Conference Agenda

Tuesday, March 7, 2006

What is the value of one-to-one computing for student learning? This forward-looking session will examine the long-held vision of pervasive technology for students in schools. If realized, how would teaching and learning change? Is one-to-one even necessary, and if it is, what are the associated challenges? What sort of device is needed for this to become a reality? What is the experience and evidence in educational communities that have implemented such efforts? Hear from leaders and practitioners in a lively dialogue regarding the often debated question, "What is the value of one-to-one computing for student learning? "

• Saul Rockman, President, Rockman et al (Moderator)
• Kosmo Kalliarekos, Senior Partner, The Parthenon Group
• Bob Moore, Executive Director, Information Technology, Blue Valley School District #229, KS

View Video of This Session

T101: Lessons Learned From Front Lines of One-to-One
Essential Skills: Planning & Budgeting, Team Building & Staffing, Systems Management, Business Leadership, Education & Training and Ethics & Policies

If your district is considering implementing a one-to-one program you can learn from the vast experience of districts who have been one-to-one pioneers. Participants will hear directly from leaders from three districts who have implemented one-to-one programs and who have learned many lessons on the front lines. Their lessons are invaluable for anyone considering a one-to-one program.

• Andy Zucker, EdD, Senior Research Scientist, The Concord Consortium (Moderator)
  Zucker presentation
• Darryl LaGace, Director of Information, Lemon Grove School District, CA
• Barbara Allen, Director, Project LemonLINK, Lemon Grove School District
• Alice Owen, PhD, Executive Director of Technology, Irving ISD, TX
  Owen presentation
• Adam Fischer, Director of Information Services and Technologies, Kent School, CT

Supporting Documents:

• Access Learning article
• SIIA article

T102: Visionary State Data Strategies
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Systems Management, Information Management and Communication Systems

States and schools districts know all too well that the only way to ensure success for every student and to meet the achievement requirements of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is through the skillful use of data. Having access to data in and of itself though does not ensure success. Learn from experts in the filed who have implemented significant student data systems which have been developed for use by educators.

• Anita Givens, Senior Director, Instructional Materials and Educational Technology, Texas Education Agency (Moderator)
• Jill Weber, Project Director, Educational Development Center, Inc.
• Mary Reel, EdD, Senior Executive Director of Assessment, Evaluation and Research, Tennessee Department of Education

T103: On the Ground Strategies Around 21st Century Literacy Skills
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision and Education & Training

The 21st Century definition of literacy takes on a very new meaning, particularly when considering key ICT (information and communication technology) literacy skills. Learn how several states have challenged the traditional meaning of basic literacy and the "three R's" to include skills such as problem solving, communicating and even learning itself. This session is sure to challenge participants to think about what it is meant to be literate in the digital age.

• Mike Hall, EdD, Deputy Superintendent, Information Technology, Georgia Department of Education (Moderator)
• Stevan Kalmon, Information Literacy and Technology Coordinator, Denver Public Schools, CO
• Leslie Yoder, Technology Educator, Department of Educational Technology, Saint Paul Public Schools, MN

T104: International Perspectives From Down Under: Australia & ICT in Schools

• William Gilcher, PhD, Co-Chair, CoSN International Committee & Director, Media Projects North America, Goethe-Institut Washington (Moderator)
• Susan Mann, Chief Operating Officer, Curriculum Corporation
• Kathryn Moyle, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Education and Community Services, University of Canberra, Australia
• Heather Woods, Executive Officer, ICT Schools Taskforce, Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA)

T105: Innovative Video Conferencing for Learning
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Planning & Budgeting, Education & Training and Communication Systems

This session takes a fresh look at video conferencing, focusing on advancements that have been made to effectively integrate two-way compressed video conferencing into the teaching and learning environment. The panelists will share success stories and discuss opportunities and challenges associated with video conferencing in teaching and learning.

