Technology Education Assistance and Curriculum integration Help (T.E.A.C.H.) Dia Langellier
Major Project for EdPsy 490TER
Organization Mission Statement:
Wilcox School is a k-5 school located in Springfield, IL with 46% of students living in poverty and approximately a 34% minority population. It has the following technology vision: "Wilcox Elementary School envisions empowering others to become lifelong learners using technology. Our community is committed to preparing students' with technology skills to thrive in the 21st century. " Through project TEACH (Technology Education Assistance and Curriculum integration Help), we plan to improve teachers' ability to integrate technology into their classroom curriculum by having teachers who already successfully use technology, come into their classrooms and demonstrate how to do it.
General Program Description:
The use of technology in Wilcox classrooms is presently inconsistent. Technology inservices are provided four times per school year but teachers are still finding it difficult to apply what they are learning. In addition, the technology department offers numerous classes after school hours, provided free of charge on a volunteer basis. Despite this, there are teachers at Wilcox that have not integrated technology into their curriculum because they are at a loss as to how to do it with the hardware available. Project TEACH would provide these teachers with hands on help in making this transition from technology knowledge to technology application.
As society becomes more technology oriented, schools must consider this factor when developing the curriculum to be followed. Are we adequately educating our children if we do not help them to incorporate technology into their lives? Training teachers to use technology is not enough. Teachers need to be trained in the integration of technology into their lessons. "A prerequisite to effective use of technology is professional development", including "observation of others' use of technology to support teaching and learning." (David) The University of Texas at El Paso has a mentoring program similar to what we are proposing that has already been proven successful. Here, mentors guide class members as they discover new ways to use technology most effectively and work to resolve the challenges they encounter while helping other teachers use technology. Leslie Chavez, one of the programs mentee's states: "I had three computers in my classroom and never knew what to do with them. With a mentor's help, I've been able to realize what is possible." (Edutopia)
What project TEACH proposes to do is to take teachers from within District 186 from each grade level, that are presently using technology in their classrooms, and place them temporarily with teachers at Wilcox. Here they will demonstrate a lesson in which technology is used. The learning teacher or mentee will observe and assist the mentor, in the process, learning at least one way that technology can be integrated into his/her classroom lessons.
Upon completion of this training, teachers at Wilcox will be better equipped to incorporate technology into their teaching. As a result, students should be better equipped to someday live in a technologically advanced world through more frequent use of technology in the classroom.
Program Detail
Our goal in Project TEACH is to train teachers at Wilcox Elementary School in methods of using technology in the classroom. "The Coca-Cola Foundation aims to provide youth with the educational opportunities and support systems they need to become knowledgeable and productive citizens. Education is a fundamental means to help individuals reach their full potential."* By providing teachers with a development program that will encourage them to incorporate technology into their classrooms, all of our students will be better equipped to become productive citizens in today's technological world.
What project TEACH proposes to do is to take teachers from within District 186 from each grade level, that are presently using technology in their classrooms, and place them temporarily with teachers at Wilcox. The first step then would be to find teachers from within the district that would qualify as mentors. An application would be made available through the district's email reflector as well as given to specific teachers based on Principal recommendation. Once mentors have been chosen, they will be teamed up with a teacher at Wilcox School. Here they will demonstrate a lesson in which technology is used. The learning teacher or mentee will observe and assist the mentor. The mentor would be available for one half day initially, and by email until the next visit. If the project being taught is involved, the mentee would then meet with the mentor for instructions on how to continue the lesson until the mentor's return. Because the teachers involved will not be from the same building, email would be used to deal with any questions or problems encountered in the continuation of the project. Weeks later, the mentor would return to wrap up the project or possibly to introduce another if the initial project was not complicated. Upon completion of this portion of the training, the mentor and mentee would meet to collaborate on a new project implementing the use of technology. This could be implemented with the mentor co-teaching the project this time or without the mentor present if the mentee feels comfortable doing so. The following year, the mentee would become the mentor, teaching what was learned to his/her partner teacher at Wilcox.
Project TEACH's objective is to insure that each classroom teacher at Wilcox Elementary is able to integrate technology into one or more lessons within 2 years of the implementation of the project. Student work samples submitted to the Principal will determine that technology is in fact being incorporated at each grade level. Since Wilcox Elementary School envisions empowering others to become lifelong learners using technology and committed to preparing students' with technology skills to thrive in the 21st century, training teachers to integrate technology in the classroom is a logical first step. Upon completion of the 2 year program, all Wilcox teachers will have the necessary training to begin incorporating technology in their classrooms and the program will end. Other schools within the district, or even in other districts, could conceivably start the same program and Wilcox teachers could participate as mentors.
Project TEACH will be administered by Dia Langellier, the music teacher on staff who is presently working on a masters degree in Curriculum, Technology, and Education Reform through the University of Illinois at Champaign, and is a member of the Wilcox Technology Design Team. Other staff (mentors) will be chosen through application, according to qualifications.
Program Budget and Narrative
Salaries
$57.43 for half day per mentor (6 mentors) x 3 sessions (includes benefits)x 2 years
1/2 day subs will be needed for the mentors when they are scheduled to go to Wilcox for the training sessions.
$2067.48
Fees
$25.10 per hour per teacher (12 teachers) x 8 hrs.x 2 years
Fees paid to the mentors and mentees for collaboration time in the second stage of the training.
$4819.20
Printing-provided by the school
Applications will need to be prepared for the qualified mentor search.
$2.50
Office Supplies-provided by the school
Paper for applications
$2.50
Total
$6886.68
Related Documents:
Timeline:
October 2003
Place a call for veteran technology users in the classroom to apply as Mentors on email reflector and with Principals.
November (early) 2003
Choose Mentors and assign them to a classroom teacher.
November (mid) 2003
Mentors spend 1/2 day in classroom with Mentee demonstrating a project using technology.
December 2003
Mentor returns to assigned classroom to wrap up project/start new one.
February 2004
Mentor and Mentees meet to collaborate on a new project. Teachers set up these meetings themselves and can be reimbursed up to 8 hours.
March 2004
New project is implemented by Mentee alone or with the aid of Mentor.
May 2004
Sample student work is turned in to Principal for evaluation of project.
October 2004
Former Mentees become Mentors to their partner teacher at Wilcox and begin project.
November 2004
Wrap up first project/start new one.
February 2005
Partner teachers meet to collaborate on a new project and are reimbursed for up to 8 hrs.
March 2005
New project is implemented. If needed Mentor aids in implementing the project.
May 2005
Sample student work is turned in to Principal for evaluation of project.
Application:
References:
David, Jane L. Realizing the Promise of Technology: A Policy Perspective. Retrieved 6/23/03 from: http://blackboard.cites.uiuc.edu:80/courses/1/EDPSY490_TER_1SU03/content/_127098_1/Means_Realizing.pdf
Edutopia. (2002).San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, Developed by the George Lucas Foundation (http://glef.org)
*The Coca Cola Foundation. http://www2.coca-cola.com/citizenship/foundation_guidelines.html
Valdez,Gilbert, McNabb, Mary, Foertsch, Mary, Anderson, Mary, Hawkes, Mark, and Raack, Lenaya. (2003). Computer-Based Technology and Learning: Evolving Uses and Expectations. North Central Regional Educational Laboratory: (Online) http://www.ncrel.org/tplan/cbtl/phase2.htm
