Planting the Seeds:Creating Sustainable Technology Professional Development in Your School and DistrictJohn Doherty, Ed.D.MassCUE/M.A.S.S. ConferenceFoxboro, Massachusetts

Contact InformationJohn F. Doherty, Ed.D.Acting Superintendent, Reading Public Schools82 Oakland RoadReading, MA 01867Phone: 781-944-5800Email: jdoherty@reading.k12.ma.usPresentation Link:http://expandingtheboundaries.wikispaces.com/MassCUE+MASS+Conference+Presentation

Focus For Today Why Change? What are 21st Century Learners? How will this get done? Leadership is the Key An example of how it is being done15 Step Process Closure and Questions

Why Change?

Did You Know?Howie DiBlasi

Three Fundamental ChangesThe rapid evolution of the new global knowledge economy with profound effects on the world of work-all workThe sudden and dramatic shift from information that is limited in terms of amount and availability to information characterized by flux and glutThe increasing impact of media and technology on how young people learn and relate to the world and to each other

The World Is Truly Flat When I was growing up, my parents told me, Finish your dinner, People in India and China are starving. I tell my daughters, Finish your homework. People in India and China are starving for your job.

Thomas Friedman The World is Flat

Learning How to Learn is Key You actually want to become really adaptable. You want constantly to acquire new skills, knowledge, and expertise that enable you constantly to be able to create value.Being adaptable in a flat world, knowing how to learn how to learn, will be one of the most important assets any worker can have, because job churn will come faster, because innovation will happen faster.Thomas Friedman The World is Flat

The fact is, our young people are woefully under prepared for the demands of todays workplace Ken Kay, President of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills

We need to become more right brained to compete and survive The future belongs to a very different kind of mind creators and empathizers, pattern recognizers, and meaning makers. These people artists, inventors, designers, storytellers, caregivers, consolers, big picture thinkers will now reap societys richest rewards and share its greatest joys. Daniel Pink A Whole New Mind-Why Right-Brainers will Rule the Future

Technology-The Equalizer We should use technology funding to bolster new learning models and innovations, such as online learning environments, to level the playing field and allow students from all walks of life-from small rural communities to budget strapped urban schools-to access the rich variety that is now available only to children of wealthy suburban districts. Clayton Christensen Disrupting Class

What Are 21st Century Learning or Transferable Skills?

Partnership for 21st Century Skills

Seven Survival SkillsThe Global Achievement Gap (Wagner, 2008) Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Collaboration Across Networks and Leading by Influence Agility and Adaptability Initiative and Entrepreneurialism Effective Oral and Written Communication Accessing and Analyzing Information Curiosity and Imagination

All of Our Schools Are Obsolete In todays highly competitive global knowledge economy, all students need new skills for college, careers, and citizenship. The failure to give all students these new skills leaves todays youth and our country, at an alarming competitive disadvantage. Schools havent changed; the world has. And so our schools are not failing. Rather, they are obsolete-even the ones that score the best on standardized tests.Tony WagnerThe Global Achievement Gap

Here are the questionsWhat changes must be made within the education system to prepare our nations students for both analytic and creative thinking?What must teachers do differently to stimulate students imaginations? What kinds of tests must be given to students to show whether we are making progress toward these ambitious goals?

Tony Wagner (2008)

Here is what is at stakeThe future of our economyThe strength of our democracyThe health of the planets ecosystemOur current and future generations of students

Its TimeKaplan Video

The bottom line Our classrooms of today are still using methods that we used over 30 years ago..

How will this get done?

