AzTEA+News+(2007-08)

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Program Manager | Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology | www.psctlt.org | ph.425.368.1036 |1-866-616-1384 ext. 1036| fax 425.368.1023 | skgeorge@psctlt.org| Skype = skgeorge1210 More information can be found on the Non-AzTEA Conferences and Workshops wiki page.

Arizona Promising Practices Newsletter: November 9, 2008
THIS ISSUE: High Quality Reading Instruction

Dear Arizona Promising Practices Subscriber,

Welcome to another online addition of the Arizona Promising Practices forum. For those new to this service, you will receive periodic updates focusing on:

(1) Recommended National Education websites; and

(2) One promising practice article in condensed form. We welcome your recommendations for improvement to this forum or suggestions on future topics (these will be wide ranging so if nothing in this update interests you, hold on for future editions!)

The Arizona Promising Practices Forum and website, www.azpromisingpractices.com is a FREE resource of the Arizona Department of Education.

In this issue of the Promising Practices Forum we have been asked to provide a quick reference that educators may give to parents or those who work with young children on the importance of reading early. This practical guide may be shared as a reminder of the importance of written and spoken language at an early age.

National Website of Importance: Mid-year educational recruitment season is fast approaching so we remind all job seekers to check out the Arizona Educational Employment Board (www.arizonaeducationj obs.com). This one stop recruitment resource provides listings of jobs across Arizona as well as an online application in which to apply.

Promising Practice Research and Tips

High-Quality Classroom Instruction

Research has demonstrated that most reading problems can be prevented by providing high-quality classroom reading instruction in the early grades, along with supplemental intervention for students who need it.

Classroom Reading Instruction That Supports Struggling Readers

The Power of Instruction

A central theme of this body of reading research is that quality reading instruction is powerful! In fact, brain imaging research has demonstrated that the way the brain processes information is different in typically developing readers than in those at risk for or experiencing reading difficulties, but that these processing patterns in the brains of struggling readers—even those with severe dyslexia—can actually change in a period of a few weeks when they are provided with concentrated, powerful reading instruction.

Quality Classroom Reading Instruction

Providing quality classroom reading instruction with certain research-validated characteristics can make a big difference for struggling readers. For example, Foorman, Francis, Fletcher, Schatschneider, and Mehta (1998) found that when provided with a quality reading program that included explicit, systematic instruction in the alphabetic principle (how print represents the sounds of language) within a print-rich classroom environment, 75% of the 1st graders who were in the bottom 20% of their classes in reading could learn to read words in the average range without additional intervention. This is important, because the most prominent characteristic of students with dyslexia is the inability to accurately read words (see Lyon, 1995).

What does this powerful classroom instruction look like?

Teach essential skills and strategies.

Provide differentiated instruction based on assessment results and adapt instruction to meet students' needs. Provide explicit and systematic instruction with lots of practice—with and without teacher support and feedback, and including cumulative practice over time. Provide opportunities to apply skills and strategies in reading and writing meaningful text with teacher support. Don't just "cover" critical content; be sure students learn it—monitor student progress regularly and re- teach as necessary. http://www .rtinetwork.org/Essential/HighQuality Please join me in congratulating our own DR. CHRIS JOHNSON for his recent article published in the EDUCAUSE Review. EDUCAUSE is the leading organization for higher education information technology. Chris is never one to blow his own horn, but that’s what we are for!

Roger Yohe, Ph.D. Director Center for Teaching and Learning 623.935.8070 estrellamountain.edu/ctl = = [|September/October 2008 EDUCAUSE Review] Now Available Online

CHRIS JOHNSON ("SCUBACHRIS WOLLONGONG")
When using a roadmap, one can take many different paths to reach a desired destination. Similarly, institutions can take many different turns along the road to implementing an ideal virtual world for higher education.

