Tech Leader Cohort (TLC) Program 2009-10

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The goal of the TLC Program in New Hampshire is to support a statewide cadre of skilled, informed teacher leaders and principals who are empowered to support their colleagues in creating truly 21st century learning environments. A total of 44 teams from across the state are involved in the program this year. Each participating school team includes 2 teacher leaders and one supporting principal per school. Teams are organized into four consortia sponsored by the lead districts of Keene, Exeter, Penacook, and Gorham and the PD Centers in those locations. Centers will coordinate and host TLC activities in collaboration with NHDOE and the other consortia in order to ensure a common experience for participants.

Materials, Activities, and Expectations

TLC offers a high quality professional development experience in support of emerging technologies and innovative approaches. TLC teachers and principals will explore resources and approaches for creating 21st century learning environments which combine face to face learning with online learning:

For teachers:

·        Teacher Stipends - Each Teacher Leader will receive a stipend of $2,000 to support their full involvement in TLC activities. Schools are expected to cover the cost of any substitutes that might be needed throughout the year, as their in-kind support for this grant program.

·        TLC Online - A significant portion of the program is conducted online using an OPEN NH course workspace for common discussions and resources. The TLC Consortium grants will cover registration to use and maintain the online course space during the winter, spring, and summer 2010 sessions. In December, teachers will receive login instructions for the TLC Workspace and will be expected to participate in the online activities from January through August 2010. All TLC teachers will be required to regularly access the course for monthly themes and ongoing discussions. Teachers should expect to spend 2 hours per week of online engagement. The number of hours online is largely dependent on the extent to which teachers explore resources provided within each monthly theme. TLCers are expected to login to the TLC online workspace at least twice each week during the designated discussion weeks, posting an original substantive message on the weekly topic and responding to two other participants (average 3-6 hours per month from January through August). All four TLC groups will be enrolled in the same online course with a lead facilitator (Susan Kessler) and selected online discussion mentors. http://www.opennh.org

·        One free OPEN NH Course - Additionally, the TLC grant offers each teacher a seat in one OPEN NH course of their choice from a selection of all content areas and several pedagogical themes. OPEN NH courses are facilitated by NH educators, designed by NH educators, and customized to meet the needs of NH schools and educators. Courses include several content areas and instructional topics. Some courses were developed by a national partnership, while others were developed and customized to meet specific needs in New Hampshire.

·        Sessions at LESCN Sites – PD Centers will schedule a total of approximately 24 - 32 hours of face to face sessions at the centers for TLC teachers. Centers are encouraged to work with their group to schedule after school sessions, if possible, to minimize the need for substitutes. The face to face sessions will include 6-8 modules from the Intel Teach “Thinking with Technology” program, as well as other topics to meet the needs of the group, such as hands-on activities with iTouches and interactive whiteboards. The Intel course provides professional development to teachers to learn strategies for addressing and assessing thinking skills and using technology to support deeper understanding of core content. The goal is for teachers to leave the course with a standards-based unit plan, support materials, and implementation strategies to improve and assess students' higher-order thinking with the use of free online tools. For more information about this program, visit: http://educate.intel.com/education/teach/workshops/index.asp

For principals:

·        iTouch Classroom Observation App – The TLC grant will cover the cost of a yearly subscription for the LoTi Observer or other such app. Although this tool is recommended because NH schools are accustomed to using the LoTi survey, other alternatives can be considered. As a statewide program, it is expected that all principals will use the same observer tool. This conversation is expected to take place with all four principal groups during January and February.

·        Intel Teach Leadership Forum – Principals are expected to attend this 4-hour face-to-face professional development session focusing on the importance of leadership in promoting, supporting, and modeling the use of technology in instruction. Through the forum, participants explore relevant research and behaviors related to supporting effective technology integration and associated professional development. The TLC program anticipates sponsoring at least four Intel forums. The first one is scheduled for the morning of January 13, 2010 at the Greater Manchester Professional Development Center. Additional Intel forums will be scheduled by the PD Centers. Principals need only attend one 4-hour Intel forum. For more information about this program, visit http://www.intel.com//education/teach/forums/index.htm

·        Principals are expected to attend the initial TLC meeting held by the consortium lead; provide ongoing support and encouragement to teacher leaders; utilize an iTouch classroom observation application (apps) as well as other apps in order to become more familiar with educational uses for handheld devices; and attend the 21st Century Learner event (spring 2010), one day at the Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference (December 2009), Intel Leadership Forum, and up to 6 other after school or online sessions for participating principals.

