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Google in Education Summit – March 18 & 19, 2014

February 21, 2014 By

 

March 18–19, 2014 at Grand Canyon University

Join us for Arizona’s first Google in Education Summit! This high intensity two-day event focuses on deploying, integrating, and using Google Apps for Education and other Google Tools to promote student learning in K–12 and higher education. You will get to hear from Google Global Education Evangelist, Jaime Casap, as he evangelizes the power and potential of the web, technology, and Google tools in education. You can also look forward to a demo slam competition, a closing capstone session—plus two full days of informative breakouts, cutting-edge demonstrations, and hands-on workshops led by experienced and knowledgeable professional developers.  Learn more and register at:  az.gafesummit.com.

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Ed Tech Happenings, Hot Topics, Upcoming Events

2014 E-Rate Information

November 12, 2013 By

Schools and Libraries (E-Rate) Official Website

2014 Trainings
General E-Rate Information - 7 min 12 sec Video
An introduction to the Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program.

Schools and Libraries Program Website Tour - 6 min 32 sec Video
Learn how to navigate the Schools and Libraries Program website to find program guidance, useful website features, and search tools.

2013 Fall E-Rate Applicant Training Presentations

Download Title Series Name Year Event Type
PDF  PDF (opens in new window)PPT  PPT (opens in PowerPoint)
Avoid the Dirty Dozen Mistakes E-Rate Fall Applicant Training 2013 Training
PDF  PDF (opens in new window)PPT  PPT (opens in PowerPoint)
E-rate Update E-Rate Fall Applicant Training 2013 Training
PDF  PDF (opens in new window)PPT  PPT (opens in PowerPoint)
Ensuring Program Compliance E-Rate Fall Applicant Training 2013 Training
PDF  PDF (opens in new window)PPT  PPT (opens in PowerPoint)
Introduction to E-rate E-Rate Fall Applicant Training 2013 Training
Download Title Series Name Year Event Type
PDF  PDF (opens in new window)PPT  PPT (opens in PowerPoint)
New FCC Form 472 E-Rate Fall Applicant Training 2013 Training
PDF  PDF (opens in new window)PPT  PPT (opens in PowerPoint)
New FCC Forms 470 and 471 E-Rate Fall Applicant Training 2013 Training
PDF  PDF (opens in new window)PPT  PPT (opens in PowerPoint)
New FCC Forms 479, 486, 500 Proposed Changes E-Rate Fall Applicant Training 2013 Training
PDF  PDF (opens in new window)PPT  PPT (opens in PowerPoint)
Openings, Closings, and Mergers Tutorial E-Rate Fall Applicant Training 2013 Training
PDF  PDF (opens in new window)PPT  PPT (opens in PowerPoint)
Understanding and Complying with Audits E-Rate Fall Applicant Training 2013 Training
Download Title Series Name Year Event Type
PDF  PDF (opens in new window)PPT  PPT (opens in PowerPoint)
Understanding Eligible Services E-Rate Fall Applicant Training 2013 Training

Additional Resources: 

AZ State Master Contract details
Using State Master Contracts for E-Rate

Older presentations:

E-rate Application – Beginner’s Guide Tutorial – This self-navigated guide is for new applicants to guide you through the basics.
E-rate Program: Funding Year 2012 Updates
A 20 minute self-guided and narrated presentation highlighting the recent changes to the E-rate program for 2012.
Digital Arizona Program
E-rate Program: Funding Year 2011 Updates

Filed Under: Ed Tech Happenings, Hot Topics

Speak Up 2013

October 17, 2013 By

Speak Up 2013

The Speak Up National Research project annually polls K-12 students, parents and educators about the role of technology for learning in and out of school and represents the largest collection of authentic, unfiltered stakeholder voice on digital learning.  For more information visist Speak Up 2013.  Arizona participants need to enter in the survey password: su4az to take the survey.

On October 28th,  Julie Evans, CEO of Project Tomorrow, shared the benefits of participation and presented data for Arizona.  To listen to her overall vision of SpeakUp and how the data can benefit Arizona schools, click here for a recording of the October 28, 2013 webinar.  

To see past Speak Up data for Arizona go to http://www.azed.gov/educational-technology/speak-up-survey/.

