Blog Juice for Educational Technology

Each year, NSBA’s Technology Leadership Network hosts a fair at the annual T+L Conference. The Education Excellence Fair is an opportunity to showcase what’s happening with your district’s education technology programs. Think “science fair” only with 40 booths that illustrate exemplary applications of technology in the work of K-12 schools and more than 1,000 attendees who are interested in learning what works.

Make plans now to be part of T+L’s 20th anniversary celebration in Dallas on November 8, 2006, for the Excellence Fair. There is no fair entry fee beyond the conference registration fee. Hurry! The fair submission deadline is April 22. Submit your proposal here.

As you make plans to attend NSBA’s 20th anniversary T+L Conference in Dallas, check out the TLN Site Visit on November 7, the day before the conference opens. Tour Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, a K-12 public school district near Dallas serving more than 26,000 students. The district has implemented a unique technology training and integration model named the Beyond Hardware Initiative. BHI concentrates on specific curriculum needs and the technology best suited to address those needs. An evaluation of BHI provided evidence of positive impact on state test scores, teacher retention, and other indicators of success. Details here.

Looking for a unique way to spotlight your district’s education technology team achievements? Now is the time to apply to be recognized as a 2006 Salute District. If selected by an advisory panel, your superintendent will have an opportunity to share your district’s accomplishments with more than 2,000 attendees at NSBA’s T+L Conference in Dallas, November 8-10, 2006. Salute districts receive national press coverage, are treated to an awards luncheon, receive a display in the Education Excellence Fair, and are encouraged to share their insights during a panel discussion. Simply complete the online submission form no later than April 17. Take a look at the outstanding videos that were produced by the 2005 Salute Districts and view a complete list of previous Salute Districts here.

Missouri School Boards Association will soon begin broadcasting programs to schools, residential viewers, and others with an Internet-based technology often referred to as IPTV.

Programming will be distributed through the Education Solutions Global Network. ESGN’s initial broadcast is set for March 3. ESGN can be found at www.esgn.tv.

ESGN will feature both live and on-demand programming. Some programming will be free to viewers while there will be a charge for other events. Programs can be viewed by thousands of people simultaneously on their individual computers.

“ESGN combines the best features of traditional television with the capabilities of interaction provided through the Internet,” says MSBA Executive Director Carter D. Ward. “We look forward to producing school board training, issues-oriented events, and many other types of programs for school board members, professional educators, and the general public.”

Ward noted that in the coming months, some parts of MSBA’s regularly scheduled meetings may appear “live” on ESGN, accommodating those persons whose schedules prevent them from attending the meetings in person.

Each spring, school leaders and ed techies gather to pay a call on selected Technology Leadership Network member districts. These three-day meetings sponsored by NSBA provide an in-depth look at creative integration of technology in schools and lessons that leaders take back home to their districts. This year’s sites are Wake County Public Schools in North Carolina, on March 12-14; Metropolitan School District of Warren Township in Indiana, on April 24-26; and Orange City Schools in Ohio, on May 7-9. Details on how to sign up here.

Headed to NSBA’s annual conference in Chicago? If so, check out the executive briefing, “Future Vision: Helping Your Students Succeed in a Changing World,” at the Sheraton Chicago on Friday, April 7, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. before the conference starts. On Monday, April 10, there are two TLN site visits scheduled: Walter Payton College Preparatory High School in Chicago from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Willow Bend School, Community Consolidated District 15 in Palatine, Ill., from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.