For both teachers and principals:

·        Spring Event Registration – The TLC grant covers registration for each TLC teacher and principal to attend the 21st Century Learner event hosted by LESCN on 4/1/2010 in Meredith, NH. See www.lescn.org. This is a “not to be missed” event!

·        McAuliffe Registration – The Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference is an annual event in Nashua, NH each year during the week after Thanksgiving. This is a significant event, widely attended with exceptional keynotes and numerous special features. The TLC grant covers registration for each TLC teacher and principal for one day of registration at this event. www.nhcmtc.org

·        Handheld Device – The TLC grant provides each TLC teacher and principal with an iPod Touch for the duration of the grant period, along with a case for the device and gift card to purchase additional iTouch apps. PD Centers are responsible for distributing the iTouches soon after the equipment order has arrived and can be inventoried. TLCers will be asked to sign a program agreement when they receive their iTouch. The intent is to provide iTouches to all participants before the school break in December. The iTouch provides tech leaders with the opportunity to explore multiple uses for this digital device. Hands-on activities will be offered periodically during the TLC grant period, and the TLC Online Course will include additional content and discussions regarding educational uses for the iTouch.

·        Evaluation of Impact – Since the TLC program is funded by the Enhancing Education Through Technology Program (NCLB Title II-D), it is important to evaluate the impact the program has on the professional growth of TLC teachers and principals. A modest amount of evaluation is planned, such as online surveys and a few interviews and focus group sessions. When the evaluation plan is finalized in January, TLCers will be notified if they can expect any additional evaluation activities.

·        Project New Media Literacies – This research initiative originated within MIT's Comparative Media Studies program. NML explores how we might best equip young people with the social skills and cultural competencies required to become full participants in an emergent media landscape and raise public understanding about what it means to be literate in a globally interconnected, multicultural world. Eight TLC teachers will be part of the NML Early Adopters Working Group. This group will help guide the growth of the NML online community in New Hampshire, inviting many other educators to join the online community over time. All NH teachers and principals (even beyond TLC) will be able to participate in using the NML resources and online activities. They will learn about the framework of social skills and cultural competencies which shape the work of Project NML, and look more closely at learning through such cultural phenomenon as computer game guilds, YouTube video production, Wikipedia, fan fiction, Second Life and other virtual worlds, music remixing, and social network sites. New curricular materials which have emerged from Project New Media Literacies, Global Kids, Harvard’s GoodPlay Project, Common Sense Media, the George Lucas Foundation, and other projects will be examined to identify ways to introduce these skills into contemporary educational practices and take the material, information, and methods back into their classroom. http://www.newmedialiteracies.org/

For NML Early Adopters:

·        Early Adopters - Each consortium has one or more tech leaders who have applied to participate in the New Media Literacies “Early Adopter Working Group.” Early adopters should plan to spend an estimated 1-2 hours per week from January through August on NML activities. These participants would attend monthly webinars from January through August to brainstorm on a monthly theme relevant to participating schools. Themes will vary and could range from digital media and ethics to exploring Wikipedia to citing examples of effective blended learning. These teacher leaders will then be able to engage other NH teachers in the NML online community as well as implement activities in their own classrooms.

Who to Contact

Activities held at your PD Center, contact your center:

·        CACES in Penacook – Kathy Holt (kholt@mv.k12.nh.us) or Faith Wilson (fwilson@mv.k12.nh.us)

·        NCESPDC in Gorham – Lori Langlois (lori@ncedservices.org)

·        SPDC in Exeter – Jen Middaugh (jmiddaugh@sau16.org)

·        SWNHESC in Keene – Bev Straneva (bstraneva@keene.edu) or Charlotte Greenhalgh (cgreenhalgh@keene.edu)

Suggestions to improve the program, contact the NH Department of Education:

·        Cathy Higgins (chiggins@ed.state.nh.us)

Technical problems with the TLC online course:

·        Stan Freeda (sfreeda@ed.state.nh.us)

Activities and resources in the TLC online course, contact the lead facilitator or one of the TLC mentors within your consortium (TBA):

·        Susan Kessler (kesslersm@comcast.net)