6 Review and Practice previously learned concepts. Teachers will set up lessons and create actual lesson plan to use in their own classrooms based on content specific and curriculum based. Break for Lunch Guest Speaker: Mrs. Ferruzza. Sharing ideas. Share video Tuesday Day 7 Lesson: Best Practices for Implementing Clickers in the Classroom. Wednesday Day 8 Recommended Approach to Using Clickers. Thursday Day 9 Explore Online resources available: Ready- made lesson plan websites which are content specific including www.freerice.co m Friday Day 10 *Apply skills and knowledge. --Teachers will revise and produce their finished clicker lesson project and prepare to share and discuss project with class. Break for Lunch Break for Lunch Using CPS Share final clickers with CPS Smart Board Projects. Interactive White Survey
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12:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 3:00 pm

Break for Lunch Five ways to engage students using clickers in the

Break for Lunch Writing Effective Questions.

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presentations of how schools are using CPS Clickers in classrooms. classroom. Brainstorm additional ideas. Handout: Type of Questions Fact Sheet. Boards Response Time

Sample Lesson Plan for CPS Workshop Week 1, Day 1 DTTP Workshop Lesson for Day 1 Academic Subject: Educational Technology Integration Topic: Introduction to E-Instruction Classroom Performance System (CPS) Clickers Audience: Charles County Maryland District Educators and Administrators Learning Objectives for Workshop Lesson Day 1 The adult students will examine Clickers technology including hardware and software which will enhance classroom experiences The adult students will interact with Clickers in order to create a database, set up and edit classes

