Conference Agenda

Monday, March 6, 2006

• Jim Hirsch, Associate Superintendent for Technology, Plano Independent School District, TX (Moderator)
• C. Jackson Grayson, Jr., PhD, Founder and Chairman, American Productivity & Quality Center (APQC)
  Grayson presentation (8 MB)

• Rich Kaestner, Project Director, Total Cost of Ownership and Value of Investment, CoSN
  Kaestner presentation
• Herbert Berg, EdD, Superintendent, Kershaw County School District, SC
• Gerald Crisci, Director of Technology, Scarsdale Public Schools, NY

View Video of This Session

M101: Total Cost of Ownership for One-to-One Computing - Case Studies
Essential Skills: Planning & Budgeting and Business Leadership

In order to create a sustainable, ubiquitous student computing environment, one must be able to plan up-front for initial and ongoing costs of the proposed one-to-one project. Presenters will relay their experiences using the CoSN-Gartner TCO tool to determine these costs, along with actual and projected benefits. This session will include discussion on the benefit of viewing technology as an integral component of an educational organization's ability to gather data and information to impact the deployment of human, instructional, financial and physical plant resources.

• Richard Kaestner, Project Director, Total Cost of Ownership, CoSN (Moderator/Presenter)
  Kaestner presentation
• Eric Peterson, Consultant, Michigan's Freedom to Learn Initiative
• Leslie Wilson, Director of Professional & Curriculum Development, Academic Affairs, Ferris State University

M102: Meeting Accessibility Requirements With Effective Teamwork and Proven Technologies
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Planning & Budgeting, Team Building & Staffing and Education & Training

See what an effective team composed of technology and special education staff can do to increase achievement for all students. Learn about Clarke County's collaborative approach to needs assessment, installation and support and the impact it has had on all learners, not just students with IEPs. The session will also introduce free professional development materials from WestEd on the universal design features imbedded in operating systems, common software and Internet resources that support instructional strategies for diverse learners.

• Linda Sharp, Project Manager, Accessible Technologies for All Students, CoSN (Moderator)
• Virginia Jewell, PhD, Technology Coordinator, Clarke County School District, GA
  Jewell presentation
• Russ Holland, Program Director, Alliance for Technology Accesss

M103: Education Technology Enabling Community Economic Development
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Information Management and Business Leadership

How can technology leaders make a more clear business case for the investment of technology in schools? How does this investment impact on community economic development? Learn about a new research study by LearningPoint that provides information on why it is imperative that our country invest in educational technology. Get the data on why we cannot operate on a "business-as-usual" basis if we want economic growth and quality of life for generations to come. Finally, hear from an innovative program in New Mexico which links economic development and education technology.

• Cheryl Lemke, President & CEO, Metiri Group
• Robert Nelson, Chief Technology Officer, Council of the Great City Schools (Retired)
• Ferdi Serim, Program Manager, Literacy, Technology and Standards, New Mexico Public Education Department

M104: High Tech Backpack of Today - Digital Learning Spaces of Tomorrow
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Planning & Budgeting, Education & Training and Ethics & Policies

Digital Learning Spaces are created and activated by the technology infrastructure of schools as well as the devices students and teachers carry. During this session Emerging Technologies Committee members will share their vision of future learning spaces in an elementary classroom, an integrated math/science learning space and a virtual school that help students connect, create and collaborate. Before educators ban a new technology, consider the possibilities-make the most of the learning potential in students' high-tech backpacks!

• Karen Henke, CoSN's Emerging Technologies Committee Chair & Writer, Nimble Press (Moderator)
• Douglas Levin, Director, Education Policy, Cable in the Classroom
• Tom Rolfes, Education I.T. Manager, Office of the Chief Information Officer/NITC, State of Nebraska
• Raymond Rose

All presentations for this session

M105: E-Rate: 2005 Funding Year and Policy Update
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision and Ethics & Policies

Join this panel discussion of the E-Rate program. Hill insiders will give update on the status of federal legislation on E-Rate related issues, the status of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposals to change the E-Rate and news from Universal Service Administrative Corporation (USAC) on improvements to program administration. CoSN Board President Sheryl Abshire, who handles E-Rate applications for her district, will also provide a district perspective on the E-Rate program.

• Jon Bernstein, President, Bernstein Strategy Group (Moderator)
• Sheryl Abshire, Administrative Coordinator of Technology, Calcasieu Parish Schools, LA
• Mel Blackwell, Vice President, Schools & Libraries Division, Universal Service Administration Corporation
• Jessica Rosenworcel, Competition and Universal Service Legal Advisor, Office of FCC Commissioner Michael Copps
• Rachel Welch, Democratic Counsel, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee

M106: Using the Web for Multilingual Instruction
Essential Skills: Education & Training

This session will discuss how to use technology to communicate to multicultural and multilingual students and how the technology itself can become a unifying factor and a virtual language of common symbols, designs, etc. Presenters will identify how we can further use technology to create a common international community. In particular, presenters will investigate the transferability of educational programs and applications that break down cultural, linguistic and other barriers to learning and communication.

