21st Century Schools: Practical Strategies for Implementing Technology
Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 4:00 EDT
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Successfully implementing technology into today's schools means evaluating student, educator, and classroom needs and how best to address them. It involves assessing current infrastructure, determining future technologies and evaluating the professional development, technical and instructional support that will guarantee that the system is both effective and cost effective.
Some districts have figured out the strategies that will work for them and where to get help in making the best decisions. This Webinar will provide information on how to begin the planning process and take an inside look at two schools that have effective solutions in place. Find out how they successfully implement technology in the classroom, enhanced the teaching environment and increased student engagement.
Speakers:
Dina A. Kraemer
Director, Business & Interactive Technology
LAUSD / Hamilton High
Dina started her career in education. From 1980 to 1986, she taught Chemistry and Physics and coached varsity sports in Kansas City, MO; Houston, Texas;and Newport Beach, CA. She transitioned to corporate world in 1984-2001, working for two Fortune 500 companies in Sales, Marketing, Project Management, Business Development and Strategy. Health Net was her last company; she was Director of Business Development. The last project she worked on before returning to education was a national technology project to transition physicians from paper medical record to digital and integration of "data" across healthcare systems
In 2001, Dana joined LAUSD, the second largest school district in country with 750,000 students, at Hamilton High. She wrote a business plan to start a new school, a "new small learning community" with the philosophy of "all things digital" whereby students would utilize technology in every core course, not just computer classes and to bring "reality" to the curriculum by infusing real world topics into the lessons. The plan was acceptedand the Business & Interactive Technology "BIT" school opened in Fall 2004 with grades 9-10. Dina became Director of the School.
In the second year, they launched a digital classroom where they "piloted" a completely paperless learning space. Textbooks and all assignments were completed, turned in, and graded online. During the last 18 months, Dina has built partnerships with Electronic Arts, Gateway, Microsoft, Intel, Merrill Lynch, Pinnacle, Discreet, and USC Game Innovation Lab. In late 2005, they received a "grant" / "donation" of 120 M280s as the first LAUSD site to pilot the value of one to one computing.
Brad Brandsrud
Assistant Principal
Watertown School District
Brad Brandsrud serves as the senior assistant principal and manager of the Learning With Laptops initiative at Watertown High School in Watertown, South Dakota. As the administrative representative with the most technology experience, Mr. Brandsrud has been involved in electronic student management systems, district web development, and most currently a project that places a Gateway laptop computer in the hands of 1,300 high school students in grades 9-12.
Jon Beard
CEO
Knowledge Network Solutions, Inc.
Jon is CEO of Knowledge Network Solutions, Inc. (KNS), a corporation focused on providing strategic consulting and integration of solutions for e-Learning. KNS specifically has targeted K-12 Education for assessment and implementation of e-learning solutions using well developed resources within the company.
Jon earned a BA degree in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Since that time, Jon has been heavily involved with technology. His career began with Loews Corporation where he served for eight years in a number of capacities including - IT Management, Systems Design and Implementation, and finally as a Corporate Management Advisory Senior Associate in New York City.
Jon moved to North Carolina where he created, owned, and operated Computer Decisions, Inc., one of the first and largest computer training and consulting companies in the southeast. During the thirteen years he owned the company and prior to selling the company, Jon created an education division of the company to provide teacher training for the integration of technology into current curricula and providing Instructional Technology Planning services. This division was highly successful and ultimately became Teacher Universe, upon the sale of Computer Decisions to Knowledge Universe, where Jon was a Vice-President.
Jon has a strong personal desire to see K12 education integrate technology into the lives and curricula that students associate with every day as a practical preparation for future professional opportunities. Jon understands that the key, however, is to provide teachers and administrators with the technology tools and knowledge of integration to insure this success.
Moderator:
Gwen Solomon
Director
TechLearning.com
Gwen Solomon is the director of Technology & Learning magazine’s award-winning web site, techLEARNING.com and manages other new media ventures. She is also a Contributing Editor and advertorial writer for the publication. Prior to this work, Gwen was Senior Analyst in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology, Coordinator of Instructional Technology Planning for New York City Public Schools, and founding Director of New York City's School of the Future. Before that, Gwen was a teacher and computer coordinator. Gwen writes extensively about educational technology and has published several books and many articles on various aspects of the topic.
