Please find an excerpt from the KLRN Conversations that goes into more detail about the Technology Integration Lead Teacher (TILT) Program in San Antonio ISD.

Conversation between Dr. Duron and Dr. Don Knezek regarding the TILT Program

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND LINKS:

More information on TILT Online here.

SAISD'S GOAL:
Achieve Level 5 Technology Integration - Using technology to extend learning beyond the classroom walls in ways that encourage creativity and collaboration at a distance. This is supported by ISTE National Education Technology Standards for Students, Levels of Technology Implementation (LOTI), and State Board for Educator Certification Technology Standards for Teachers, and Target Tech of the Texas STaR Chart.

TILT Purpose
Develop capacity in the District to implement National Education Technology Standards for Students and Teachers as articulated in the Texas School Technology and Readiness (STaR) Chart and achieve Level 5 Technology Use.

WHAT IS THE TILT INITIATIVE?
San Antonio ISD teachers from across the district are participating in the Technology Lead Teacher (TILT) Program. A major part of the TILT Program--to help SAISD teachers meet State Board of Educator Certification Technology Applications Standards for All Teachers--is the PBS TeacherLine/ISTE Capstone Certificate Program. This year-long professional development program is designed for teachers who have experience integrating computer-based technologies into their classroom practice and want to earn certification in the International Society for Technology in Education National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers while further developing their knowledge and skills.

By participating in the Online Capstone Program, teachers will take part in an in-depth study of how technology can improve teaching and learning while developing a professional digital portfolio. The PBS TeacherLine/ISTE Certificate Program consists of a "Capstone Introduction" which SAISD TILT teachers have just completed and two 15-week Capstone Courses. The courses are organized around the learner's creation of portfolio exhibits.

A "capstone" represents a culminating achievement, and as such, the Capstone courses are intended to develop and demonstrate proficiency in the ISTE NETS•T, culminating in two multimedia online portfolio exhibits. Capstone I: Teaching with Technology focuses on teacher use of technology; Capstone II: Empowering Students with Technology concentrates on students as the primary users of technology. Each Capstone exhibit contains digital artifacts of the learner's classroom practice and reflections on how classroom projects demonstrate particular standards in action.

On Monday, April 28, 2008, Dr. Don Knezek (ISTE CEO) and Dr. Robert Duron (Superintendent of a large urban district in San Antonio, Texas) had a conversation hosted by KLRN in San Antonio. Sitting in the studio with KLRN (Charles Vaughn, Malinda McCormick who imagined this particular conversation) and PBS TeacherLine of Texas (Holly Custard), I had a bird's eye view into the whole production of a new revised show at KLRN. KLRN Conversations is...

We all know that the art of conversation is a great way to communicate information, and we know that television can be a important source of information and insight into the community. Those are the premises behind KLRN new series CONVERSATIONS. The series strives to bring the people who make a difference in San Antonio together for "conversations" that will provide a look at these creative leaders of the city and highlight their accomplishments.

What an honor to have ISTE and San Antonio ISD featured together! The actual video of the show will be broadcast via KLRN on May 29, 2008.

In spite of the hard work going on in the back, I was fascinated by the conversation about the importance of leadership in achieving change and the concept of teachers as "co-learners" with their students. Creativity was also a focus of the conversation, and it reminded me a presentation by Richard Florida I saw on C-SPAN the other night where he talks about how diversity and innovation are linked. The more diverse groups you have access to when you're creating, the more innovative you can be.

