The-Think-Tank-Committee

BACK TO THE COMMITTEE PAGE To add to this page, just click the EDIT tab above - we really wish you would! The Think Tank has been created to bring together all stakeholders in School District #91 to imagine and re-imagine the purpose and goals of technology integration in our schools and classrooms. We want to ask questions about why and how and who and when and whatever in order to be purposeful and intentional about the decisions we make across the District as they pertain to technology. All of this conversation will feed into our other committees.

How will this inform our professional development? How will this inform our long and short term software and hardware decisions? How will this inform special projects?
I came across this "Visioning as an Energy Field" diagram from Bernajean Porter's Digital Storytelling Special Interest Group wikispace that she maintains for ISTE. I thought it captured in a big picture way what we're trying to accomplish with technology integration in our district. I hope you can read it :)

** Here is a the recorded Vclass portion of our Video Conference that we held on December 17th. [] ** =Agenda= 1. Welcome and introductions (that was the easy part!) 2. Purpose of the Think Tank - What we have conceived so far; what else do we have to say about this? Who is missing from the 'Tank?' 3. Wishful Thinking - what would technology integration look like in SD#91 in a perfect world? 4. Back to reality - what are our first (next ) steps

Topics for the Think Tank - not in any particulary order
 * Roles - who is responsible for what? (K)
 * What is our overall goal or BIG IDEA when it comes to technology (K)
 * create a short-term (over the next year) and long-term vision (in five years) for our district...this builds on Kelly's idea above (Jill)
 * move towards closing the gap (developing a deeper understanding) within our district around the role of technology  in education (e.g. technology technicians and education technology users come from very different directions even though we are both trying to prepare our students and buildings for the future) (Jill)
 * create a structure for this group so that dynamic discussions (around vision, directions, concerns, challenges) can occur regularly enough to keep the momentum going towards our collaborated visions (Jill)

I thought it may be fun to begin throwing out some ideas around a five year vision (Jill): * this list ignores all costs or challenges J

I am adding to the Think Tank Agenda right here. Always have donuts. Bring your laptop if you have one. after … 1 year 2 years 3 years 4 years 5 years
 * list of desired Pro D sessions (from both informal and formal questionnaires) with a schedule for the next year
 * digital projector with white screen in each classroom (for those wanting them)
 * 5 teachers attend out of district technology conferences and then provide mini-sessions to the technology group (+)
 * technology Pro D providedin each school at least once during the school year
 * begin a tracking system e.g. the impact of increased use of technology to support learners (stats may help the progress)
 * support a TOC specializing in technology (idea is that the TOC could come into a classroom, follow their own technology rich day, while the teacher is viewing another classroom…..or staying in and observing?)
 * begin a structure for creating 'Technology Clubs' in schools
 * active cross-district technology mentorship
 * each school has a resident teacher who specializes, champions, supports technology in their school

An interesting article on use of technology in the classroom - has some interesting ideas around long-term planning and also around the use of technology in classrooms (Kelley)

@http://chronicle.com/article/Teach-Naked-Effort-Strips/47398/