 

 

Filed Under: Ed Tech Happenings, Hot Topics

2013-2014 Guidance for LEA Technology Planning

September 24, 2013 By

PlanningRecent changes to E-Rate technology planning requirements and the elimination of the Enhancing Education through Technology federal grant, also known as Title II-D, have generated the need to revise Arizona Department of Education’s (ADE) LEA technology planning requirements. The primary change is that LEAs only need to seek ADE approval of their technology plan if they are applying for reimbursement of Priority Two E-Rate services during that school year.  LEAs who are not applying for reimbursement of Priority Two services from E-Rate, are encouraged to annually update their technology plans in ALEAT (Arizona’s LEA Tracker) but ADE does not need to approve them.  However, all LEAs who receive E-rate funding for Internet Access must comply with the Children’s Internet Protect Act (CIPA) requirements and keep a  signed CIPA in your E-Rate notebook.  It is good practice to add a strategy/action plan for Internet Safety and CIPA compliance to Standard 2 – LEA Leadership under L3:  Manages the organization to provide a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment on an annual basis.  

Here is a recording of the webinar presentation of  Tech Plans, E-Rate and ALEAT that will give you additional information.

Any LEA who is seeking approval of their technology plan from ADE for E-Rate Priority Two Services MUST submit the following to ADE  by April 7, 2014 :

  1. Review the Tech Plan Process Flowchart before beginning the process.
  2. Complete the Technology Plan Needs Assessment using the template available on the ADE Technology Planning website (http://www.azed.gov/educational-technology/technology-plans/) and upload into ALEATs Tech Plan Monitoring documents.
  3. Add at least one “TECH” tagged action step to each LEA goal/standard  in ALEAT.   All action steps must be tagged as TECH.
  4. Add strategies/action steps  for Internet Safety and CIPA Compliance to Standard 2 – LEA Leadership under L3: Manages the organization to provide a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment.  Be sure to add “TECH” tags to all action steps.
  5. NOTE:  There is no longer the need for the Tech Literacy Goal due to the elimination of  Title IID.
  6. Upload signed CIPA form into ALEAT SY2014 Tech Plan Monitoring documents.
  7. Send an alert email request for a 3-year tech plan approval letter  to techplans@azed.gov.
  8. Save ALL documents in your E-rate notebook for 6 years, including the Tech Plan Approval letter from ADE for those applying for E-Rate Priority Two Services.

Resources

Below are a few of the resources have been created to assist LEAs in the technology planning process:

  • Revised Tech Plan Process Flowchart (revised 9/2013): Includes a graphical representation of the steps a typical LEA would complete during the technology planning process.
  • Revised Needs Assessment Template: A framework for reviewing an LEA’s technology needs in preparation for developing goals, strategies, and action steps for the use of technology within an LEA.
  • Revised CIPA Certification: Must be on file with the Arizona Department of Education for E-Rate Priority Two verification.
  • Revised Technology Strategies and Action Step Examples – Examples of strategies/actions steps that align with ALEAT’s Standards for Effective LEAs. Add “TECH” tags to each action step.
  • Revised Technology Planning FAQs - A list of common questions and answers that LEAs have about technology planning.

Children’s Internet Protection Act – 2012 Update

For those applying for Priority One E-rate services, your Internet Safety Policies must be updated to meet FCC CIPA requirements prior to July 1, 2012.

For additional information about these changes, contact the Ed Tech team at techplans@azed.gov or 602-364-1349.

Filed Under: Ed Tech Happenings, Hot Topics, Tech Plans, Upcoming Events

Resources to support Arizona’s Common Core Standards

November 1, 2012 By

 Take a look at Arizona’s Common Core website.   There will be more support for the role of technology will be coming in January   2013.

Filed Under: Ed Tech Happenings, Hot Topics

Google SketchUp Pro 2013 Statewide K-12 License

May 8, 2012 By

SketchUpPro

Google SketchUp Pro 2013 educational lab licenses are offered at no cost for schools that participate in the statewide licensing grant program. In order to obtain the critical information to activate the licenses, complete this form request.  For more information, go to: SketchUp website and Knowledge Center for downloading, installing, and authorization instructions, training materials, getting started guides, video tutorials, and much more. 

Contact  Cathy Poplin, cathy.poplin@azed.gov or Jessica Liesegang, Jessica.Liesegang@azed.gov. 