EDUCAUSE Review is the general-interest, bimonthly magazine published by EDUCAUSE. With a publication base of 21,000, EDUCAUSE Review is sent to EDUCAUSE member representatives as well as to presidents/chancellors, senior academic and administrative leaders, non-IT staff, faculty in all disciplines, librarians, and corporations. It takes a broad look at current developments and trends in information technology, what these mean for higher education, and how they may affect the college/university as a whole.

EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology. The current membership comprises more than 2,200 colleges, universities, and educational organizations, including 250 corporations, with 17,000 active members. EDUCAUSE has offices in Boulder, Colorado, and Washington, D.C. Learn more at the EDUCAUSE website.

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=2008 Educational Technology Standard Draft-Input Needed!= The 2008 Educational Technology Standard Draft is now available for public comment. Constituents may respond via seven public forums, online survey, email, fax or mail. To download a copy of the 2008 Educational Technology Standard Draft, [|click here]. Please include the strand, concept, and performance objective listed for each item that you are addressing in your comments. The deadline for submitting comments is November 10, 2008. To register for one of the seven public forums go to the Arizona Department of Educational Calendar of Events and click on the session that best meets your needs [|http://www.ade.az.gov/onlineregistration/SelectEvent.asp?viewall="yes"&GroupID=37]. To respond via the online survey, go to http://www10.ade.az.gov/selectsurveynet/TakeSurvey.aspx?PageNumber=1&SurveyID=n20Mln2. To respond via email, email your comments to the Educational Technology Standard Draft email box at edtechstand@azed.gov. To respond via fax, fax your comments to 602-542-5467. To respond via mail, send your comments to: Arizona Department of Education Educational Technology Office 1535 W. Jefferson, Bin 8 Phoenix, Az 85007

= = =2008 SIGTE Research Award Winners Announced= I’m very pleased to announce the winners of the 2008 SIGTE Research Award--Teresa Foulger, Mia Kim Williams, and Keith Wetzel ( Arizona State University). Please join us for their paper presentation at the SIGTE Research Award Paper Session on Wednesday, July 2nd, 10:30 am–11:30 am in the Grand Hyatt Crockett A/B Room.

Congratulations Teresa, Mia, and Keith!

Paper Title: Innovative Technologies, Small Groups, and a Wiki: A 21st Century Preservice Experience Founded on Collaboration

New technology tools available at the university level have made it possible to create learning environments that capitalize on the kinds teaching practices that support augmented conversations, sophisticated communication, and collaboration; yet, existing teaching models lag in their ability to take advantage of these possibilities. Three instructors of an educational technology course for preservice teachers wanted to explore the effects of a new project, the Innovations Mini-Teach, that allowed students to learn about many new and evolving technologies and their application to PreK-12 education by organizing themselves in ways that relied upon their collaborative abilities and a technology tool, the class Innovations Wiki. Student focus groups at the end of the semester sought to uncover the value of collaboration in students’ abilities to learn new technologies, the obstacles to collaboration, and how collaborative skills may affect use of innovations in students’ future teaching. Findings indicated this new approach to learning about innovative technologies was supported by small group collaboration, and that the class wiki supported whole class collaboration during the semester with the additional potential to provide students with opportunities to share after the semester ended. Most important, many students changed their views about themselves as learners of technology.
 * Abstract:**

Looking forward to seeing you at NECC!

Arlene C. Borthwick, SIGTE Presiden =**Awards announced at the T&L Conference in Nashville, TN October 17-19, 2007**=

