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EDUCATIONAL
TECHNOLOGY NEWS |
December 28, 2004 |
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IN THIS ISSUE § Annual
School Tech Surveys Looking for other info? Check out previous issues online at www.nheon.org/oet/etnews |
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====================================== There’s still time to complete your school tech surveys! This is an annual survey completed on a building level. The survey sections include technology access questions, such as hardware, connectivity, software, technology literacy questions, and professional development questions. This data is used during the federal technology grant approval process, as well as for a variety of other means of gauging statewide progress in the use of technology in schools. Some tech coordinators have contacted us to say they can log into the website but don’t see their school records. If this happens to you, you’ll need to login, then use the ‘add assignment’ feature to associate your school with your tech coordinator profile. Also, please note that on the Dashboard screen, tech coordinators will see their survey links appear twice – once as school leaders and again as a regular user. This is due to the way the dashboard is constructed to allow you to add additional surveys of your own for users in each school. Please note that you only need to complete each of the state’s annual tech survey once. The posted survey deadline is December 31st. The good news about the deadline … we are aware that a few tech coordinators were delayed submitting surveys due to login problems. Therefore, the survey deadline will be extended one week … through January 7th. Contact our office by phone or email if you have more questions about this. We’ll be happy to help.
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====================================== Question: Why is the LoTi Survey included in NH technology initiatives and referenced in the State Educational Technology Plan? Answer: LoTi is an assessment that moves past asking questions about the skills teachers have with particular software (word processing, data bases, e-mail, etc.). LoTi takes a deeper look at HOW technology is being used, and if it is being used purposefully as technology integrated with higher order level thinking skills and best practices to impact student learning. Using results from the type of data measured by LoTi can have a significant impact on staff development. For example, in a skills based staff development program, a course may be titled "What's new in Microsoft Office,” while in a staff development program that emphasizes LoTi concepts, such a course might look more like: "Using Microsoft Office in the Social Studies Classroom for Assessment.” Question: We are aware that the LoTi survey is provided at no additional cost to our district. Can our district consider using an alternative instrument to LoTi? Answer: The state tech plan, approved by USDOE in order for NH to receive NCLB Title II-D dollars, includes specific reference to districts using LOTI in order to be eligible for technology funding. Goal 2 of the NH Statewide Educational Technology Plan states that “All teachers will use technology effectively to help students achieve high academic standards.” This goal further describes the steps that will be taken: “All school districts receiving educational technology dollars or services through the NHDOE will administer the LoTi Teacher Self Assessment Survey each year to their staff. At least 75% of educational staff within these districts must take the survey. NHDOE will provide assistance to districts in analyzing the results of LoTi to enable them to take advantage of appropriate professional development opportunities.” Therefore, in order to use an alternative that equates to the LoTi instrument, an alternative must meet these criteria:
Question: Our district is not eligible for any NCLB Title II-D funding this year. Why should we use LoTi? Answer: Group LoTi results are reported for each school on the annual NH School Building Technology Survey. If you are not applying for NCLB Title II-D funding, you are not required to use LoTi or to complete the tech survey. However, your district technology data would then not be available for any statewide reporting used for future planning of technology initiatives. In addition, your district would be ineligible to participate in any services provided by your local Educational Support Center (see www.nheon.org/centers). If you are applying for E-Rate discounts, you need to have an approved technology plan in place. Your local technology plan needs to identify a means of assessing teacher and student progress toward technology integration. The use of LoTi can provide this means. Alternatives should still meet the above criteria. Question: Our district is willing to forego being eligible for NCLB Title II-D funding and to present a LoTi alternative instrument in our technology plan submitted for approval. How do we submit this? Answer: Provide a document to the NHDOE Office of Educational Technology that addresses the above criteria. Be sure to map each LoTi level to the levels of your alternative instrument. More questions? Ask our ‘LoTi Guy’ Dan Cherry at dcherry@ed.state.nh.us
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====================================== We want to remind you that there is now a network of SIX local support centers across the state. The sites are located in Keene, Manchester, Exeter, Merrimack Valley (Capital Area), Claremont, and Gorham. Each center serves districts in the regions surrounding them. The mission of these centers is to provide high quality training opportunities that will empower teachers and show a positive correlation to student achievement. Programs will provide high quality professional development to increase teacher quality by increasing their content knowledge, teaching skills, and use of classroom technology. There are both face to face and online opportunities for professional growth. Stay tuned for more information about registering for the Spring 2005 inaugural round of online courses, created by nine pioneering teams of New Hampshire educators! Visit the LESCN course catalog for a sneak preview. Contact your center to find out more, or visit the websites.
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====================================== Mark your calendars to attend a public hearing! Proposed revisions to the School Minimum Standards are posted on the NHDOE website at the address listed above. These include revisions to computer literacy, library media, and much more. In addition, several pertinent sections of the proposed standards are posted within the Technology Literacy section of the NH Tech Planning Guide. There will be THREE MORE Information Sessions hosted by the State Board from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. followed by public rulemaking hearings from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at the following locations: § January
12, 2005 -- Littleton High School
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====================================== This month, the U.S. House and Senate passed a bill (H.R. 5419), which has now been signed by President Bush, to grant the Universal Service Fund a one year exemption (through December 31, 2005) from the accounting provisions of the Anti-Deficiency Act. The bill allows the Schools and Libraries Division to make E-Rate funding commitments as applications are approved and provides a boost for the program which had been interrupted by a funding freeze in August of this year. |
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Regards, |
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ET News is sent from the Office of Educational Technology at the New Hampshire Department of Education. ET News serves as a primary e-mail communication tool about technology matters pertinent to NH educators. Current and previous issues are posted on the web at www.nheon.org/oet/etnews and include information about: · NHDOE technology surveys and technology planning Requests from service providers to disseminate information about their technology products and services using the electronic newsletter ET News can no longer be accommodated by existing OET staff (see March 29 issue of ET News). Providers are referred to the Reports and Statistics section of the NHDOE website, where several data reports are available in various formats, including School and SAU Information with names, phone numbers, and addresses, Student Dropout Data, and more. Go to the Reports and Statistics area of the NHDOE website at: www.ed.state.nh.us |
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