11/12/09
Technology integrators helping Cape teachers make most of digital tools
At long last, a team of educators at Cape Elizabeth schools is bridging the gap between technology and what is being taught in the classroom.
While computers, digital cameras and the like are a familiar presence in the classroom, not all have taken full advantage of the technology available. This year, for the first time, there is a technology-integration staff person in each of Cape Elizabeth's three schools.
Cape Elizabeth technology coordinator Gary Lanoie told members of the School Board Nov. 3 that he hopes to dedicate a future board workshop to all of the impacts the new staff is making, but he did provide a brief overview at the board's business meeting.
The primary function of the technology integrator is to help teachers use technology in the classroom. An example, Lanoie said, is an exit poll conducted by the High School's government class outside Cape's polling place Nov. 3. The integrator developed the poll using a Web form and Google Apps, Lanoie said. It was up to the students to enter the data and analyze it.
While Cape Elizabeth has long had technology support staff to answer hardware, software and networking trouble calls, the technology integrators are providing teacher support on a professional level. "It's that support on the professional level that has been missing for so many years," Lanoie told members of the board.
The school budget adopted for 2009-10 includes funding for each of the three technology integrators, and Lanoie said their presence is having an impact. "One of the ideas of the technology integrator is that we are going to help the digital 'immigrants' become 'digital 'natives', with the help of these positions," Lanoie told the board.
Funding for the three positions was part of staff realignments made at the end of last spring's budget process. "Exceptional technology integrators have been designated as the key to directing teaching staff toward the consistent use of stronger instructional practices and improved assessed learning," said Superintendent Alan Hawkins in an amended budget submitted to the School Board last spring. Staff funding was realigned when officials learned Cape Elizabeth would receive approximately $500,000 less in state aid.
The integrator position is an educational technician II, budgeted at $35,000 each for the school year.
Lanoie has been meeting regular with the technology-integration team, and their work has been paying off, he said. "The teachers they are meeting with are not the teachers we have helped in the past, so we are reaching more people," Lanoie told the board.
Technology integrators have been are target in the School Department's technology plan since 1994, Lanoie said. "And finally, he said, "we have that."
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