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ChromebooksiOS Tips and TricksProfessional Learning

Fall 2016 Online Certification Recipients

by Dr. Bruce Ellis
written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

Whether it is via a shared cart, 1:1, or BYOD, many teachers and students have access to iPads and Chromebooks to the extent that these are now common tools in their classrooms. Sometimes, though, it is easy to feel as if you know some of the basics, but not all that you need to really start using it as a powerful instructional tool. TCEA has developed two self-paced, online certification programs to help build these skills: the iPad (Level 1) Certification and the Chromebook (Level 1) Certification. These certifications are designed to help busy educators who don’t have time to attend optional after-school training, but do want the knowledge and skills to be adept users of the tools while earning 18 hours of professional development credit.

Each certification consists of self-paced modules to gain basic understanding of the device, pedagogical considerations when integrating the device in various settings (1:1, BYOD, shared cart, etc.), and introductory tutorials of some of the basic tools/apps that can be used on the device to engage students across the content areas. As a capstone to the online certifications, each participant develops a lesson plan that is correlated to specific content standards and integrates the device and tools/apps.

We would like to congratulate the graduates of the Fall 2016 semester who have earned the iPad (Level 1) Certification and/or the Chromebook (Level 1) Certification.

Certification graduates include:

  • Kayla Burgoon of Lubbock ISD – Chromebook (Level 1)
  • Veronica Castillo Baca of Harlingen Consolidated ISD – Chromebook (Level 1)
  • Veronica Castillo Baca of Harlingen Consolidated ISD – iPad (Level 1)
  • Kizuwanda Christie of KIPP – Chromebook (Level 1)
  • Scott Firenza of Lubbock ISD – Chromebook (Level 1)
  • Laura Howard of San Angelo ISD – Chromebook (Level 1)
  • Jackie Johnson of Seminole ISD – iPad (Level 1)
  • Stephanie Trook of Lubbock ISD – Chromebook (Level 1)

Learn more about these certifications or contact Ashley Weiler at aweiler@tcea.org . Group discounts are available for districts/campuses who want to register a group of their educators as a cohort; contact Dr. Bruce Ellis at bellis@tcea.org for more information on group discounts.

 

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Professional Learning

Professional Development with You in Mind

by Diana Benner
written by Diana Benner

It’s important that we as educators model what we want our students and staff to do. If we want them to use technology well, we have to demonstrate what that looks like on a regular basis. We also have to model the principle of continuous improvement through professional development. With new research and best practices emerging at a staggering pace, there’s no better way to stay current and effective.

TCEA offers certification programs and online courses that are designed to meet your needs. They are standards-based, aligned to best practices, and are available in formats that will work with your busy schedule.

Device-Based Certification Programs

Our device-based certification programs are designed for the busy educator. These certifications are completely online and self-paced. In addition to completing online modules, participants will submit a lesson that demonstrates effective integration into a particular content area to support student learning. Participants can jump into these programs at any time of the year. They each take approximately 18 hours to complete.

Chromebook Certification (Level 1)– This certification is designed for classroom teachers who have a Chromebook, as well as those who work with students using Chromebooks. It builds a solid foundation for getting the most from the device to impact and enhance instruction. Participants in this program will also dig deeper in their utilization of Google Apps for Education tools.

iPad Certification (Level 1)– Build a solid foundation for integrating the iPad in your classroom by participating in this certification. You’ll learn how to support diverse groups of students with various iOS features, as well as receive specific tutorials on apps that you can use in your classroom to empower student learning in your content area.

Role-Based Certification Programs for Professional Development

Our role-based certifications include live webinars and online coursework. As you go through these courses, you’ll build a portfolio to document your professional learning and implementation of the information shared and skills mastered. In addition, as a capstone, you’ll develop a final project that aligns with your coursework. Though these three certifications officially begin in September each year, many participants begin at other times during the cycle and start the certification process with ease.

Campus Technology Specialist Certification– Designed for those who work with other educators to help them integrate technology effectively, this program focuses on helping you understand the tools and processes to better engage students and increase relevant technology utilization in the classroom.

IT/Technology Director Certification– Participants in this program will cover topics to help them become an effective district leader and support administrators, teachers, and students in the use of technology. Master complex decision-making skills and best practices that will help you in your day-to-day work. Learn about funding, hiring, purchasing, and more.