• Farimah Schuerman, Consultant, Farimah Schuerman, ETC (Moderator)
• Lynda Franco, Director Special Projects, Colorado Department of Education
• Barbara Freeman, Project Director of the Help with English Language Proficiency (HELP) & Chief Operating Officer, Digital Directions, International

M107: Knowledge to Action to Results (Spotlight Session)
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Systems Management and Information Management

This session will share how to tightly align organizational goals, human systems and technology systems to assure the entire district is focused on doing the right things in the most effective and efficient manner. Presenters will focus on technology systems which have supported reform initiatives resulting in nationally recognized improvement in student achievement. These technology systems have been deployed to build capacity of staff, both in knowledge and efficiency; serve as the foundation of sound strategic and tactical decision making; assessing, analyzing and reporting student progress; and, communicating with students and parents.

• John Porter, Deputy Superintendent, Information and Organizational Systems, Montgomery County Public Schools, MD (Moderator)
• Jerry Weast, EdD, Superintendent of Schools, Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
• Kenneth Wells, EdD, Superintendent, Perquimans County Schools, NC (CoSN’s 2006 TEAM Award Winner)

View Video of This Session

M108: The Impact of Video-on-Demand on Student Retention: Recent Research (Spotlight Session Hosted by SAFARI Video Networks)
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Planning & Budgeting, Education & Training and Communication Systems

To meet the challenges of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), school districts in California are reinventing their use of educational technology to meet assessment criteria and the demand for 21st Century Skills. In November 2005, Educational Support Systems, an independent research firm, began studying the impact integrated video-on-demand technology had on education in California. Join the research team for a results update. This presentation will focus on re-designing learning environments to support digital instruction, the development of curricula that integrates visual learning, best practices for using video in the classroom and the measurable impact content consumption has on student retention and high-stakes testing.

• John Cradler, President, Educational Support Systems
• Mike Mellon, Former Director of Instructional Resources and Technology, Department of the Monterey County, CA Office of Education

LS101: Teaching and Learning with Tablet Computing in a One-to-One Environment (Hosted by Gateway)
Essential Skills: Education & Training and Leadership & Vision

This session will review and discuss best practice examples of how schools have incorporated tablet computing in one-to-one settings and transformed teaching and learning. Topics will include planning and implementation, curriculum and classroom software, professional development and on going support, as well as best practices and learning from implementations.

• John Cowie, Senior Director, Education Strategy, Gateway
• David Berque, PhD, Professor, DePauw University

LS102: The Emerging Digital Content Ecosystem: Not Just for Music! (Hosted by Apple)
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Information Management, Education & Training and Communication Systems

iPods, Podcasting and the iTunes Music Store are elevating digital content delivery in K-20 institutions. Presenters will discuss creation, distribution and access of education content using iPods as an essential mobile access device and the iTunes Music Store as an effective content tool. In addition, this session will showcase examples of successful practices.

• Presenters TBD

LS103: One-to-One Handhelds are the Obvious Solution: What Are We Waiting For?
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision and Education & Training

“Fully half of all teens and 57% of teens who use the Internet could be considered Content Creators.” (Pew Survey) So why aren’t we moving faster to put computers inside schools so children can use them to be Content Understanders? This session will examine seven excuses schools use to delay implementing the obvious solution: giving each of the 55 million U.S. school children a mobile, low-cost, powerful, handheld computer. Changes to K-12 education typically take a long time. Consequently, K-12’s customers – our children – lose out. The real challenge, then, is how to help K-12’s leaders truly be leaders.

• Cathleen Norris, PhD, Professor, Department of Technology and Cognition, University of North Texas
• Elliot Soloway, PhD, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, Department of EECS, College of Engineering, University of Michigan

LS104: The Pitfalls of Negotiating Software Agreements and How Your School District Can Avoid Them
Essential Skills: Planning & Budgeting and Business Leadership

Has your school district ever been locked into a particular software vendor or contract? Has your school district bought software that didn’t work? This session will identify the most common pitfalls school districts face when acquiring software and how to avoid them, using Contract Commons, a free online legal resource.

• Professor Beth Simone Noveck, PhD, Director Contract Commons Project, New York Law School Institute for Information Law & Policy (Moderator)
• Contract Commons Project Team: Smita Gulivindala, Marcey Grigsby, Natalie Porto, and Brian Robinson

LS105: First Look at America’s Digital Schools 2006: A Five Year Forecast
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Planning & Budgeting, Information Management and Business Leadership

Participate in a lively discussion about early findings from a landmark nationwide study of the top 2,500 school district’s use of one-to-one computing, eLearning and digital content. Learn what superintendents, curriculum and technology directors in leading U.S. districts say about what they are planning, where digital content is going, what eLearning growth they see and what they forecast for 2008 and 2011.