To shift you need to change the culture all school cultures are incredibly resistant to change, which makes school improvement--from within or from without--usually futile. Unless teachers and administrators act to change the culture of a school, all innovations, high standards, and high-stakes tests will have to fit in and around existing elements of the culture. They will remain superficial window dressing, incapable of making much of a difference.Roland BarthEducational Leadership May, 2002

The Key is

Transformational Leadership

Transformational LeadershipDeep Change (Quinn, 1996)Realize the vision at all costsThe vision is far more important than individualsOrganization is viewed as a moral systemValues and principles outweigh political interestsTransformational leaders will develop a plan of action, mobilize the workforce, and unleash power by vocalizing the core values of the system

Transformational LeadershipLeader must walk the walk and talk the talkEvery action is consistent with the visionPeople watch the leaders actions towards the vision and respond Risk taking is encouraged and welcomeSymbolic communication is importantLeaders actions are beyond normal expectations and outside the rules of self-interest

Transformational LeadershipTransformational leadership requires looking at educational change systemically instead of a narrow focus. Transformational leadership aims to foster capacity development and higher levels of personal commitment to organizational goals, mission, and vision.

Nine Specific Practices of Transformational LeadershipLeithwood, 2007Setting DirectionsBuilding school visionDeveloping specific goals and practicesHolding high performance expectations

Nine Specific Practices of Transformational LeadershipLeithwood, 2007Developing PeopleProviding intellectual stimulationOffering individualized supportModeling desirable professional practices and values

Nine Specific Practices of Transformational LeadershipLeithwood, 2007Redesigning the OrganizationDeveloping a collaborative school cultureCreating structures to foster participation in school decisionsCreating productive community relationships

How can you transform schools and districts?

On or off the bus??? Good to Great: (Collins, 2001)How to change and transform a good school/district into a great school or district. 1. Get the right people on the bus. 2. Get them in the right seats- Put the right people in the right place in the bus 3. Get the wrong people off the bus.

One way to find out who the wrong people are: If you have to actively manage the people they are the wrong people.

How we are transforming our district

Five Years Ago 8 Schools Going in 8 Different Directions No District Improvement Plan or Vision No Wide Area Network No Wireless Internet Access Student to Computer Ratio High No laptops Minimal SMART Boards in District Inadequate Technology Staffing Direct Instruction was the Norm Minimal Project Based Learning 21st Century Skills was just a phrase

Today Schools Moving Forward Together Toward a Common Vision while Keeping Their Own Identity District Improvement Plan based on Research Based Standards A vision developed by the stakeholders Adequate Technology Staff 90% of Classrooms Have SMART Boards Job Embedded Professional Development in Technology Mobile Computer Carts 60% of the District is Wireless WAN Student to Computer Ratio in District 3:1 Hands on, Project Based Learning Sharing of lessons on WAN Collaboration of lessons and skills

The Key is Changing the Culture

It is not going to happen overnight

Here is one way to do itSome steps can happen simultaneously

Step 1Work with Community to Develop a (or Change Your Current) Mission and Vision

Develop the ProcessUse a school wide assessment (i.e. Blueprint for Success)Work with stakeholders to develop mission and vision for school and districtDevelop a district improvement plan and school improvement plans

Mission of the Reading Public Schools The Reading Public Schools strives to ensure that all students will have common challenging meaningful learning experiences in the academics, health and wellness, the arts, community service, co-curricular activities and athletics. We will lead and manage our school community to reflect the values and culture of the Reading Community, and guide and support our students to develop the appropriate skills, strategies, creativity and knowledge necessary to be productive informed independent citizens in a global society.

Step 2Develop and Maintain the Infrastructure Hire outstanding network managers and other technical staff Determine Equipment Needs and PurchaseServersWireless AccessInternet Connectivity in every classroomWide Area Network/Local Area NetworkPhone Systems (VOIP) Maintain a replacement cycle

Step 3 Identify Tech Gurus in Your District and Develop a PlanCreate a visionary group that can give you input on a planDevelop a realistic technology plan that is a working documentIntegrate curriculum maps with 21st Century Skills, DESE, and ISTE StandardsGet input on the plan from all stakeholders

Step 4Identify Resources to Upgrade and MaintainFederal and State Grant FundingBusinessesParents and AlumniPTOFundraisersLocal BudgetBuilding ProjectsEducational Foundations and Grantshttp://www.donorschoose.org/