Conversation between Dr. Don Knezek and Dr. Robert Duron

Show Links:

• NECC 2008 web site
• ISTE National Education Technology Standards for Students (NETS-S)
• San Antonio ISD's Technology Integration Lead Teacher (TILT) Program
• Video of TILT Cohort 1 participant
• Video of TILT Cohort 2 Participants
• PBS TeacherLine Capstone Partnership video featuring Miguel Guhlin (San Antonio ISD) and Bruce Ellis (Dallas ISD)

They covered a few topics, and their discussion touched on a variety of items, of which the following are only those I was able to quickly type:

• Urban school districts face particular challenges.
• Don speaks to the importance of using technology well across a large school district, how students use tech and who interacts using technology. One of the big challenges for a large urban school district is drawing a shared vision from the community regarding first, education and second, technology, and ensuring alignment of the vision.
• We see pockets of innovation, but if they aren't aligned to the purpose of the school district, then those don't move forward. Frustration results from that lack of alignment.
• Where we see success is where the superintendent who expresses that vision and alignment often. If you verbalize that vision at the beginning of the year but don't revisit it again time and again, then you get a herding cats effect.
• Vision and leadership is absolutely key to success.
• ISTE's efforts are about building a solid leadership base for district leaders including curriculum leaders and building principals.
• Leadership development is important to start with.
• Essential conditions: 1) Skilled personnel; 2) Technical assistance; 3) SOlid infrastructure; 4) Teachers willingness to be somewhat at risk; 5) Importance of assessment to measure where you've been.
• Our purpose is to improving quality lives...the core competency of that is teaching and learning. How do you see tech improving teaching and learning?
• Technology clearly has a role to play in engaging our students. 2002-2003, students were on the web more than they were watching television. Look at the cell phone penetration and MP3 players...students have technology outside the classroom. Students tell us that they are powering down when they come to schools. The level of tech they are accustomed to in other places is higher than school.
• Students are learning outside the classroom and accustomed to doing so with technology.
• We have to figure out what engages students and then find out how to apply it to the learning we're intentional about. That's one piece of it.
• The opportunities to learn were limited before, but the experiences now available are more.
• Options for learning are much broader.
• Authentic projects, access to experts, work in interntional learning groups...tech enables a number of strategies that engages students who weren't successful with liner...with bland texts. Where kids have self-direction, authentic problem, they are able to transfer more to the work environment than teacher-driven activities. Relevance is enhanced, as are the resources.
• One of the challenges superintendents are aware of...technology-driven changes, we pretty much learned the way the previous generation learned.
• Teaching has been an isolated endeavour...they did student prep alone or seldom worked with others. Now, we have the ability to help teachers engage, tap into a worldwide network that they couldn't tap before and learn what other teachers are doing, air their problems and get responses back, find out what is engaging students worldwide, and ....teacher has to shift from sage on the stage to guide on the side. One more step is envisioned...teachers are becoming co-learners with their students.
• Empower kids to be creative using technology...many of the routine jobs are being out-sourced.
• What do you do as a principal when teachers are feeling constrained? Encourage teachers to find new and inventive ways to achieve and help kids perform on standardized learning. Almost to a principal, they said we have to accept and value that creativity. Encouraging risk-taking, look at what engages students, and make judgements about how to do that.

Recently, the District went through a curriculum audit. Audits present us with the opportunity to share the story of where we are at, why we think we arrived here, and what is being done--what could be done--to move forward. I know it offered me the opportunity to take a hard look at the past 5 years that I've been in the District, reflect on the obstacles, and what we've tried in Instructional Technology Services.

While I could focus on those obstacles, I'd like to share the data we have. The data alone paint a fascinating picture of SAISD. I've divided it up into 3 key areas: a) Hardware; b) Level of Technology Implementation; and c) STaR Chart.

HARDWARE
In data gathered based on Fixed Assets data as of August 20, 2007 (October, 2007), 41% of District computers deployed for instructional purposes are obsolete (59% are measured as current, or 2003 or greater). The graph below displays the data for campuses, and the table beneath it provides specific information. The school membership data is true as of October 17, 2007.

(right click to view the image at a larger size)

Student to Computer Ratio

The average student to computer ratio is 1 computer to 5 students.

* At Elementary Schools, the average is 1 computer for 6.45 students.
* At Middle Schools, the average is 1 computer for every 3.8 students.
* At High Schools, the average is 1 computer for every 2.55 students.
* At Academies, the average is 1 computer for every 4.62 students.

