Where do we want to be?
San Antonio ISD will have twelve teachers certified by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) by participating in PBS Teacherline. By participating in the certification process, SAISD teachers will be engaged in an in-depth study of how technology can improve teaching and learning, network with educational technology innovators from across the country, create a portfolio to demonstrate your proficient use of technology in the classroom, and demonstrate their knowledge of the ISTE National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS•T) while earning a certificate of proficiency in the ISTE NETS•T.

Teachers certified with proficiency in the ISTE NETS•T will, in turn, become leaders in developing and aligning curriculum for Technology Applications TEKS at all grade levels.

Where have we been?
Professional development for teachers in the application of technology for teaching and learning has been somewhat successful in raising the levels of technology integration into the curriculum as evidenced by the LoTI. The levels of technology implementation are not evenly spread throughout the district. Reports demonstrating this can be found online at http://itls.saisd.net/loti

Where are we?
The last LoTI survey and the current Texas Teacher Star Charts show that teaching and learning are slowly introducing technology integration. Without Campus Instructional Technologists or Technology Lead Teachers, the successes we are beginning to see may atrophy without continued investment in quality professional development.

How are we going to get there?
The District will strategically purchase laptops and digital projectors for twelve teachers to become Technology Applications teachers while becoming certified in the ISTE NETS•T through PBS TeacherLine. Each district area will nominate teachers at the High School, Middle School, Elementary, and Academy levels to form a cohort of teachers to participate in the certification process.

Funding will flow from the state technology allotment, NCLB Title 2 Part D funds, and local contributions.

How will we know if we are getting there?
Instructional Technology will track and co-develop professional development and curriculum writing sessions with the Technology Applications teachers. Professional development will be tracked and managed through the ePath Learning Management Suystem.

When should we be there?
Completion should be achieved by Spring, 2008.

What are the resources needs/issues?

• Partnering with PBS/KLRN to develop a local cohort for implementation.
• Scheduling professional development for teachers participating in the cohort model
• Ensuring equitable distribution of participating teachers throughout the district.

Project Cost Estimate

$9,600 = $800 per digital projector x 12 needed projectors

$14,400 = $1200 per computer x 12 needed computers

$7,200 = $600 tuition x 12 teachers

Total: $31,200

Critical Deadline

February, 2007 deadline necessary to nominate and select participating teachers .

Budgeted Funds

State Technology Allotment – NCLB Title 2, Part D- Local Funds – Unknown

Consequence of Non-Approval

• Decrease in district-wide technology integration.
• Failure to meet SBEC's requirement that ALL teachers meet State Technology Competencies.

Executive/Cabinet Team Members Responsible

• Marcos Zorola, Assistant Superintendent

Getting approval to move a project ahead, spend district funds involves crafting an executive summary. At first, I found these to be an obstacle to implementation. As I developed the executive summaries for multiple projects, I realized how important they were in helping stakeholders better understand the rationale behind projects.

You can find some Instructional Technology Services originated executive summaries online, including the following:

2006-2007
Note: These are still be reviewed.

1. Digital Projector in Every Classroom: Seeks to provide every classroom with a ceiling-mounted digital projector and a new, up to date computer. This is critical since Technology Applications involve ELECTRONIC TEXTBOOKS. Without a digital projector, teachers can't display the text and lessons designed for group practice. This is in support of the Campus Technology Planning Guide.
   Texas Long Range Plan for Technology Connection: Infrastructure and Teaching & Learning.
   Status: Pending approval
2. Dell TechKnow Program: Seeks to leverage the Dell TechKnow program to provide computers at no charge to students for home use--at no charge--after 40 hours of training for students.
   Texas Long Range Plan for Technology Connection: Teaching & Learning.
   Status: Pending approval
3. Technology Applications Teachers Program (under development): 30 teachers will apply and be selected to participate in this initiative to better model Technology Applications teaching in schools. Each participant will receive a laptop computer. The program will be repeated so long as funding permits.
   Status: Pending submission and approval
   
4. Department Web Coordinator Program: Enable departments to capitalize on the benefits of content management system used to easily develop and manage web pages.
   Status: Approved and under implementation
5. Digital Storytelling Initiative with Special Education Teachers
   Status: Complete

2002-2006 (not a complete list)