21st Century Administrator Certification – This program is designed for those individuals who are already in a campus leadership role or want to move in that direction. You’ll focus on building leadership skills and learning how to model technology to other staff members, as well as understanding educational technology trends and their impact on student achievement.

Online Courses

In addition to the certification and self-paced programs, TCEA also offers instructor-led online courses. These facilitated courses last from three to four weeks. The asynchronous learning design and 24/7 access to course content allows you to manage course requirements at a time that is most convenient for you within the week’s schedule. In addition, these courses offer frequent opportunities for peer-to-peer collaboration.

Effective, Engaging Professional Development – How do you take workshop offerings to the next level to make them more meaningful for your attendees? In this course, you will learn about the latest research and best practices on adult learning to ensure that your participants are still growing long after the training is over. You’ll also discuss innovative tips and tricks for guaranteeing that your message is not only heard, but also acted upon in the classroom. This online course runs from September 13 – October 3, 2016.

Personnel Management – Learn about the critical personnel issues related to hiring, documentation, firing, and team building in order to best organize your staff and help them grow as a team. This online course runs from October 11 – 31, 2016.

Hardware, Software, and Network Management – In this information-rich course, you will explore best practices, relevant documents, and current information related to the following topics that impact the role and duties of the technology leader: asset management, cloud computing, cyber safety and security, disaster recovery, network infrastructure, one-to-one implementations, open source software, records retention, TASA Visioning, and virtualization. This online course runs from November 8 – 30, 2016.

Effective Coaching for Technology Integration – Coaching educators in the area of instructional technology is challenging and important. This online course allows you to better understand this role and help you to further develop your coaching strategies for even the most reluctant of educators. This online course runs from January 10 – 30, 2017.

Budget and Finance– Knowing about good budgeting practices, types of budgets, E-Rate requirements, grants, and resources to help you with your IT finances is critical as a technology leader. You’ll learn about these, as well as receive resources that you’ll want to refer to throughout the budgeting year in your district. This online course runs from January 10 – 30, 2017.

Technology Leader Book Study – In this course, you will reflect on key questions to make application of your self-selected book to your current (and future) role as an IT/Technology Director. Prior to the beginning of this course, you will select and read a title from the approved list. This online course runs from February 21 – March 13, 2017.

If you are like me and are a lifelong learner who wants to improve your practice, then these certification programs and online courses are for you. Discounts are available for our certification programs for bulk enrollment from the same district. For more information, contact Bruce Ellis at bellis@tcea.org.

 

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Good TeachingLeadershipProfessional Learning

TCEA Certification Graduates for Spring 2016

by Dr. Bruce Ellis
written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

TCEA currently offers several distinct certification programs to assist educators in becoming more proficient in specific areas. Three specific certifications (Campus Technologist, 21st Century Administrator, and Technology/IT Director) consist of required coursework, a final project, and a portfolio. Coursework within these certifications takes place via a combination of live webinars, online courses, and/or face-to-face trainings. While each certification begins in September, anyone can join at any time during the year and jump in with the coursework and catch any missed courses when they are repeated or the following fall. Our newest certifications (Chromebook Level 1 and iPad Level 1) consist of self-paced coursework culminating in a final lesson plan submitted to demonstrate integration of information learned.

Below is the list of people who have completed their certification during the Spring of 2016. They did an amazing job and should be congratulated on their success!

Campus Technology Specialist Certification

This certification is designed for campus educators wanting to develop and demonstrate abilities to integrate technology effectively and build capacity at the local campus level. This certification is designed for teachers, librarians, and technology specialists. Graduates for Spring 2016 earning this certification include:

  • Lyndsey Blackstock, Brazosport ISD
  • Christie Burns, Brazosport ISD
  • Katie Chirhart, Caddo Parish, LA
  • Annette Clark, Sheldon ISD
  • Bryn Hagemeister, Dallas ISD
  • Cynthia Johansen, Brazosport ISD
  • Kristen Leonard, Brazosport ISD
  • Megan Miller, Winnsboro ISD
  • Michelle Moreland, Lamar CISD
  • Emily Turner, Liberty Hill ISD
  • Janelle Safford, Winnsboro, ISD
  • Misty Wilson, Brazosport ISD

 