• Mark Cosby, Vice President of Marketing, LearningStation (Moderator)
• Julia Heighway, Director of Content, Center for Interactive Learning
• Mike Mellon, Director of Instructional Resources and Technology, Department of the Monterey County Office of Education
• Claudia Wheatley, Senior Director of Outreach and Professional Development, Center for Interactive Learning & Collaboration
  Wheatley presentation
• Doug Meyer, Professional Development Consultant, Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration
• All presentations from this session

T106: One-to-One Computing That Works (Spotlight Session Hosted by HP)
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Planning & Budgeting, Team Building & Staffing, Systems Management, Business Leadership and Ethics & Policies

Tips, strategies and success stories of one-to-one computing that improve student learning outcomes, fit within a variety of budgets and meet national mandates for improved student performance. Attendees will receive model policies and procedures, including all necessary forms, to implement one-to-one equipment checkout to students and staff. The model policies and procedures will be suitable to be modified by districts for inclusion in the School Board Policies and Procedures manual. Parent education modules for introducing and sustaining one-to-one projects will be provided as will school-tested discipline systems for common student one-to-one computing infractions. No Child Left Behind mandates for enhanced achievement in subgroups, teacher integration of technology and student technology proficiency will also be addressed. A successful vocational/technical one-to-one computing model, utilizing handhelds, in a high school teacher preparation program will also be shared in the session. This program is in the third year of implementation and is ready to be replicated in districts looking to expand concurrent credit career education programs.

• Patricia Miller, Superintendent of Schools, Fort Sumner Municipal Schools, NM
• Gregg Peters, Education Marketing Manager, HP

School district information technology (IT) teams are faced with increasing demands as technology use continues to grow. Increasingly complex technologies combined with mission critical applications are presenting unprecedented technology challenges to IT support teams, which rarely grow as quickly as the need might dictate. Add to this mix a customer base that ranges from Pre-K to adult, representing several distinct user populations, and even a well-staffed technology team can find meeting support needs in a timely, effective manner to be immensely challenging. A panel of technology leaders representing small, medium and large school districts will share how they have organized and focused their IT teams' efforts on providing outstanding customer service.

• Ed Zaiontz, Executive Director of Information Services, Round Rock ISD, Round Rock, TX (Moderator)
  Zaiontz presentation
• Ann Lee Flynn, EdD, Director, Education Technology, National School Boards Association
• Bailey Mitchell, Director of Technology, Forsyth County School District, Cumming, GA
• Bob Moore, Executive Director of IT Services, Blue Valley USD #229, Overland Park, KS
• John Porter, Deputy Superintendent of Strategic Technologies and Accountability, Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
• Dr. Karol Walters, Director of Information Systems, School District of University City, MO

T201: Where Are We Going With One-to-One?
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision and Education & Training

Interest in one-to-one computing continues to grow as more states and districts adopt these programs. At the same time, there are concerns about budgets for instructional technology. Come hear three experts with different perspectives talk about the future of personal computing options in schools.

• Gary Stager, Editor-at-Large, District Administration Magazine (Moderator)
• Mark Edwards, EdD, Former Superintendent, Henrico County School District, VA & Vice President, Harcourt Assessment
• Jim Hirsch, Associate Superintendent for Technology, Plano Independent School District, TX
• Bruce Wilcox, Chief Executive Officer, Project Inkwell, Inc.

T202: Using Data to Improve Student Achievement and Improve Teacher Effectiveness
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Planning & Budgeting, Systems Management and Information Management

Since the inception of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002, school districts have created accountability systems to measure progress in student populations through the use of technologies. Teachers and administrators are being availed real-time data to drive instruction. In addition, learning systems are being created to capture student/ teacher linkages, evaluate effectiveness of teachers using longitudinal student achievement data, identify strengths and weaknesses relative to curriculum standards and use data to measure progress of all students. This session highlights two local school districts that have made tremendous strides in creating a culture for accountability by leveraging information technologies that truly improve teacher quality, ensure equitable learning opportunities and demonstrate how data driven instruction improves student achievement.

• Jessica Kim Mulkey, Director, Technology Programs, BellSouth Foundation Foundation (Moderator)
• Felicia Duncan, Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction, Central Office, Wilson County Schools, TN
• Ruby West, Instructional Technology Coordinator, Technology Services, Gainesville City School System, GA

T203: International Perspectives on ICT in Education

• Linda Roberts, PhD, Educational Technology Consultant (Moderator)
• Gerry White, Chief Executive Officer, education.au limited, Australia
• Tsuneo Yamada, Director of Research and Development, National Institute of Multimedia Education (NIME)
• Doug Brown
  Brown presentation

T204: Measuring International Innovations in the Use of Educational Technology
Essential Skills: Education & Training

This session will present information from two major projects - one in the United States and one in Australia. Both of these projects entail extensive use of educational technology in conjunction with innovative curriculum and instruction. Critics of educational technology often argue that educational technology is old wine in new bottles. These two projects are good examples of "new wine" in "new bottles."

