Agenda

Tuesday, December 12, 2000

9:30 - Coffee and Conversation
10:00 - Opening Remark

• Dr. Shannon Parks, Director AlaPT³ 
• Dr. Joe Morton, Deputy Superintendent of Instructional Services 
• Ms. Stevie Ash, Associate Director AlaPT³

11:00 - PT³ Initiatives of Alabama 

• Alabama State Department of Education
• Alabama State University
• University of Alabama at Birmingham
• University of South Alabama
• Grid - Katie Sheridan, Project Coordinator UABPT³

11:30 - NETS and State Standards

• Dr. Shannon Parks

12:00 - Lunch
1:00 - Assessing the Integration of Technology

• Dr. Scott Snyder, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Dr. Judy Britt, Athens State University
• Dr. Mac Adkins, Troy State University

2:15 - Break
2:30 - Professional Development for Higher Education and Pre-service Teachers

• Dr. Randy Gunter, Morehead State University PT³

3:30 - The Role of Intergraph in AlaPT³

• Ms. Susan Nolan, Executive Manager, Intergraph Corporation

3:45 - Dates, Deadlines, and other Maddening Details

• MS. Stevie Ash

4:00 - Adjourn

Wednesday, December 13, 2000

8:00 - Breakfast, Connections, and Brainstorming

• Dr. Melinda Maddox, Interim Director, Office of Technology Initiatives

9:00 - What will AlaPT3 do for you and the children of Alabama?

• Dr. Shannon Parks and Ms. Stevie Ash

10:30 - Break
10:45 - Wrap-up Topics
11:00 - Adjourn

Back

• If you want to view Dr. Shannon Parks PowerPoint presentation on National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) in PT 3 Vision Meeting on line, please click here.

• If you want to download it, click here.                                                                 

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Teachers Discovering Computers Integrating Technology in the Classroom The Teacher Education Institute TeacherEducation.com

Randy Gunter

Over 100,000 teachers have taken graduate courses from the Teacher Education Institute (TEI) since it was founded 19 years ago. In partnerships with colleges and universities throughout the country, TEI designs and delivers graduate courses that allow teachers to learn practical skills and methods that are proven effective in today's classrooms. To continue to address the changing needs of the classroom and teachers, TEI is pioneering the development and delivery of both graduate and professional development courses for pre-service and in-service teachers via the Internet. In October 2000, the Teacher Education Institute formally partnered with Course Technology, Inc. of Thomson Learning. For more information on the TEI/Course Technology partnership, please visit the following Web site: http://www.course.com/teachers. 

One of TEI's most successful online courses is Teachers Discovering Computers - Integrating Technology in the Classroom (TDC) for K-12 educators and university faculty. Approximately 1,000 teachers, administrators, and university faculty from 10 states will take the online TDC course this year. Teachers Discovering Computers is currently being offered in three versions:

· Graduate course for K-12 teachers and administrators
· Undergraduate course for pre-service teachers
· Graduate course for college/university faculty

Graduate Course for K-12 Teachers and Administrators 

TEI has had tremendous success with the online graduate level Teachers Discovering Computers course using the Teachers Discovering Computers textbook. The textbook and course were specifically written to address all of the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) developed by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). TEI collects and publishes national level research on every student that takes TDC and to date, independent research confirms that 100% of students that complete the online TDC course really enjoyed the course, became excited about their learning, learned how to integrate technology into their specific classroom curriculum, and became enthusiastic about educational technology. 

The most unique aspect of TDC is that each participant learns how to integrate technology into his or her specific curriculum. Thus a principal, an elementary school teacher, a middle school science teacher, and a high school math teacher in the same class actually engage in completely different learning tracks. TEI accomplish this unique aspect by allowing teachers to choose the specific course content that they will interact with.

Undergraduate Version for Pre-service Teachers

The undergraduate version of TDC is tailored for pre-service teachers and has been site licensed to the Florida Community College Distance Learning Consortium, which provides online courses to all 28 community colleges in Florida. In addition, TEI will teach TDC to approximately 1,200 undergraduates at Morehead State University in Kentucky over the next three years as part of a Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology (PT3) grant. 

Graduate Version for College/University Faculty

TEI has tailored the TDC course to teach college and university faculty how to use and integrate technology in their classes. National level research is being conducted on the first three faculty courses and the results are remarkable. Research results will be available in early January and will be published by the U.S. Department of Education in early spring. 

TDC is a unique and flexible online course that can be tailored to meet the needs of any state or group of educators. Certain aspects of the course are consistent regardless of what track participants are enrolled in. These are outlined below.

Online Delivery - TDC's unique online instruction is the most convenient way possible for teachers to learn critical new skills. Teachers can study and work at home or at school at a time most convenient for them. 

Thirteen Week Course - The online course consists of 10 modules, which are covered over a period of 13 weeks. Participants interact weekly with their instructor.

Graduate Credit - Participants earn 3 semester hours of graduate credit from one of TEI's partnering accredited universities/colleges including: Barry University, Miami Shores, FL; The College of Saint Rose, Albany, NY; Fitchburg State College, Fitchburg, MA; Carlow College, Pittsburgh, PA; Madonna University, Livonia, MI; Notre Dame College of Ohio, Cleveland, OH; and Morehead State University, KY. TDC can be used for recertification and fulfills many states requirement for a course in technology. There is also a non-credit version of the graduate course that allows teachers and administrators to earn up to 60 continuing education or in-service points.

State of the Art Textbook - All TDC courses are based on one of the most exciting and innovative books ever written for teachers, Teachers Discovering Computers, Integrating Technology in the Classroom. This new textbook is specifically designed for K-12 teachers, counselors, and administrators. It is the product of collaboration between the Shelly Cashman Series and Glenda and Randy Gunter. With all its special features, there is no other book quite like it. 

TDC Web Site (www.scsite.com/tdc) - The TDC textbook is extensively Web enhanced and all end-of-chapter materials and special features are available on the Web. The Web site includes over 3,000 organized links; 1,000 animations, video segments, and audio clips; late breaking news; multimedia updates; seven special features; a chat room; links to important educational sites; and more, all organized by chapter and title.

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