Wavelengths
Tech Integration Newsletter
Volume 18 | Issue 33 | May, 2019
IMS Director's Update
As the year winds down, we are proud to continue the work of increasing access to devices for students, and to provide professional learning opportunities for staff. We hope that you can join us for our OPS TechShare event later this month.
All 65 of our elementary building locations have started conversations regarding the planned obsolescence process. Pending Board approval, an IMS department objective will be to increase access to technology for our elementary staff and students, as well as refresh secondary staff devices beginning next year. Ongoing professional learning is being developed as we continue to focus on best practices regarding technology integration.
OPS TechShare: Are You Future Ready?
This year’s OPS TechShare event will be held at Omaha North High Magnet School and is open to certified staff within Omaha Public Schools and the greater ESU 19 organization. Thanks to a generous Title IV grant from the Nebraska Department of Education, participants will be paid a stipend for their attendance.
The event will include national keynote speakers Joe Sanfelippo, superintendent and author of Hacking Leadership, and Tom Murray, Director of Innovation for Future Ready Schools and author of Learning Transformed. Choice break out sessions led by OPS teachers. Breakfast and lunch will be provided each day.
Dates:
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
To register for Day 1 of the event, click here and follow registration instructions:
https://tinyurl.com/OPSTECHSHARE2019Day1
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
To register for Day 2 of the event, click here and follow registration instructions: https://tinyurl.com/OPSTECHSHARE2019Day2
Omaha North High Magnet School
4410 N. 36th St.
Omaha, NE
Act fast: the registration deadline is May 19th as seating is limited for this professional learning experience!
Digital Citizenship Corner with Common Sense Education
Any questions regarding digital citizenship or Common Sense Education should be directed to Keegan Korf at keegan.korf@ops.org.
OPS 2018 - 2019 BrightBytes Technology & Learning...Did you know?
As we prepare for an influx of devices in our district, effective professional development for teachers will have an enormous impact on teaching and learning. The Center for American Progress reports that 14 hours of high quality professional development on a single topic is needed before the classroom is impacted to a statistically significant degree. However, CASE data collected from hundreds of schools indicates that 73% of teachers report less than 17 hours of school-sponsored professional development around technology in the last 12 months.
Research from the International Society of Technology Education (ISTE) also reveals that high quality professional development is job-embedded, personalized, and designed to promote skill transfer. Professional learning experiences must respond to teachers’ interests, needs, and classroom settings. In many cases, these types of learning experiences can extend beyond the traditional school in-service setting to include webinars, Twitter chats, and other virtual experiences.
This type of dynamic instruction helps both teachers and students alike. A Walden University study reports that teachers who use technology frequently place the highest emphasis on using technology to promote problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication.
Being aware of teachers’ skill profiles and interests with technology can greatly inform the development of a cohesive, integrated professional development plan that will enhance student learning outcomes.
Take a look at what our OPS teachers have reported regarding skills and interest in technology from our BrightBytes Technology and Learning data in the info-graphic below.
Educator Spotlight
Please click on the Sway link below to see how technology is being used in his classroom and how technology is making a difference in his student's learning.
Technology Training Team
Debra Bordenkecher:
Technology Trainer, Classified/Certified Staff/TAC
Rebecca Chambers:
Instructional Technology Trainer, Mobile Learning Unit Lead Teacher
Melissa Cleaver:Instructional Technology Trainer, Project Coordinator
Eileen Heller:
Instructional Technology Trainer, Elementary Lead Teacher
Keegan Korf:
Common Sense Media, Digital Citizenship Lead Teacher
Kelly Means:
Instructional Technology Trainer, Project Coordinator
Amy Vester:
Instructional Technology Trainer, Secondary Lead Teacher
McKenzie White:
Instructional Technology Trainer, Library Lead Teacher
Email: techtrainers@ops.org
Website: http://techhub.ops.org/
Location: Omaha Public Schools, NE, United States
Phone: (531)299-9624
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Opstechtrainers
Twitter: @OPStechtrainers