• James Bosco, EdD, Co-Chair CoSN's International Committee & Professior Emeritus, Western Michigan University (Moderator)
• Losira Okelo, Director Online Professional Development, iEARN-USA
• Wendy Modzelewski, Instructional Technology Consultant, Delaware Center for Educational Technology
  Modzelewski presentation
• Gregory Whitby, Director of Schools, Diocese of Wollongong, Australia

T205: Beyond One-to-One (Spotlight Session Hosted by Dell Inc.)
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision and Education & Training

America’s future is taking shape in today’s classrooms. That’s where students are gathering the skills, knowledge and experience they will need to seize tomorrow’s opportunities. The increased emphasis on achievement brings with it a heightened interest in harnessing the power of technology. This is creating an evolution in the classroom—an evolution that is beyond one-to-one and brings equity to more students. This session will discuss this evolution and other important trends.

• Kathy Thomas, Manager of Education Strategy for K-12, Dell Inc.
• Jane James, Director of Technology, Roanoke County Schools, VA

This session looks at sources of third-party online content, strategies for evaluating materials and practical hands-on techniques for integrating outside resources that can make your online or face-to-face courses more engaging and effective. Presenters will discuss how institutions and instructors have integrated third-party content to expand and enhance their curricula - and show how you can do the same with your online or face-to-face courses. Specific Advanced Placement and Science curriculum projects will be shown.

• Marianne Pack, Director, Delta Sierra Region 6, CA Technology Assistance Project (Moderator)
• Liesl Hotaling, Assistant Director, Center for Innvovation in Engineering and Science Education (CIESE), Stevens Institutute of Technology

Today’s robust technologies can provide students with essential access to curriculum and educators with new ways to personalize instruction. IT and Accessible Technology (AT) leaders play crucial roles in ensuring that all students benefit from instructional technologies. Yet communication and interaction between those in charge of special education and those responsible for district instructional technology programs is often limited in K-12 settings. Shared vision and collaborative leadership are key to bridging this gap.

• Linda Sharp, Project Director, Accessible Technologies for All Students, CoSN

Participate in small group discussions with industry experts and your peers to explore current issues and hot topics over lunch.

Communicating Your Technology Successes More Effectvely
Table No. 1
Facilitator: Gregg Downey, Editor and Publisher, eSchool News

This discussion will provide participants with a clearer sense of how to work with the news media, specifically how to get their own messages noticed and disseminated. Participants will discuss newsworthy press releases and suggest opportune times to alert the media about specific events. This roundtable will discuss how to take a pro-active and effective role in communicating with their community and media.

Integrating Wireless Devices into the Curriculum
Table No. 2
Facilitators: Jan Bryan, Training Manager, AlphaSmart, Inc.

Participants will discuss a variety of wireless devices available today and consider how they can be used to positively impact learning. Discussions will focus on how these devices can be integrated into the curriculum and how they can be used as an effective instructional tool. Participants in this roundtable will share their experiences using wireless devices and discuss methods of effectively integrating the devices into the curriculum.

What Didn’t You Think of When you First Started Letting Students Take Online Courses?
Table No. 3
Facilitators: Pam Birtolo, Chief Academic Officer, Florida Virtual School & Lori Gully, Director of Florida Services, Florida Virtual School

In this roundtable, participants will discuss the unique data and decision-making processes critical to the successful management of a virtual learning program. Participants will explore how the data available on virtual classes can be used to manage classes effectively.

Building a Collaborative Community Online
Table No. 4
Facilitator: Lois Bunger, Director of Technology Services, Darke County Educational Technology Services, OH

This roundtable will consider methods and resources required to build effective online communities. Participants will discuss how to effectively gather, distribute, and access information and resources for communication, collaboration and instruction.

Assessing the Impact of Innovative Technology Products
Table No. 5
Facilitator: Jennifer Borse, Educational Researcher, Rockman et al

Given the ever-increasing importance of making smart technology decisions that have an impact in the classroom, educators need to know innovative ways to assess these new technologies. This roundtable will discuss techniques for assessing the impact of innovative technology products. Examples from recent projects will be shared to help illustrate the types of findings and outcomes that are possible.

