Superintendents Extending Education Through Technology

Superintendents Extending Education Through Technology is a program dedicated to…

• Learning opportunities for superintendents
• Support efforts to ‘cascade’ information for use in classrooms
• Outreach strategies to include students who have learning challenges or may be at risk of dropping out

Program Introduction

The Michigan Association of School Administrators (MASA), in collaboration with Wexford-Missaukee ISD, Wayne RESA, Michigan ASCD and with funding from a Title II-Part D 21st Century Leadership Grant is proud to introduce SE2T2. This grant-funded program will provide ongoing support and a series of learning opportunities for school district and intermediate school district superintendents, as well as front-line assistants, for relevant use of integrated technology tools to advance their own skills, dispositions, knowledge, and technology implementation in pursuit of focused systemic change within their districts.

Each participant will be provided learning opportunities specifically focused on deepening their understanding of the dropout crisis and the need for Universal Design for Learning. In today’s schools, the mix of students is more diverse than ever. Educators are challenged to teach all learners to high standards, yet a single classroom may include students who struggle to learn for vastly different reasons. New technologies offer multiple opportunities to invite these students to participate in compelling, non-traditional projects that engage their understanding of new media.

It should be noted that this grant does not intend to cover costs related to a district implementing anything from an upgraded website to online classes to video production, or any other specific initiative they may decide to pursue. The grant will help the district leader to learn about and work with others to decide on a direction the district will dedicate its efforts to fulfill. Participation will provide support in pursuit of these goals.

Participant Overview

Each participant will be asked to identify a personal/professional growth goal related to serving all students more effectively with a technology component that they see as being purposeful for their school district. Potential technologies are: Producing podcasts; blogging; video production and sharing; online conferencing, website development; Web 2.0 opportunities; response pad/clickers; online classes and workshops; audio/visual chat; multimedia presentations; networking )professional and social); or another technology that meets the participant’s goal.

Two Ways to Participate

Open Enrollment: Each participant will follow a self-directed path for their learning. The path will be guided by the goal(s) the individual participant develops. Each leader will be expected to choose the appropriate technologies for addressing both their own and the district’s needs. As a district leader decides on specific technologies, he or she will be assisted through our website and other resources to learn more and to specifically apply those technology tools and resources to learn more and to specifically apply those technology tools and resources to their district. Open enrollment participants will have access to the SE2T2 website which will offer technology and social networking resources. Participants will also be invited to attend online learning opportunities, such as webinars, and participate in peer-to-peer sessions with other SE2T2 participants.

Beta Enrollment: This is a limited enrollment of superintendents for the first five months of the grant. In addition to the benefits of open enrollment, members of this group will be paired with a technology coach who will work one-on-one to establish a technology strategy, offer instruction and guidance. Beta participants should expect to average one to two contacts per week with their mentor during the five month period. Additionally, beta participants should, in the future, be willing to act as technology mentors to other superintendents.

Outcomes

All participants will be encouraged to share what they are learning and implementing related to Universal Design for Learning, attacking the dropout crisis, and effectively using technology within their districts. The peer-to-peer learning will be significant component of the overall learning this project will stimulate. The capturing of the stories of change (professional and district related) will be encouraged. The sharing of learning between participants will be one of the main sources of learning and outcomes that will lead to sustainability for all involved.

How to Join SE2T2

All members of the Courageous Journey, all new superintendents and all superintendents of high priority districts are eligible to enroll as SE2T2 members. We will accept 80 during the first enrollment and an additional 30 at the start of the 2010-11 school year.

To join now, contact Jeremy Harder, Technology & Design Coordinator at MASA, by calling 517-327-9259.