Kent ISD Assistive Technology Committee Meeting

10/10/08

Ron Houtman – ssistive Tech consultant for ISD. Looks at strategic goals and attempts to contact teachers with available technology. Kids have a demand for information and teachers are not always comfortable or don’t understand the technology world out there.

Kindy Segovia –

“23 things” – online at your own pace PD for teachers to explore the world of Web 2.0. Course is just ending this week. Getting great feedback from teachers.

  • Will run again starting Dec 15.
  • Look under professional development on Free and worth 2 CEUs
  • Marzano 9 – Framework is geared around Marzano’s research that found 9 things that most impact learning (ie, similarities/differences, note taking skills, graphic organizers, etc).
  • Staff will need to put in about 1 hour per topic (23 topics total). You may end up putting in more.
  • Will help staff design curriculum for all learners – differentiating instruction

“GoogleAcademy” – all day inservice for all of the google tools. Scheduled Feb 18, but that date might change.

Wiki labs – open labs 4-6 pm at the ISD. You can come to work on a wiki you’ve already done, or come and learn how to make a wiki. Oct 13, Nov 6, Nov 20.

Important updates about E-text and Audio text:

  • RESCUE project. Archive of digital files (scanned in books or digitally recorded by voice) up to 1800 books! A good portion of the novels required in middle school and high school have been digitized.
  • Over the summer, the Michigan DOE got into this project and have put everything on hold because of questions about copyright issues.
  • No files can be shared at this time. Kent ISD attorney, superintendent and assistant superintendent are working on getting this investigated further.
  • Website has some novels you can purchase. One download can work on 3 different players at one time. It can be moved between users. Unfortunately, there is no site that has digital textbooks.
  • Block for scanning is at the ISD level at this point, individual districts have not been blocked yet and can scan books they own. Takes about 20-24 hrs to scan a text book.
  • Others have digital literature, but not textbooks.
  • Often with some persistence, you can go directly to the publisher and get a digital book.
  • All textbooks published after 2006 are required to have a digital version of the textbook available. Most that have been done are college level at this point.

News-2-You

  • If you have a subscription or would like one, you need to fill out an application. Applications will be due by 10/17/08.
  • Curriculum support, current events geared toward the CI population. Each week there is a new topic with news articles, websites, etc.

MACUL: Michigan Association of Computer Users in Learning

  • Detroit Kobo Hall, March 18-20, 2009
  • Sessions on creative ways to use technology in the classroom
  • Universal Design for Learning strand is being developed for this conference
  • Can get a “scholarship” to go to MACUL by doing a presentation (need to have topic to Kindy by next week). ISD will pay for lodging and conference fee
  • Can also get ISD to pay for conference by sending Kindy a note that you want to go and why.
  • MI Champions program. Go to and look for link. Great opportunity for teachers who would like to become more involved with technology. Program will pay for subs and pay a stipend to the teachers for summer required days.

MITS: Michigan Technology Conference

  • Usually in early June after school gets out
  • Sessions on AAC, technology, high and low tech
  • Downtown Traverse City
  • Info will come out in Dec or Jan

CEC: Council for Exceptional Children

  • ISD will pay for registration if you help with the Assistive Technology Playground
  • Special Ed conference
  • Grand Rapids, March 4-6, 2009
  • Conference info will come out around January

Training Calendar: upcoming workshops and opportunities

See for schedule

  • Open labs
  • Wikis for educators
  • Google for the classroom
  • Digital storytelling
  • Advanced boardmaker
  • Success for all students: technology supports
  • Visual supports for the classroom

New equipment in the Lending Library

  • There may be an open lab time coming up where you can come and play with new software, etc.

Next Meeting: January 8, 2009

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