What positive changes have you observed in the use of technology by classroom teachers over the last three years?
The newer and younger teachers are becoming more and more comfortable with its use in the classroom. The "veteran teachers" move a bit more slowly, but are at least moving. They also feel comfortable having younger staff able to lend a hand when it is needed. ~ Dr. Linda Cerino, Principal, Essex County, St. Michael School, Newark, NJ
Even the most reticent teacher now includes technology in her/his lessons. Everyone has become willing to ask the integrator for assistance when a problem arises. ~ Patrick Mullen, Principal, Union County, St. Joseph the Carpenter School, Roselle, NJ
More classroom teachers are taking the children to the Computer Lab to work on various projects. The students are excited to be able to integrate technology into various Subject Areas. ~ Principal, Hudson County, NJ
What positive changes have you observed in the use of technology by the teacher who teaches "computer class" over the last three years?
Ongoing fulfillment of technology plan goals. Electronic communications to all stakeholders. Student instruction of "code". Comfort level with a variety of media. Always paving the way for new concepts and maximization of technology assets. Management of E Rate process. ~ Gail Ritchie, Principal, Bergen County, Academy of St. Paul, Ramsey, NJ
What barriers do you perceive in changing the way teaching and learning occurs with the use of technology?
We can not be lost when technology goes down as it often does. We must be able to teach in a variety of ways. In our case, we are in an inner city school so our families do not all have access to computers. They use their phones for internet. We must never lose cite of the fact that "one size does not always fit all". ~ Dr. Linda Cerino, Principal, Essex County, St. Michael School, Newark, NJ
Teachers will change how they teach and how learning occurs when they are given the time to buy into it and take ownership of their teaching. ~ Patrick Mullen, Principal, Union County, St. Joseph the Carpenter School, Roselle, NJ
The most important barrier is the lack of funds to purchase the most updated technology. ~ Principal, Hudson County, NJ
Monetary resources, optimal utilization of technology in support of, not in place of excellent instruction. ~Gail Ritchie, Principal, Bergen County, Academy of St. Paul, Ramsey, NJ
Technology Integration Specialists
How did working on the technology curriculum mapping change the way you approach what you do in school?
It gives us a clear, concrete set of skills to focus on that all of us collaborated on together! ~ Trish O'Shea, Technology Integration Specialist/Computer Teacher/Spanish Teacher, Essex County, St. Peter School, Belleville, NJ
I think about my planning in more depth and want to make sure that my lessons cover the curriculum as much as possible. ~ Mary Rose Raleigh, Technology Integration Specialist/Computer Teacher, Union County, The Academy of Our Lady of Peace, New Providence, NJ
I attempted more complex concepts that may have initially been unfamiliar to my students. ~ Kimberly McSorley, Technology Integration Specialist/Middle School Science/STEM Teacher, Bergen County, Queen of Peace School, North Arlington, NJ
It's helped me include classroom teachers in more of what we do in technology class and helping them to use more technology in their classrooms. ~ Mary-Alice Zavocki, Technology Integration Specialist/Computer Teacher, Union County, St. James School, Springfield, NJ
Gave good ideas on when to cover topics and information on new ways to present information. ~ Bob Miller, Technology Integration Specialist/Computer Teacher, Math Teacher, Union County, St. Rose of Lima School, Short Hills, NJ
I think more about goals and assessments for each lesson. ~ Regina Frei, Technology Integration Specialist/Computer Teacher, Bergen County, St. Joseph School, Oradell, NJ
I felt more accountability to be sure certain skills were met for each grade, rather than "assuming" I was teaching what was needed. ~ Donna Monticello, Technology Integration Specialist/Computer Teacher, Bergen County, Visitation Academy, Paramus, NJ
How have the technology integration workshops supported you in your ability to assist teachers in integrating technology into their classroom?
It is easy sometimes to get tunnel vision in teaching and concentrate on what is going on in your own classroom. The tech integration meetings gave us ideas that we would not necessarily have the time ourselves to discover and thereby bring back to the teachers in our schools. ~ Karen Mangin, Technology Integration Specialist/Computer Teacher, Bergen County, Academy of Our Lady, Glen Rock, NJ
Where are the technology integration workshops not meeting your needs to support teachers, students, and the principal?
