Tech-tonic Shifts: Transforming Educational Outcomes through

Technology

What a HP Grant did forBrookfield HS

By Gordon Kubanek with Jeannie HunterOttawa, Canada

Common goal

Presentation Outline

I What is the HP grant & why did we want it?II What we did during the grant periodIII The Impact of the grant on our schoolIV Lessons learned

Part I- The HP Grant

• HP Compaq Notebook/Tablet PC• Digital projector• HP digital camera• HP Office-jet printer/scanner/copier• Photo book provided by HP Snapfish

www2.snapfish.com• $2,500 in stipends (split between 5

teachers)• Customized online professional

development • $2,655 professional development

dollars • ISTE membership for 5 teachers• Free Software from Microsoft • AND MORE

Project Proposal Themes

• Improve teachers’ technology skills

• Promote student-centered teaching

• Build a structure of collegial collaboration

Cart for tablets

The ISTE desire2learn website was the main vehicle for communication and

repository of reports https://iste.desire2learn.com/

Part II - We did many surveys: eg.Collaborate with teachers and staff in my district to obtain necessary instructional support for technology use in teaching

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Not at all Minimally Confidently Able to teachothers

In Music, we've used Technology in the following ways

• 1. Further communication and global connections• *Video Conferencing• *Pod casts• *release of CD material over the internet• *students have used tablets to record interviews with musicians and polititicans they meet

at performances

• 2. Promote arts/careers in the arts• *Did interactive plays using video/projector at 'World of Work'• *kids used movie maker and drew using tablets at 'World of Work'• **World of Work was an event where ALL Grade 7 and 8 Students in our board cycled through a

series of careers booths

• 3. Raise Awareness of global issues• *used Tablets/laptops at fair trade fair to provide info in a multi-media format• *had members of the 'one laptop' program in to demonstrate technologies in use and

being developed for developing countries

• 4. Improve musicality/performance• *we digitally record all performances and put them, along with commentary, on a

designated website for each ensemble• *we provide professional recordings on the same website so that kids can 'model' sounds• *we provide accompaniment and play along tracks on the web• *we record rhythm sections for solos so soloists can play along with the website• *we use instructional tools on the Vic Firth website for students to practice drum

rudiments

Part of a Student Survey• 1. I find reading notes easiest when delivered in this manner:

– a) on the blackboard– b) on the overhead– c) on a PC– d) lecture– e) reading from the textbook

• 2. Teachers should use more computer technology in the classroom.– A I strongly agree– B I somewhat agree– C I feel neutral– D I somewhat disagree– E I strongly disagree

• 3. If the teacher uses computer technology in the classroom, it makes learning easier.– A I strongly agree– B I somewhat agree– C I feel neutral– D I somewhat disagree– E I strongly disagree

• 4. Electronic pictures should be used to help identify equipment, new words, objects, etc.– A. I strongly agree– B. I somewhat agree– C. I feel neutral– D. I somewhat disagree– E. I strongly disagree

Pics kids websites

Using Probeware

Accessing Courses Through Desire2Learn

Videoconferencing• Local: The COBE Project

(Connecting Ottawa by Broadband Everywhere) connects us with local schools using ISABEL.

• National: Connecting with expert mentors gives students direct contact with their expert of choice.

• International: Odyssey Africa is a Cairo to Capetown expedition featuring videoconferencing, real-time GPS plotting and web blogs.

• Part III - A BIG Benefit: Spontaneity

• The equipment has been very effective for spontaneous moments. For example, if a student asks a question about a constellation we can use the program “Starry Night” to project a star map right on the ceiling.

• If something of interest happens in the news that morning, we can instantly refer to the story, and share relevant information from various sites.

• If a student asks an interesting question, we can instantly look up answers and relevant information on the internet, and project in on the screen to share it with the class.

Learning By Drawing

Photos in and the Classroom

Part IV – Lesson Learned

• Excellent support and infrastructure with admin support is essential

• Go slowly – otherwise you threaten teacher

• The equipment must be QUICKLY accessible and routinely available

• We no use the tablets with the kids in entire classes because the pens became broken, wireless rotor problems, they broke through the firewalls and other hardware problems

• The tablets are now being mostly used by teachers with projectors

Leadership & Administration

Promoting the HP initiative at our monthly staff meetings and professional development activities has brought technology issues to the forefront.

Most teachers have been exposed to the HP tablets and we now have an online booking process which simplifies access.

In the future we are hoping for improved access to computer projectors to encourage and enable more use of this technology in our classrooms.

Our main goal was to establish an infrastructure for positive change within our school.

• This was achieved by incorporating structures for teacher collaboration and communication.

• This year, teacher collaboration has been improved through technology training sessions, full staff discussions, and colleague observations.

• In future, changes will be made to our school day to promote teacher communication. Training initiatives have been implemented in order to promote student-centered activities, such as real-time experiments, drawing of concept maps and diagrams, and research investigations.

- Conclusion 1 & 2

• A project like this is a catalyst for change

• Since the project we have moved tablets and projectors across the school

• Being ‘with it’ w.r.t. technology builds credibility with the students and forces teachers to stay abreast of the latest developments

Conclusion 3 : A Common Goal Builds UP Your School Community