ncetc atomic learning preso 11 19 07

Technology Literacy Skills Training for the 21st Century

and Beyond Ron WhalenExecutive Director, Instructional Technology, Durham County, NC

Luba LewytzkyjManager, Eastern US and Canada, Atomic Learning

North Carolina Educational Technology Conference (NCETC) Presentation, November 28, 2007

Technology Literacy Skills for

Staff Students

and Families!

Welcome to Atomic Learning!On-line Software Training and Support Resources

for K-12 Technology Education

Did You Know “Did You Know/Shift Happens”

“The Fischbowl”-Karl Fisch

• Today‘s learner will have 10-14 jobs by the age of 38



A Long Range View…

• The top 10 in-demand jobs in 2010 probably did not exist in 2004



• …..therefore we are preparing students today for jobs that don’t yet exist,

• using technologies that have not yet been invented

• In order to solve problems that we don’t even know are problems yet!

The Shorter Range and What Technologists,

Trainers and Teachers Need • I want..need…

– Anytime, anywhere just in time training on basic computer literacy skills

• Word processing, spreadsheets, databases, web design, digital video production, presentation software, desktop publishing, TI

– To support varying levels on many different applications – Help to prepare 8th graders for the proficiency requirements– Accountability for staff development (tracking, reporting time

spent) and provide in-service credit– Help integrating technology into the teaching/learning process – To increase parental involvement – To provide in-service, anytime, anywhere– Help with assistive technology students

How Atomic Learning Helps • Structured learning in small, highly targeted format enhances learning and promotes

technology use.

• Teachers’ level of confidence in using technology is enhanced.– Critical determinant of teachers’ level of implementation and integration of technology

• Less Intimidating. • Teachers (and students) learn in privacy

• Timing of support is critical and improves learning.• Just-in-time training, in the teachable moment• Tutorials viewed when, and as often as, needed

• Accommodates multiple learning styles—differentiated instruction. One size does not fit all!

• Cost-effective• A site license covers all teacher and students. Rest of the staff and all parents have

free access.• Frees up technology support staff to support other needs.

Helping Teachers Teach with Technology • “Once teachers learn PowerPoint, Word, Excel and other skills, how do they integrate

those technology skills into their classroom?”– Project-based lesson plans help teachers integrate technology into the curriculum, not

simply teach technology skills as a stand alone skill. • “We need to learn how to use our interactive boards from Promethean ACTIV and

SMART.” – Tutorials for Promethean and SMART in support of their interactive boards.

• “How can I better serve the needs of Spanish language speakers and students with special needs?”

– 2,000+ Spanish tutorials to serve Spanish language speakers. Captioning serves special needs populations and supports teaching reading, ESOL and varied learning styles.

• “We need to be more accountable than we have in the past on staff development.” – Tracking and reporting on tutorials -- who, when, and charts on usage data to support

accountability. • “What is podcasting, blogging , moodle open source, Web 2.0? Our new TI graphic and

financial calculators are not easy to use. Help!” – Tutorials on the TI graphic and financial calculators and open-source tutorials

• How do I know if they’ve learned anything? – Al’s self-assessment instrument evaluates progress in private, gives trainers data on

program effectiveness, helps with future planning, and allows Administrators to assess long term impact of training. Lesson Accelerators are great assessment tools!

http://www.atomiclearning.com/ppoint_2003_intro

What does Atomic Learning Provide?

• A library of “atom-sized bites” of movie tutorials that answer “How do I do that?” questions.

• Just-in-time, just-enough training using a friendly show-and-tell approach.

• Web-based availability 24 / 7. • Access from school and home for staff, students,

parents and family members. Free access for parents, non teaching staff and all families.

• Freedom for district technology staff to do other tasks.

The Atomic Learning Resources

• 35,000+ tutorials organized by strands (database, spread sheet, word processing, desk top publishing, multi-media, internet). 800+ every 45 days!

• NEW!! Aligned to state standards & ISTE NETS www.atomiclearning.com/statestandards

• 120+ popular software packages• Moodle, NVU web authoring, blogging, podcasting, PC security, Vista, Office 2007 • 800-900 new tutorials every 45 days• Captioning for hearing impaired, ESOL and others• Spanish language tutorials

• Curriculum and teacher classroom resources• Robust tracking and reporting system• Self-assessment instrument• Custom Development (gradebooks, Blood Bourne Pathogens, Asthma,

etc. )

What are Lesson Accelerators?• Project-based, media-rich lesson plans that incorporate our unique show-

and-tell approach. – Each Lesson Accelerator provides:

• Descriptive information about a project • Step-by-step tutorial movies using a specific software application • All the resources needed to recreate the example project • A project activity guide

– Teachers can have learners work though the steps using the example content supplied, or they can add their own content based on specific curricular needs.

– Help staff internalize new technology skills prior to classroom integration

– Student in-class and homework assignments/ parent engagement

– Proficiency Assessment Instrument

What Other Resources Does Atomic Learning Provide?

Workshops on Podcasting, video, charting, mail merges and newsletters

Tutorials on how to efficiently search the web for beginning and advanced users.

Storyboarding and Video Storyboarding Software tutorials.

TI financial and graphic calculator tutorials to teach functionality.

NEW Assistive Technology Collection – Boardmaker, Kurzweil, JAWS, IntelliTools Classroom Suite 4 and many more. DEMO

How can Atomic Learning support Indiana students and

staff in using current and emerging technologies?

Atomic Learning for Students

• Equalizing Technology Literacy– We know students can do x, but can they do y? – Help students with lower technology skills

• Anywhere, Anytime Homework Help– Homework is completed everywhere these days, 24/7 tools, tutoring

and help desk

• Workforce Services – Provide students with the skills needed to succeed in the workforce

• Improving Instruction (student & staff)– Better use of tools like PowerPoint– Using Blogs, Podcasting, and Wikis to engage students – Creating effective PowerPoint presentations

Atomic Learning for Teachers & Staff

• Professional development resource– Pre and post assessment– Prescriptive resource– In-service portfolio

• Supplement to, or replacement of, face-to-face training

• Classroom resource and curriculum supplement• Help desk and on-going software support• At-home student homework and parental

involvement• Community connection—family outreach• Workplace Literacy/ 21 century skills programs

Strengthening Instruction with Technology

• What does Atomic Learning mean to us?1. Professional Development Opportunities

2. Equating State Requirement for CEU to AL Offerings

3. Provides software integration strategies

4. Best practices


1. AlignmentSuperintendent’s Goals

2. Communications Plan, Continuous, to entire District

methods (web, parent letters, etc.)

3. Implementation PlanEvery PD session we mention AL

4. Sustainability PlanOngoing marketing, Keeping AL in the forefront, re-evaluation of programs, On going analysis as related to student achievement, Accountability (tracking/reporting)


• Alignment– Superintendent’s Goals– Standards for the 21st

Century Learner– Future-Ready Students

for the 21st Century – District Technology Plan– District / School

initiatives


• Implementation Plan– Professional

Development Model – Every PD session we

mention AL– Professional Learning

Communities (PLC)– School Improvement

Plans


• Communications Plan, Continuous, to entire District– methods

• Web• Clicks newsletter• Bright Ideas• Newsbriefs• Parent e-letters/newsletters• Parent EdLink


• SustainabilityOngoing marketing, Keeping AL in the forefront, re-evaluation of programs, On going analysis as related to student achievement, Accountability (tracking/reporting)