• Jeanne Hayes. Principal, The Hayes Connection & Founder, Quality Education Data
  Hayes presentation
• Tom Greaves, Chairman, The Greaves Group, LLC
• Linda Sharp, Consultant to America’s Digital Schools 2006

Roundtables, set for 10 participants each, will be held from 1:00 PM-1:45 PM in Exhibit Hall A & B. The purpose of these roundtables is to give our vendors the opportunity to lead discussions on cutting edge technology solutions and/or applications, offer the latest developments, exchange information and serve as an information resource to attendees. Tables throughout the exhibit hall will display a number. This number (or table assignment) will correspond with the discussions topics listed below.

Best Practices for Online Learning Communities
Table No. 1
Facilitator: Melissa Anderson, Pedagogical Advisor, Blackboard Inc. & Professor, Pepperdine University

Participants will discuss strategies for leading and managing online learning initiatives. The discussion will include current research on the value of online learning communities in K-12 environments as well as provide insights into best practices for collaborative learning initiatives that foster online learning communities and garner internal and external support for their growth.

Using Technology to Power Online Learning Communities
Table No. 2
Facilitator: Jim Rieder, Director of North American Sales, FirstClass Division - Open Text Corporation

Many school districts are looking to develop online learning communities in an effort to connect their students, parents and teachers within a rich, shared environment. FirstClass will discuss how their solution is being used to develop successful and sustainable learning communities that result in enhanced learning, knowledge sharing and communication between individuals and groups within school districts.

The Latest Wireless Technology Used to Gather Student Responses to Classroom Activities
Table No. 3
Facilitator: Adrienne Tinsley, Regional Vice President, Renaissance Learning

Several vendors offer products with a primary purpose of providing instructors with instant feedback that reflects each student's grasp of concepts discussed in class. This roundtable will discuss the interest level of educators who may consider using such technology to gather and manage responses to daily assessments, homework and practice sessions for high-stakes assessment events. Discussion topics will include: potential benefits and risks; classroom management procedures; and the formation of an online discussion forum where best practices can be shared across the state.

Wireless Broadband in Education: Fast, Immediate and More Cost-Effective Connectivity
Table No. 4
Facilitator: Lisa Cooke, Marcom Specialist, Redline Communications

Educators are constantly being challenged to provide quality programs more efficiently to an increasingly diverse population without having the budgets to deliver them through conventional methods. School boards are increasingly looking to new technologies for cost-effective solutions to this problem. Wireless broadband systems are one of the ‘new’ technologies that provide school boards an alternative to traditional wireline technology that can deliver more advanced network services and, at the same time, reduce costs. Is fixed broadband wireless the solution to delivering voice, video and data to schools? Redline Communications will provide an overview of the benefits that wireless technologies offer to schools, as well as some guidelines on implementing a fixed broadband wireless network.

What Can SIF Do For You?
Table No. 5
Facilitator: Scott Curtis, Marketing Coordinator, Edustructures

Schools, districts and states thinking about application integration, state reporting and student identification are relying on the Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF). So, what is SIF? Is it here to stay? Is it cost-effective? In this high-level interactive roundtable participants will discuss these questions and more.

The Value and Role of Technology in Disasters
Table No. 6
Facilitator: Douglas Levin, Directory of Education Policy, Cable in the Classroom

Last year’s hurricanes along the Gulf Coast destroyed much of the technology infrastructure. After the storms, online schools, technology and content providers, corporations and non-profits used technology to come together, in ad-hoc organizations like vSKOOL, and organize a response that provided digital content, online courses, connectivity and technology to damaged schools and displaced students. Hear some of the lessons learned and share your ideas about technology’s role in disaster preparation and relief with one of vSKOOL.’s leaders.

Addressing the Challenge of Application Integration Through a Service Oriented Architecture
Table No. 7
Facilitator: Diana Richie, K-12 Education Industry Director, Oracle Corporation

According to Gartner and other industry analysts, the current wave of innovation centered around the Service Oriented Architecture is a transformational event. This event is being driven by two factors: the availability of new technology and the emergence of industry standards. Throughout the industry large applications and technology companies are moving towards this new standards-based architecture. Why is this a good thing for school districts? How can they begin to benefit today? What does this mean for K-12 industry standards like SIF? What are school districts doing today to prepare for the Service Oriented Architecture in their future?

Tools to Support Innovative and Effective Technology Use in Mathematics Education
Table No. 8
Facilitators: Nancy Carey, Coordinator of Professional Development, Maryland State Department of Education and SETDA Representative & Helen Morris, Manager, Office of Education Policy, Texas Instruments, Inc.