(right click to view the image at a larger size)

LEVELS OF TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION (LOTI)
The District completed the Levels of Technology Implementation (LoTi) assessment in January, 2006. It conducted the LOTI assessment for 3 years in a row. The LoTi, unlike other assessments like the STaR Chart, provides us with an instrument that has been tested for reliability and validity. There is a clear connection between one of the 3 domains the LoTi assesses and student achievement; that domain is Current Instructional Practices. Also important, however, are the other two domains: the level of technology implementation (LoTi) and the personal computer use (PCU) domain. Each provides valuable information about SAISD campus administrators and teachers. More importantly, it provides a clear direction for professional development.

Comparison Results appear below...

STAR CHART DATA

Although you can find a list of campus STaR Charts online here, the overall District measurement is as follows (I rounded up):

• Teaching and Learning - 12 (Developing Tech)
• Educator Preparation - 12 (Developing Tech)
• Leadership - 14 (Developing Tech)
• Infrastructure - 15 (Advanced Tech)

If we compare SAISD to State of Texas expectations (a range of 21-24 in each area as the target technology level desired), then, a graph might look like this:

In this graph, I used 21 as the minimum required to achieve target technology level.

RECOMMENDATIONS
So, based on this data, how do we get ahead? Dr. Chris Moersch--creator of the LOTI--shared the following recommendations:

1. Require professional development—a minimum of 16 hours—for all teachers that addresses 21st Century Skills.

2. Provide monetary incentives for teachers and administrators to develop technology competencies along a learning path (e.g. English/Language Arts, Science, Math).

3. Merge the focus of both departments (C&I and Technology) concentrating on student achievement.

4. Summative evaluations for building principals demonstrating their staff accomplishments at LOTI Level 3.

5. Provide Technology Department access to the CICs.

6. Provide professional development to CICs to become “instructional” mentors of technology.

7. Train principals.

8. Launch a 1 to 1 computer initiative for teachers.

* Bold items in this list are taken from recommendations made and agreed to by Associate Area Superintendents in collaboration with Dr. Chris Moersch, author of the Levels of Technology Implementation (LOTI) framework.

The following notes were taken at the Texas Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Clinic held June 19 and 20, 2007. Any imperfections, missing/incomplete information, assumptions are my fault unless otherwise noted. <smile>. My comments appear in square brackets [ ]. Thank you, Miguel

State Update - Karen Kahan, Texas Education Agency

[UPDATE: The presentation slides are available in Powerpoint presentation (108 megs-long download) or as a Flash file you can view with your browser].

Topics:

-Texas Legislative Update

-TEA Update

Anita Givens couldn't make it since she's doing the Textbook Panel Review. I'm going to be talking a lot about educational technology but also bringing in the textbook materials. I am only the messenger. I cannot claim to know everything about all of these bills. Anita followed all of them. It was a really busy legislative session.

Go read more online at http://www.legis.state.tx.us

Legislative Briefing Book coming in July - www.tea.state.tx.us
This book is coming in mid July before the Board meeting (not sure). Tells you what was passed, what money, what staffing, everything it means. Up front, this is going to be a very valuable tool.

Texas Legislative Update:
-Changes to the Textbook Adoption Process
-Technology Literacy Assessment Pilot
-Internet Safety Curriculum
-Technology-based Supplemental Instruction Pilot for Rural Schools (this was a big thing we'll be implementing in our division)
-State Virtual School Network
-End of course tests administered by computer - there will be a study to see how this proceeds.
-Teacher liability for electronic textbooks and computer equipment
-Online Library Resources
-Library Study

This is just a handful of the bills passed, but these are the ones we followed.

HB 188-Textbooks:
-Resumes the textbook proclamation process and retains conforming and non-conforming lists
-Adds requirement for TEKS to be addressed in the student edition as well as the teacher materials
-Name proclamations for the year the materials will be in classrooms, not the year of issue. Example: Proclamation 2004 was issued in 2004 and those secondary math materials will be in classrooms in Fall 2007. Under this bill, that proclamation would have been named Proclamation 2007.