Step 5Put the technology tools in the hands of the right peopleIdentify who has the willingness and capacity to use the technology effectivelyProvide them with three toolsLaptopProjectorInternet Access Let them goEventually, it will get contagious

Step 6Provide Access Outside of School Time For CommunityFor TeachersFor Students

Step 7District Leaders Model the Use of TechnologyStart a BlogJoin Social NetworksHave a twitter, google and facebook accountJoin and develop Ning CommunitiesSubscribe to blogs and podcasts using google reader or rssIdentify Someone to Design and Maintain the District Web PageMake a Video Podcast

Step 7District Leaders Model the Use of Technology(continued)Use technology (i.e. Google Docs, Skype) in your administrative meetingsStart a Discussion about 1:1 Computing in Your DistrictStart a Weekly Audio PodcastEncourage teachers to engage students in learningGo see how other school districts are using technologyUse Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence and ISTE Standards

Step 8Get Building Administrators on BoardGive them laptops and wireless accessUse applications at administrator meetings (i.e. google docs)Have them attend professional development workshops with their staffRun workshops for administrators onlyDevelop an administrator evaluation tool that has standards that include leading and modeling technology useRun an Administrative Book GroupWorld is Flat (Friedman, 2006)A Whole New Mind-Why Right Brainers Rule the World (Pink, 2007)The Global Achievement Gap (Wagner, 2008)Have them visit schools and districts that use technology effectively

Do You and Your Administrators Know and Use These Tools?WikispacesBlogsGoogleGcastJingiShowUCamtasiaSkypeZamzarYou TubeInternet GrammarUstream

FacebookRSSTwitterWikipediaDel.icio.usGoogle MapsAudacityMouseposeProfCastVoice ThreadPhoto StoryAnd more

I.S.T.ENETS for administrators Visionary LeadershipDigital Age Learning CultureExcellence in Professional PracticeSystemic ImprovementDigital Citizenship

4 Main Points from I.S.T.E.Educational leaders inspire a shared vision for comprehensive integration of technology and foster a culture conducive to the realization of that vision. Educational leaders ensure that curricular design, instructional strategies and learning environments integrate appropriate technologies to maximize learning and teaching.Educational leaders ensure the integration of technology to support productive systems for learning and administration.Educational leaders use technology to plan and implement comprehensive systems of effective assessment and evaluation.

Educational leaders apply technology to enhance their professional practice and to increase their own productivity and that of others. Educational leadersmodel the routine, intentional, and effective use of technology.employ technology for communication and collaboration among colleagues, staff, parents, students, and the larger community.create and participate in learning communities that stimulate, nurture, and support faculty and staff in using technology for improved productivity.engage in sustained, job-related professional learning using technology resources.maintain awareness of emerging technologies and their potential uses in education.

Step 9Create Job Embedded Professional Development

Examples of Job Embedded Professional DevelopmentTrain the Trainers Model (SMART Trainers)Become a SMART Showcase DistrictSharing WorkshopsStaff MeetingsExpanding the Boundaries of Teaching and Learning Graduate Level Course using Cohort ModelInstructional Technology SpecialistsWorkshops and CoursesNational Blue Ribbon School InstituteRegional WorkshopsAlign goals with teacher evaluationBook GroupsProfessional Learning Communities

What is a learning community?

Works together to share and build an enriching environment. A safe place to try, fail, and try again. A learning community takes risks together. An environment that fosters innovation and creativity. A way to discuss "Big Ideas." An atmosphere of respect where people are comfortable sharing their ideas. A place where we can learn from our own and each others mistakes and feel comfortable doing so. A place where everyone is interested in learning. A place to share. Exchanging ideas. Collaboration cross-curricular/division

Create a Proof of Concept(DiBlasi, 2009)Consider a tool you want to exploreSelect a partner to create a "mock up" of something you might use in your role as an educatoror that students might create themselves.Consider collaborating with others who teach different grades or different subjects Remember you need to have a product in 30 minutes, so don't let little details bog you down.

