Northwest Area Schools Title II D Grant Report

1. Northwest Area SchoolsTitle II D Grant Report Cris Owens Project Coordinator Northwest Area Schools/Education Service Agency 5 Isabel, SD 57633 Dr. Helen E. Usera Project Evaluator Institute for Educational Leadership & Evaluation Chiesman Center for Democracy, Inc. Rapid City, South Dakota 57701

2. Technology Bootcamp: Learning to Lead in the 21st CenturyGoals and Objectives:

3. Goal 1.0 Professional Development Goal: • 80% of participating teachers will increase their effectiveness in integrating 21st Century Skills into the learning process.

4. Professional Development Objective: • By the end of the third quarter, 80% of participating teachers will develop and implement, in a classroom, a student-based project that is aligned with reading or math standards, and integrates 21st Century Skills and technology.

5. Activities: • Four (4) classes with cohort groups • Six (6) coaching visits per teacher • Fourteen (14) online postings per teacher Collected evidence: • Teacher projects • postings • (Evaluation)**as measured by increasing one level on the Milestones for Improving Learning and Education (MILE) Guide for 21st Century Skills, Partnership for 21st Century Skills, by the conclusion of the project.**

6. Mile Guide • Three stages of development • Early • Transitional • 21st Century • Six categories • Student Knowledge and Skills • Education Support Systems • Education Leadership • Policy Making • Partnering • Continuous Improvement

7. Mile Guide: Comparison of Early Stage

11. Links to Projects and Postings • http://technology-bootcamp-nwas.wikispaces.com/ • http://community.thinkfinity.org/groups/technology-bootcamp

12. Goal 2.0 Student Achievement Goal: • 80% of students in cohort classrooms will reach proficient or advanced in reading or math as measured by the Dakota STEP in 2011.

13. Student Achievement Objective: • At the end of each quarter, 80% of students in cohort classrooms will attain proficiency on a teacher-selected indicator in reading or math as measured quarterly by Achievement Series assessments.

14. Activities: • Teachers will analyze 2010 Dakota Step data to identify weak reading and math indicators. • Teachers will be provided with guidance to analyze data, select indicators and plan for formative assessment • Hand out steps for Emetric analysis at August class • Provide direction on how to access classroom data through Emetric • Guide teachers through an analysis of data using Emetric • Guide teachers to DOE Website for reading/math standard clarification • Give copies of unpacked standards to teachers for analysis and discussion • Have each teacher select one or two indicators for focused instruction (ex: Measurement m.1.2)

15. Guide teachers through the development or selection of formative assessments using Achievement Series • Each teacher will administer a Pre/Post-test related to the selected indicator(s) quarterly • Teachers will plan technology rich lessons and activities to assist students attain proficiency on teacher selected indicator • Teachers will record data quarterly and submit to project coordinators • Teachers will participate in discussions about what impact technology-rich instruction is having on student achievement.

20. Dakota Step Percent of Proficient & Advanced

21. Dakota Step 2010 & 2011

22. Principals Cohort Group • Invited 28 to participate – 13 choose to participate for the grant period. • Attended leadership training in August 2010. • Met face to face once • Posted on Thinkfinity about projects and teacher observations • Attended Technology Summit in June 2011

24. Project Successes • Retained 85% of the participating districts – 18/21 • Retained 83% of the cohort teachers – 35/42 • Rich ongoing teacher collaboration throughout ESA 5 region • Principals tuned into teachers technology & 21st Century Skills growth • Increased Student engagement

25. Major Challenges • Internet availability at schools • Bandwidth • Sites blocked by Technology • Achievement Series

26. What Did WE Learn? • Our region has high quality teachers who are willing to learn, grow and share • Teachers are willing to take risks in order to improve education process for students • New education sites and uses • Smee District Technology Coordinator, Eric Skillingstad, earned his recognition at TIE! • Need for continued technology & 21st Century Skills teaching and learning

27. Advice for Future Project Leaders • Do all the upfront planning possible. • Plan for as many “what ifs” as possible. • Plan on sustainability after the grant work is over. • Get high quality experts to work with your teachers. • Coaching is a must.

28. Considerations for ReplicationIf you could change anything about the Bootcamp, what would you want? 1.  Learn how to put a Wikispace together 2.  Learn how to use Smartboards and IPads 3.  Learn how to assess the new products and connecting to what students learn 4.  I wish there was a Bootcamp 2 5.  I would like to go to other schools and visit classrooms. 6.  I would like to learn how to develop true creativity for students.

29. What do you recommend should be kept for future Bootcamps? 1.      Face to face meetings keep you on track 2.      Thinkfinity 3.      Kevin Honeycutt 4.      Stipend 5.      Credit hours 6.      Gifts 7.      The staff is flexible.  8.      Monthly meetings; modeling with teachers

30. What do you recommend should be changed for future Bootcamps? 1.   The day of the week for face to face meetings should be changed so the teacher does not miss the same class every time. 2.   Use an alternative assessment to the Achievement Series. 3.   Integrate technology standards. 4.   Meet and practice presentations 1-2 weeks prior to the conference. 5.   Increase the stipend. 6.   Provide a checklist of requirements. 7.   June is better for the initial meeting time. 8.   Coaches should model to students and the teacher observes.