QUESTIONS+FOR+OUR+NOV.+17+PANEL

Post your questions for our panel here:

1.What is being done to increase student access to technology in the classroom in terms of funding and teacher training? (Tracey Cox) (You might ask about bandwith, computing devices as well as teaching strategies to implement technology)

2. How do you suggest effectively integrating technology across the curriculum with limited time (due to a magnet school schedule) and lack of resources (a projector and document camera)? (From Sarah Eisenhauer)

3.. What are the top ranking web 2.0 tools in NC schools? What are the comments on the tools from experienced teachers? (From Jennifer Yuan-Chang Yuan)

4.. With so many free, Web-based resources available, and with schools scrambling to fill classrooms with computers and SMARTBoards, where should we as teachers genuinely be focusing our efforts to include technology to make our classrooms more efficient, productive learning environments? (Eugene Wheeler)

5. How is NC ready for the new national and state core standards that are being implemented next year and how will technology (Web 2.0 tools and new hardware) fit into these new standards? (Nick Stump)

6. What is the general policy on technology integration at NC schools? How WELL are policies being implemented ? I ask this cauz: In China the importance of technology integration at K-12 schools is well documented in educational policies from the central government, but due to the standardized test systems and the accountability on teachers, there is a HUGE disconnection between policy and real classroom instructional practice-teachers value the importance of technology but in reality they DARE not use technology. I was wondering what it looks like in NC--Is policy being well implemented, or the situation is similar as in China? (Sinky)

7.New teachers might be interested in knowing where schools (or individual teachers in some cases) get money for technology investments. There's been a federal pool of money from the EETT program for several years, which the state doles out to individual districts via a competitive application. What other sources can be leveraged in our ever-shrinking economy? If a teacher gets hired into a school with no technology, what can they do to get some tools in their classroom? (Kevin)

8. Where do you see technology in the classroom going in the future? I know right now SMARTBoards are the big thing in my county. (Claire Morrow)

9. Who or what should we be reading? What are you reading? Who are the movers and shakers in educational technology?

10.DPI provided funding for schools to implement the IMPACT technology model for several years. What are some of the lessons learned from evaluating those efforts? What must be in place for schools to integrate technology effectively?

4. How are you going to shape the curriculum so that the school system provides students with the skills they need to function in the new literacies society? (Polly Miller)

7.Can we outline a blueprint for integrating ICT into policy and practice for schools which is educationally meaningful?

9.What model or models of technology integration are most current and applicable? Many schools in North Carolina trained teachers on the nTEQ model for several years. Is there a new model that schools should be paying attention to?

11.I heard the next phase of IMPACT will involve a cross-university teacher training initiative, whereby teachers take online courses from multiple universities in the state, complete some type of capstone project, and leave the program with a Master's degree and 077 Director of Technology add-on certification. What led you to consider this collaborative initiative? Can you describe any other models for preparing teachers to be technology leaders in the 21st century, that takes us away from the more traditional one-university, or 10-course curriculum?

13. With technology changing faster every day, how do NC schools plan to keep up? (From Laura Williams) 14. When will the 21st century skills and global learning goals on the teacher evaluation tool be incorporated into the curriculum we are teaching? (From Laura W.)

17. With continuous budget cuts being made on education systems, how with NC schools support and fund new technology in the classroom? (Jen Rausch) 18. With reforms being made in how teachers need to teach and what needs to be focused on, will and when standardized testing be changed to reflect these changes in the curriculum? (Jen Rausch) 19. When it comes to gaining knowledge about combining technology and education, what does the future look like to you for professional development activities for teachers? (Alison Mehler)

21. Is DPI considering allowing students to bring in their own laptops to school for one-to-one technology? So basically, is DPI putting a plan in place for allowing this? (Cheri Lewis)

22. How can we, as teachers, make the integration of technology go smoothly in the classroom? What can we do to effectively support and integrate the government’s policies into our instruction? (Melanie Spransy)

22. This question is in relation to the NC schools that lack the funds to buy technology tools for their students and teachers. Do the technology companies in the Research Triangle area contribute technology resources to NC schools? Have they been asked to donate computers and/or lap tops to schools that have little to no technology? (Donna Ecton)

23. How can teachers/schools in rural areas with little diversity in the classroom bring multicultural awareness and acceptance into learning, when these schools also often have limited access to technology? What can be done to help these schools get the funds for technology they need without the local resources many urban and suburban schools have? Is this a public or private responsibility, or societal? (Amanda Witham)

24. Given the current economic situation in the United States, how are local school systems going to be able to continue to financially support current and new technology projects?(Elizabeth Moeller)

25. As we know, critical thinking and problem solving is the one of the most important skills in the 21st century. Then since I'm an English teacher, I'm wondering how can I develop students' critical thinking in English class, especially with the help of modern technologies? (Amanda Gao)

25. Where Chinese language school can get funds for technology in NC state? Is it possible that establishing a fund for Chinese language teachers? ( Lu Yang)

26. What technology-related professional development opportunities are being provided to NC teachers? (Christine Christianson)

27. How will the core standards and essentials affect technology standards? (Tionna Pinkney)

28. What are your suggestions about how teachers can make a smooth transition from the NCSCOS to the Common Core standards next years. What things can we do now to prepare ourselves and our students for the change? (April Putney)

29. Students come into our classroom with different levels of technological knowledge. What can we do to bridge the gap? (April Putney)