Technology Certification for Teachers
What should every teacher know?
The district, state and federal governments are making a large investment in technology for schools. Our district is networking every classroom in preparation for a computer and other technologies. Should every teacher be expected to use technology? Should you have to demonstrate technological competencies to get re-certified or licensed?
At the moment the answer is no. Technology competencies for teachers are not required by the Ohio Department of Education and none have been negotiated with the Teachers Union at the local level. But there is an expectation that each teaching professional will stay current in their content area and with the latest teaching techniques. It is up to you to decide when, or if, you should learn to use a particular technology tool.
National, State, and local standards for students encourage the integration of technology into each curricular area. This implies that teachers will have a basic understanding of how technologies can be applied in their subject areas. For more information on standards visit the districtıs technology standards page (www.chuh.org/standards/) and a comprehensive listing of national and regional standards documents on the web at (putwest.boces.org/Standards.html)
Ohio SchoolNET has defined ³novice² level technology competencies for teachers in four areas: Productivity, Information, Multimedia and Networking. Meeting these competencies qualifies you for a Novice Level Certificate. The certificate is not required, but could be part of a staff development plan submitted to our Local Professional Development Committee. They could be part of a plan to meet the professional development requirements for renewing your teaching license. If you are looking for a way to add to your teaching credentials, consider taking advantage of the instruction and test out sessions for the novice competencies offered by our school district. The Winter Instructional Institute course brochures should be available sometime this month.
The novice competencies are basic, and you will probably find that you already know how to do many of them. Completing them all, forces you to make sure you have considered how each tool might be of value in your teaching area. It will help you identify what areas you would like to explore further. The Ohio SchoolNET Novice Certificate confirms that you have a basic understanding of the most common educational technology tools.
Productivity Tools
Write original text using word processing and include at least: 2 different font types, 2 different font sizes, 2 different styles, Centering of text, Spell check, Insert a graphic (clip art/drawing).
Create a simple spreadsheet and include at least: 2 columns, 2 rows, 1 formula/function, Use data to Create a chart.
Create a simple database and include at least: 2 categories (fields), 3 to 5 records/items per category, Sort data and print a report.
Create a simple illustration and include use of: draw or paint tools, graphic object/clip art.
Networking Tools
E-mail: Login to a network. Create an e-mail message to the facilitator. The message should identify the design of your district network and network privileges. Send the message
Mailing Lists: Login to a network. Subscribe to the Ohio SchoolNET novice listserv: . Share with the members of the listserv a previous lesson you have designed that will integrate one of these new networking tools. Print three (3) listserv lessons/messages from other participants
Multimedia Tools
Pre-Recorded Video: Select an instructional video program from an established list provided by the facilitator. Choose a clip from the program to use in the classroom. Create a pre and post activity for the program.
Authoring Tools: Identify 2-3 instructional objectives that students can achieve using an authoring tool (such as Hyperstudio or Powerpoint). Identify the project/task. Create a storyboard on index cards using a minimum of 5 cards. Create the slide presentation. Digitize a minimum of 1 image in the slide presentation. Incorporate one (1) button to link page/slide in a nonlinear path. Save the file using appropriate Ohio SchoolNET File Naming Guidelines on a diskette
Video Production: Identify 2-3 instructional objectives that students can achieve using a video camera. Identify the project/task that will integrate the instructional objectives with camera. Using index cards create a storyboard script to video tape. Video tape the script.
Information Tools
Design a "simple" complex research activity. Identify the best Search Engine(s) for your research activity. Identify 3 different electronic resources for the research and write each in an appropriate electronic bibliographic style.
Union Technologist Index