Narrative

Read and review at least one article in each of the three categories provided in Appendix F or locate research of your own and utilize the research and resources to develop: A brief overview of the applicant’s initial hopes for the impact of this 21st century grant on teaching and learning including: o Potential successes and challenges at the teacher and the student levels; o Potential organizational changes ; o Anticipated changes in student learning ; and o A narrative which includes how your school might prepare for, implement and support these 21st century skills and the use of technology to support teaching and learning and student achievement. If awarded the grant, teachers will apply new strategies, knowledge of integrating technology and 21st century skills, and develop action plans and a budget for Phase Two.
 * 2. Narrative **

Technology is not a magic pill, but it can open the door for opportunities to learn both in and beyond the classroom. To maximize these efforts, our team hopes to develop a system of knowledge, and support needed to effectively tailor teaching strategies and better meet the needs of the students. As teachers, we are aware of the technological changes that have taken place over the last quarter century. Due to these changes, a desperate need to develop and promote ITC (Information and Communication) technologies has emerged. According to __Digital Transformation: A Framework for ICT Literacy__, “ICT literacy is using digital technology, communication tools, and/or networks to access, manage, integrate, evaluate and create information in order to function in a knowledge society”. To effectively utilize ITC tools, you must not only have the knowledge and skills to access information and technology but must also know how to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the tools you are using. The 21st Century grant would enable us in this endeavor and allow us to increase technology training in the areas of computer literacy and to integrate technology into classroom curriculum. It would aid us in exploring new technologies to assist in classroom instruction, software, multi ‐ media, and website development.

As education is changing to meet the needs of students, technology is the tool to enrich individualized learning. This includes improving test scores, as well as: keeping children in school, reducing absenteeism, redirecting negative behaviors, and opening the classroom to more communication opportunities promoting more active engagement among students and teachers. Students will have more opportunities for multiple ways of discovering, creating, and communicating and thus learn to solve problems that require knowledge across many subject areas  Organizational changes will be needed to increase teachers' capabilities to use data to improve instruction, to create more effective and dynamic learning environments, and achieve a school wide level of academic effectiveness. Common planning time will be given to collaborative teams with a coach assigned in core subject areas. Planning time would be utilized to review and analyze recent data collected through various Short-Cycle Assessments and develop technology-enabled strategies to increase academic effectiveness. This will also instill a collaborative atmosphere and time to evaluate instruction and achievement. We need the opportunity to learn from one another's successes and failures and to share ideas and knowledge. Authentic assessments that keep pace with instructional technology will be developed. In addition, the collaborative teams in each core area will be in-serviced in the use of specified technological strategies on a monthly basis. Strategies would be shared which directly relate to core areas and will be implemented in the classroom. The 21C team coaches would assist with implementation of these strategies. With Volney’s transformation to a 21st Century school, the students will acquire a deeper understanding of content, will develop critical thinking skills and will become life-long learners. As the doors of technology implementation open wider many obstacles still exist. Hardware and or software failures can create havoc to even the best planned lessons and technical support may not be readily available. Teachers may lack the time and the motivation to learn technology skills. It will be important to develop a framework to help our staff successfully integrate new technologies into their teaching practices and deter any attempt to integrate technology simply for the sake of using technology. Teachers need to feel comfortable with these technologies before hitting the classroom floor, working out the potential obstacles. We need to ensure that professional development activities be ongoing, hands-on, and practical strategies for implementing technology into the curriculum.

Love this section...but you are about 500 characters over the limit. Copy and paste it to a Word doc, make your revisions, and go to Tools-Word count. Jan

Edited down to under 4000 characters. MJ