Prerequisite Skills: None Materials: Power Point presentation, Clickers and Using the Classroom Performance System (CPS). Handouts: CPA Spark CP Cards. CPS Unit Kit with hardware and software installed on computers, desktop or laptop computers (1 per student), Smart Board interactive white board. Lesson: Introduce CPS hardware and locate icon on desktop computers. Handout CPS Spark CP Cards and review working mechanisms associated with CPS. Explain the rationale by saying: A Classroom Performance System (CPS) is a computer system which enables instructors to allow students to interact with each other in lesson discussions, answer questions, and examine the answers whole group. The teacher can collect immediate feedback from their students using remote control devices called clickers. This technology can be beneficial to student learning and understanding as well as being highly motivational. Present Power point and engage students in discussion of key elements of presentation. A Script to use while presenting Power point presentation would be as follows: Slide 2: We begin by creating a Data Base. Select File and New Database. A window appears. Once you name your database choose where you would like to save it. I suggest saving it to a folder on your desktop. This way all the work you are doing with your clickers can be
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stored together in the same folder. Create a folder by right clicking on the desktop, select new folder, and name the folder. Click save to save the data base. Slide 3: A window with your new Data Base will appear. Slide 4: A help window will appear each time you startup. You can stop it from opening by going to Help and see Show Help On Startup. If you uncheck this box the help window will not appear at startup. Slide 5: You can set up the system to allow you to ask spoken questions without having to type out the questions. To quick start with questions click the "Engage" tab at the top of the window and click the "Engage Verbal" button. This will allow you to ask spoken questions to the class and have them respond with clickers. For example, they could have a handout in front of them and you could read the questions straight from the handout. After clicking "Engage Verbal," the "Verbal Questions Setup" window will appear asking for a session title, session category, class, and a few other options. The session title is the title of the session. Sessions can be tracked in the reports tab on the main Data Base window on the "Reports" tab. A session category is the type of session you wish to run, for example homework, quiz or class assignment. The class includes the students in your class as they pertain to a clicker. If a class already exists select the desired class; if not create a new class. To differentiate between classes you might want to name it for the days the class meets. Slide 6: When you are creating a new class, a window will appear allowing you to choose a class title and choose the lower and upper range for clicker numbers. Check the numbers at the top of the clickers. Make sure that the lower and upper range includes the numbers on each clicker distributed to students. Once the class title and clicker range is set, click "OK". Slide 7: After creating a new class, you will be brought back to the "Verbal Questions Setup" window with your selected title type, and class. Click "OK" and a tool bar will appear in the upper left of the screen. To begin with questions, click "Verbal" on the tab and select which question type you wish to ask. You can change Question types later but the question type selected now is not the permanent question type for the session. Once you have selected your question type from the verbal tab, the "Content Deliver" window will appear at the top left of the screen. The question will begin right away and allow for students to vote for their answer choice. Slide 8: To allow time for answering questions, click end in the upper corner. As you can see you can change the type of question you ask to multiple choice, true/false, yes/no, and Chalkboard. There will be an asterisk next to question type you are currently using. Slide 9: When ready to start a new question click "Start" in the upper left corner of the "Content Deliver" window. This will bring up the active clickers in the system. Once a student has used
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their clicker to answer, the clicker number on the screen will turn dark blue. When you are ready to end the answering for this question, click "End". Slide 10: Once the question has ended the "Charting" window will appear. A chart will be displayed; in the top left you can change to different types of charts, and below you can select the correct answer by clicking the "Correct Answer" tab. Once the correct answer is selected, the answer on the chart will be highlighted in green. Slide 11: To start another new question, close the "Charting" window, select a new question type if desired, click start, and ask a new question. The percentage correct will be tracked as questions are answered. To end the session click the red "X" button on the bottom left of the "Content Deliver" window. Then click "Close" again on the right of the tool bar to return to the main Data Base window. From the tool bar if you click "Exit CPS" instead of "Close" the CPS program will quit and will not take you back to the main Data Base window. Slide 12: Lessons can be added before the start of class so they don't have to be verbally spoken. First, start on the main CPS Data Base window under the "Prepare" tab and under the "Lessons & Assessments" sub tab. Select the green "New" plus sign, and select "Lesson..." Slide 13: A "Lesson Attributes" window will appear asking for a title and description of the lesson. Once you have entered a title and description click ok. Slide 14: To add questions to your newly added lesson, click on the "Prepare" tab and the "Lessons & Assessments" sub tab. Click on the green "New" plus sign, and select "questions..." Slide 15: The "Question Author" window will appear and allow you to enter your question. You can change the type of questions by selecting one above the "Template" bar. If you want to add graphics to your question or answers to help your students, select "Template" and select what template for graphics you want. To upload your graphic right click the graphics box. If no graphic is desired then select a template with no graphic. We will learn more about adding graphics and videos in a later workshop (Whitney 2011). After presentation, review the power point slide by slide allowing students to following along using the CPS program previously loaded on their computers. Practice time: Using their roster of classroom students, teachers will create a database and classroom student set up. Teachers actively engage in practice and discussion using the CPS system. Materials Powerpoint Presentation: Clickers and Using the Classroom Performance system (CPS) link https://docs.google.com/presentation/pub?id=1b2byMlmoeClqo2Y8Vt3X-VnYK3bBk2AcDTZORNeHSg&start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000
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Powerpoint Presentation: Best Practices for Clickers link https://docs.google.com/presentation/pub?id=1H2mhti_XpOCKZuafCvOvrbLq_6TQtNF3b7xot NdlO4k&start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000

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Reference Bullitschools.org (2011). Retrieved March 3, 2012 from http://ww2.bullittschools.org /technology/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Importing-CPS-Clicker-Lessons.pdf Charles county public schools (2012). Retrieved March 2, 2012 from http://database.ccboe.com/staffcalendar/FMPro?-DB=staffcalendar.fp3&Format=search_results.htm&-Script=find_CT_computer_training_events&max=100&-FindAll Whitney, C. (2011). Bowdoin information technology llc. Retrieved March 2, 2011 from http://www.bowdoin.edu/it/how-to/clickers/using-clickers-windows.shtml Martyn, M. eq educause quarterly (2007). Clickers in the classroom: an active learning approach. Retrieved March 2, 2011 from http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+ Quarterly/EDUCAUSEQuarterlyMagazineVolum/ClicersintheClassroomANActive/1 57458 Maryland public schools (2012). Technology plan final. Retrieved March 1, 2012 from http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/NR/rdonlyres/0E02FE13-0060-4AC2-AB922143C6C14185/13485/TechPlanFinalfromPrinter73007.pdf Maryland public schools (2012). Technology report for charles county. Retrieved March 1, 2012 from http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/NR/rdonlyres/AD81268D-458B-4F159780-D5766264BA16/29572/2010_District_Reports.pdf

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