Here's where we move into technology and changes how we do business:
-Adds mid-cycle review process
-Mid-cycle review provides opportunities for materials not ready when subject area proclamation was issued.
-Products submitted during mid-cycle review do not have to be available--publisher can designate a region or area....

-Adds supplemental materials to review and adoption process
-Supplemental materials cover one or more primary focal points of primary topics of a subject in the required curriculum.
-Districts may use a combination of supplemental materials to cover all the TEKS in a given course.
-Supplemental materials are not intended to be the sole textbooks--provides opps for tinstructional materials, including electronic instructional materials.

-Expands textbook credit pilot statewide
-Textbook credits-Districts that order materials below maximum cost keep 50% of the difference between actual and max cost
-Textbook credits may be used to purchase additional adopted mats during mid-cycle review....

-Currently, textbook prices are at or near max cost
-For textbook credits to be signficant, cost of materials submitted will need to be priced well below max cost.
-Textbook credits, mid-cycle review, and supp. materials adoption will impact textbook rules and should be implemented in concert. Opens it up for electronic materials.

Question from audience: What incentive would a textbook publisher have for not bringing something in at maximum cost?

HB 2503-Technology Literacy Assessment Pilot:

-Currently available assessment
-District option (Grades 5,6,7,8 or 9)
-Report results to TEA
-This was passed but no funding. The Agency may find funding but there isn't any...there may be $200K available to try this pilot.
-This would involve a currently available assessment.
-By the 8th grade, everyone has to be literate. This gives districts the option to test for literacy at different grade levels.
We have not had a lot of internal meetings to analyze all this.

SB 136 - Internet Safety:

The Texas School Safety Center in cooperation with the attorney general shall develop a program that provides instruction concerning Internet Safety
-Potential dangers of posting personal information
-Reporting an inappropriate online solicitation
-Prevention, detection and reporting of bullying or threats over Internet

TEA won't be leading this effort but will be working closely with them.

HB 3171 - Internet Safety

-Requires TEA to develop and make available to school districts a list of resources concerning Internet safety, including organizations and Internet websites that may assist in educating teachers and students
--Potential dangers of posting personal information
--Significance of copyright laws
--Consequences of cyber-plagiarism and theft of audio-visual works, including motion pictures, software, and sound recordings through uploading and downloading files.

Need our support and to know what we're doing as districts.

HB 2864-Technology-based Supplemental Instruction for Rural Schools Pilot

-This one was funded.

-Districts under 5000 and not in a a metro area
-Grades 6-12
-Provides up to $200 per student
[MORE HERE BUT COULDN"T GET IT]

-Research-based instructional support
-Teacher Training

SB1788 - STATE VIRTUAL SCHOOL NETWORK

-Criteria for online courses
-Courses approved to be offered through network
-Texas Certified Teachers
-Provider School Districts
-Funding for students taking online courses
-Tuition for private and home-schooled students

No funding was provided, so TEA is trying to figure out how to implement it.

SB 1031 - End of Course Tests

-Study of high schools to determine
--Readiness to implement end of course tests designed to be administered by computer
--Timeline and cost needed to get ready
--Report back to the legislature

There is a timeline of what is expected will be shared.

SB 370- District Employee Liability

-School district employees not liable for instructional materials issued to students
-Technological equip. collected from students for inappropriate use (cell phones, mp3 players, etc)
-May sign separate agreements regarding equipment assigned to teachers for use off campus

This is important for school districts to look at more closely.

SB 913 - Library Study

-State Library and Archives Comission and TEA to conduct a joint study to identify the needs of public school libraries and determine which needs each agency is best suited to address.
-Joint written report due to the legislature December 31, 2008

I highly recommend speaking to librarians and getting their input on what TEA needs to do on their behalf. By December, a report sharing who's going to do what will be ready. We'll also be doing online resources with the state library.