Addressing Language Arts Literacy Through Technology
Table No. 6
Facilitator: Linda Carmona-Bell, Education Technology Specialist, New Jersey Department of Education

This roundtable will consider effective ways to use technology to increase student achievement in language arts literacy. The New Jersey Students using Technology to Achieve Reading – Writing (STAR-W) program, impacting grades 3 through 5, will provide the basis for the discussion of how to best support the needs of the classroom teacher trying to integrate technology into the curriculum.

Bringing Internet2 to the Classroom
Table No. 7
Facilitator: Lawrence Gallery, Manager, Membership Development, NYSERNet

With access to Internet2 broadening to include K-12 and K-20 markets, we need to address issues of content, accessibility and potential obstacles to connectivity. This roundtable will discuss how to address the needs of this emerging market and offer "best practices" to help school districts take advantage of the benefits that Internet2 has to offer.

The Global Economy: Implications for the 21st Century Learner
Table No. 8
Facilitator: Barry Golden, Educational Technology Consultant, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

The plight of math and science education in the United States was highlighted in the recent State of the Union Address. This is just one issue challenging the United State’s competitiveness in a global economy. This roundtable will focus on helping people understand the connections between the global and national challenges, but more importantly what we have to do if we are to stay competitive in the global market place.

Effective Practices for Integrating NETS for Students and Teachers
Table No. 9
Facilitator: Gina Grant, K-12 Technology Literacy Specialist, Chicago Public Schools Office of Technology Services eLearning

Teaching and assessing technology literacy standards is increasingly important for both students and teachers in K-12 schools. Using the experience of a large, urban school district as a backdrop, participants will learn how to ensure that all students are technology literate by the end of 8th grade and all teachers are able to integrate technology effectively. The facilitator will share lessons learned from pilot testing and implementing assessments, professional development and curriculum enhancements based on the NETS.

The Impact of Open Technologies on K-12 Schools
Table No. 10
Facilitator: Michael Jay, President, Educational Systemics, Inc.

Open Systems and associated technologies have become increasingly appealing to K-12 decision makers. They account for over 50% of U.S. K-12 back-end systems, and they are even more popular abroad. This roundtable will explore the impact these open technologies will have on classroom teachers and students and how we plan to optimize Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) while managing change.

Networks: The Mission Critical Technology System in K-12 Today
Table No. 11
Facilitator: Bob Collie, Chief Technology Officer, Education Networks of American (ENA)

Networks have become the critical platform for the delivery of education and the operation of management and instructional systems. A MISP (Managed Internet Service Provider) is an effective, E-Rate eligible model for educational networks that has been adopted statewide in Tennessee and Indiana as well as in many school districts. ConnecTEN and INschools.net provide two case studies of how a state network can improve services while decreasing costs. Discussion will focus on some of the possible advantages of the MISP model.

Professional Learning Communities & Technology Integration: A Perfect Match
Table No. 12
Facilitators: Robert Klemp, Tech Coordinator, Elementary School District 159, IL & Tobin Michel, Director of Information Services, Dolton School District 148, IL

This roundtable will focus on usable philosophies and best practices that help districts use technology as an essential tool to help raise student achievement and develop 21st century learning skills (collaboration, communication and problem solving). The Technology Coordinators from two separate K-8 elementary school districts will share concrete, replicable solutions. These include strategic partnerships that can help reduce the total cost of integrating technology.

Integrating Technology into Core Curriculum Areas on a Shoestring
Table No. 13
Facilitators: Bret Longberry, Coordinator of Technology Advancement, Dublin County Schools, OH & Mark Ritzenthaler, Teacher, Dublin County Schools, OH

If you make a small investment in technology, is it reasonable to expect a large return? How can you extend the reach of a technology deployment across the entire curriculum? Are there warning signs when purchasing technology? How can you extend a shoestring budget? Roundtable participants can expect an engaging dialogue about budgeting for technology and will receive practical advice for protecting their investments.

