Technology Academy

Technology Academy involves all staff persons from the Office of Technology and Learning, as well as the Computer Support Specialists from our schools. The purpose of Technology Academy is to provide relevant technology training, and to continue to build a culture of shared values, team work, and a united mission.

November 8, 2007: Our lineup for Technology Academy featured six different presenters. Julie Bowles presented Tablet Tips and Tricks, and showed technology staff how to more effectively use the Gateway M-285 in tablet form factor. Buddy Palatiere demonstrated instructional applications of a document camera. Debbie Mayes gave us an overview on how technology enhances learning for all students, with an emphasis on Multiple Intelligences. Jose Morales presented an overview of our Symantec Ghost implementation in the school division. Doug Adams demonstrated Real VNC, explained the "All Users" profile in Windows XP, and discussed the advantages of Active Directory. Mark Webster presented Graphics Editing with Paint.NET, and participants followed along in a hands-on practice activity as he covered basic photo editing, with an introduction to the Paintbrush tool and working with layers.
February 15, 2007: Training sessions on the 15th covered many topics. Buddy Palatiere presented Moodle, Mark Webster presented wireless networking, Debbie Mayes presented PortaPortal, and David Korb presented computer hardware support and troubleshooting.

November 15, 2006: Mark Webster provided updated training related to a newly programmed Computer Software Inventory Applet, for managing our computer software inventory database. He also presented on Retrospect Server and Data Backup Procedures, and School IT Security. Doug Adams presented information related to Microsoft Terminal Services.

November 29, 2006: A school-based Technology Academy was provided when consultant Tim Tillman visited each school to train staff on improvements and enhancements related to the Technology Work Order System.

May 18, 2006: Debbie Mayes showed how she’s been working with teachers collaboratively to assist them with SOL
Review. Buddy Palatiere presented on Emergent Technologies. Mark Webster presented on proposed changes and information concerning our Acceptable Use Policy, and shared a new web page on Internet Safety for Students. Webster also demonstrated Star_Portal and a newly programmed Computer Software Inventory Applet.

February 9, 2006: Our "feature presentation" was Buddy Palatiere's presentation on the Pupil Response System (PRS). Staff who attended the EdTech 2006 Conference shared "snapshots" related to things they learned or found interesting.

October 14, 2005: Our first Technology Academy for the school year was held on Friday, October 14, 2005. This Technology Academy involved hands-on training related to using our Website Administration Utility, which is a type of “Content Management System.” This system puts web publishing tools into the hands of the persons who actually have the information. The system is so easy to use, that if a person can login to his or her email and compose a message, they can be trained to be able to post news or events, or create simple web pages! Each technology staff person created a practice web page with hyperlinks, and we also practiced how to add news and events to the website.

2007 Summer Technology Institute

"Technology a Step Ahead"

Our second CHPS Technology Summer Institute was attended by 64 individual staff members, who learned important skills related to integrating technology into teaching and learning, while earning recertification points. Teachers and staff from all schools were represented. The Institute was held from July 30 to August 24, 2007.

Participants received technology instruction while having an opportunity to “play” with many instructional software applications and technology tools. A total of 174 three-hour classes were attended, and topics covered included: Computer Basics, PowerPoint, Personal Response System (PRS), Moodle, How to Search the Internet, Podcasting, Star_Portal, Marco Polo, Test for Higher Standards & e-Tool Kit, SmartBoard Use, Digital Photography and Editing Software, United Streaming & COW Use, Harcourt Math Center, and "Open Computer
Time."

These many classes were taught by our ambitious Instructional Technology Integration Specialists Buddy Palatiere and Debbie Mayes. Mark Webster taught some courses in Podcasting, and Paul Riding some courses in Moodle. Participants who were some of our“best customers” and who attended multiple sessions received some gifts and incentives!

2006 Summer Technology Institute

"Technology a Step Ahead"

Our first CHPS Summer Technology Institute was attended by 109 individual staff members, who learned important skills related to integrating technology into teaching and leanring, while earning recertification points. Teachers and staff from all schools were represented. The Institute was held from July 17 to July 28 and August 14 to August 25, 2006.

Topics covered included: Computer Basics, PowerPoint, Personal Response System, Moodle, How to Search the Internet, Star_Portal, Marco Polo, Test for Higher Standards & e-Tool Kit, SmartBoard Instruction, Computer On Wheels (COW) Instruction, and "Open Computer Time." Classes were well attended.

Classes were taught by Buddy Palatiere and Debbie Mayes, with one day of Moodle instruction provided by Bea Cantor from Powhatan County Schools, and the first two days of Star_Portal training provided by Nick Kolodziejski, from Century Consultants.

Buddy Palatiere, Instructional Integration Technology Specialist, instructs Sarah Briggs from North Elementary School on Microsoft PowerPoint.

Professional Development Courses for Graduate Credit

CaseNEX and VSTE

CaseNEX, founded at the Curry School of Education, University of Virginia, partners with the Virginia Society for Technology in Education to offer online graduate courses and full, online master's degree programs in Education Administration and Supervision, and Elementary Education. VSTE is Virginia's affiliate of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), and its mission is to support those interested in promoting technology's role in education.

Mathematics & Science Center

The Center offers workshops and courses for educators, including for college credit or professional development points.

Professional Development Day - January 30, 2006

Thanks to all those who worked hard to make Professional Development Day on January 30, 2006 a success! Many sessions on technology integration were featured.