Funding Update

-Funding for textbooks
-Increase in the Technology Allotment - didn't go anywhere, not funded and didn't pass...this included the TIP
-Funding for Online Library Resources
-Funding for Technology-based supplemental instruction in rural schools
-Authority to spend fees collected for review of instructional materials
-Authority to spend fees collected via the state virtual school network

Full funding for textbooks and an increase in the technology allotment

-Rider 3: Included in the sum--certain amounts above in fiscal year 2008 is $496,495,840 for textbooks, any unexpended balance of which, as of August 31, 2008 is hereby appropriated for fiscal year 2009 for the same purpose.
-Also included in the sum--certain amounts above is $130,300,000 in fiscal year 2008 and $132,700,000 in fiscal year 2009 for payment of the technology allotment to school districts.

Educator Salary increases

[didn't get this slide]

Funding for HB 2864 - Rural Schools Pilot
-4 million for 2008
-4.15 million for 2009
-This is for supplemental instruction in rural schools

Funding for HB 1788 - State Virtual School Network
-TEA has appropriated revenue collected from fees authorized by the legislation.
-Does not include staff or funding to implement the network.

Not sure about the fees. Ask Kate Loughfrey (sp?) about this one. Kate knows about this.

Funding for Library Resources

-Rider 88. Library Resources. This is for Texas Library Connection. It asked for funding for school library resources. It was going to be for TEA to implement. As it finally passed, it actually gave money but TEA is to contract with the State Library to provide the service. Schools will get online resources and databases...but...this will come out of the state technology allotment. It's about 50 or 60 cents out of the allotment ($30). Amounts not to exceed $2.5 million in fiscal year 2008 and $2.5 million in fiscal year 2009.
-This is for the purpose of acquiring online research and information resources for libraries in public schools, and for administrative expenses related to this particular service.

This is the only thing that will specifically be coming out of the State Technology Allotment, some in the audience assert. Karen says that TEA wants to know what resources do you want or need in your district. Karen wants to know what libraries need in your school. The money comes to us in September and fiscal year 2008...what are you using and what would you like?

Audience Response/Discussion: Having a meeting with state library to share your responses. Would you want us to wait for bid or have something else out? Would the piloted K-12 texshare K-12 TexShare/EBSCO meet district needs? We need to tell Karen what's up. We need to go into that meeting with a list of what schools want.

September 2007? Is there money? Response from Karen: YES.
Audience Discussion: If this is going to replace current services, the State Library going out for bid...Should we stay with what we have for this year and work on the bid, selection, then have it for the following year? Is what schools have NOW meeting the needs? What are the administrative expenses related to this particular service? In the past, Region 20 has been a prof. dev research center...TEA really needs our feedback. The meeting is on the 29th.

Funding Update

-No additional funding for tehnology literacy assessment pilot
-No additional funding for Internet safety curriculum
-No additional funding for changes to textbook adoption process
--Ability to implement remains in question for a lot of these things without funding. Sometimes funding is left over in the Agency, but nothing was appropriated.

It was expected that there might be additional staff but it didn't happen.

Web site:

www.tea.state.tx.us

Now that you've heard all that, there are other bills that dealt with other important topics.

-Be on the lookout for TEA Press Releases and get on the listserv.
-Get on the TEA Correspondence listserv
-Mailing List Administration - www.tea.state.tx.us/list

-Looking for grants? New and revamped site
-Our Schools, Our Stars - helps schools get the word out about how to get the success stories/best practices out. Showcases school districts. Anything you do that is exciting and wonderful for technology, share it here. Shared an example of "Schools hit home with online 'gradcasts'" from Huffman ISD.
-Student Assessment Division ....be sure to check the letter on "Planned Student Assessment Long-Range Online Testing Plans for the 2006-2007 through the 2009-2010 School Years."
-Instructional Materials and Ed Tech - http://www.tea.state.tx.us/imet

Listening to a lot of folks on implementing the long range plan. Urges the Texas CTO group and brainstorm together how to meet these challenges.

Teacher STaR Chart - 300,000 teachers have filled it out.

The TIP Toolkit - a tool for planning a school technology immersion program - http://www.tea.state.tx.us/technology/tip/TIPtoolkit.html

STaR Grant Awardees out soon! Start date is September 1st.

