As we approach the end of the 2004-2005 school year, I thought I'd take a moment to review what was shared at the last CTR meeting and take a moment to look forward to other topics that are upcoming, especially since we will not have any more meetings this school year. Some topics discussed in this email:

APPRECIATION!

Thank you for all the work you do in sharing information with your campus. Although we're not meeting in April or May, I want to make sure you have some information and remidners. Please note that if you have questions, do not hesitate to contact your Area Contact (shown below) or me directly. You can also submit a request for information or a question online via the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) at http://itls.saisd.net and click on FAQ

Area 1 Contact: Jim Baldoni - jbaldoni@saisd.net - 527-1400

Area 2 Contact: Lacey Gosch- lgosch@saisd.net - 527-1400

Area 3 Contact: Sylvia Martinez- smartinez@saisd.net - 527-1400

or Miguel Guhlin - mguhlin@saisd.net - 527-1400

1) MARCH CTR MEETING STATS & 2005-2006 CTR Meeting Dates

Be aware that we had district-wide attendance of 62% at the CTR Meeting on March 8th (down from 79% in February). Attendance breakdown by Area:

 Total Attendance: 62%
Area 1 Breakdown of Attendance: 72%
Area 2 Breakdown of Attendance: 64%
Area 3 Breakdown of Attendance: 48%

As we look forward to the 2005-2006 school year, I'd like to make you aware of the meeting dates. A weekly memo will be shared in the near future (next two weeks) announcing these dates and requesting designation of the 2005-2006 Campus Technology Representatives (CTR) for Woodlawn Elementary School. I'd like to request that you update the Campus CTRs for 2005-2006 via the CTR Data Center, available online at http://itls.saisd.net

While you will have the option to fax the information in, I ask that you take advantage of the CTR Data Center and update your CTRs online, then send me an email letting me know you've completed the update. Of course, you can also access CTR Meeting dates online at http://itls.saisd.net/ctr

2) COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES

Instructional Technology is working in collaboration with multiple offices in C&I. We're excited to be co-facilitating several workshops this summer. While this means that the number of intro to technology classes will be less, we will still keep some "basic" classes for those of you who want to keep building your skills. If you have 10 or more people who will commit and want to attend a particular session that is not offered, please let me know and we will be happy to accommodate you if staff schedules permit.

Note that Instructional Technology will have a list of summer workshops online at http://itls.saisd.net/pd and accessible through the District Professional Learning Calendar.

3) SPOTLIGHT ON GRAEBNER ES: LEARNING IN HAND INITIATIVE

Bringing technology into schools is easy, but using that technology at higher levels of technology implementation (LOTI) is more difficult. Doing so means providing prolonged professional development for teachers, scaffolding teachers and modelling classroom use of technology with students and teachers. So as to promote the use of technology in mathematics, the Mathematics Dept and Instructional Technology have partnered at Graebner ES to use Palm Handheld computers within math settings. Some interesting uses are developing and we hope to have a web site showing off the interesting work being done by Graebner ES teachers and students in mathematics.

4) LOTI RESULTS for 2004-2005 SCHOOL YEAR

The Levels of Technology Implementation (LOTI) Assessment Results for 2004-2005 school year are now in! The LOTI assessment results provide valuable feedback and insights into 3 domains:

a) Current Instructional Practices

b) Level of Technology Implementation

c) Personal Computer Use

Take some time to meet with your Campus Leadership Team to compare your current instructional practices and your LOTI score (which encompasses all 3 domains). Has your campus seen growth? In which domain? To what do you attribute this growth?

Some campuses that have dedicated Campus Instructional Technologists have seen growth--depending on how they were used, whether as trouble-shooters or curriculum-technology professional development facilitators. Others have seen growth depending on specific initiatives, collaboration on revising the Campus Instructional Plan and a series of campus workshops with classroom follow-throughs. You can find results online--both the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 report--online at http://itls.saisd.net/loti/reports

5) GRAPHIC ORGANIZER INITIATIVE

This initiative, like the Campus Enhancement Program, will match you license for license to help you obtain electronic graphic organizer software like Kidspiration (grades K-2) and Inspiration (3-5). Middle schools already have access to Inspiration software through their TA:TEKS Teacher (provided they are implementing the TA:TEKS Curriculum). You can purchase additional licenses for Inspiration/Kidspiration for your campus from the bid-approved vendor, Learning Services (attn: Matthew Backer,  (888) 805-3184 ). More information can be found online at http://itls.saisd.net/go

6) DELL COMPUTER EMPLOYEE PURCHASE PROGRAM

This program--enabling educators to buy Dell computers at discounted prices--is still available to SAISD employees. A flyer is attached to this email. You are encouraged to share it with staff.  A laptop computer is now available as part of the purchase.

7) PRODUCT REVIEW PROCESS

Going to be buying software, or a web-based service, soon? A new process has been developed to better track product purchases related to instructional software/services. This campus and department process should be followed PRIOR to an electronic requisition being submitted through Purchasing's online system.  You can see the process with electronic form is available online at http://itls.saisd.net/prc.

Campus Instructional Coordinators (CICs) have been granted additional access to run software from CDs for evaluation purposes.

5) WINDOWS XP SERVICE PACK 2 UPDATE REMINDER

Spyware/adware became a serious problem this past year for all Windows computers.  Campuses have had the tools they need to combat invasive spyware/adware since November 16, 2004.  More information is available online at http://itls.saisd.net/software/spykit

Note that Windows XP computers that have not been updated to Service Pack 2 will automatically do so on April 15, 2005. This is a required update being "pushed" down from Microsoft. Since the update can take some time, be aware that this may hinder computer-related activities on or after that date.

If you have any questions or require clarification, please do not hesitate to contact Miguel Guhlin at mguhlin@saisd.net or 527-1400. Instructional Technology is here to collaborate with you on the best ways to realize the benefits of technology so as to impact teaching, learning and leadership. Area contacts are available to do campus walkthroughs with you to assess how technology is being used to facilitate higher-order thinking skills and active learning.

Wishing you well,

Miguel Guhlin
Director, Instructional Technology
San Antonio ISD, Texas
http://itls.saisd.net
Email: mguhlin@saisd.net
Phone: 210-527-1400 ; Fax: 210-281-0257
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"Ask not what computers can do with
students,but rather, what students can do
with computers."
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