21st Century Administrator Certification

This certification is designed for district administrators, campus principals, assistant principals, teachers, and librarians wanting to develop strategic leadership skills to ensure that effective and engaging 21st century educational technology learning experiences for students are being provided and to change classroom instruction to match the needs of today’s students. Graduates for Spring 2016 earning this certification include:

  • Sally Wilson, All Saints Episcopal School, Beaumont
  • Becky Zalenik, Sheldon ISD

 

Technology/IT Director Certification

This certification is designed for educators who wish to become (or already are) district-level technology or IT directors by developing skills to lead staff and students in the effective visioning, implementation, and use of educational technology. Graduates for Spring 2016 earning this certification include:

  • Randall Bakos, Dallas ISD
  • Ronald Byrd, San Antonio ISD

 

NEW! Chromebook Certification (Level 1)

This certification is to help classroom teachers build foundational skills in using the Chromebook as an effective instructional tool with their students. This program is completely online and self-paced, making it convenient for educators with busy schedules. Graduates for Spring 2016 earning this certification include:

  • Laura Howard, San Angelo ISD
  • Lauren Hickman, Lubbock ISD
  • Kayla Burgoon, Lubbock ISD
  • Scott Firenza, Lubbock ISD

 

More information about certifications that TCEA offers can be found here. If you have questions about any of the certifications, you can always contact Dr. Bruce Ellis at bellis@tcea.org or by calling 512.450.5396.

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LeadershipProfessional Learning

Meet Tod Baker, TCEA Certified Technology/IT Director

by Diana Benner
written by Diana Benner

At a recent Apple event, I ran into Tod Baker, a former participant in the TCEA Technology/IT Director Certification Program. While chatting, Tod mentioned how grateful he was for TCEA’s certification program and how it really helped advance his career. I had the opportunity to interview Tod, and I am excited to share it with you today.

Please tell us about yourself.
I currently work as a Technology Coordinator at The Magellan International School in Austin, Texas. The Magellan International School is an independent, not-for-profit, IB World School with 450+ students from preschool to eighth grade. I work closely with our Information and Digital Literacy department and Technology Committee to coordinate the instructional technology and the technology infrastructure that is needed for teaching and learning and school operations. I also enjoy teaching our MYP Design course.

I completed the Technology/IT Director Certification Program last April, and have since landed a job as a Technology Director in Bangkok, Thailand. I will be moving this summer and am very excited to start this new adventure.


Why did you choose to participate in the certification program? What were your goals?
I joined the certification program to boost my resume, fill some gaps in my education, and learn more about how Texas educators get things done and what concerns them.


What was your favorite part of the program? Why?
I was allowed to choose the sessions and workshops that fit my needs. My choices, as you can imagine, related closely to my current needs at work. In addition, the experiences and resources in many of those sessions turned out to be valuable right away.


As part of the certification program, you had to complete an online portfolio and final project. Briefly describe what your final project was and your thoughts about completing the online portfolio.
For my final project, I formed a professional learning community at my school and we delved into the ISTE Essential Conditions to understand how prepared we were to leverage our technologies for teaching, learning, and leading. We mapped out how well we met 13 of the 14 critical elements and then we highlighted our next steps. The report created many useful talking points and helped give direction to my school’s strategic planning.

The online portfolio pulled my learning experiences together and put them in one place for me to reference later. My portfolio continues to be useful. When putting it together, it forced me to find the significance of my learning experiences. Without the portfolio, I suspect I would have learned less. My portfolio can be found here.

 

Overall, how did the certification program impact you, your school, and ultimately, your students?
The certification program has helped me develop a more comprehensive perspective of technology in schools that stretches from hands-on usage to overall program development. The course work helped us at the school open conversations about technology planning, teaching, essential conditions, and more. I think that it is very valuable for anyone interested in not only advancing their career in the field of educational technology, but also for anyone who wants to broaden their skills.

Many thanks to Tod for taking the time to share about the TCEA Technology/IT Director Program. Shanghai will be lucky to have him. You can always find Tod on twitter at @todbaker.

If you would like to learn more about the Technology/IT Director Certification Program and the other certification programs we have available, be sure to check out our Certification offerings.