ISTE NETS Refresh - www.iste.org - Karen is looking for folks to help that have TechApps TEKS knowledge. Need school district expertise.

Audience Discussion: When will TA:TEKS be revised? This might be done far in the future, and maybe since we're aligning with national standards, we may be able to do something sooner...but for now, TA:TEKS aren't due to be revised for a few years. Internet safety and other areas need to be done. The TA:TEKS revisions were aligned with the textbook process.

-TechAppsNetwork

-School Library Standards

-Next Curriculum, Library, TechApps TETN Meetings
--August 15, 2007
--December 12, 2007
--Let ESC TETN Contacts or Karen Kahan karen.kahan@tea.state.tx.us

These will focus on LRPT and Educator Development.

At the Texas Chief Technology Officers' (CTO) meeting yesterday, I had the chance to hear Mark Gabehart (Abilene ISD) push for a "sputnik movement" for technology. Apparently, this is an idea whose time has come. Check out this TechLearning.com article, "Pushing for the Sputnik Moment."

Janet Napolitano shares:

If we don't change the way we teach, 10 or 15 years down the line we will certainly not be the number-one performing economy in the world, and we need to be.We don't have a national sense of urgency, and we should. Technology is causing rapid world transformation, and we need to keep up. Yet we haven't mustered the urgency. Back in 1957 when Russia launched the first space satellite, it was a wake-up call for the nation. There was an immediate and urgent response from the country to step up math and science education. For us, it may be the 2008 Beijing Olympics when we become aware of the extent of high-tech expertise in the East.

Some of the ways she suggests that include:

1) Align the curriculum from Pre-school up through college.

2) Build in accountability.

3) Ensure students are well-versed in science, math, and technology.

4) Students know how to communicate clearly and succinctly.

5) Students need to be encouraged to innovate.

6) Implement rigor and problem-solving from PreK through college.

7) Math and science teachers need to work where that work is practically applied then bring that back to the classroom.

One of the closing quotes with Napolitano includes the following:

"We need to re-tool the curriculum so that it takes advantage of the possibilities of technology—we need to think of how to innovate and take advantage of what the technologies can make possible. We need critical thinking and higher-order skills, not just a new way to deliver the same old instruction."

Left to Right: Mark Gabehart, Polly Gifford

This also reminded me of the words of Polly Gifford, where she shared highpoints of a presentation she did (listen). She saw these points as necessary:

1) Strategic alignment;

2) Goal-based budgets;

3) Track impact and being tangible on the value of your initiatives.

In light of this advice, how do you suggest we transform what we're doing at the District level?

Source: Dangerously Irrelevant

As I quickly walked in the Austin Convention Center on February 7th, I came across a gentleman sitting alone at a table. His visage was familiar to me since he had once been my Executive Director at the Education Service Center, Region 20, and now serves as the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Chief Executive Officer.

If you're still worried about computer literacy, then you can officially consider having an anxiety attack...according to Knezek, we're moving beyond those productivity tools (e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, etc). He shares that this is...

...a shift away from a focus on "competency with [technology] tools" and toward a focus on the "skills required in a digital world to produce and innovate" using technology.

He's referring to revising the National Education Technology Standards--and be aware that these revisions will impact the Technology Applications:TEKS...but producing and innovating in a digital world is more than just about technology being in a box by itself. If you teach in a content area, there is tremendous pressure being brought to bear to do that with technology.

But what does that mean? How do you do that? If you're unsure, you will want to listen to this keynote address by Dr. David Warlick. He was speaking to the organization I am currently President of, the TCEA Technology Education Coordinators' Special Interest Group (TEC-SIG). Over 300 of the 800+ membership--all school technology directors and coordinators--were present, including a large contingent from the Texas Education Agency (TEA). While those folks had to pay to attend, you get to listen to the presentation for free!

Listen to David Warlick's Keynote address on The Millennials in Our Classrooms: Who Let These ExtraTerrestrials into My Classroom?

Note that you can see David's handouts online.