Why Create Online Learning Opportunities and Why is Evaluation Critical?
Table No. 14
Facilitator: Jonathan Margolin, PhD, Research Associate, Learning Point Associates

Online learning opportunities abound in today’s classrooms. The new technology can break down the walls of traditional classrooms, overcome geographic challenges, offer new ways for teacher/student to collaborate and provide learning opportunities for students with varying skill levels and socio-economic backgrounds. Participants of this roundtable will discuss why they implemented online learning in their districts, whether these online learning opportunities lived up to their expectations and how they assessed their quality and impact.

Creating a Vision for Implementing 21st Century Projects
Table No. 15
Facilitator: Kimberly Quinn, Chief Information Officer, Cobb County School District, GA

Pedagogy focused on differentiated instruction, instructional tools and learning resources are essential to 21st century learning environments, but implementing them can be daunting. Many educational technology initiatives succeed while others become derailed. What strategies can be used to create a shared vision in the community, with school staff and with students? This roundtable will consider effective methodologies and avoidable pitfalls.

Why is it So Important to Make Data Driven Decisions?
Table No. 16
Facilitator: Larry McKenna, Director of Technology, Phillipsburg School District, NJ & Edwin Wargo, Educational Technologies, R Squared Consultants

It is not acceptable to wait until school ends to access and interpret data about students, school, and district performance. How often should data be evaluated? What data is the most meaningful to help meet No Child Left Behind requirements? Are critical data points missing? How can data be leveraged to improve the overall learning process? Participants can expect to discuss the role of technology in collecting and reporting data that drives education.

Online Professional Development and Teacher Quality Requirements
Table No. 17
Facilitator: Barbara Treacy, Managing Project Director, Educational Development Center (EDC)

Participants in this roundtable will share strategies for developing online learning programs at the state or district level to meet NCLB teacher quality goals. Issues to be discussed include credit, course content, online learning management and teacher accreditation.

Participating in the Digital World: Becoming a Digital Citizen
Table No. 18
Facilitator: Maribel Sevilla, PhD, Senior Research Associate, International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) & Mila Fuller, Director of Strategic Initiatives, International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

The rapid and widespread of modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has already created a new world for us. ICT is not only, as traditionally conceived, a new tool that we can use to enhance our lives in the physical world, but it is new world unto itself and part of our reality. Thus, we need to learn and teach our children how to become competent citizens of this new world. This roundtable will share ideas about the key soft skills and implications of participating in this digital world, including the tools and rules that govern online activities, as well as their potential consequences or pitfalls.

International Perspectives on Technology Integration and Professional Development
Table No. 19
Facilitators: Daniel Light, PhD, Senior Research Associate, Educational Development Center (EDC) & Roshni Menon, Research Associate, Educational Development Center (EDC)

This roundtable will provide a global perspective on the distribution of computing resources within schools and its influence on professional development. Participants will explore the intersection between policy decisions about infrastructure and the success of professional development programs aimed at promoting teacher and student use of technology. Data collected from teacher participants in Intel Teach to the Future’s professional development programs in over 15 countries will be used to facilitate this discussion. There are clear indications that the resources at teachers’ disposal and their distribution between labs and classrooms influence the impact of professional development programs on teacher practice.

T301: Going Beyond ROI to VOI (Value of Investment)
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Planning & Budgeting, Team Building & Staffing and Business Leadership

Stakeholders are no longer satisfied with basing technology funding on metrics such as student/computer ratios. CIO's and Technology Directors are increasingly becoming responsible for helping their schools and districts to better understand the expected and realized value of the investment in technology. Presenters in this session provide insight into how to understand the K-12 value proposition, communicate it to stakeholders and use it to align the technology effort with the school districts goals and enable them to bring together the culture, budgets and support of technology applications.

• Bill Rust, IV, Research Director, Garnter, Inc. (Moderator)
• Jack Christiana, Member of the Board of Trustees, Lamar Consolidated Independent School District, TX
• Polly Gifford, Vice President, Education Partners Solution, Inc.
• Richard Kaestner, Project Director, Total Cost of Ownership, CoSN
  Kaestner presentation

T302: Data Intelligence: Empowering Teachers, Administrators, Students and Parents
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Information Management and Communication Systems

Representatives from three school districts - Plano Independent School District (TX), Springfield Public Schools (MA) and Union City Board of Education (NJ) will share their experiences in the use of data and technology to improve instruction, allocate limited resources effectively and deliver meaningful professional development. Panelists will highlight new developments in the process of data driven decision making as they describe their efforts to empower teachers, administrators, students and parents. Participants will learn about the results of these data processes and the very real results that have occurred.