Innovative and effective technology use in mathematics education is a powerful tool that can engage students. It can help improve their learning and performance on assessments and support the 21st century learning skills they must possess to function in the world beyond high school. Educators need resources to support technology in mathematics education: information on best practices in using technology effectively; the research basis that supports technology in mathematics education; and funding information that will help them ensure all their students have access to the right learning technologies. During this roundtable, we will discuss sources for this information and share details about a new resource from SETDA that will support this endeavor nationwide.

Access to Data and Systems by Teachers and Students: An Imperative for Today’s Schools
Table No. 9
Facilitator: Ken Quinton, Sales and Marketing Manager, Stoneware, Inc.

We live in a broadband society. Teachers – Students – Parents – Legislators all have online relationships for services of every kind. How long before they ask you for more online services? Will you be regulated to provide access beyond your current solutions or vision? Will teachers demand the flexibility of at-home access? Will your parents demand access? What is the value of greater access? Can more access reduce work and improve communication? And, what are the risks? These are just a few of the questions that will be posed during this roundtable discussion. This roundtable will explore the growing trend of more remote access, its benefits and challenges, success stories and lessons learned.

“Mainstreaming” Virtual Education – How Can Traditional Districts and Schools Benefit from Virtual Lessons Learned
Table No. 10
Facilitator: Gordon Freedman, Vice President, Education Strategy, Blackboard Inc.

There are particularly good lessons coming out of the state-funded Virtual Schools movement that can be applied to mainstream, traditional ground-based education. The Virtual Schools, now present in nearly half of the states, rely on complete technology infrastructures, modern organizational structures, quality assurance and consistency in course development and delivery and constant professional development. These models provide success for individual students, qualifications for every teacher and efficient administration for every school, creating an effective modeling and benchmarking environment for ground-based and hybrid education. This roundtable will discuss the “Mainstreaming” process of how traditional schools can use Virtual Schools courses, content and processes in traditional programs and how traditional districts and schools can develop their own virtual practices to augment curriculum, train teachers and build results student by student.

Safety and Accountability in Schools
Table No. 11
Facilitator: Sheeba Bruning, Regional Marketing Manager, Sprint Nextel Corporation

From the school bus to the classroom and everywhere in between learn how wireless technology can assist you with safety, security and accountability.

Software Overload: Managing Complexity in a District Environment
Table No. 12
Facilitator: Sue Koch, Manager, Product Marketing, AutoSkill International Inc.

Districts use a large number of software programs from a broad range of vendors – from word processing to reading intervention software to student information systems. IT administrators are faced with the challenge of managing these disparate programs while ensuring productivity, data security and access to student information. In this roundtable discussion, we’ll brainstorm ways that districts can work with their suppliers to reduce complexity, including creating web-based portals – one login for all programs; establishing district “warehouses” for student data; adopting standard data formats, such as SIF; and accessing software as a service – hosting inside or outside the district firewall.

Helping Students Build and Leverage Strong Learning Relationships
Table No. 13
Facilitator: Robin Christensen, Director of Marketing, LearningStation

Today’s learners are faced with a world of information on a daily basis and must be able to gather it, synthesize it and apply it everyday to classroom learning and real-life experiences. Being able to communicate with a rich learning community – one made up of peers, teachers, mentors and families – helps students conquer that world of information. It's important for students to have access to other students and the community around them as they progress through school -- whether they're collaborating with other students on a school project, asking a question of a mentor while researching a topic or presenting a project to their peers. This roundtable will discuss how students in your school/district use tutoring or mentoring programs -- formal or informal -- to support learning; how is collaborative learning supported in your school/district; and what role do you see learning relationships playing in support of enhanced student learning.

Collaboration and Community: Enabling High-Value Communication Between Teachers, Staff, Students and Parents
Table No. 14
Facilitator: Rudy Mazza, Director of Business Development, Education, Alcatel

Technology offers powerful tools that can facilitate better communication with parents, allow teachers and staff to share best practices and provide a way for administrators to share their vision. This roundtable will discuss how districts can use blogs, instant messaging, audio, video and web collaboration -- in and out of the classroom. Participants will discuss the impact on student achievement, the kind of network infrastructure that is needed and the key elements for implementing cost-effective collaboration solutions.

The Current State of Linux Deployments in Schools and Their Value to Date
Table No. 15
Facilitator: Page Gravely, Director of Business Development, Education Vertical, Red Hat, Inc.

More and more schools are looking to take advantage of Linux and Open Source technologies to save money, time and worries. But many still have questions about making the transition from current operating systems and what the true relevant savings and benefits could be. Red Hat would like to invite attendees to come ask their questions.

