Scene+One

Scene 1 Setting Principal’s Office LBDJ 21st Century School

The principal of LBDJ 21st Century school, Stan Manard, Instructional Technology Specialist, Carrie Clark, new teacher Shannon Price, veteran teacher Mark Andrews and the Director of Technology, Sara Johnson to meet to discuss the upcoming professional development initiative the District has mandated that all teachers complete regardless of 21st century skill level. LBDJ 21st Century School has been selected to pilot the initiative. Stan has volunteered his school to be the model for the rest of the district to follow. Being the 21st Century School, his school is filled with technology and he has organized a cross section of his current faculty and technology staff to plan the training. Stan also included Sara to attend.

Carrie Clark, “We are meeting to set up the professional development to initiate the mandated training to integrate technology into each teacher’s lessons. It is a massive goal but with all of the people assembled here today, we will make it happen!” Stan Manard, “ Sara Johnson, Carrie and I have decided that we want the training to be focused on how to integrate technology using project based learning. We feel it is a natural springboard to technology integration and that with the technology tools we have in place in our school now, it will be an easy fit.” In his mind, Stan sees where this project could go, if everyone just will get on board and do what we want them to do! I know Mark Andrews is very enthusiastic about technology. He is a powerful force in this school and I think he should be able to head off the resistance some of the older faculty have about new strategies. I think Shannon Johnson steps up as she has done this past year and shows the leadership I‘ve seen so far. While Stan takes a second to note who is in attendance, Carrie begins her idea of how to conduct the training. “I think it would be best to have the faculty divided into groups of approximately 15 with a mixture of technology skills levels. From my experience, we can have those more comfortable with technology act as peer tutors to those who are less confident in their technology skills." Mark thinks as he listens, “I see that a few people will be pulled kicking and screaming to these tools. They will be a handful but if we can be really positive …” Carrie asks Mark, “What do you think about helping me make the groups of faculty for training? Stan suggested you help me do that because your experience here on staff and your technology experience. We think you will be invaluable in guiding this technology integration model for the entire district, as well.”

Shannon, who is wondering just what she is doing here in this meeting pipes in, “I think Mark will be great because he uses technology on a consistent basis and has been really helpful to just not me but to anyone who has issues effectively using technology in their lessons.” Stan just grins and thinks, ”Yes! Shannon will be good to bring everyone into the fold with technology integration! We are going to look really good at the School Board Meeting when I present our model and show the results of our technology integration project based learning!”

Carrie looks at Stan, nods her approval of the two faculty representatives and says, “We also want to include Shannon in the training. Using project based learning to integrate technology will only further the goals of LBDJ 21st Century School to develop students for the their lives as life long learners and workers. Sara Johnson will work hand in hand with us to ensure all of our tech hardware and networking needs are met.”

Sara,“And I want to be here as not just your technology support but as your sounding board as well. We ALL stand to gain by a successful implementation of this model. Everyone. We may have some resistance from faculty and even some parents but when we plan the training and implementation of the training, we will address these issues before they have a chance to hit us.”

Stan, "If we all agree to the basics we have talked about here today, I think it is prudent to set a time and place for our next meeting. Before we meet again, I want everyone to think about a project based lesson be it a unit plan or individual lesson plan that we can sell to the faculty as easily planned and implemented. If we show how they will get a lot of 'bang for their buck', I think they will be more receptive. It is mandated training by the district!”

Carrie, “Let’s meet each week at this time and location until we have the training. Our timeline is 8 weeks to our first training.” She thinks, “I would rather meet for a few minutes as opposed to not enough. We have to communicate and stay on top of this thing or we will have issues we cannot handle!” The group agrees and will meet next week to brainstorm their ideas. 

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