Phase I – Digital Portfolio Series (due 7/12/07) Application in Word or PDF [Online Application opened 6/19/07 and closed 7/12/07] Grant Awards List - Posted on 8/9/07 Digital Portfolio PD List of Sessions with Dates, Descriptions, Locations (seats still available for non-grantees)

 

NCLB Title II-D Grants for Phase I: Digital Portfolio Series

Application Instructions

 

Release Date: June 15, 2007

 

The Enhancing Education through Technology grants to districts (commonly known as No Child Left Behind, Title II-D Grants) will be issued in four phases during 2007-08. Funding is contingent on the receipt of the 2007-08 funding from the U.S. Department of Education, which we expect to receive within the next few weeks. Each phase will have a separate application process and separate due date. For more information on all four phases, visit www.nheon.org/oet/nclb. The Local Educational Support Center Network (LESCN) will be involved in varying degrees in all four phases.

 

This document contains instructions on how to apply for Phase I participation.  Applications for Phase I: Digital Portfolio Series must be submitted online at www.nheon.org/oet/nclb by no later than 7/12/07.

 

Questions? Contact the Office of Educational Technology:

Cathy Higgins, Title II-D Program Coordinator

Office of Educational Technology, Division of Instruction

Phone: (603) 271-2453 ** Email: chiggins@ed.state.nh.us

 

This document is available for download at www.nheon.org/oet/nclb.

The online application will open on Monday, June 18 and close on Thursday, July 12.

 

Phase I: Digital Portfolio Series

APPLICATION DEADLINE 7/12/07

 

This is an opportunity for districts to send school teams from all levels (elementary, middle, and high school) to a series of digital portfolio professional development sessions beginning in the fall 2007 and continuing throughout the 2007-08 year. This opportunity is designed to assist NH schools to address the digital portfolio component of their ICT Literacy Programs while deepening understanding of the power of portfolios to engage students and assess learning in multiple ways. All districts, regardless of high need status, are encouraged to submit team applications. While session participation cannot be guaranteed until all applications have been received and reviewed, every effort will be made to accommodate as many teams as possible. The online application is brief and is available from June 18 through July 12, 2007 at www.nheon.org/oet/nclb.

 

 

The Need:

 

Significant numbers of New Hampshire schools are still in the beginning stages of implementing portfolios in K-8 classrooms, as evidenced by the following data from the 2006-07 New Hampshire School Technology Survey:

 

§        60% of all schools (n=476) report that they have student accounts on their school server.

 

§        13% of schools report that their Library Media Specialists are not involved at all in the process of updating their school’s instructional program to address ICT literacy standards and another 14% were only involved a little in the process.

 

§        43% of all 8^th grade students (n=17,038) were reported by schools to have met ICT competency in 2005-06. The competency of the remaining 57% is unknown at this time.

 

§        31% of schools with 8^th grades (n=134) report that they have assessment rubrics for portfolios. The remaining 69% reported that they do not have portfolio rubrics, or they did not complete this answer on the survey.

 

§        58% of schools report that they incorporate information/media literacy in their ICT programs.

 

§        32% of all schools report that their students create digital portfolios now.

 

Multiple studies indicate that the technology gap between student and teacher perceptions of technology use in classrooms is widening, leading to predictions that student engagement in their own learning may decrease as the gap widens.

 

School Teams:

 

Districts may submit applications for a maximum of one four-person team per school level (elementary, middle, high school). For example, if your district has three schools, one at each level, you can submit one application for each school. If your district has only two schools, such as a K-8 school and a high school, you can submit a K-8 team application and a high school team application. Each team must submit a separate application.

 

Teams members must include:

 

One Administrator (Principal, Assistant Principal, Curriculum Director)

One Library Media Specialist

Two Classroom teachers (should have some tech integration experience or could be a Tech Integration Specialist)

 

The primary team must attend at least three sessions together. Beyond those sessions, teams may wish to substitute an alternate member. However, teams should keep in mind that research about effective professional development indicates ongoing training is much more effective than “one shot” workshop attendance. Although it will be possible to change team membership in August due to unforeseen circumstances, changes will need to be approved by the NHDOE prior to 9/1/07. Districts should budget $400 per team per day (see budgeting section). Questions related to team attendance may be directed to Cathy Higgins at chiggins@ed.state.nh.us.

 

Budget Information:

 

Award amounts will vary according to high need status (see Appendix A). All districts, whether or not they are designated as high need, are encouraged to apply for all their desired sessions. Every attempt will be made to accommodate ALL teams that apply, although some districts may have to pay a portion of their team registration fees. Teams will also be asked to prioritize their choices when submitting the application.