• Irene Spero, Vice President, Consortium for School Networking (Moderator)
• Donna Boivin, Director of Technology, Springfield Public Schools, MA
• Anthony Dragona, Business Administrator, RSBA, Union City Board of Education, NJ
• Deborah Gendreau, PhD, Supervisor of Technology, Springfield Public Schools, MA
• Jim Hirsch, Associate Superintendent for Technology, Plano Independent School District, TX
• All presentations from this session

T303: Communicating the Value of Educational Technology
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Planning & Budgeting, Business Leadership and Communication Systems

Building long-term public support for technology funding initiatives is a challenge faced by many school districts. This is particularly difficult when too often technology funding is accomplished through bond referendums or tax levy elections. Learn how one school district has built systemic public support for technology funding via an ongoing marketing program, resulting in more than $125 million over the past 11 years. Also, learn from marketing and public relations professionals how to effectively tell the story of how technology is impacting students in order to garner ongoing public support.

• Bob Moore, Executive Director, IT Services, Blue Valley USD #229, KS (Moderator/Presenter)
• Charlene Blohm, President, C. Blohm & Associates, Inc.
  Blohm presentation
• Michael Margolis, President, THIRSTY-FISH Story Marketing
  Margolis presentation

T304: Internet2 Enabling K-12 Education
Essential Skills: Information Management, Education & Training and Communication Systems

Internet2, the world's only dedicated education and research network, is an emerging technology for K-12 classrooms that connects students worldwide. The audience will see examples of Internet2 in the classroom and hear about best practices for implementation. Topics will include getting connected, acquiring content, creating partnerships and building collaborations worldwide.

• Marla Davenport, Director, Learning & Technology, TIES (Moderator)
• Lawrence Gallery, Manager, Membership Development, Internet2 K20 and NYSERNet
• Kathy Kraemer, Internet Curriculum Consultant, TIES
• Jennifer Oxenford, Associate Director, MAGPI GIgapop, University of Pennsylvania

T305: Digital Content Without Barriers
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Information Management, Education & Training and Communication Systems

Accessibility means increasing the number of opportunities for learning and increasing the number of people who can benefit from technology-based resources. This session will explore why accessibility is critical for schools that publish public information and curriculum materials on web sites and how schools can create sites that are accessible to all users. The session will also showcase learning tools that are using the IMS Access for All specifications to provide flexible interfaces and automatically deliver appropriate content for each learner.

• Arjan Khalsa, President and Chief Executive Officer, IntelliTools, Inc. (Moderator)
• Linda Carmona-Bell, Educational Technology Specialist, New Jersey Department of Education
• Madeleine Rothberg, Director of Research & Development, National Center for Accessible Media, WGBH
  Rothberg presentation
• Joseph Seaman, Educational Technology Specialist, New Jersey Department of Education

T306: Research on Virtual Learning
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Education & Training and Ethics & Policies

Online coursework, or virtual learning, is an increasingly important part of the high school experience of students across the nation. Much has been learned about the academic effectiveness of virtual learning in the past several years. Participants will learn from program coordinators and educational researchers about the effectiveness of online learning in a variety of environments. Lessons learned, ranging from academic effectiveness to policy implications, will be discussed.

• Susan Patrick, Former Director, Office of Educational Technology, U.S. Department of Education & President and Chief Executive Officer, North American Council for Online Learning (Moderator)
  Patrick presentation
• Robert Blomeyer, PhD, Senior Technology Researcher, Center for Technology, North Central Regional Educational Laboratory
• Liz Pape, Chief Executive Officer, Virtual High School, Inc.
• Rosina Smith, PhD, Executive Director, Alberta Online Consortium
• Julie Young, President & Chief Executive Officer, Florida Virtual School

T307: When the Unimaginable Happens - A Testimonial on IT Disaster Planning (Spotlight Session)
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Business Leadership and Communication Systems

"Officials who stayed in the city...say it is much worse than the television shows...houses under water...our school system is closed until further notice...amazingly all of our main Internet supply is underground fiber and it is still connected!....Generating system; power to our server farm; air conditioning too; webpage is up;...our district email came up...a miracle! But good planning helps...we worked hard for this to be able to happen and it paid off." Sheryl Abshire, CoSN Board Chair

Disaster planning and business continuance is critical! Come hear testimonials about good planning and best practices for keeping systems up and running - at times when the unimaginable truly happens!

