Volume 1, Issue 1
March, 2000
 

An occasional publication of
educational technology updates, hints and

Advancing Technology into
Mainstream Teaching
 
Not long ago, we conducted a search for information on “useful” guidelines for moving from “teaching about technology” to the mainstream use of technology in everyday teaching. We found some interesting material and we discovered we had some strong opinions of our own based on our work with more than 100 school districts.

In the bulleted list below, we summarize what we think are very necessary concepts to

 
“integrating” technology in core instructional areas.

The Michigan Core Curriculum offers many systematic opportunities to use all forms of technology to advance student learning. Teachers find new uses for technology regularly.

The challenge today is to accomplish comprehensive application of the best technology tools throughout the core curriculum.
 


Putting Technology to Use in the Curriculum
 


Take time to explore. Learning new things requires making a mistake now and then — use your mistakes as part of your classroom lessons and to help you plan for future technology-based student tasks.
Spend some time talking with other teachers, researching magazines and the Internet, and subscribing to appropriate listservs to give you ideas on how to use technology in the classroom.
Plan for the whole grading period rather than single weekly experience (schedule may need to be changed to reflect student discoveries, topical content issues, etc.).
It takes time to incorporate new ideas into a curriculum plan. You are learning a new way to teach and provide direction. The students are acquiring a new way to learn.
 

Students experimenting with computerized electronic robots

Be flexible and do not be afraid to experiment.
Allow enough class time to accomplish technology use goals.
The long-term view enables instructional flexibility and in-depth skill development.
If you don’t remember how to do something, ask another teacher, or ask a student! They know more than teachers sometimes.
Equipment may fail. Know who to contact in your school for help. Have an alternate activity noted in your plan.
 


Year Three USF Requests Hit Record Levels
 
Over 36,000 applications were filed for the third year of the USF discount according to the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). The application filing window closed January 19, 2000. An estimated $4.72 billion in funding has been requested by schools and libraries seeking E-rate discounts for Year Three.

What Is Your Next Step with USF?

NOW
Watch for your letter indicating that your application has been accepted for entry into the funding system. This indicates there were no technical problems with your application – e.g. omitted required data, or other errors. It is the first official acknowledgement of your application.

Late March – Early April
SLD will begin mailing of Year 3 Funding Commitment Decision letters.

  
May (First week is the goal)
SLD will complete mailing of all Year 3 Funding Commitment Decision Notifications.

When you receive Year 3 Receipt Acknowledgement Letters (RALs) from the SLD:

  • Review the information
  • Mark any necessary corrections on the RAL
  • Sign and date it
  • Make a copy for your records
  • Send the marked up copy back to the SLD return receipt requested.

For more information visit:
www.sl.universalservice.org/
apply/5ral.asp

June 30
End of second funding year.

July 1
Start of third funding year.

July 1
First day when Form 470s can be filed for Year 4 (2001-2002) services purchased on a month-to-month basis.
 


Update Technology Plan for Year Three Funding
 
It is time to renew your school technology plan that your District filed in 1998. The plan covers a period of three to five years and must be updated and re-approved by the Michigan Department of Education at least every three years. The approval process is the same as that used in previous years — forward to your ISD (RESA) for initial approval, then on to MDE.

According to the Michigan Information Network Working Group (MINWG–Share), “if your technology plan was approved more than 3 years ago, or was approved for a period of less then three years, you will need to submit a revised and updated plan for approval. This must to be done before you send

 
in Form 486s for Year 3 which starts next June or July.” MINWG also notes . . . “No technology plan is required if you are only applying for basic local and long distance phone service.”

For further information, Michigan schools and libraries can research the following sites:

Schools: www.merit.edu
/usf/action/k12.html
Libraries: www.merit.edu
/usf/action/newlib.html

You also may wish to contact:

Richard E. Brown, Jr.
Michigan Department of Education
Office of Data & Technology Services
Lansing, Michigan 48933
Phone: (517) 241-3975
E-mail: BrownRJr@state.mi.us

 


About This Newletter
 

     This publication has been created to advance communication among many school districts, individual educational professionals, and others who we hope will be interested in its contents.
     I have long intended to provide “pass along information,” commentary, and “point-of-view,” information to our clients, colleagues, and friends. Now we’ve begun. The primary publication method will be via the Internet. We will from time-to-time distribute printed copies.
     We would like to hear from our first readers. We will modify the content direction and the form of this publication as we hear from you. Please send a message to info@ childs.com to become listed for an e-mail notice that a new issue is available on our web site www.childs.com. Thank You!

John W. Childs, Ph.D., CEO