This week in a building near you

The instructional tech staff will be offering Google calendar training this week. Here is the schedule.

Dell Training Questions

I know quite a few Digital Leaders have been asked by coworkers to provide them with personal Dell Training in leu of attending the standard sessions we will be holding at Central Office. If you were a trainer this summer, this idea may make sense; however, at this time it is not an option because the goal is for everyone to attend the same clear and consistent training session.

So, please let them know you would if you could, but also be sure to remind them that they do get paid for attending the formal training. Let me know if you need answers to other Dell Training questions that come your way.

FYI Retiring employees will be receiving training during the school day and specific information about logistics will be coming out soon.

Looking for the Dell Training Registration link?
It was announced via an email from Cao Mac titled "Professional Development".

Time to share

Since the start of the year, the role of a digital leader has been to model good technology use as we all get adjusted to changes in the district. I know the members of this group have probably done some amazing things already, so I am asking you to share. This is the fun part and a good reason to be a digital leader.

As the instructional staff camps out in buildings over the course of the next two weeks in an effort to train every single staff member to use Google Docs, we could use a really great document to share.

Please help me build it. An email inviting you to collaborate has been sent to you.

View published version here:
Digital Leaders at Work

Dell Train-the-Trainer

If you were a Dell Trainer this summer, your training was provided by the official Dell Trainer who came in to work specifically with our group.  If there is any question about whether or not you attended training, the roster is linked below for all to see. Feel free to send questions my way. I will be happy to confirm your attendance. And thanks for all you did to get our teachers up and running with their Dells. We couldn't have done it without you!

Dell Train-the-Trainer Participants

This week in a building near you

The instructional technology staff will be coming to your building for one full day next week. The primary purpose of this scheduling is to make sure that all staff members have the opportunity to learn to use Google Docs, but as long as we're in the buildings for extended hours on those days we hope to make good use of our time and work with as many people as possible. Maybe you would like to collaborate, or perhaps you can send some business our way. Here is our schedule:

• Beye - Monday, Susan 
• Brooks - Monday, Elise 
• Hatch - Monday, Lorrie
• Holmes - Monday, Erich
• Irving - Tuesday, Susan
• Julian - Thursday, Elise
• Lincoln - Tuesday, Erich
• Longfellow - Tuesday, Rachel
• Mann - Thursday, Rachel
• Whittier - Tuesday, Lorrie

Confused about our Roles?

Check out the chart in the sidebar.

Want to learn more about Google Docs in buildings this week?

More information can be found in the sidebar.

Kicking Off 21st Century Learning

The start of the school year brings with it a tremendous amount of excitement! As you probably know, the instructional technology team has grown by leaps and bounds and we are looking forward to working with teachers to integrate technology. Here is a look at what's coming...

1. A survey for all teaching staff will be going out to assess the needs of the teachers.
2. A graphic explaining the roles of the technology staff will be published, pending approval.
3. A big picture professional development plan is in progress and as soon as some of the bugs are worked out we hope to be able to collaborate with Digital Leaders and tap into your expertise to help make it a success. Stay tuned to this blog for more information.
4. In the meantime, the teacher leaders are eager to get out in the buildings to find out what's going on and hope to be able to chat with you to find out about great things you are doing and also learn how we can support you.

If you would like to schedule a time to chat with the teacher leaders, please send me a date and time and I will put it on our shared calendar. FYI...We will be at Brooks tomorrow afternoon.

New! Check out the updated list of Digital Leaders (and blogs) via a tab at the top of this blog. If your page is not linked, it needs to go through the Communications Department for an initial look. This is a new procedure.

Meet the Instructional Technology Crew

The Instructional Tech department has grown considerably and I believe you will all be thrilled to meet the entire group of excited and talented teachers whose job is dedicated to helping the folks in the buildings learn to use technology well. This means Digital Leaders should not have to spend any of your valuable planning time helping teachers; we can cover it. Instead, over the course of the next few days I hope you will model 21st Century Learning as you kick off the year and spread your enthusiasm throughout your building.

Also, when I am in the office this week, I will be working on giving you the credit you earned for participation in Digital Leaders. The deadline for lane change is September 15th. I will send you the course numbers for your records.

Enjoy these first few days!