 

Awards to districts can be used to pay the $400 per team per day registration fees, teacher substitutes for team members, stipends as appropriate, and other related digital tools costs. (When districts are notified of awards and session registration confirmation, they will be asked to send budget forms with details at that time.)

 

Districts are eligible to apply as follows:

 

§        High needs districts may apply for $3,000 awards to be applied to three or more Phase I sessions plus associated costs.

§        Districts not designated as high need may apply to participate in Phase I sessions as part of an eligible local partnership, which will allow teams to participate in three sessions at no cost to the district. Additional sessions will also be available to these districts on a space available basis at a cost of $400 per day per team.

 

Selection of Sessions:

 

Teams should choose the sessions which are most appropriate to their needs. When making their selections, teams should consider the current status of digital portfolio use at their school as well as their availability to attend all selected sessions as a team. If a team application is approved for participation, all team members will be required to attend. Application approval will largely depend on how many teams apply and can be accommodated at session locations. Since the primary goal of Phase I is to provide digital portfolio professional development, teams applying for Title II-D grants must choose at least 3 sessions from the list provided.

 

In collaboration with the Center Network, we have arranged for several sessions to be facilitated by Dr. David Niguidula and Dr. Helen Barrett. Each has research and practical experience working with digital portfolios. The information you provide in the application will help them to customize their sessions to meet your district needs. You may wish to visit these websites to learn more about their work:

 

More about Dr. Niguidula’s work: www.richerpicture.com

More about Dr. Barrett’s work: www.electronicportfolios.org

 

Two alternative online sessions pertinent to portfolio development and assessment, facilitated by New Hampshire educators, are also available from the OPEN NH Project.

 

Locations for each session (to be held at LESCN sites) will be partially dependent on the number of applications received from each region of the state. Visit www.nheon.org/centers for the location of each of the six centers. Additional facilitation assistance will be provided by staff from Ideas Consulting, LESCN, and NHDOE.

 

All sessions will include morning and lunch time refreshments. All sessions will begin at approximately 8:30 and end at 3:30. Any adjustments in these times will be noted on registration confirmation notices.

Please select 3 or more sessions from this list.

 

·        All primary team members are expected to attend at least 3 sessions together. Any questions, please contact Chiggins@ed.state.nh.us.

·        All sessions are full-day (approximately 8:30 – 3:30) and include morning and lunch time refreshments. Registration confirmations will include any time adjustments.

·        Workshop enrollments are limited; additional workshops may be added if there are enough requests.

·        Note that some workshops count as more than 1 session.

·        Brief descriptions of the workshops appear on the following pages.

 

Session No.	Choices	2007-08 Dates	Session Title	Cost per team
1-3	___	Sep 27, Oct 4, Nov 1	Portfolio 101: Implementation Strategies for Digital Portfolios (3 day series) Counts as 3 sessions	$1,200
4-6	___	Sep 28, Oct 5, Nov 2	Portfolio 101: Implementation Strategies for Digital Portfolios (3 day series) Counts as 3 sessions	$1,200
7-9	___	Jan 11, Jan 18, Mar 7	Portfolio 101: Implementation Strategies for Digital Portfolios (3 day series) Counts as 3 sessions	$1,200
10-11	___	Oct 10 & Nov 16	Portfolio Planning with Dr. Barrett (2 day series) Counts as 2 sessions	$800
12	___	Oct 26	Creating School-wide Rubrics	$400
13	___	Dec 14	Using Portfolios for Parent-Teacher Conferences	$400
14-15	___	Jan 24 & Jan 25	Reflection in E-Portfolios with Digital Storytelling (2 day series) Counts as 2 sessions	$800
16	___	Feb 1	Portfolios and Curriculum Mapping	$400
17	___	Feb 8	Reviewing Portfolios as a Whole	$400
18	___	Mar 28	Making Decisions Based on Portfolio Data	$400
19	___	Apr 11	Using Portfolios to Support NEASC Accreditation	$400
20	___	7 week online course; dates TBA	Creating and Using Meaningful Rubrics that Assess Student Work	$400
21	___	7 week online course; dates TBA	Engaging K-12 Students with Digital Portfolios	$400

 

Please select 3 or more sessions from this list.