Using Web-Based Instructional Models to Drive ROI of Technology Initiatives
Table No. 16
Facilitator: Scott Balwinski, Vice President and General Manager, K12 Classroom Solutions, K12 Inc.

This roundtable will discuss how to increase teacher usage of classroom technology – particularly the popular, interactive whiteboards. Because of limited budgets technology initiatives must demonstrate their value. But too often technology sits idle or is under-utilized by teachers after it is installed in the classrooms. During this roundtable participants will discuss the merits of using web-based instructional models to encourage teachers to use technology. The facilitator will lead a discussion about successes and struggles of integrating web-based curriculum and interactive whiteboards in schools in Idaho, Arkansas and Pennsylvania.

Getting the most from Instructional Management Systems
Table No. 17
Facilitator: Bridget Foster, Director Business Development, SchoolNet, Inc.

What are the challenges that districts face when implementing an Instructional Management System to support data driving decision making? How can you sidestep the pitfalls of funding, lack of knowledge, too many choices, union issues and lack of tech plans? This roundtable will discuss the pros and cons of implementing a district-wide instructional management system.

M201: Research Around One-to-One Initiatives
Essential Skills: Planning & Budgeting, Team Building & Staffing, Systems Management and Education & Training

For those districts and states considering one-to-one initiatives it is important to consider the increasing amount of research that has been done in this area. Fortunately, some of the nation's largest and most successful one-to-one initiatives have had strong research components built-in from their inception. Learn key research findings from the leaders of two of the largest one-to-one initiatives, as well as other educational researchers. This session will help those considering these initiatives how to better ensure success.

• Maria Leight, Executive Director, Center for Digital Education (Moderator)
• Pamela Buffington, Senior Technology Associate, Center for Online Professional Development, Educational Development Center, Inc.
• Bette Manchester, Director of Special Projects, Maine Department of Education
• Bruce Montgomery, PhD, Executive Director, Freedom to Learn, Ferris State University
• Steven Ross, PhD, Professor and Director, Center for Research in Educational Policy, College of Education, The University of Memphis
• David Silvernail, EdD, Director, Center for Education Policy, Applied Research and Evaluation, University of Southern Maine

M202: From Educational Portals to Collaborative Learning Communities
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Planning & Budgeting, Team Building & Staffing, Information Management, Education & Training and Communication Systems

This session will focus on technologies that can be used to improve communications and access to data for all stakeholders. Broward County, Florida will share how the development of an enterprise portal improved access to accountability data by the educational community, including teachers, administrators, counselors, parents and students. Howard County, Maryland will discuss how a powerful collaborative technology system supports communication and resource sharing within the Collaborative Learning Community. Both presentations will discuss consideration for selecting the appropriate technologies, deploying the solutions and will share lessons learned from their experiences.

• Ed Zaiontz, Executive Director, Information Services, Round Rock ISD, TX (Moderator)
• Vijay Sonty, Chief Information Officer, School Board of Broward County, FL
• Thomas Miller, e-Learning Facilitator, Howard County Public School System, MD
  Miller presentation

M203: SIF - IT Only Really Works When "it" Works Together
Essential Skills: Planning & Budgeting, Systems Management, Information Management and Business Leadership

The Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF) is the leading initiative in systems and data interoperability. Data-driven decision making is an often used term when describing the importance of data utilization but what does the phrase actually mean to the various audiences? Many times schools and states forget the importance and processes required to be able to access quality data to make such decisions. This session will focus on the importance of data interoperability and how the open SIF Specification can empower small and large districts to effectively manage data including examples of success.

• Larry Fruth, II, PhD, Executive Director, Schools Interoperability Framework Association (Moderator)
• Laurie Collins, SIF Project Strategist, Schools Interoperability Framework Association
• Todd Huges, Chief Technology Officer, Durant Public Schools, OK
• Hugh Tompkins, Consultant, Orange County Schools, FL & Senior Administrator, Customer Support Services, Information Technology, CPSI

M204: The A-Z's of Data Warehousing
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Information Management and Communication Systems

School district technology leaders must efficiently and effectively manage data to support No Child Left Behind (NCLB) initiatives and provide timely information to educational leaders. During this session, presenters will share how they created, populated and managed a repository enabling the easy access and manipulation of timely and accurate data. Participants will learn what elements are necessary to create a data warehouse and the types of reports needed that will drive school improvement planning and instructional strategies to support NCLB and increase student achievement for all students.