Filed Under: Ed Tech Happenings, Hot Topics

Free Educational Technology Literacy Assessment Online Tools

October 19, 2011 By

Technology Literacy Assessment Tools

ADE offers a free student and staff technology literacy assessment (suitable for 5th – 12th grades) – please contact the Ed Tech Department for more information 602-364-1349.

Accounts are created at http://arizonaitts.flinnovates.org site. You can begin by selecting the Demo District from the drop-down menu.  For assistance with creating your account, please email cathy.poplin@azed.gov  and request the start-up directions.

 Teacher Tech Assessment URL: http://arizonaitts.flinnovates.org

 Student Tech Assessment URL: http://arizonast2l.flinnovates.org

 

Assessing Technology Integration Resources

The Arizona Technology Integration Matrix – Classroom Level (ATIM – Classroom Level) was developed as part of a ARRA Title II-D competitive grant, through the Arizona K – 12 Center, to assist teachers and other educators in assessing the current level of technology integration that is occurring within a classroom. The matrix is accompanied with video clips and lesson plans to illustrate the different levels of technology integration.

Additional tools to accompany the AzTIM are the:

TIM Observation Tool

 The Technology Integration Matrix Observation Tool (TIM-O) is a tool for guiding principals, teachers, and others through the process of evaluating the level of technology integration within a particular classroom. The TIM-O provides the user with a series of easily observable yes/no questions. When completed, the tool indicates a profile for the observed lesson in terms of the Technology Integration Matrix. For example, a lesson may be at the Infusion level on the Active spectrum, at the Adaptation level on the Collaborative spectrum, and so forth. With multiple observations, the TIM-O helps evaluators get a clear picture of the professional development needs of the teacher to support further technology integration.

Technology Comfort Measure (TCM) – The Technology Comfort Measure (TCM) is a thirty-five question self-assessment for teachers. The TCM presents teachers with a series of pairs of photographs depicting different ways of using technology in the classroom. For each pair, the teacher is asked to choose the scenario with which he or she is most comfortable. Each photograph depicts a different level and characteristic of integration as described by the Technology Integration Matrix (TIM). After completion, the teacher is presented with an approximate profile in terms of the TIM and suggestions for professional development.

Contact Cathy Poplin, cathy.poplin@azed.gov  to get set-up in the system. Once you have your username and password, click here to access the tools.

Filed Under: Ed Tech Happenings, Hot Topics

Multimedia Resource Links

September 14, 2011 By

Khan Academy – www.khanacademy.org  (Mathematics  instructional videos)

The National Science Digital Library – http://nsdl.org/resources_for/k12_teachers/ (STEM resources)

NBC Learn – http://www.nbclearn.com/portal/site/learn - (Clips from NBC news archives)

PSB Learning Media – http://az.pbslearningmedia.org/ (Video clips from PBS programming)

Pics4Learning – http://www.pics4learning.com/ (Copyright-friendly image library for classroom use)

Thinkfinity-   http://thinkfinity.org/in-the-classroom  (Interactive  and videos)

Intel Teach Tools – www.intel.com/teachers (Free online tools for teachers)

Teaching Channel -  http://www.teachingchannel.org/ (Videos of classroom practices)

Filed Under: Ed Tech Happenings, Hot Topics, IDEAL Updates

IDEAL Updates

July 19, 2011 By

Memo

To:       Superintendents, Curriculum Directors, and Ed Tech Leaders

From:   Cathy Poplin, Deputy Associate Superintendent for Educational Technology

Date:    September 14, 2011

Re:       Official End Date for Discovery Streaming through IDEAL

This is an update to the memo sent on September 1st informing you that Discovery Education Streaming would no longer be provided through the IDEAL education portal, www.ideal.azed.gov.   Discovery Education Streaming will be available in IDEAL until the close of business on Friday, September 23, 2011.

You can go to www.discoveryeducation.com/arizona for information on how to continue subscribing to Discovery Education Streaming for your school(s) or you can contact Brad Hagaman of Discovery Education directly at 704-557-2446 or brad_hagaman@discovery.com.  The Discovery Education team will also be reaching out to districts and charter schools around the state.

Filed Under: Hot Topics, IDEAL Updates