 

Sessions 1-3: September 27, October 4, and November 1 Sessions 4-6: September 28, October 5, and November 2 Sessions 7-9: January 11, January 18, and March 7, 2008 (Teams choosing this option must attend all 3 sessions in a series.)   Portfolio 101: Implementation Strategies for Digital Portfolios  ($1,200 per team) Facilitation: Dr. David Niguidula and staff from Ideas Consulting, Inc. with support from LESCN and NHDOE staff   Day 1: Getting Started What is a digital portfolio anyway? Teams will look at sample portfolios and the “essential questions” of portfolio implementation. Teams will also review the ICT literacy standards, current rubrics, and implementation plans in use in NH schools. Participants will be able to work on specific plans for their schools, including defining tasks / projects that will go into the portfolio and defining the quality of artifacts. This session includes hands-on time with multiple portfolio software solutions (including Moodle, Adobe Acrobat, and Richer Picture); if your school has selected these or a different solution, you will be able to use that software during the session.   Day 2: Implementing Portfolios Without Going Crazy This session focuses on how portfolios can be integrated into what is already happening in your classrooms. Teams will focus on assessment (giving feedback about individual artifacts; tracking progress of students towards standards and personal goals), and logistics (strategies for finding time and space to implement portfolios; developing plans for collecting work from all disciplines). After this session, teams will be expected to have a small set of students create a portfolio entry.   Day 3: What Do Portfolios Tell Us? Between Days 2 and 3, participants will have an initial set of students enter work into a portfolio. Teams will review the sample work using common rubrics; help establish a consistent message about what it means to “meet standard”; and show how students can express their individual growth as a learner. By the end, teams will review and revise their implementation plans for ongoing portfolio work. The focus of this session is on using existing available rubrics. For assistance with the creation of rubrics, see session 10 “Creating School-wide Rubrics.”

Sessions 10-11: October 10 & November 16   Portfolio Planning with Helen Barrett ($800 per team) Facilitation: Dr. Helen Barrett This is a two day series focused on developing an understanding of e-portfolios and their uses; developing a shared philosophy for e-portfolios; and an implementation plan. The first day will be face-to-face with Dr. Barrett on site. The second day will be a virtual session using Moodle and Skype, with Dr. Barrett facilitating from a remote location.

Session 12: October 26   Creating School-wide Rubrics  ($400 per team) Facilitation: Dr. David Niguidula Teams will develop a common language for deciding what work meets ICT literacy and content standards. Teams will review samples of school-wide rubrics and work towards a consensus to develop common rubrics while examining how schools can use data to revise rubrics over time.

Session 13: December 14 Using Portfolios for Parent-Teacher Conferences ($400 per team) Facilitation: Dr. David Niguidula A common use for elementary portfolios is to help parents better understand their children's progress. Teams will look at collecting and selecting information for this important audience and how portfolios can help create better communication between home and school.

Session 14-15: January 24 & January 25 Reflection in ePortfolios with Digital Storytelling ($800 per team) Facilitation: Dr. Helen Barrett This is a 2-day series. The ancient art of storytelling is a powerful tool for deep learning and reflection. Add today’s multimedia technology and you have a highly motivating project-based learning activity as well as a powerful reflective artifact in an electronic portfolio. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn basic strategies for digital storytelling using a low-end digital video editing program for Macintosh or Windows XP. Participants will write a short reflection, audio record that reflection, and then illustrate their narration with visual images. Learn how to use highly-motivating multimedia tools to engage students in reflection on their own learning and growth over time.

Session 16: February 1 Portfolios and Curriculum Mapping ($400 per team) Facilitation: Dr. David Niguidula Digital portfolios can connect very closely to the process of curriculum mapping. Both systems focus on linking to standards. A curriculum map allows teachers to look at their year-long patterns; a digital portfolio allows students to connect their work to school expectations. Teams will explore how the two processes are complementary and feed on each other.

Session 17: February 8 Reviewing Portfolios as a Whole ($400 per team) Facilitation: Dr. David Niguidula The power of portfolios comes in the ability to look at a student's body of work as a whole. Teams will look at how students can select pieces for an end-of-year review, prompts for overall reflections and rubrics for assessment. Teams will also look at samples from multiple schools, and discuss the logistics of reviewing work throughout the year.

Session 18: March 28 Making Decisions Based on Portfolio Data ($400 per team) Facilitation: Dr. David Niguidula Portfolio software can provide a new type of data-driven decision making. Rather than just disaggregating test score data, teachers can analyze the data from the scoring of online rubrics, and look for patterns in student data. Portfolio software in use or being considered for use by attending teams will be examined in this workshop to better understand how the software can help teachers find and analyze the data most useful for every day practice.

Session 19: April 11 Using Portfolios to Support NEASC Accreditation ($400 per team) Facilitation: Dr. David Niguidula In the NEASC process, teams examine their mission and the academic, civic, and social expectations for all students. This session shows how schools have used digital portfolios to link student and teacher work to the school’s mission and expectations. Teams will see how schools have prepared benchmark performances for site visits and analyzed the data as a part of the ongoing self-study. Participants will learn strategies to help them with their own self-study and site visit preparation.

