VTcite Phase II

Phase I of the “Statewide Technology Integration Grant” set out to establish a professional learning community that would allow participants to support each other and other Vermont educators. By creating the Vermont Commons for Information Technology Educators, Phase I provided a rich experience for thirty Vermont educators. It was clearly effective in increasing participants understanding of the critical connection between effective teaching practices and technology integration, in expanding each individual’s “human network” through the use of electronic communication tools, in creating and identify resources that would support this learning community as it strove to support Vermont educators in effective technology integration, and in expanding participants leadership skills as they investigated the critical role that leadership plays in successful technology integration. There is evidence from the Phase I participants commitment to the project, where thirty participants were initially involved and thirty participants were still involved in the end, that we can count on them for participation and leadership in Phase II.

However, this newly organized professional learning community is still in its infancy and needs leadership and structured support to continue and expand its mission of providing assistance to Vermont educators to appropriately integrate technology to impact student learning.   Further, it must construct a self-sustaining capacity that allows it to flourish and expand in the future without the benefit of monetary incentives but rather built on the realization that we can make greater and faster progress by adopting the idea that the whole possesses much greater power to effect change than the sum of all its parts.  

During Phase I of this grant it became very evident that electronic networking alone would not meet the needs of the participants. Again and again, they articulated the importance of face-to-face contact between participants. In fact, the more the participants connected in person the greater became their communication in using the VTCITE web portal.  This Phase II proposal will address this critical issue of combining face-to-face meetings with on-line communications to more broadly support this endeavor.

Phase II of VTcite

The program will...

• Re-engage the original participants while giving them more direct ownership in the project.  
• Use the experience and expertise of the original participants to move the project forward and recruit new educators into the project for the purpose of expanding the knowledge and resource base available.
• Promote the VTCITE site as a valuable networking and resource tool for all Vermont educators by making linkages and connections with other educational organizations and entities in a variety of ways.
• Make direct and meaningful links to the Riverdeep Learning Village and promote the use of this tool for all Vermont educators.
• Utilize the existing Vita-Learn regional structure, human resource, and network to promote expanded participation in the professional learning community through the use of regional meetings and to foster regional leadership around the VTCITE work.
• Develop an effective plan for sustainability
• Continue the technical and human interface development of the VTCITE portal

Re-engaging the Original Participants

In Phase II of the “Statewide Technology Integration Grant,” the investigation between effective teaching practices and successful technology integration must continue for the original participants. They must continue to expand their own ability to support effective technology integration, continually increase their leadership skills, continue to identify resources, and actively participate in the professional learning community. They will accomplish this by leading other educators in their VITA-Learn geographic regions of the state in a process of building their local communities and then impacting the VTCITE community at large.  This process will allow past participants to lead new participants through learning and sharing experience somewhat similar to those they experienced in Phase I.  This grant will support them by providing opportunities to increase their capacity in these areas through structured regional and on-line activities. This will continue by having them provide leadership to participants in the project. They and those they work with will continue to create and identify resources to support technology integration specialists as well as Vermont classroom teachers.  

Vermont Grade Expectations and NCLBA Requirements

The linkage between Phase II and the Vermont Framework of  Standards and Learning Opportunities and requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA) should be evident. The database of resources being built in VTCITE is directly linked to the Vermont Standards and are being referenced by a variety of criteria, including linkages to the Vermont Grade Expectations in Information Technology.  In accordance with NCLBA expectations that all students be technologically literate by the end of eighth grade, this resource base categorizes and recommends technology-rich resources and activities that are both field tested and age-appropriate.  By building the capacity of those who support technology integration in their schools, we support Vermont teachers in using technology to both improve student performance in all areas including the attainment of both basic technology 21st century literacy skills.

Professional Development Experiences

Led by one or more of the leaders of the Phase I grant, original participants will engage in a series of professional development activities dependent upon the role they wish to play. These will include...

• Offering an on-line learning experience similar to what they participated in during Phase I to new participants from their VITA-Learn regions and developing a regional project for new VTCITE participants that builds on the professional learning community.
• Become experienced users of the Riverdeep Learning Village and assist in promoting its use by Vermont educators.
• Planning for and leading regional face-to-face meetings
• Develop a program that allows them to promote and sustain on-line forums organized by state-wide participant interests.
• Develop a program that supports the addition, screening and dissemination of resources.
• Create a program that allows participation to build connections to all Vermont educators and establish linkages to other Vermont educational organizations in a variety of ways.
• Continue to develop the VTCITE functionality and interface.

Expand Active Participation

    Phase II will involve new participants in this professional learning community and provide them with professional development experiences in the use of educational technology that will strengthen their capacity to support teachers in their schools, expand their “human support network,” and create/identify high quality resources. While expanding their human network through participating in this professional learning community, they will (learn how to) use electronic communication tools to collaborate between themselves and provide assistance for others. They will examine the role of leadership and seek to expand their own ability to provide appropriate leadership themselves while at the same time providing information and support for other levels of leadership (instructional leaders, teacher leaders, student leaders, etc.) in order that they may expand their vision and increase their capacity to support the use of technology for improved student performance.

The full proposal is attached below.