...[an] AOL-Pew Research Center Mobile Lifestyle Survey [March, 2006] revealed that 52 percent of American adults surveyed keep their cell phone turned on all the time...As a constant companion, the cell phone is becoming an entry point for all information, location and communications services, including Web search, mapping, instant messaging and more. The Pew Internet survey also found that thirty-five percent of those surveyed say they send text messages to friends, family and business colleagues, including 65 percent of those ages 18-29.
Source: TechNewsWorld.com

How many educators in your building have a mobile phone? How about students? That number will probably increase... Mobile Magazine reports the following...pay special attention to the last sentence in this announcement:

MySpace, recently added into Rupert Murdoch's worldwide Fox empire, is now cutting a deal with Cingular to bring the popular-beyond-belief social networking site to the mobile phones of America's largest cellular provider. That should bring tons of cash flowing into the MySpace coffers, through mobile ads and streaming content and so forth. Such efforts are part of News Corp. efforts to wring profits out of the sprawling MySpace site, which has tons of traffic but not a whole lot of opportunities for making money.

As the feasibility of mobile browsing becomes even more widespread, such availability will grow as well. Especially with smartphones, Cingular users can participate in the full MySpace experience anywhere they can get cellular coverage.

That deal became effective today, and soon, if not already, it will matter little if school districts try to block MySpace.com. Any student with an AT&T/Cingular phone will be able to access MySpace.com. Increased access to MySpace may result in the inappropriate use of this social networking space as a way for cyberbullying.

So, how will you, as a campus administrator or educator, handle MySpace on your students' mobile phones? Here are some suggestions of what to consider, with the emphasis on suggestions/recommendation aspect.

1. Be aware of students' constitutional rights. Listen to (view presentation slides) to Dr. Scott McLeod's presentation "Can schools regulate cyberbullying, harassment, and social networking?," as well as Aimee Bissonnette's presentation. Note that the audio of Dr. McLeod's presentation does contain actual language used at MySpace sites, which might be considered vulgar and inappropriate. However, if you are an administrator/teacher, and NOT familiar with what is at MySpace, this may be ear-popping. Realize that you can only block student speech if it is:
   A) Vulgar
   B) Causes a material and substantial disruption
   C) Causes a legitimate pedagogical concern
   D) Schools may discipline students for out of school conduct that substantially interferes with the normal operations of the school.
   E) Schools can regulate student cyberspeech if done during school time and/or using school computers.
2. Be sure to review San Antonio ISD - TASB Policy - Read it here. Note that it is supportive of the points raised above.
3. Review Administrative Procedure F26
4. Check with your supervisor and, if necessary, District lawyers.

The Office of Instructional Technology Services will be available to do presentations on Digital Citizenship for staff, students, and parents at your campus in 2007. Please let us know if you are interested in having us do a presentation.

In the meantime, here's a series of resources regarding Cell Phone use in schools that may be worth reading for campus/district administrators. Some may also want to read the Electronic Frontier Foundation's (EFF) Bloggers' Guide, which addresses some of these issues. Please do not confuse blogs with sites like MySpace or Facebook, both of which are used for social networking.

Wishing you well,

Miguel Guhlin
Director, Instructional Technology
527-1400
mguhlin@saisd.net

Keep your email...or else! That's one of the potential interpretations that school districts are facing in light of a new U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The ruling applies to businesses, but also, schools.

According to new federal rules that went into effect Dec. 1, schools, businesses, and other organizations are required to keep tabs on all eMail, instant messages (IM), and other digital communications produced by their employees. . . An expert on issues concerning technology and the law, Lindsay has called prematurely deleting or copying over eMail documents a matter of "virtual shredding."
Source: eSchoolNews, 12/8/2006

School districts now need to do the following:

1. Make clear that ALL employees understand email is a matter of public record.
   Example: Are you sure you want everyone to know that the email circulating the district with a video from CollegeHumor.com to be revealed during a legal discovery process originated with you?
2. School districts need to store, and more importantly, be able to retrieve digital communications.
3. School district board members also need to keep copies of their constituents' emails.

Read the complete article from eSchoolNews.