 

Alternative Online Session Choices:   The following online courses offered through the OPEN NH Project were developed by NH educators to address topics related to digital portfolio implementation in K-12. Teams may register for one or more of these courses, which may be considered the equivalent of one “session.” These courses could be used to continue team discussions back at school sites. All OPEN NH courses are also available for graduate credit through Plymouth State University. Visit the website for more information: http://www.nheon.org/opennh/courses.htm     Session 20: TBD Creating and Using Meaningful Rubrics that Assess Student Work ($400 per team) As defined by rubric guru Heidi Goodrich, a rubric is "a scoring tool that lists the criteria for a piece of work or 'what counts.'" This course will give teachers the tools to clearly identify the goals and objectives of a student product and to assess various aspects of those student products.  Participants will investigate various theories for creating rubrics, visit websites with online rubric creators and develop their skills for creating meaningful rubrics that can enhance the quality of their student work. Participants will engage in readings, discussion, exploratory activities and create rubrics that assess student products for learning while focusing students on the goals and objectives of their assignments.     Session 21: TBD Engaging K-12 Students with Digital Portfolios ($400 per team) This course is for teachers interested in helping their students develop a reflective digital portfolio that meets New Hampshire's ICT Literacy Program standards and that engages and motivates students. Participants will learn about characteristics of reflective portfolios, be introduced to tools and process steps for creating digital portfolios, and review examples of portfolio contents and organization. As a final product, each course participant will work with a cohort of K-12 students to create their own samples of student digital portfolios.

Opportunities for continuing portfolio study:   These sessions are offered as information for continuing study, not for inclusion as sessions in your team’s grant application.   Each of the Local Educational Support Centers provide numerous and varied professional development throughout the year and in the summer on topics that can enhance your school’s portfolio implementation. See www.nheon.org/centers to visit workshop listings at each Center.   Plymouth State University also offers graduate courses that are pertinent to digital portfolio work. One course in particular may be valuable for continuing study:   CE 5140 Electronic Portfolio Development and Assessment - 3 credits This course is designed to investigate the principles of assessment educational technology that relate to the design, development and assessment of electronic portfolios…. View the complete description at http://www.plymouth.edu/graduate/coursedescriptions.html

 

 

Session Scheduling Worksheet

 

School:______________________                   District:______________________

 

Please indicate the team attending each session. Use the session numbers from the workshop list. This worksheet is for your planning purposes. This information will be entered in the online application which will open on June 18^th.

 

Session No.	Team Members
		Name	Title	Email
	Administrator
	Library Media Specialist
	Teacher
	Teacher
	Administrator
	Library Media Specialist
	Teacher
	Teacher
	Administrator
	Library Media Specialist
	Teacher
	Teacher
	Administrator
	Library Media Specialist
	Teacher
	Teacher
	Administrator
	Library Media Specialist
	Teacher
	Teacher

Please add additional rows if you are applying for additional sessions.

Application Questions Worksheet

 

Consider these questions as you prepare for entering your application online. These will help facilitators best prepare session materials and detailed agendas to meet team needs.

 

1.     Are you using portfolios – either paper or electronic -- in your school now?

 

2.     If yes:

 

• How many teachers are using portfolios?
• What is being collected?
• Who reviews the portfolios?
• Are you using electronic software now?
• If yes, which software? How many students / teachers have used it?

 

3.     We understand the implementation of the ICT standards are a work in progress. During the 2006-07 school year, how did students demonstrate the ICT standards:

 

• In technology classes?
• In other areas of the curriculum?

 

(Here is a sample response: “All 6^th, 7^th and 8^th graders currently have a 25 day course in computer/media literacy. During that time, students learn about computer applications, Internet safety and finding information on the web. In other areas of the curriculum, about half of our teachers have integrated ICT into at least one assignment during the year. A few teachers are advanced users of technology. These teachers have their students use some type of digital tool two to three times a month.”)

 

4.     What would your team like to take away from the sessions you’ve selected?

 

5.     Rubrics: Which statement is the closest fit?

 

a.     Rubrics are not used very much in our school.

b.     Individual teachers use rubrics of their own design.

c.     Groups of teachers (departments, grade levels) use common rubrics.

d.     We have a set of school-wide rubrics.

 

6.     If your school has used or adapted for use any of the case study rubrics that are available at www.nheon.org/ictliteracy please indicate which one(s):

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX A:  REPORT of CURRENT U.S. CENSUS DATA

New Hampshire “High Need” School Districts

 

According to NCLB Title IID federal program guidelines dated March 11, 2002 (p.12) (see www.ed.gov/programs/edtech/legislation.html), funding should be targeted toward “high need districts.” These would be districts whose percentages of children from families with incomes below the poverty line are above the state median (see www.census.gov/hhes/www/saipe/) AND who have either one or more “schools in need of improvement” OR a substantial need for assistance in acquiring and using technology.