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EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY NEWS From the New Hampshire Department of Education |
December 12, 2005 |
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IN THIS ISSUE § School Tech Surveys § Title IID Applications 05-06 § E-Rate Update § ICT Literacy Standards § GSDLN Position Opening § NH Vision & Hearing Network Workshops § Sustainable Tech Solutions
Looking for other info? Check out previous issues online at www.nheon.org/oet/etnews |
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====================================== SCHOOL DISTRICT TECH SURVEYS ====================================== http://www.nheon.org/oet/survey
Schools have started asking if they’ve missed completing their favorite annual survey … the school tech survey. The answer is NO, you haven’t missed it. We’re just late in getting it ready for you!
We’ve split the survey into two – one will be for district tech coordinators and the other will be for schools. As soon as they are ready, you’ll see a link from the above web page. Tech coordinators will also get an email delivered directly to them with the link. We’re testing the survey now, so stay tuned! [NOTE: We are using Survey Monkey instead of Vived this year.]
If you visit the survey link provided above, you will also notice that there are a few summary reports from last year’s survey results posted to the page. This is the kind of data that YOU provide when you complete the survey. Please take a look at some of the information there – and please let me know if you see any errors or have questions.
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====================================== NCLB Title IID APPLICATIONS 05-06 ====================================== Applications for the 4th round of funding for NCLB Title IID are due by December 31st. Visit the link above to download the application as a Word document and to view the final district allocations list. Here are some common errors that will delay your application approval:
- Omitting the date on the top section of the cover page where you should indicate when LoTi surveys will be completed for this year - Sending the hard copy with signature but neglecting to email me the application file - Amounts on the application form don’t match amounts on the Form 1 budget - Application form doesn’t contain enough detail to know how the money will be spent - Neglecting to send a Tech Progress Report for projects recently closed (this would be for round 2 projects which closed June 2005). - If you have not yet received approval on your tech plan, you should still submit your funding application since they can both be reviewed at the same time.
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====================================== E-RATE UPDATE ====================================== http://www.nheon.org/oet/erate
The Form 471 filing window for FY2006 opened December 6, 2005 and will close at 11:59 pm ET Thursday, February 16, 2006. The website above has been updated with the new dates for your reference. We also encourage you to visit the resources section, where you’ll find links to E-Rate Central and to E-Rate Manager, two valuable resources for keeping track of E-Rate matters. Schools are encouraged to sign up for one or both of these E-Rate newsletters:
E-Rate Central: http://www.e-ratecentral.com/regNews.asp Schools and Libraries Division (SLD): http://www.sl.universalservice.org/training/SL-News-Brief.asp
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====================================== ICT LITERACY STANDARDS ====================================== http://www.nheon.org/oet/standards/ICTLiteracy.htm
New Hampshire’s new ICT Literacy standards are generating lots of questions in the field. Visit the web page above for further information. The Department is generating “Technical Advisories” for each of the revised standards sections. When TA’s are released, they will be posted to the DOE website at http://www.ed.state.nh.us/education/standards/advisories.htm. A TA for the ICT Literacy standards has been drafted and is expected to be released next week. Dates for information and assessment rubric development sessions for ICT literacy portfolios are currently being scheduled at LESCN sites beginning in January 2006.
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====================================== GSDLN POSITION OPENING ======================================
The Granite State Distance Learning Network is hiring a Director of Programs and Services (Part-time, benefited, term position subject to availability of continued funding). The Function of Job is listed as follows: Under the general direction of the GSDLN Executive Committee, to direct the promotion, marketing, sales, planning, organizing and coordination of interactive video conferencing and distance education statewide for K-12, Higher Education, and non-profit organizations. For more details, visit www.unh.edu/Campus/employ/, choose the “non-student employment” link at the top, then choose “search positions” to search for Marketing and Promotion Coordinator / Director of Programs and Services for Granite State Distance Learning Network.
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====================================== NH VISION & HEARING NETWORK: WORKSHOPS ======================================
Join ATECH’s skilled AT staff to learn more about some of the most popular software for students with disabilities. Each three-hour hands on workshop costs only $50.00 and includes plenty of resources to take with you. Registration is limited to TEN participants. All workshops are held in the Tech Lab at ATECH Services in Concord, 117 Pleasant Street. To register, contact Sara Jones at 226-2900, or download a registration form at www.nhvhn.org
Here are just a few of the many upcoming workshops. Visit the website for a full list:
T10: Kurzweil 3000 December 13, 2005 OR March 28, 2006 Kurzweil 3000 scans a printed document, displays the page just as it appears in the original document (e.g., book, magazine), with all of the color graphics and pictures intact. It then reads the document out loud while highlighting the image of the print as it is being read. It also has the ability to break down words into syllables, spell words, and give dictionary definitions and synonyms. T12: Talking to Your Computer using Dragon Naturally Speaking Offered by appointment for individuals Send e-mails and instant messages, surf the web, chat and create documents-all by speaking. Dragon Naturally Speaking allows the user to dictate to almost any windows-based applications as well as edit documents, control applications and manage your desktop all by speaking. This session will show attendees all the different ways Dragon Naturally Speaking can be used and how to train and setup this program.
T6: SOLO Suite: CoWriter, Write OutLoud, Read OutLoud February 14, 2006 SOLO is a software package that consists of four individual software tools: Write OutLoud, Read OutLoud, Draft Builder, and Co Writer. Write OutLoud works on expanding revision, editing, and publishing skills. Read OutLoud inspires active thinking and develops comprehension strategies. Co Writer supports sentence construction and vocabulary development. A hands-on lesson will be provided for each one of these software packages giving the user the ability to experience how effective each tool may be.
T7: SOLO Suite: Draft Builder March 7, 2006 Draft Builder develops planning, organizing, and draft-writing skills, and works seamlessly with the other software titles in the SOLO package. T8: Making Multimedia Accessible using MAGpie March 14, 2006 MAGpie (Media Access Generator) is a free tool developed by the CPB/WGBH National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) to make Web- and CD-ROM-based multimedia accessible to people with disabilities. It allows someone with minimal training to add captions and/or audio descriptions to video files that will be viewed over the web or on a CD-ROM which can be viewed using Microsoft Media Play, Real Player, or QuickTime. T9: Microsoft Windows XP Accessibility Features March 21, 2006 In Microsoft Windows XP, there are more then 12 accessibility options that are already installed and waiting to be used. Attend this session to learn how to put these free tools to use in your classroom. A Windows XP resource CD and a Windows XP demonstration CD will be handed out to each attendee during this session.
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====================================== SUSTAINABLE TECH SOLUTIONS in K-12 ====================================== http://www.esd112.org/edtech/sustainableclass.html What is the Sustainable Classroom? Some folks in Washington state are setting up a project to study this question. “Technology is changing at a rate that is too fast to keep up with. Schools don't have the funds to keep up with computers that go out of date every two or three years. In partnership with Avermedia, Califone, eInstruction, Hitachi, Saxton Bradley, Inc., Smart Technologies, and Troxell Communications, the ESD 112 Educational Technology Support Center will put some resources into developing a 21st Century classroom that uses a realistic approach to selecting sustainable technology solutions that yield big results.” Visit the website above for more.
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Regards, Cathy Higgins Visit us on NH Educators Online at http://nheon.org/oet |
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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 · Federal technology funding and E-rate discounts · Research studies, curriculum information, and professional development related to technology implementation
Requests from service providers to disseminate information about their technology products and services using the electronic newsletter ET News can no longer be accommodated due to workload priorities in OET. 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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