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Announcements/Important Dates

Certification Graduates for Fall 2015

by Dr. Bruce Ellis
written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

TCEA would like to congratulate the following amazing educators who have completed a certification with us during the fall of 2015. These individuals have put in many long hours honing their craft, networking with peers, and preparing a portfolio showcasing their new skills and tools.

Campus Technology Specialist Certification – This certification is designed for campus educators wanting to develop and demonstrate abilities to integrate technology effectively and build capacity at the local campus level. This certification is designed for teachers, librarians, and technology specialists. Earning this important certification is Faylynn McMahon of Comal ISD. 

Technology/IT Director Certification – This certification is designed for educators who wish to become (or already are) district-level technology or IT directors by developing skills to lead staff and students in the effective visioning, implementation, and use of educational technology. Graduating with this certification is Justin Krause of Right Step.

NEW! Chromebook Certification (Level 1) – This certification helps classroom teachers build foundational skills in using the Chromebook as an effective instructional tool with their students. The program is completely online and self-paced, making it convenient for educators with busy schedules. Graduates for Fall 2015 earning this certification include:

  • Cheryl Blocker. Lubbock ISD
  • Charlotte Castillo, Goose Creek ISD
  • Donna Corbin, Lubbock ISD
  • Holly Garcia, Lubbock ISD
  • Katelyn Gribbon, Lubbock ISD
  • Sarah Henderson, Lubbock ISD
  • Lori Holt, Lubbock ISD
  • Marci Kinch, Lubbock ISD
  • Nancy McReynolds, Lubbock ISD
  • Rebecca Ray, Lubbock ISD

 

TCEA currently offers these and other certifications to assist educators in becoming more proficient in specific areas. Each certification consists of required coursework, a final project, and a portfolio. Coursework takes place via a combination of live webinars, face-to-face trainings, and/or online courses. While each certification begins in September, anyone can join at any time during the year to get the process rolling and start their coursework and catch any missed courses when they are next repeated or the following fall.

More information about the certifications that TCEA offers can be found here. If you have questions about any of the certifications, you can always contact Dr. Bruce Ellis at bellis@tcea.org or by calling 512.450.5396.

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Announcements/Important Dates

Take Your Career to the Next Level with Our Certification Program

by Dr. Bruce Ellis
written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

Develop the skills and knowledge necessary to take you to the next level in your career. Times are changing and it’s easy to get busy and overlook updating your own skills. You need to keep yourself as current and marketable as possible. TCEA offers five programs that are designed to meet specific needs:

  • 21st Century Administrator Certification – This program is designed for those individuals who are already in a campus leadership role or want to move in that direction. You’ll focus on building campus leadership skills and learn how to model technology to other staff members, as well as understanding educational technology trends and their impact on student achievement.
  • Campus Technology Specialist Certification – Designed for those who work with other educators to help them integrate technology effectively, this program focuses on helping you understand the tools and processes to better engage students and increase relevant technology utilization in the classroom.
  • IT/Technology Director Certification – Participants in this program will cover topics to help them become an effective district leader and support administrators, teachers, and students in the use of technology. Master complex decision-making skills and best practices that will help you in your day-to-day work.
  • Chromebook Certification (Level 1) – This certification is designed for classroom teachers who have a Chromebook, as well as those who work with students using Chromebooks. It builds a solid foundation of how to get the most from the device to impact and enhance instruction. Participants in this program will dig deeper in their utilization of Google Apps for Education tools.
  • iPad Certification (Level 1) – Build a solid foundation for integrating the iPad in your classroom by participating in this certification. You’ll learn how to support diverse groups of students with various iOS features, as well as receive specific tutorials on apps that you can use in your classroom to support student learning in your content area.

Our role-based certifications include live webinars and online coursework. As you go through these courses, you’ll build a portfolio to document your professional learning and implementation of the information shared and skills mastered. Then, as a capstone, you will develop a final project that aligns with your coursework. Though these three certifications officially begin in September each year, many participants jump in at other times during the cycle and start the certification process with ease.

Our Chromebook and iPad certifications are device-based and designed for the busy educator. These two certifications are completely online and self-paced with regularly-scheduled live webinars available for support, help, and advice. Huge discounts are available to campuses and districts for multiple participants; contact Bruce Ellis for details and discount levels.

Find more information and details about each of these certifications by visiting this website or by contacting Bruce Ellis by email or calling 512-450-5396.

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