What do Google, blogs, wikis, digital photo sharing, and social networking have to do with education? These tools can and are being used in classrooms, schools, and districts today to motivate and engage students in content mastery. The tools and their application in schools were demonstrated to several Santa Cruz County school leaders at a TICAL Silicon Valley workshop held at Apple Headquarters in Cupertino in December, 2009.
According to Speak Up, an online 2008 national survey, only one-third of high school students think their school is doing a good job preparing them for the 21st century workforce. The digital divide is still alive and well all across the nation. Students regularly use these tools in their lives to organize and create, but educators still too rarely use digital tools in instructional design and day-to-day operations. To create systemic change and institutionalize current technology, decisions and visions must come from the top—our school leaders. Ten years ago, the California Department of Education created the Technology Information Center for Administrative Leadership (TICAL), a Statewide Educational Technology Service (SETS) Project and professional development program, to provide effective technology-based leadership to our school leaders in the state. Due to the Santa Cruz County Office of Education’s success in effective technology integration, the SCCOE was named the Local Education Agency (LEA) of the project. TICAL consists of in-house staff and 21 cadre members from across the state, who are full-time, practicing administrators with a passion and vision for integrating technology. Four of these administrators work in the Bay Area, two of whom are based in Santa Cruz County—Thom Dunks and Tim Landeck. These four cadre members changed the face of TICAL in December by creating a regional cadre of school leaders (TICAL Silicon Valley Cadre) that serves Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, and San Mateo counties.
Roughly 45 school leaders came together for a 4-hour workshop to learn, network, and build personal and regional capacity with one goal in mind: to enhance education and student achievement with technology. Principals, assistant principals, central office administrators, and teacher leaders engaged in lessons and discussions on 21st century skills and shared resources such as Doodle, VoiceThread, GoogleDocs, school blogs, and wikis.
The evening began with an overview of the TICAL project and its resources, tools, and lessons on using technology in schools, classrooms, and for leadership purposes. Following the overview, participants attended smaller 30-minute breakout sessions of their choosing which included: creating a personal learning network (PLN) for professional productivity and organization using iGoogle; using social networks in education and some successful models; integrating digital media such as photographs, videos, and music into the content area; and data analysis and school comparison using a free website called Just for the Kids California (name recently changed to Educational Results Partnership). Attendees walked away from these breakout sessions with enthusiasm and ideas on how to implement these resources at their school sites and/or districts. During the Social Networking breakout, a Santa Cruz principal shared how his school is already using a Facebook page to engage the community and the students. This statement sparked a side conversation in which participants engaged in a dialogue of ideas on how to create a positive school climate using Facebook and other social networking sites.
During dinner, Don Zundel, a former educator and now an Apple Education Representative, gave an eye-opening presentation on productivity tools that are essential for students to learn in order for them to be competitive and ready for the 21st century workforce. This sparked a definite buzz in the room—light bulbs were going on all over as the TICAL cadre provided several examples of educator blogs including one called Free Technology For Teachers which provides updates on free tools to use in and out of the classroom. Teacher blogs were shared along with classroom/student blogs, and of course, principal, and even superintendent blogs. We had a short discussion on how blogs promote 24/7 access to learning. Then attendees participated in a crash course on Google Apps in education, where they learned how to search more effectively, locate images that are permissible to use, and effective collaborative writing techniques using Google Docs, Google Sites, and Google Reader. An educator from San Lorenzo Valley shared how their district has adopted Google Apps and is no longer hosting their own mail servers. The night ended with participants sharing sites they feel are beneficial in their work in assisting students, teachers, and staff.
The new TICAL Silicon Valley Cadre walked away with ideas, motivation, and a vision (some beginning others more developed) for implementing a 21st century education. When asked to share what they found most valuable, one participant said, “All of the wonderful resources. It was well worth the trip and the time.” And when asked how they will apply their learning, one participant said, “Getting reinvigorated about using tech in the classroom and thinking of some ideas of how to use it in the next week.” Another said, “First trying to digest it all and then trying to move forward with possibly blogging in the classroom and trying to push my school forward into the digital age…” One participant shared how they will notify their colleagues as well—“[I will share] with teachers that weren't present tonight at lunch tomorrow!” Participants and hosts were encouraged to keep the dialogue going on an online professional network for educators — Administrator 2.0, a TICAL Community on Learn Central.
This unique professional development opportunity provided by TICAL encourages schools and classrooms to create learning experiences that are relevant and valid for our students today. The message all evening was not just about implementing these tools, but also about using these tools to create a student-centered approach to learning. Participants of this event now have an arsenal of tools and ideas to take with them and become the leaders in their schools and districts to ultimately build capacity in all three counties and sustain a 21st century education for all!
A special workshop has been scheduled for March 30th for Santa Cruz County educational leaders looking to develop and sustain 21st century schools. Download the flyer.
Watch this video about the summer academy (part of the Cabrillo Advancement Program) offered to encourage exploration of career options to middle and high school students.
SCCRA in conjunction with the SCCOE and the Live Oak School District, sponors a series of professional development workshops. Download the flyer or go to their web site for more info.
A compilation of emerging models of eLiteracy, with resources, tools, and training to help teachers and students develop critical thinking about technology.
Latest information on the landmark Superior Court case to provide all students equal access to instructional materials, safe schools, and quality teachers.
Education Code section 37254 requires that the local educational agency notify pupils or parent, legal guardian of a student under the age of 18, who has not passed one or both parts of the CAHSEE by the end of grade 12, of the availability of services and the right to file a complaint regarding those services per Education Code section 35186.
View the Sample Student Eligibility Letter. See Valenzuela/CAHSEE training materials on the CCSESA web site.
Roughly 45 school leaders came together for a 4-hour workshop to learn, network, and build personal and regional capacity with one goal in mind: to enhance education and student achievement with technology. Principals, assistant principals, central office administrators, and teacher leaders engaged in lessons and discussions on 21st century skills and shared resources such as 
