Week+2+Discussion+Question+3

=Question 3= Is technology used to foster collaboration in your school system, and if so how? Is its use widespread or limited?

Yes, technology is used to foster collaboration starting with the district providing all teachers with a laptop. From there, we have had numerous professional development opportunities in using the technology and are required to have a class webpage. All teachers have email accounts and most notices are disseminated using email. Our grading system is online and parents have access to the grading portal. We use Moodle for professional collaboration and development regarding professional learning plans and the posting of district curriculums. Our technology usage is widespread. The only odd thing our administration frowns upon is the faculty using the "all staff" email if we would like to share something with the entire faculty. This address can only be used by the administrators.

Pat Moriarty

The use of technology to foster collaboration in my school is mixed. All teachers are provided with laptops and we have a program to provide low cost computers to students families to encourage communication between the school and families. All teachers have emails and are part of a variety of google groups (upper school, middle school, individual departments, school leadership teams and workgroups) that are used to disseminate information to them including a weekly bulletin with updates. Our grading system is online and parents and students can access grades through it. Attendance data is also online. We have online class pages but few teachers use them. Some teachers use wikis in their classes. We have shared folders and webpages for teachers to use to collaborate but they are not widely used. Interestingly, our administration has closed the google group to posts from the teachers. It was started as a way to improve communication between the staff but has not become only communication to the staff.

Allyson Smith

Is technology used to foster collaboration in your school system, and if so how? Is its use widespread or limited?

Yes, technology is used to foster collaboration, with the use of Google Docs, Wikis, and blogging, community members are kept up to date. This is widespread throughout the district, and into the community.-Patrick

Technology is used to foster collaboratioon at the school, however not as effectively or efficiently as possible. The level of technology skill and knowledge here is quite low. I have been helping with that process on an ongoing basis. I am working on getting a school student iformation management system, a grading package, eportfolios, and an online student learning network. As for the use of technology in each core area, it is very limited. I am currently working on brining in video taping practices for self assessment and video production in each of the classes. There are several Mac computers in the video productioon class, and music class, but very little in the other areas, art, theatre and dance. Simply knowing how to utilize technology is where I have begun with the staff. They are enjoying learning some simple and effective ways to integrate technology into their curriculum.

ccapozzoli