Course+Content

Step 1: Read the lecture notes, viewing sample lessons at each tier level. Step 2: Take the PILOT Survey of Technology Integration. Step 3: Take a SurveyMonkey quiz categorizing lessons. Step 4: Participate in a discussion based the quiz results. Step 5: Briefly create and outline 2 technology integrated lessons that fall into the Tier 2 level of integration, and 2 lessons that fall into Tier 3. Step 6: Score two other students’ lessons, using the evaluation form. Step 7: Reflect on the evaluations of your lesson.
 * Overview of Activities for Students to Complete: **
 * (Scroll down or click on each step to see more detailed information for each activity) **

**Step 1: Lecture Notes **
One goal of Title II, Part D of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) is to “encourage the effective integration of technology resources and systems with teacher training and curriculum development to establish research-based instructional methods that can be widely implemented as best practices by State educational agencies and local educational agencies.” Defining technology integration, though, was left up to each state. In Washington two different measures were developed for technology integration (teachers) and technology literacy/fluency (8th graders). We will be focusing on the technology integration component. The Tiers of Technology Integration were created by several of the Ed Tech directors working out of the regional educational service districts. We will delve into the tiers more in a minute. These tiers were adapted and used in the 2005 Washington state technology plan. If you would like to see a copy of that plan you can find it [|here]. Starting in 2005, Washington has required public school districts to report the number of teachers in their district at each tier on the annual technology inventory. Each district in Washington may choose or create an assessment tool to measure the integration level of their teachers. One popular tool that was created specifically for this purpose is the PILOT Survey of Technology Integration. Many districts use it because it is quick and easy. Other districts use observational data or district-created surveys. You may or may not have taken the PILOT survey before. Either way, you will be asked to take it again in a moment. Data is reported to both the district and the state as a compilation score. What that means is the district cannot see who received which score, they get only a number of how many scored in each category. Here is an example of the data reported by the state for the first part of the 2008 school year: Total Users: 7837 · Classrooms at Tier 1 6437 82.14% · Classrooms at Tier 2 737 9.4% · Classrooms at Tier 3 663 8.46%
 * Background **
 * Assessment and Reporting **
 * Washington state results for September 5, 2007- February 21, 2008 **

Please open the [|Tiers document] in a new window. Please look over this table carefully. The specifics in italics are just sample ideas. Other types of lessons, using other software or hardware, could fit under each indicator. Below is a summary of each tier. · Search for resources or lesson plans online · Create and store worksheets and other learning materials · Organize student information and/or grades · Use email or website to communicate with co-workers or parents The focus for this tier is on increasing teacher productivity and efficiency. Students are not involved at this level of technology integration, though the technology may be used by the teacher for their ultimate benefit. · One-computer classroom lessons · Teacher-directed lessons · Digital presentations by the teacher · Visually representing information · Facilitation of group discussions · Students use technology for productivity · Interactive tools for communication The focus of this tier is on using the technology with students in a teacher-directed fashion. The teacher will determine technology usage and students may or may not be having hands-on time with the technology. The technology is however, being used in instruction of the students. If students are using technology themselves it is likely to be for developing technology skills (i.e. learning how to use a word processing program) or practicing content skills (i.e. math fact fluency or phonics skills). **Students…** · Choose appropriate technology resources · Are involved in Project-based learning · Complete inquiry-based projects · Create and publish products · Are involved in planning and goal setting · Create and use online resources · Communicate interactively At this tier the focus shifts from the teacher to the student. Technology integration at this level is very student-centered. Students are involved in selecting resources that will help them achieve a particular learning goal or answer an essential question. Students are creating products and sharing them with others. Technology is used as a resource in the context of a larger project or assignment that is project- or inquiry-based. This paragraph is more of a side note. Equipment will vary greatly in each school district. In order to move up into Tier 2 and Tier 3 it is very helpful to have a computer and document camera that are hooked to an LCD projector. Other equipment that can be helpful is (from least to most expensive): a wireless keyboard and mouse, a digital camera, a digital video camera (many also double as a regular digital camera) and a wireless tablet. The wireless keyboard and mouse will allow you to encourage students to interact with the technology you are showing them on a large screen without having to sit at your computer. A wireless tablet is like a mini digital whiteboard and mouse allowing you to write, circle, and demonstrate from anywhere in the room. You could effectively integrate technology without any of the equipment listed in this paragraph, but it would be more difficult.
 * Tiers of Technology Integration **
 * Overview of Tier 1: **(View Tier 1 sample lessons)
 * Overview of Tier 2: **(View Tier 2 sample lessons)
 * Overview of Tier 3: **(View Tier 3 sample lessons)
 * Equipment **

Back to top

**Step 2: PILOT Survey **
Click on this link to take the PILOT Survey of Technology Integration. If you have not taken this survey before, or need a refresher, the instructions are listed below. 1) If you have used the survey before, click //Login//. If you have not, click //Create an Account//. You should use your school email address as your login and your school password as your password to make sure you remember them. 2) Once you are logged in you will want to click //Enter Survey//. 3) Once on the survey page, click //Technology Integration Survey.//  4) You will go to a new page where you will click //Technology Integration Survey// again. 5) Read the instructions and complete the survey. There should be 30 questions that take about 10 minutes. When you are done click //Submit Answers.//  6) Click on //View Current Results// to see the results of your survey.

Back to top

 **Step 3: SurveyMonkey Student Evaluation **
Click on this link to take a [|SurveyMonkey quiz]. This quiz will have you categorizing additional sample activities/lessons according to the Tiers. You may use your Tiers rubric to help you decide. The quiz will need to be completed by the deadline shared by the instructor.

Back to top

 **Step 4: Results Discussion **
After each student has taken the quiz, the instructor will post a compilation of results to the discussion tab on the class wiki under the page titled Student Evaluation. After you have been notified that the results are posted, please visit this discussion and add your own comments. Some questions to think about: - Do you agree with the correct answers? Why or why not? - Where was there confusion about a particular lesson/activity that would make a wrong answer likely? - Are you surprised by these results?

Back to top

 **Step 5: Create Four Lesson Descriptions **
Briefly create and describe two technology integrated lessons that fall into the Tier 2 level of integration, and two lessons that fall into Tier 3. Guidelines: - One paragraph briefly explaining the lesson (including the use of technology) should be sufficient. Use the lesson sample lessons the instructor provided as an example of a sufficient description. - Use Microsoft Word to type up the descriptions. - Create lessons that you already or could use in your current teaching assignment. - Title each lesson. - Put all four outlines on one page - Name the file with your last name and the assignment. (ex. smith_lessons) You will need to do two things with these lessons: 1) Email the outlines to the instructor, please include the intended tier. 2) Post the lessons in the discussion group __without__ including the intended tier. Please reorder the lessons so peers do not guess the intended tier based on how you posted them. Copy/paste the title and text of your lessons into one post. Do __not__ include the intended tier.

  Back to top


You will be assigned to score two other students’ lessons, using the evaluation form. Complete one form for each student and post it as a reply with the form attached to the students' original lesson post. Please do a thoughtful evaluation of the lesson set.

Back to top

 **Step 7: Reflect on Evaluations **
View the posted evaluations of your lessons to see if your intended tier matches the tier selected by your classmates. Feel free to reply to the evaluations.