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Digital age hits full speed in Chagrin schools
(by Sali McSherry - September 11, 2008)
Digital age hits full speed in Chagrin schools
By SALI McSHERRY
It's the digital age, and Chagrin Falls schools are working to infuse technology into classrooms through a new professional-development technology program called the Chagrin Falls Digital Academy.
The objective is to have the 51 participating teachers who represent all grade levels become district leaders in classroom-technology integration, Assistant Superintendent Robert Hunt said. The program is funded through donations, which have exceeded $70,000, from PTO, Dad's Club and boosters, he said.
"We are very excited about this initiative, as it will increase technology integration throughout our district," Mr. Hunt said. "Not only will students be exposed to interactive technology at the point of instruction, but they will be utilizing online tools to collaborate and problem solve. This is a critical step for our district moving towards a 21st-century education."
Abigail Kelton, who coordinates professional development in technology for the district, said, "It's been exciting to see how quickly teachers have started to brainstorm ways to use technology in their classes."
"I spoke with a social-studies teacher last week who is planning to use her interactive white board with Google Earth for geography lessons and a language-arts teacher who is planning to use images from Flickr to teach vocabulary," she said.
"I've also talked with an elementary teacher planning to include pod casts in her poetry instruction and a high school teacher interested in having students create digital portfolios of their work," Ms. Kelton said.
The district technology committee, made up of teachers, administrators, community members and technology specialist, spent last year creating a five-year plan to increase technology integration and accessibility throughout the district. The digital academy is a critical part of the plan, as participants will become the teacher leaders in the area of technology, Mr. Hunt said. The hardware purchased for participants also serves as the first phase of a computer refresh plan throughout the district.
Ms. Kelton said, "What's really going to make this take off is the enthusiastic, collaborative environment among the teachers of Chagrin Falls."
Once one teacher becomes comfortable with a new skill or has a great idea for using technology in instruction, he or she can quickly share with other teachers in their building, she said.
The digital academy will take place through monthly in-person sessions, supplemented by online collaboration between those sessions, Mr. Hunt said.
"There are many ways that technology can be integrated into the curriculum," Ms. Kelton said. "For example, students can record pod casts as a way to practice fluency, publish their writing and demonstrate what they have learned. Students can use Wikis to collaborate with their peers or to create digital portfolios of their work," she said.
"With tools like edu2.0, teachers can easily create online extensions of their class. Our goal is not for teachers to choose any one specific tool, but to help them become comfortable with a variety of tools so they can select the technologies that will best help advance student learning."
The overlying goal is to improve student achievement, Mr. Hunt said, as well as increase technology integration at the point of instruction throughout the district, increase the use of technology by students to problem solve and gain a deeper understanding of content and implement an online classroom management system to be utilized throughout the district.
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