• Daryl Ann Borrel, Executive Director, Grant Administration, Beaumont Foundation of America (Moderator)
• Sheryl Abshire, Administrative Coordinator of Technology, Calcasieu Parish School System, LA
• Mary Baker, Director, Quality and Customer Service, Broward County Public Schools, FL
• Ed Kessler, System Analyst IV, Education Technology Services, The School Board of Broward County, FL

View Video of This Session

The evolving work force places new demands on K-12 education. Along with reading, writing and math skills, schools must ensure that students graduate with 21st Century Skills. This session will explore the effective use of personal learning tools to enhance student learning, develop these skills and further lifelong achievement.

• Laura Gallagher, National Manager, Training Resources, Inspiration Software, Inc.
• Rick Gaisford, Educational Technology Specialist, Utah State Office of Education
• Kate Kemker, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Instruction and Innovation, Florida Department of Education

Many districts strive to implement an effective technology program that uses one-to-one computing or Anytime, Anywhere Learning to addresses both institutional and instructional needs. Please come listen and learn how the Henrico School District has implemented their Anytime, Anywhere Learning program -- an ongoing effort that started 6 years ago and has taken administrators, educators and students on a rocky journey.

• Lloyd Brown, Chief Information Officer, Henrico School District, VA
• Rich Seidner, Director, Education Strategy, Microsoft Corporation

T401: Innovative Data-Driven Decision Making
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Planning & Budgeting, Information Management and Business Leadership

K12 districts are finding it essential to use district data to make decisions based on research findings. Participants in this session will learn about California's development of an online, one-stop information management service designed to help administrators identify and use technology applications that meet their local needs for managing and linking assessment results to instruction. California Learning Resource Network (CLRN) reviews and posts applicable electronic learning assessment resources (ELARs) using criteria based on research on the application of technology to support data-driven decision-making for instructional planning. In addition, participants will learn how Wake County Public School System (NC) uses demographic data to create student assignment plans ensuring economic integration of the district's 139 schools with the goal of limiting the proportion of low-income students in any school to no more than 40 percent. This strategy, credited with dramatic improvements in test scores, is based on research studies showing the academic benefits of economically diversifying schools and the process of implementing it has significant stake-holder involvement as well as community-wide impact.

• Bev White, Chief Technology Officer, Wake County Public Schools, NC (Moderator/Presenter)
• John Cradler, President, Educational Support Systems
• Ellis Vance, Director, California Learning Resource Network

T402: The Value of 21st Century Skills and ICT Literacy
Essential Skills: Business Leadership, Education & Training and Communication Systems

In the new context of global economy, it is critical that education focus on the student outcomes that are necessary for young people to be effective citizens and workers in the 21st century. This session will look at 21st Century Skills and information and communication technology (ICT) literacy from three distinct and complementary perspectives. Presenters will focus on the importance of valuing and assessing 21st Century Skills and ICT literacy, as well as highlighting professional development strategies and case studies that can be used to support 21st Century Skills and ICT literacy objectives. Panelist will also raise key questions for education leaders to consider when determining whether a professional development program may meet the needs of a district building teacher understanding of 21st Century Skills and ICT literacy.

• Ken Kay, President, Partnership for 21st Century Skills (Moderator)
  Kay presentation
• Karen Cator, Vice-Chair, Partnership for 21st Century Skills and Director, Education Leadership and Advocacy, Apple Computer, Inc.
• Katherine Culp, PhD, Assistant Director for Research, Center for Children and Technology, Education Development Center, Inc.
• Margaret Honey, PhD, Director and Vice President, Educational Development Center, Inc.
• Barbara Stein, External Partnerships and Advocacy, National Education Association

T403: Future Research and Development of Online Assessment
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Information Management and Education & Training

What can educators expect the world of assessment to look like in 3-5 years? Where will R&D be taking online assessment and how agile is the market in reacting to changing and demanding needs for assessments and results? Come hear from experts in R&D and practitioners who are on the cutting edge of assessment technologies. Listen to researchers who are telling us about future trends and technological advances and learn how World Wide Web technologies are being used for quality formative assessments.