The workshops cannot address any shortcomings with regard to budget that limit my ability to deliver certain technology skills to my students. These hardware issues may impede the lesson, but cannot be remedied by the workshops.
More technology workshops for the classroom Teachers. ~ Renia Cordero and Patricia Allegretta, Technology Integration Specialists/Media Specialist Teachers, Bergen County, Corpus Christi School, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
Some ideas are not financially possible or time constraints. ~ Carla Gomez, Technology Integration Specialist/Computer Teacher, Bergen County, Sacred Heart School, Lyndhurst, NJ
As the only tech integrator and computer teacher, it is difficult at times to support teachers, especially when multiple teachers are using different technology simultaneously and issues arise. ~ Donna Monticello, Technology Integration Specialist/Computer Teacher, Bergen County, Visitation Academy, Paramus, NJ
What positive changes have you observed in the use of technology by classroom teachers over the last three years
Just the fact that a conversation between two of my teachers just happened about an online activity that they want to try (and didn't give to me to do in the lab), is huge! ~ Trish O'Shea, Technology Integration Specialist/Computer Teacher/Spanish Teacher, Essex County, St. Peter School, Belleville, NJ
The kids have become more comfortable. Marilyn Gomez, Technology Integration Specialist/Computer Teacher, Essex County, St. Michael School, Newark, NJ
Older students in the middle school environment who initially just wanted to come into the computer lab and watch YouTube are now seeing the benefit of learning programs that enhance all their classes. They have said things like "I actually learned a lot about Word/PowerPoint/Excel, etc. that I didn't know before, and you made it fun to learn it." ~ Kimberly McSorley, Technology Integration Specialist/Middle School Science/STEM Teacher, Bergen County, Queen of Peace School, North Arlington, NJ
More use of SMARTboard, teachers are using a lot of my suggested websites to teach their class, they coordinate their lessons with computer class, more cross curriculum integration within some grade levels, teachers are less afraid to use technology in their classroom. ~ Carla Gomez, Technology Integration Specialist/Computer Teacher, Bergen County, Sacred Heart School, Lyndhurst, NJ
Chromebooks have helped a lot so using tech skills have become a big part of our students lives at St James. Also the use of our school website has been greatly encouraged by our principal. ~ Mary-Alice Zavocki, Technology Integration Specialist/Computer Teacher, Union County, St. James School, Springfield, NJ
I have had more classroom teachers asking me to work together with them on classroom projects (do research during computer class and they will do writing in their class). ~ Jill Spellman, Technology Integration Specialist/Computer Teacher, Union County, Holy Trinity School, Westfield, NJ
Teachers are slowly integrating more and more technology; Google Classroom is being used in grades 4-8; teachers are collaborating between classes using technology. ~ Samantha Sullivan (Technology Integration Specialist/English Language Arts Teacher & Ricky Villaver (Computer Teacher), Hudson County, St. Aloysius School, Jersey City, NJ
By offering to come into the classroom to assist the teachers with new technology (or even old technology) integration, the barriers to technology came down. Teachers will more willing to try new concepts knowing that I would be in the classroom with them. ~ Karen Mangin, Technology Integration Specialist/Computer Teacher, Bergen County, Academy of Our Lady, Glen Rock, NJ
I think the teachers are finally listening, because every month I give them something new, so they're finally realizing this is the future. ~ Janet Boscia, Technology Integration Specialist/Computer Teacher, Union County, St. Michael School, Union County, NJ
Are there skills that you do not feel are appropriate for your school?
30% Yes 70% No
What skills do you feel are not appropriate for your school and why?
Advanced skills
Anything regarding the use of tablets. Also, Internet skills for anything before Grade 2 is very challenging.
Anything regarding tablets.
Skills pertinent to Kindergarten may be far-reaching only because many of my students are well practiced in touch screen technology but not the use of a mouse. So for example, standards involving keyboarding and program identification (purpose of use) may be too advanced for this level. Also, coding and programming for the older grades would be so much easier to implement with a program like lynda.com which contains tutorials encompassing over 5,000 programs including Java, SQL, all MS Office/Student applications, etc.
I think that all of the skills are somewhat appropriate--they may not be able to be a whole group lesson, maybe small group, but they are all able to be taught.
Anything dealing with emails (as it is not allowed for students at the school).
I wouldn't say they are not appropriate, but they are not possible right now as we do not have a means to allow students time to collaborate with each other on the same document.