• John Porter, Deputy Superintendent, Information and Organizational Systems, Montgomery County Public Schools, MD (Moderator)
• Michael Carver, Senior Project Manager, Dept of Information Technology, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
• Willam Flaherty, Director of Technology Services, Hanover County Public Schools, Hanover County Public Schools, VA
  Flaherty presentation

M205: Latest Research on Educational Technology Programs' Impact on Student Achievement (Part I)
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Planning & Budgeting, Team Building & Staffing and Education & Training

This two-hour session (M205 and M305) will provide a forum for four of the ten states that have received evaluation grants through the U.S. Department of Education’s Evaluating State Educational Technology Program (ESETP). The grantees will share the goals, successes and possible failures with other states seeking to replicate their programs. Grantees will present preliminary scientifically-based research that shows the impact technology has on student achievement. North Carolina and Texas have both utilized EETT funding and the ESETP grants to implement school-wide technology immersion programs. Participants will hear how North Carolina overcame obstacles and see preliminary data from the implementation and evaluation of the IMPACT model in schools. Next, participants will learn how Texas used implementation strategies and experiences with their Technology Immersion Pilot (TIP). In addition, Pennsylvania grantees will provide their methodology and preliminary findings from their eSPARC grant, which was used to place recycled computers and Internet access in students’ homes. Participants will see Arkansas’ Environmental and Spatial Technology (EAST) program evaluation and how it was used to provide extensive labs in high school classrooms to facilitate project-based learning. This session promises to spark vigorous debate among district, state and national technology leaders about how to support and enhance student achievement through technology.

• Mary Ann Wolf, PhD, Director of Leadership Policy and Planning, State Educational Technology Directors Association (Moderator)
• Barry Golden, ESET Project Manager, Library Media, Technology and Community Learning, Wisconsin Department of Education
• James Boardeman, State Technology Director, Arkansas Department of Education
• Frances Bradburn, Director, Instructional Technology Division, North Carolina Department of Instruction
• Anita Givens, Senior Director, Instructional Materials and Educational Technology, Texas Education Agency
• L. Michael Golden, Deputy Secretary, Office of Information and Educational Technology, Pennsylvania Department of Education
• Mark Hoffman, eSPARC Coordinator, Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit #21, Pennsylvania Department of Education
• Richard Powell, Project Consultant, Texas Education Agency
• All presentations for this session

M206: Digital Content and Student Achievement: Researched-Based Exemplars
Essential Skills: Education & Training

In 1992 there were approximately fifty websites in the world; today, there are over 8 billion. Educators can easily become “info-whelmed” by all the possibilities of incorporating digital content in their classrooms. Integration should not be the end in itself but rather the means for boosting student achievement. To that end, educators must focus on using digital content that is strongly aligned to curricula and state standards. This session will highlight two web-based initiatives. The first was developed by the Library of Congress, while the second, Thinkport.org, was developed by Maryland Public Television and Johns Hopkins University Center for Technology in Education. Both projects have practical applications that classroom teachers can use to support their goal of raising student achievement.

• Michael Horning, Jr., Educational Content Manager, NYLearns.org, Center for Applied Technologies in Education (CATE), University of Buffalo (Moderator)
• Michael Aubin, Director of Digital Development, Education, Maryland Public Television
• Leni Donlan, Project Coordinator, Learning Page, Office of Strategic Initiatives, Library of Congress

M207: NetDay Speak Up 100 - America's Top Schools for Student Voices in Ed Tech (Spotlight Session)
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision

For the past three years, NetDay has championed student voices in education technology by hosting Speak Up Day and by publishing national reports on their data findings. For the first time, NetDay has identified the top 100 schools and districts in the United States that are effectively leveraging student ideas to drive innovation in education technology. The highlight of this session will be student testimonials from some of the “Students’ Speak Up 100” schools. The students will share their insights and discuss the impact their voices have had within their communities.

• Julie Evans, Chief Executive Officer, NetDay
• Local Area Children (Invited)

View Video of This Session

Every school district and state Department of Education is striving toward implementing an enterprise-wide information architecture that is supported by an integrated set of applications and technologies. Every district or state Department of Education faces challenges of integration, costs, change management and business fit of the applications to education. This session will focus on how districts and departments can integrate an open standards and open source approach. While working within limited budgets, they can target those areas that make a business initiative involving technology successful. This presentation will also address how open standards/open source can address interoperability and data quality.

• Kirsten Schroeder, Partner, IBM Corporation
• School District Representative TBD

In today’s environment, accurate, accessible timely data is critical for educators to make informed instructional decisions. Come hear how technology has evolved to the point where educators have access to near real-time information to improve the instructional process and the public has access to accountability data on their schools.

• Maribeth Luftglass, Assistant Superintendent and Chief Information Officer, Department of Information Technology, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
  Luftglass presentation
• Diana Richie, K-12 Education Industry Director, Oracle Corporation

Video presentation (22 MB - Windows media file)

M301: Using Data (and Teacher Collaboration) to Improve Individual Student Performance
Essential Skills: Planning & Budgeting, Information Management and Education & Training

School Leaders are under more pressure than ever to show that technology is improving student learning. Before technology can improve student learning, teachers have to find meaning in the data, integrate technology into instruction and work in collaboration with other educators to determine what steps are needed for systemic reform. This session will examine two programs, the Using Data project, focused on using data to improve student instruction and the second, Mapping the Flow of Expertise in schools, focused on measuring integration of education technology in schools. Both programs will emphasize research and data for the purpose of measuring progress in schools.

