Innovative Teaching and Learning Practices PD Day - TechToberfest

Mark your calendar for October 10, 2013.   Join us to share best practices in integrating technology with teaching and learning.  Most importantly, it is FREE to all who register to attend.  This teacher in-service day, affectionately known as TechToberfest, will be a great way for our teachers to share with one another. We are not stopping there, however.  In addition, we are expanding our knowledge by inviting other educators to come and share their best practices with us.  Together, we can learn from one another.  To take it to yet another level, local businesses will be invited to the teacher in-service through the Lancaster-Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce.  We believe this will create a synergy in the community around our integrated uses of technology and that local businesses should be aware of the skills our graduates possess upon graduation.  

Please consider presenting a session or two at our TechToberfest.  There are so many teachers around Ohio and elsewhere who are using technology in innovative ways to impact student learning.  We are very interested in learning from you and sharing our best with you.  We are accepting proposals until July 31, 2013.  The schedule will then be created in August and registrations will open in September.  Sessions about iPads, Google, response systems, Marzano strategies, RTI, special education, arts, Project-Based Learning, 21st Century Skills and any other cool uses of technology in education are encouraged.

The Lancaster City School District has placed an emphasis on using technology in innovative ways to improve student learning.  Our 2012-2015 Technology Plan laid the foundation for our efforts. 

Goal 1 - Engage students in learning activities that promote 21st Century Skills - Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Collaboration and Communication, Creativity, and Innovation.  

Strategy 1 - Establish a one-to-one student to computer (tablet) ratio at the high school during the 2013-2014 school year.

To accomplish this first strategy, we provided every high school teacher, administrator, and counselor with an iPad in May of 2012.  The teachers were provided with an initial training and then used them at home for the summer.  Upon their return the engaged in year-long professional development activities in their TBT's, during late starts, and from Apple Education.  We were very fortunate to have received the Transforming Teaching and Learning Grant in May 2011.  This grant provided high-quality professional development to four teachers and one administrator in the high school and enabled them to purchase 5 iPad carts.  This group of teachers and administrator (Kelli Marvin, Matt Gillispie, Ashlin Henderson, Denise Rooker, and Scott Matchett) were extremely successful and sparked an interest in the rest of the high school staff.  The demand from the high school staff was clear enough by May 2012 for the district to approve the 1:1 project.

The board of education, superintendent, treasurer, principals, teachers, students, and parents are all very supportive of this project.  The support they have demonstrated has enabled this program to move from conception to reality.

We now have a robust, Meraki wireless network, Apple TV or reflector in every room, and just purchased 1740 iPads and Otterbox cases for deployment to students in August.

Goal 3 - The district will promote new uses of technology to foster student creativity and innovation.

Strategy 1 - Creativity and Innovation Technology Grants

Strategy 2 - Innovative Technology Teachers of the Year Award

To accomplish Strategy 1, we set aside $100,000 from district technology funds to provide mini-grants to teachers who wrote proposals to a committee identifying how they planned to use technology in innovative ways to affect student learning.  The maximum grant award per proposal is $10,000.  The committee received 29 grant applications and awarded 16 of them for a total of over $99,000.  These grants have been highly successful in enabling teachers to use technology in new ways.  

To accomplish Strategy 2, we accepted nominations for the an elementary and secondary innovative technology teacher awards.  The Innovative Technology Grant Committee recently selected two deserving winners from an impressive list of nominees.  Our elementary award has been given to Tanya Clark-Cupp from Medill Elementary.  The secondary award has been given to Jacqueline Yahn from General Sherman Junior High.  These two teachers will each receive $1000 classroom technology grants.  It is important to note that these two teachers, and many others, have been sparking innovation in the classroom instruction in our schools.  

As you can see we take innovation seriously in Lancaster City Schools.  Please come and share in the learning on October 10, 2013.  If you do come please realize that the Fairfield County Fair is in session this day and traffic can be problematic.  

If you have questions or comments about TechToberfest, please contact me at 740.687.7300, k_snyder@lancaster.k12.oh.us, or on Twitter @MrKevinSnyder.