Create a proof-of-concept that meets the following criteria

Utilizes at least one Web 2.0 toolIs tailored for a specific educational purposeIllustrates how you or students would use the toolDemonstrates the concept sufficiently that other educators might implement it

Step 10Identify Tools that Teachers Need to or Want to UseOutlookTest WizGrade QuickDiscovery EducationAdministrators PlusGoogle ToolsSkypeWikispacesBlogger

Step 11Encourage Risk Taking and ExperimentationBreak the rulesMinimize your filtersDevelop an AUP that encourages the use of Web 2.0 ToolsGive students email addressesSupport the teachers who want to changeRedesign teacher evaluation to include technology integrationRun Pilot Projects, Collect Data and Assess ResultsDevelop assessments that measure 21st Century Skills

Step 11Encourage Risk Taking and Experimentation(Continued)Start a Discussion about 1:1 Computing in Your District1:1 ComputersNetbooks versus laptopsTabletsMobile PhonesHave a tool that allows teachers to have their own web pages (Edline)Add Virtual Learning (Virtual High School) and Distance Learning OpportunitiesSubscribe to Digital Textbooks and Discovery EducationHave students create own textbooks on a Wiki

Step 12Ask the Question

What should learning look like?

Change the classroom Alan NovemberTeam of studentsResearch team Google AltaVista SearchTutorial Team Jing (Create Screencasts)Curriculum Team Podcasts (Recordings)Scribes Team Google Docs (take class notes)Global team e-pals IVC- SkypeContributions To Society - Kiva

Need 5 students each day then rotate-every student participates in a team

What does it look like?Develop Problem Solving and Critical Thinking Skills Collaborating documents with Google DocsProvide Project Based Learning ExperiencesDevelop Information Processing SkillsGive Kids A Global Voice and Globalize the CurriculumDiscover RSS and subscribe to a Podcast or BlogTeaching students to be self-directedCreate, Collaborate, Communicate (DiBlasi)Delicious-Social BookmarkingVideoMake connection and contribution to societyWhat can I do to change the world?

A well cultivated critical thinker:raises vital questionsassesses relevant informationcomes to well-reasoned solutionsthinks open-mindedly thinks about the implicationsthinks about practical consequencescommunicates effectively with others

Students prefer dealing with questions rather than answers, sharing their opinions, participating in group projects, working with real-world issues and people, and having teachers who talk to them as equals rather than as inferiors.

Project Based Learning

Get REAL(November, 2009)Read the URLExamine the ContentAsk about the Author and OwnerLook at the Links

Searching the NET- The Good-Bad-Ugly

Think about your searchChecking the sourceReading Web addressesDetermine the page authorshipCheck vital informationCheck the contentAssessing the Web page stabilityIs the information current?Are links made from the site relevant?Who links to the site, and why?What organization/person is behind site?

e-Pals16 million users

SKYPE$49.99 camera + Skype=IVC-WebCastWEB Cameras - $19.95 - $89.95

Step 13Internet SafetyEducate the communityHOW DO I HELP MY CHILD LEARN TO USE THE INTERNET WISELY?Teach the skills in school, so they can use it safely outside of school

Step 14Give them timeEliminate other mandatesMake this a priorityDo not make it the flavor of the month

Step 15Remember Why we Are Doing This

Will you be the 10th person?For every nine people who denounce innovation, only one will encourage it. For every nine people who do things the way they have always been done, only one will ever wonder if there is a better way. For every nine people who stand in line in front of a locked building, only one will ever come around and check the back door. Our progress as a species rests squarely on the shoulders of that tenth person. The nine are satisfied with things they are told are valuable. Person 10 determines for himself what has value.

Contact InformationJohn F. Doherty, Ed.D.Acting Superintendent, Reading Public Schools82 Oakland RoadReading, MA 01867Phone: 781-944-5800Email: jdoherty@reading.k12.ma.usPresentation Link:http://expandingtheboundaries.wikispaces.com/MassCUE+MASS+Conference+Presentation

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