• Amy Perry-DelCorvo, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Wayne Finger Lakes BOCES (Moderator)
• Jennifer Unger, Educational Consultant, Council of Chief State School Officers
• William Penuel, PhD, Director of Evaluation Research, Center for Technology in Learning, SRI International, Inc.
  Penuel presentation

M302: Toward a One-to-One World: Mobile Computing is the Lifestyle of Learning (Spotlight Session Hosted by Intel)
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Planning & Budgeting, Team Building and Staffing and Education & Training

Twenty-first century career skills demand the use of computers to be competitive in the global economy. While nearly all U.S. schools currently use computers, the demand to create one-to-one access for all students is increasing exponentially. To meet this need, leaders must have a vision, enlist others and successfully develop a strategic plan to accomplish educational objectives that maximize the use of technology. This session will discuss the obstacles common to deploying one-to-one initiatives. Districts across the country have reported these problems as they attempted to achieve ubiquitous computing. In this session, you will meet a district successfully moving toward the ultimate lifestyle of learning…true access to knowledge construction for all students in the district. Presenters will share their experiences of rolling out a comprehensive one-to-one initiative taking into account the obstacles known to impede the success of such well-intended initiatives. Presenters will speak to both the “why” and the “how” of the district’s move toward ubiquitous computing. Notably, the district did a great deal of research to establish a repository of best practices before embarking on their comprehensive computing initiative. Participants will see how their vision, focus and hard work came together creating a showcase district featuring the power of technology in the hands of students.

• Eileen M. Lento, PhD, Educational Strategist Intel Americas
• Terry Jenkins, PhD, Superintendent, Auburn City Schools, AL
• Joyce Morgan, Assistant Superintendent, Auburn City Schools, AL
• Debbie Rice, Director of Technology, Auburn City Schools, AL

M303: Digital Learning Environments: Innovative Changes to Meet Students' Needs
Essential Skills: Planning & Budgeting, Team Building & Staffing, Systems Management, Information Management and Business Leadership

Learn how to successfully approach major district-wide redesigns of your learning environments and instructional technology by heeding the lessons learned from two school districts. Broward County technology leaders will show you how to use evaluative data for long-range planning and how to leverage student achievement through technology. New York City’s regional technology managers will walk you through their innovative approach toward information and instructional technology management in the country’s largest school system. Whether your own district is large or small, you’ll be provided with tools and solutions that you can use for effective planning and transformation.

• Bernadette Grey, Editor in Chief, Scholastic Administ@tor (Moderator)
• Angela Coluzzi, Director of Network Integration, Education Technology Services, School Board of Broward County, FL
• Jeanine Gendron, EdD, Director of Instructional Technology, Curriculum & Instruction/Student Support, School Board of Broward County, FL
• Katherine Tsamasiros, EdD, Regional Technology Manager, Division of Instructional and Information Technology, New York City Department of Education
• Barbara Weiner, Regional Technology Manager, Division of Instructional and Information Technology, New York City Department of Education

M304: Preparing Next Generation Learners with Emerging Technologies
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Education & Training, Ethics & Policies and Communication Systems

Creating engaging and rigorous learning environments for the next generation is challenging for even the most experienced teachers. It requires the masterful blending of emerging technologies and powerful teaching strategies, such as project-based learning coupled with alternative assessments. This session will focus on how evolving technologies, including blogs, podcasts, wikis, interactive displays and handheld computing, have created opportunities for educators to take a fresh look at how technology supports instruction and assessment. A panel representing multiple school districts will share how these tools are being used in classrooms today and how districts can implement polices and processes that encourage use of these tools.

• Don Hall, Executive Director, Information Technology, Kent School District, WA (Moderator)
• Jim Clark, Instructional Technology Specialist, Instructional Technology Department, Wichita Public Schools
• Sylvia Martinez, President, Generation YES
  Martinez presentation
• Jill Hobson, Coordinator of Instructional Technology, Forsyth County School District, GA
• Mark Klingler, Director of Educational Technology, Forsyth County School District, GA
• Cammy Todd, Instructional Technology Specialists, Instructional Technology Department, Wichita Public Schools, KS
  Todd presentation

M305: Latest Research on Educational Technology Programs' Impact on Student Achievement (Part II) (continuation of Session M205)
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Planning & Budgeting, Team Building & Staffing and Education & Training

This session will provide a forum for three of the ten states who have been awarded evaluation grants through the U.S. Department of Education’s Evaluating State Educational Technology Program (ESETP). Grantees will share their goals, successes and failures with other states seeking to replicate their programs. In Iowa and Wisconsin professional development increased student achievement and changed the role of technology by providing opportunities for students and teachers. West Virginia has implemented two ESETP grant programs; participants will hear about their challenges and results. The EDPACE grant focuses on teacher and student usage of technology, including real-time monitoring of use. West Virginia has found that students demonstrate similar results with online foreign language classes as they do with face-to-face ones. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss and ask questions about how to support and enhance student achievement through technology.