• Katie Lovett, Chief Information Officer, Fulton County Schools, GA (Moderator)
• Lynn Streeter, President, Pearson Knowledge Technologies
• School District Representative TBD

T404: Collaborating to Use Real-Time Data
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Planning & Budgeting and Education & Training

The presentation will look at cooperative ventures for integrating and evaluation technology in the learning environment. In the first presentation, researchers and program staff will describe how two urban districts are collaborating in a single evaluation design to investigate the impact of professional development and embedded technology support on teaching and learning of Math and English Language Arts. District personnel provide each other another lens for interpreting results and identifying the conditions and circumstances that are effective in supporting technology integration. The second presentation also looks at how collaboration outside the school setting is facilitated by technology to enrich the application of learning through community issues. Collaboration, as these two examples illustrate, adds an important dimension to understanding the benefits and potential for learning with technology.

• Patricia Dyer, Director of Planning and Development, Center for Applied Technologies in Education, University at Buffalo (Moderator)
• Monica Cougan, Director of Community Connections, CILC Vista, Community Partnerships, Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration
• Thomas Kelsh, EdD, Senior Researcher, Magi Educational Services, Inc.

T405: Bridging the Home to School Digital Divide
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Business Leadership, Education & Training and Ethics & Policies

This session brings together a panel of experts who have conducted research on home computing and family involvement from two different perspectives. The studies provide affordable and effective models for using educational technology to improve student achievement, student engagement in learning, and parental involvement in their children's schoolwork. The panel will address issues of intervention, research design, randomization in research and practical applications of educational technology to bridge home to school learning.

• L. Michael Golden, Deputy Secretary, Office of Information and Educational Technology, Pennsylvania Department of Education (Moderator)
• Mark Hoffman, eSPARC Coordinator, Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit #21, Pennsylvania Department of Education
• Reina Huerta, Instructional Technology Integration Specialist, Region 9, New York City Department of Education
• Kallen Tsikalas, Director of Research & Learning Services, Computers for Youth
• Gary Silverstein, Senior Study Director, Westat

T406: Open Source Comes to Student Desktops (Spotlight Session)
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision, Planning & Budgeting, Systems Management, Information Management, Business Leadership and Education & Training

This interactive panel will look at the rationale behind the growing use of Linux as an operating system for student computers both in the United States and in many other countries. Panelists from several countries will describe the experience of using open source software in education, highlighting both the benefits and the challenges. No matter what operating system your students are using today, this session explores why you may be seeing Linux in your schools soon.

• David Thornburg, PhD, Director, Global Operations, Thornburg Center (Moderator/Presenter)
• Laura Taylor, Indiana State Department of Education
• Norma Thornburg

T407: The Hundred Dollar Laptop in Developing Countries: Catch-up or LeapFrog? (Spotlight Session)
Essential Skills: Leadership & Vision

Seymour Paper is playing a major role in the development of the SO-CALLED $100 computer. This computer IS DESIGNED TO KEEP annual cost of ownership BELOW $20. ITS FUNCTIONALITY SUPPORTS just about everything that is done with computers in K-12 situations. Learn the current status of the development of the $100 computer and join a discussion of what this means on a global scale and in your district.

• James Bosco, EdD, Professor Emeritus, Western Michigan University (Moderator)
• Seymour Papert, PhD, Professor Emeritus, MIT Media Lab

• Katie Lovett, Chief Information Officer, Fulton County Schools, GA (Moderator)
• David Pearce Snyder, Contributing Editor, Futurist Magazine
  Snyder presentation

View Video of This Session

We had such a great time last year, we’re doing it again! Advocacy is central to CoSN’s mission. CoSN is a recognized leader in supporting the E-Rate and EETT, increasing funding for education technology and making sure that education technology has a voice in Washington. But we need your help to continue this important work! By participating in this fundraiser, you will be supporting the annual CoSN/ISTE/SIIA Advocacy Training and the Ed Tech Action Network (ETAN).

Join us over drinks and hors d’oeuvres…visit with your old friends or meet new ones…bid on silent auction items…enjoy the exciting live auction…plus other surprises.

CoSN would like to extend our gratitude to the organizations and individuals who so generously donated items for our 2006 silent auction.