Workshops
CoSN Conference 2011: Mastering the Moment
March 14-16
Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel
The following Pre and Post Conference workshops will occur on either March 14 or March 17, 2011. Additional registration and fee required.
Pre-Conference Workshops
MORNING WORKSHOPS
Monday, March 14
9:00am -12:00pm
BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology) – Preparing for Student Mobile Learning Devices
You can’t ban them forever. Whether these hand-held devices are district or student owned, it is time to make decisions and prepare the district’s wireless infrastructure for a brave new world.
Rich Kaestner, Project Director, Taking Total Cost of Ownership to the Classroom, Calculating the Value of Investment, and Green Computing, OR
Bailey Mitchell, Chief Technology and Information Officer, Forsyth County Schools, GA
Marie Bjerede, Founder, e-Mergents, OR
Lenny Schad, Chief Information Officer, Katy ISD, TX
Dr. Elliot Soloway, University of Michigan, College of Engineering Professor, MI
Dr. Cathy Norris, University of North Texas, School of Information, Regents Professor
Boot Camp for Aspiring and New CTOs
For effective 21st century learning environments, use of technology will continue to expand and deepen in importance. Superintendents look to district technology leaders, known by many titles, to ensure effective use of technology to realize the vision and goals of the district and its stakeholders. What knowledge and skills must today’s technology leaders possess to be successful? District technology leaders must be empowered with the range of skills and abilities needed to position them as educational leaders not just technology leaders that provide the vision for the role technology can play in innovation and transformation. No matter the size of the district, leadership is key, and the expanded role of today’s technology leader encompasses a broad range of skills, to include creating a vision, strategic planning and policy development; understanding of teaching and learning, assessment and professional development needs; management of technology and support resources; and political and interpersonal skills to effectively work with all stakeholders. Better understand the CTO skill set needed to realize 21st century learning environments and share experiences around the knowledge and skills necessary to be a successful district technology leader.
Ed Zaiontz, Chairman of the CoSN Board of Directors and the Executive Director Information Services, Round Rock Independent School District, TX
Sean McDonough, Director of Information Technology, Harrisburg School District, PA
Vince Humes, Director of Technology, Northwest Tri-County Intermediate, PA
AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS
Monday, March 14
1:30 - 4:30pm
Strategies for Finding Resources to Support Technology Initiatives
Would you like to be able to save money in your district on back-end processes and direct those savings to classroom technology use? The eleven school districts that participated in the APQC led North Star Project, did just that using Process and Performance Management (PPM). In this working session, you'll learn the basics of PPM and leave with an action plan for putting PPM in place in your district.
Carolyn Talasek, Director, Process and Performance Management Services, American Productivity & Quality Center, TX
Fred Bentsen, Senior Vice President, American Productivity & Quality Center, TX
Cloud Computing - Strategically Leveraging Cloud Services
Cloud computing promises to reduce capital expenses and support requirements for school technology departments, and you are probably already using some cloud services. What makes sense to move to the cloud and what needs to be in place to be successful?
Rich Kaestner, Project Director, Taking Total Cost of Ownership to the Classroom, Calculating the Value of Investment, and Green Computing, OR
Phil Emer, Director of Technology, Friday Institute, NC
Donna Williamson, Chief Technology Officer, Mountain Brook Schools, AL
Technology Leadership: An Imperative for District-level Leaders
Technology is changing the way we live, learn, work and play; it is no longer a novelty ---- it is an essential component of high-functioning districts and schools. District leaders have a vital role to play in promoting the use of 21st century technology for teaching and learning improvements. This session outlines an approach for district leaders who want to lead student-centered transformation using 21st century technologies.
While some critics have called for dismantling central offices, research clearly shows that improving teaching and learning is a district challenge for both district leaders and school-based leaders; and clearly -- district office leaders have vital roles to play in developing systems of support for teaching and learning improvements in our schools.
The reality is that 21st century technologies have already set a new stage for learning and students are comfortable with highly interactive and participatory technologies. Today’s children and youth are immersed in the participatory Web 2.0 culture outside of schools, but too many are being asked to check their technologies each morning at the schoolhouse door. At the same time, district administrators see the educational significance and promise of technology, but school districts are struggling with HOW to infuse and integrate technology into any and all aspects of teaching and learning.
This workshop will offer participants the opportunity to openly discuss challenges for district leaders and together determine strategies for transforming education using modern and innovative technologies in schools and district offices. We will take a close look at district-level technology leadership for transformation; highlighting Web 2.0 tools, emerging technologies, the role of the Chief Technology Officer, and the power of data to inform decisions about teaching, learning and transformation.
Katie Lovett, Project Director, Empowering the 21st Century Superintendent, and Data-driven Decision Making, GA
Robert Slaby, Ed.D, Superintendent, Storey County School district, NV
Lillian Kellogg, Vice President, Education Networks of America (ENA), TN
Lonnie Luce, PhD, Superintendent, St James Parish School District, LA
Gary L. Jones, PhD, Superintendent, Rapides Parish Schools, LA
Sheryl Abshire, Ed.D., Chief Technology Officer, Calcasieu Parish Public Schools, LA
Thursday, March 17
9:00am - 12:00pm
The Mobile Administrator: Leading with Web 2.0
(Price includes purchase of iPad)
Come and learn new ways to use Web2.0 tools with your new iPad. Research-based strategies will be shared during this hands-on workshop with instructional ideas, as well as management tools for administrators' use. Registration fee includes an iPad so participants can share best practices and your favorite apps!
Alice Owen, Executive Director of Technology, Irving ISD, TX
Angie Gaylord, Principal, Irving ISD, TX
Sam Farsaii, Director of Instructional Technology, Irving ISD, TX
Post-Conference Crescent City School Site Visits
Thursday, March 17
8:00am - 2:00pm
Spend a day visiting two exemplary charter high tech high schools in the Orleans Parish that have been revitalized since Hurricane Katrina. Visit with staff and students and see their aggressive technology programs despite still being in significant recovery mode. Fee includes lunch and transportation.
Ben Franklin High School is one of the Gold Medal schools in U. S. News and World Report national ranking of high schools in the United States. Previously a magnet school, after Katrina they become a charter. The curriculum at the selective enrollment school is heavily weighted in favor of science and math, as well as an highly successful journalism curriculum. In the 2007-08 school year they boasted 26 National Merit Scholars and an astounding 17 National Achievement Semi-finalists, more than any other school in the country.
Many students at Ben Franklin are also co-enrolled in the state run magnet school for the arts, New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts. Wynton Marsalis was a graduate of a co-enrollment at Ben Franklin High School and NOCCA.
Warren Easton Charter High School is the oldest public high school in the state of Louisiana and was originally opened in 1845 for boys. Unlike Ben Franklin, Easton is not selective enrollment. The school was recently a recipient of the Gulf Coast Recovery Grant Initiative from US Department of Education and was awarded $577, 454 to facilitate an afterschool and extended learning program. Funds from the grant are being used for academic remediation, tutoring, credit recovery, enrichment programs and STEM. Movie celebrity, Sandra Bullock, has adopted the school and donated considerable money to the refurbishment of the historic building.
Easton is noteworthy in that it is a high performing school with an amazing support system for technology on campus. The delegation will observe students actively engaged in learning in technology-rich environments including: classroom management software, online learning, video conferencing, podcasting, interactive white boards, digital content, touch screens, biometric devices, cameras, clickers and more. The visit will culminate in a tour of their newly-installed STEM Lab.
Take a short bus ride to experience education technology like you’ve never seen it before.