• Mary Ann Wolf, PhD, Director of Leadership Policy and Planning, State Educational Technology Directors Association (Moderator)
• Barry Golden, ESET Project Manager, Library Media, Technology and Community Learning, Wisconsin Department of Education
  Golden presentation
• Dale Mann, PhD, Consultant/Researcher, West Virginia Department of Education
• John O'Connell, Consultant Instructional Technology, Iowa Department of Education
• Gary Phye, Director, Psychology in Education Research Laboratory, Iowa State University
• Brenda Williams, Executive Director, Office of Technology and Information Systems, West Virginia Department of Education
• All presentations for this session

M306: Online Professional Development: Evaluations and Lessons Learned
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Team Building & Staffing and Education & Training

What are the key elements of successful online professional development programs? How can the impact of online professional development be measured? This session will explore the implementation and evaluation of several online models, including STARK (Students and Teachers Accessing Real-time Knowledge), a "hybrid" teacher professional development project with face-to-face and online components in West-Orange Cove School District, Texas and EdTech Leaders Online (ETLO), a national capacity-building online professional development program for states and school districts, based at Education Development Center (EDC). Results from the STARK evaluation, using a set of survey and observation tools, and from the evaluation of the ETLO implementation in the Milwaukee Public Schools will be shared. Presenters will share a set of survey and observation tools resulting from the STARK evaluation and ETLO implementation in Milwaukee Public Schools.

• Barbara Treacy, Managing Project Director, Educational Development Center, Inc. (Moderator/Presenter)
  Treacy presentation
• Karon Tarver, Director of Instructional Technology, West Orange-Cove Consolidated ISD, TX
  Tarver presentation
• Anne Knackert, Technology Project Coordinator, Milwaukee Public Schools, WI

M307: Moving Beyond Textbooks (Spotlight Session)
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Planning & Budgeting, Education & Training and Ethics & Policies

The future of learning demands rethinking textbooks. This provocative panel discussion will shed light on the future of instructional materials, while focusing on implications for today's school leaders. Participants will hear from leading experts at the national, state, and local levels debating the costs and benefits of adopting digital content instead of and in addition to textbooks. Based on the fall 2005 edition of "Threshold" (produced by Cable in the Classroom in partnership with CoSN), the panel will describe the state of digital content, what it looks like, and how it can be funded.

• Helen Soulé, PhD, Executive Director, Cable in the Classroom (Moderator)
• Stephen Driesler, Executive Director, School Division, Association of American Publishers
• Anita Givens, Senior Director, Instructional Materials and Educational Technology, Texas Education Agency
• Timothy Magner, Director, Office of Educational Technology, US Department of Education
• Bruce Wilcox, Chief Executive Officer, Project Inkwell, Inc.

View Video of This Session

The audience will learn how collaborative online software creates an enriched learning environment for students. By hearing an instructor's voice or by hearing their classmates' conversation, the learner feels as if they're right in the classroom. Participants will learn how to complement existing face-to-face and online courses by offering live and archived classes, as well as other specialized courses that may not be available at their current school. This session will also analyze the benefits of creating student-to-teacher and student-to-student interaction in an online learning environment.

• Matt Wasowski, Director, Marketing Communications, Horizon Wimba, Inc.
• Steve Montaño, Network Administrator, Choice 2000 Online High School

Schools have the shared responsibility for teaching ethics to our children, including copyright rules for an electronic environment. Increasingly, schools are being asked by producers of content to teach and enforce copyright protections. How important is the issue of copyright to the future of our democracy? What are the long-term implications of labeling our kids (who are widely involved in Peer2Peer sharing) as "pirates"?

• Gary Becker, Manager, Media Production, Seminole County School District, FL (Moderator)
• Alan Adler, Vice President for Legal and Government Affairs, Association of American Publishers
• Gigi Sohn, President and Founder, Public Knowledge
• Student TBD, Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Price George’s County School District, MD

Special thanks to the students and facility of Ysleta Independent School District’s Eastwood High School who produced the opening video called Technological Lifestyles and was the 2005 NSBA T+L High School winning video.

View Video of This Session

Following the Town Hall Forum, join your colleagues for dessert and coffee while you unwind after a long day of sessions.
Media Partner: Info-Tech Research Group