1. Enhancing Technology Resources in Library Media Centers
2. Campus Web Coordinator Initiative (now beyond initiative status and a fully implemented program that includes campus level and classroom level (teacher) web pages).
3. Gradebook and Attendance Tracking System (GATS)
4. High School Technology Applications Courses
5. Journalism Mini-Grant
6. Electronic Portfolios (Pilot program for Lanier HS)
7. Data-Driven Administrator Seminar for Assistant Principals
8. Connecting Special Schools
9. Online Reference Databases
10. Mobile Writing Labs
11. Learning Management System
12. Retrospective Conversion for MARC-Records
13. SuperSub Teacher Program
14. Technology Literacy Institute
15. Conversion to Web Outlook
16. Digital Video Distribution System (DVDS)
17. Internet Drivers' License
18. Macromedia MX Studio for Middle School Technology Applications Teachers and Students
19. District Software Review Committee
20. Age-Appropriate Productivity Tools
21. Circulation Stations for School Libraries
22. District Technology Applications Benchmarks
23. Levels of Technology Implementation (LOTI)
24. Technology Competency Certification Plan (TCCP)
25. Parents' Technology Literacy Institute
26. Mathematics & Instructional Technology Offices Technology Integrated Lessons--Everywhere! (TILE)
27. Technology Assessment Literacy Institute (TALI) for Campus Administrators
28. TA:TEKS Teacher Academy
29. Technology Immersion Pilot (TIP) 2 Grant Application
30. Technology Academy for ParaEducators (TAP)
31. Electronic Graphic Organizer Standardization
32. Learning in Hand Math and Technology Handheld Initiative
33. TPRI Handheld Initiative
34. Technology Integration Academies
35. TASA TLA: Cohorts 1- 3

The Dell TechKnow (view more information) was successfully implemented in SAISD. Unfortunately, support issues regarding movement of equipment from a central site to campuses (e.g. moving 250 units) was problematic. However, that issue may have been resolved. The Dell TechKnow initiative seeks to provide students with a computer they can take home after they complete 40 hours of hands-on training.

With the release of the new Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, the expectations for students have been revisited:

1.Students beginning in kindergarten must master the State Technology Applications Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TA:TEKS) and demonstrate that they are technology literate with the needed proficiencies to acquire information, solve problems, and communicate using technology. Specifically, upon completion of grade 8, students are expected to:

• Apply strategies for identifying and solving routine hardware and software problems
• Demonstrate knowledge of current changes in information technologies and their effects on society and the workplace.
• Demonstrate and exhibit legal and ethical behaviors when using information and technology
• Use content-specific tools, software and simulations to support learning and research
• Demonstrate an understanding of Acceptable Use
• Have the ability to work in cooperative groups to complete projects utilizing technology and media resources to enhance the learning experience
• Design, develop, publish, and present products using technology resources that demonstrate and communicate curriculum concepts
• Research and evaluate the accuracy, relevance, appropriateness, comprehensiveness, and bias of electronic information sources
• Select and use appropriate tools and technology resources to accomplish a variety of tasks and solve problems.

2.To facilitate student development of grade 6-8 TA:TEKS, students in those grades will have the opportunity to participate--as supplies allow--in the Dell TechKnow program.

Over the last 4.5 years, it has become clear that the Campus Enhancement Program just isn't working well enough. Campuses consistently lack access to hardware--such as digital projectors, computers, and laser printers. Yet, under current budget constraints, it is difficult to get funding. In spite of that, it is important to articulate a plan for where we need to be, and how we might get there. I've submitted an executive summary that will...

Every classroom in SAISD will have a ceiling-mounted digital projector connected to a multimedia, Internet-capable computer. A 21st Century infrastructure is required to provide a quality education to all students. Research demonstrates that children prefer to learn in a visual world and like to have information at their fingertips. One of the recommendations of the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology 2006-2020 is that school districts provide access to digital instructional tools that meet interoperability and data accessibility standards for instruction.

Quality digital projectors can provide that level of access for instruction. Expectations for students include the following:

1.Students beginning in kindergarten must master the State Technology Applications Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TA:TEKS) and demonstrate that they are technology literate with the needed proficiencies to acquire information, solve problems, and communicate using technology.

Without the critical infrastructure to project the use of computer screens to a larger audience in the classroom, students are limited to traditional, obsolete blackboards/whiteboards.

2.Delivery of instructional materials through computer networks is expected to increase with increased connectivity at the classroom level and increased access to computers by students and teachers. Without infrastructure in place to project the work being done on the computers, students may well as be in a one-room schoolhouse.

3. The use of electronic textbooks is on the rise and display of the electronic textbook—such as those already adopted for the Technology Applications:TEKS—require a digital projection device. Projection of electronic textbooks will become commonplace in Texas schools, including San Antonio ISD.