==Take a look at these outstanding technology leaders selected by the National School Board Association based on a nation-wide search--4 of the top 20 are from Arizona!!! Congratulations to Laurie King, Shawn Wheeler, Heather Cruz and Matt Federoff!== http://www.nsba.org/t+l/20/20_submit.cfm** Also featured in this T.H.E. Journal article by Dave Nagel:** http://www.thejournal.com/articles/21422** =Twenty Education Technology Leaders to Watch for the Next Twenty Years= Over the years we know the “tools” of our trade have drastically changed, but the vision, passion, and human spirit behind the use of those tools have been the critical components in the successful use of technology to help transform teaching and learning. As we look towards the future, technology will continue to evolve and new leaders will emerge to further mine the power of technology to enhance education. Many of those early pioneers were teachers, superintendents, school board members, librarians, principals, and technology directors who have become the often quoted and well respected voices of today’s innovation. With your help we have identified the top 20 emerging **leaders of 2007! These emerging leaders – like today’s education technology pioneers – cross all job titles and district sizes. They will be honored during the Tuesday networking event in Nashville during T+L.**
 * http://nsba.org/site/doc.asp?TRACKID=&VID=2&CID=90&DID=41752

**2007 Twenty to Watch Winners**

 * **Derek S. Roh, Director of IT Services, Baldwin County Board of Education (AL)**
 * Laurie King, Technology Coordinator, Dysart Unified School District (AZ)
 * Shawn Wheeler, Director of Technology Services and Training, Peoria Unified School District (AZ)
 * Heather Cruz, Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services, Litchfield Elementary School District #79 (AZ)
 * Matt Federoff, Director of Technology, Vail School District (AZ)
 * **John Rose, Instructor, Department Chair, Vista del Lago High School, Moreno Valley Unified School District (CA)**
 * **Gary Stager, Ph.D., Executive Director, Constructivist Consortium (CA)**
 * **Karl Fisch, Director of Technology, Arapahoe High School, Littleton Public Schools (CO)**
 * **Scott McLeod, J.D., Ph.D., Director, CASTLE, Iowa State University (IA)**
 * **Christopher M. Brown, District Technology Coordinator, Avoca School District #37 (IL)**
 * **Todd Whitlock, Technology Coordinator, North Daviess Community Schools (IN)**
 * **Travis East, Technology Education Teacher, Nineveh-Hensley-Jackson United School Corporation (IN)**
 * **Jon Carl, Social Studies Teacher, Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation (IN)**
 * **Jana Craig Hare, Associate Director, ALTEC-Center for Research on Learning, University of Kansas (KS)**
 * **Ronald P. Walker, Superintendent, Geary County USD 475 (KS)**
 * **Erin B. Reilly, Co-Founder, Platform Shoes Forum (ME)**
 * **Terry Pilitzer, Supervisor of Technology, Keyport Public Schools (NJ)**
 * **Dr. David Sevier, Founder, The Open Source Teaching Project (TN)**
 * **Janene K. Gorham, Instructional Technology Coordinator, Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VA)**
 * **Debby Martin, Business Teacher, Phoebus High School, Hampton City Schools (VA)**

NOTE: **If you didn't get to attend NECC 2007 or if there were sessions you missed that you'd really like to see/hear, many of them can be downloaded from the Apple Learning Interchange (official NECC Conference Connections site for podcasts). http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/search.php?collectionID=1087 You'll find many of the keynotes and spotlight presentations in video format including the closing keynote with Dr. Tim Tyson. Shared by Peggy George**
 * =Invitation to collaborate:=
 * During the May 11th Eastside meeting there was a discussion about creating an online collaborative environment where school leaders could share resources, best practices, ideas, etc. Come join in the discussion . . .** ||

Time: **9:00 am - 4:00 pm each day** Location: **Paradise Valley Unified School District Office 15002 N. 32nd St. (This is just south of Greenway. There is an exit off SR 51.**

For more information and to sign up click on the link above and add your name to the "I'm Attending Page".
P.S. Don't forget to check out our quarterly AzTEA newsletter on the AzTEA web site** for lots of great articles and information about gizmos and gadgets, tips and tricks and much, much more. The Spring 2007 edition is available now. It includes a fantastic article by Bernajean Porter about digital storytelling along with links to her website, resources and video examples. http://www.aztea.org/newsletter.html