District Administration - July/August 2012 - (Page 12)

Letters Keeping Up With Tech Innovation In response to DA’s District CIO coverage the past several months, I’d like to say we can save money and time if we can get better at designing curriculum that spans content and allows us to do more in less time. The time can be used for better professional development in technology integration. I would like to see a national online training center with resources to give teachers content and skills in one location and allows them to talk to welltrained technology facilitators at any given moment. I would also like to see a statewide bank of software that is purchased with simultaneous login licenses. By having most of the software on state level servers, it will reduce the cost by purchasing in bulk and by controlling how many people can log on. We need to think differently and out of the box. We need to bring together the best in the business to form discussion panels to brainstorm on these ideas. Many district leaders grew up without technology, and are our biggest and most dangerous digital divide. We need to help get them the skills. Greg Limperis CEO Technology Integration in Education investment for many schools, depending on a district’s instructional goals. The capabilities and price point of the Classmate have allowed us to expand our 1:1 program through 5th grade. For St. Paul Academy and Summit School, the Classmates have been crucial to our success. Tami Brass Director of Instructional Technology St. Paul Academy and Summit School St. Paul, Minn. A Better Tablet? In response to a recent feature story about tablets, “One Tablet Per Child” (June 2012), just thought I’d mention the ClassmatePC Convertible. It runs Windows 7 and can be purchased from some vendors with SSD drive and 4 GB of RAM. It functions with all the capability of a traditional PC netbook, plus kids have the ability to “ink” the screen—all in the same price range of a higher-end iPad. It has a longer projected life-span; and it may be a better A New Learning Initiative In an April 2012 CIO newsletter, DA ran a Q&A with Paige Johnson of Intel, “What CIOs Can Learn from Project RED”. The interview explored the newest research from national research and advocacy plan Project RED (Revolutionizing Education), which surveyed schools about best practices in technology. As one of four co-authors of Project RED research and learning community, I hoped to inform your readers that Project RED is launching a new initiative: district CIOs, superintendents, and curriculum directors can join this research-based community at www .ProjectRed.org and learn how to use the Project RED Design to implement a learning initiative properly. We are also launching a complimentary set of materials that can serve as models for aspiring districts, including a readiness assessment, project planning tools and a Cost Savings Calculator. The site has been newly launched to serve as the hub of the Project RED Learning Community, with complimentary webinars and face-to-face institutes. Jeanne Hayes President The Hayes Connection Letters to the Editor may be sent to jhartnett@ districtadministration.com, or mailed to Judy F. Hartnett, District Administration, 488 Main Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851. Selections that are published may be edited for length and clarity, and become the property of District Administration. District Administration Online E-Learning Access to Award-Winning HearBuilder® Educational Software • HearBuilder Software for Following Directions, Phonological Awareness, Sequencing, and Auditory Memory • Winner of 15 National Awards • Research- & Evidence-Based Programs • Centralizes Student Data • Reports at the School, Class, or Student Level • Comparative Reports by Demographic • Monitors Student Progress • Identifies Struggling Students • SMART Board Compatible Super Duper Learning ® Contact us at sdlearning@superduperinc.com or go to www.superduperlearning.com ©2012 Super Duper® Publications 12 July/August 2012 http://www.superduperlearning.com http://www.ProjectRed.org http://www.ProjectRed.org http://www.superduperlearning.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - July/August 2012

District Administration - July/August 2012
Contents
From the Editor
Letters
News Update
District Profile
Administrator Profile
Research Center
Professional Opinion
Supervisor's Opinion
Crisis Response
Going Mobile
Gaming Gains Respect
A Running Start for ELLs
Paul Vallas for Sale
Unsung Heroes
CIO News
Avoiding the Pitfalls of Virtual Schooling
Noteworthy Books
New Products
Product Focus
Problem Solution

District Administration - July/August 2012