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Kathleen - Teachers.Net is very happy to introduce Lucy Miller, 1997 National Technology Teacher of the Year -Technology and Learning Magazine, and Microsoft 21st Century Teachers Network
Lucy - Hi great to be here! I love to chat about SWAT.
Kathleen - Lucy, how did you become National Technology Teacher of the Year? Did you have to apply for the honor?
Lucy - Yes, I was the Technology/Grants coordinator at my school and was seeking some additional software and computers. Never thought I would win! I became the regional then national winner for the SWAT Team program
Kathleen - Lucy, has it changed your life?
Lucy - Oh my Yes it has!! Where do I begin, I could write a book!Every year a new expereince, the cool thing is I get to meet tons of great teachers like all of you! I have worked for the state, for 21CT at the national level and now a software company
Kathleen - Lucy, please tell us about your project: SWAT = Students Working to Advance Technology
Lucy - I do have Microsoft and Tehnology and Learning Magazine to thank for their recognition of the program, tons of neat teachers out there who are running SWAT Teams over 50 now nationally and one in Saudia Arabia
Kathleen - Lucy will tell us about the "SWAT" project:-)
Lucy - SWAT means empowering students to be the technology leaders at your schools. I organized Task Force Teams, web page designers, Internet researchers, computer buddies, tv/weather internet crew, swat central, they cleaned computers and a community project where kids taught others how to use the internet in our local library, we only had one phone line for 2 years.
Kathleen - Lucy, do kindergarten/primary students participate or benefit from SWAT activities?
Kathleen - You can find information about Lucy's SWAT project at http://www.ncat.edu/~schofed/swat/
Lucy - The ages that I worked with were fourth and fifth graders. The other teams natonally have taken it to middle and high school levels. Check out the site sometime to see the links to all the other schools
Kathleen - Lucy, ages of those participating/benefitting?
Kathleen - Lucy, maybe you could tell us something about the benefits of becoming involved with grants, projects, technology, regardless of what grade levels we teach
Lucy - Ages 8-adult. I also have a preservice team of teachers at a University who are the SWAT Teachers for the outreach public schools they serve
RaiderLover - Lucy, have you ever worked with the Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow Research, or Apple Research in general?
Lucy - I was fortunate to have worked in a school system who did some of the grant research for us and all we had to do was compose the grants. I tend to lean on our state technology competecies as the base to what I produce then dream and integrate concepts with technology.
Lucy - Sorry to say I have not tried the apple grants. After my one year of umping out grants my role changed a lot
Kathleen - Lucy, have you left the classroom now? permanently?
RaiderLover - I have 4 classroom computers. What do you suggest my classroom should look like as students work with technology? What kind of projects do you see 3rd graders doing?
wood - How many students did you work with?
Lucy - My word of advice is to take the risk and write the grants. There is alot of money out there ready to be had!
Lucy - My 20 years in the classroom in special ed and reg ed I generally had a bout 4 computers. I did a lot of center-based teaching, computers were on all day. Third graders can design the class newsletter, be research reporters, and internet researchers
Kathleen - Lucy, any opinion about when computers should become integral in the classroom? (what grade)?
wood - Did your students work in other classrooms?
Lucy - I integrated technology into everything, I am a geek I guess, but it made sense to use the power of the tool, kids love it and it is their future
RaiderLover - Wow. that's so beyond me! Computers in use ALL Day?? You had them working all day? Were they doing separate projects during math? or Soc. Stu. Or was your day so integrated it didn't matter?
RaiderLover - How did you schedule 4 computers and 20 kids?
Lucy - Actually it started as a mandate from administration, but we had some cool staff development which gave us tons of ideas so we hated to not use them. That is the key, great ideas from teachers who know how to put it all together
Lucy - I designed a matrix that rotated kids and lessons on a 40 minute block, every child had access to the computer at least two to three times a week for those blocks
Kathleen - Lucy, did your (SWAT) students go into other classrooms?
RaiderLover - What is your opinion on software? Should students be using learning games, or working with applications mostly like ClarisWorks and HyperStudio?
Lucy - YES, had 78 Students The Internet researchers assigned one per teacher in school. Computer buddies helped the young students,
Lucy - I always tried a little of everything. I tend to lean on the on-line resources more and more as it is current info
wood - How would you suggest getting teachers that are not using computers except for word processing using them? (There has been exposure and training)
Lucy - The real important issue is empowering kids, they ran everything
Kathleen - Lucy, Marjan Glavac, author of the Busy Educators' Guide to the WWW is a monthly chat leader here at Teachers.Net, on the 2nd Friday, 9 pm E. you should drop by sometime to chat with him. You have a lot in common.
Kathleen - Wood, do you mean teachers are having the kids use the computers only for word processing, or the teachers themselves use the computers that way?
Lucy - I saw many a teacher cross the fear line when they saw the kids taking charge and teaching them
wood - I meant the students, but actually both
RaiderLover - Lucy, how do you recommend students share their work? Did you have a Tech. Night or something where students could show their projects?
Lucy - We did not have a lot of money for staff development, so I taught the kids how to use the programs then sent them back to the classes to share with the teacher and other students. Teachers do not have TIME to learn it all, the kids seem to have the time and the lack of fear, they teethed on computers
Kathleen - Yes, we are at a stage where many students have more knowledge than the teachers.Lucy is saying let the kids lead the way.
RaiderLover - Lucy, that's a great idea. I think having kids go to other classes is a doable idea.
Kathleen - Lucy, how do you recommend that student projects be shared? During Tech nigh displays?
Lucy - Actually if you check out my site, hosted by Chris Cobitz at NCA&T State University you will see some published articles about SWAT , one of which is titled Students Led the way, check out Aug. issue of Technology and Learning Magazine
alice - hi, I am interested in any suggestions you might have on what to do with the students who are not on the computer. I teach on a team that does integrated activities using claris impact. We have 10 computers and 150 sixth graders. The problem is what to do to keep the other students positively engaged while they are waiting. I feel like alot of what we have them doing is just busy work. Any suggestions.
Lucy - Alice, sorry, wow all those kids and 10 computers all at once? I would set up a matrix is this in one room?
Lucy - For students who may not have access to computers you can design story boards and templates for web sites and problems to be posted when the child does finally get access
alice - It is sometimes one room but sometimes several teachers are involved. We do the storyboards ahead so the time is used efficiently when they are on the computer.
RaiderLover - Lucy, there's been research lately that computers in schools are not effective. I think they were referring mostly to labs, but what is your opinion about that study?
Lucy - I guess I don't let much of what I read on the negative side of computer integration guide me as I have the proof in the eyes and hands of my students. I have some amazing stories of how computer has changed the motivation of many learners. My favorite is of a Down Syndrome boy who gave up on learning till he became a SWAT student, now he does very simple computer tasks but is proud of himself. He taught himself how to read now from a computer and he is in highschool
Marc CT - Lucy, do you know of anyone using a teacher web page as a resource for students? I have built one and am looking for any suggestions you may have.
Lucy - Teacher web pag is just what I am designing for KOZ, be happy to discuss this at length via email or phone call
wood - I don't know if you have addressed this or not, but what about funding?
Kathleen - wood, Lucy used grant funding and recommends that teachers seek out that resource. She says there is money out there to be found and obtained
RaiderLover - I would like to know some example projects she did with kids, and how she assessed them, and directed them... contracts and rubrics?
Kathleen - Lucy is working on an important proposal to submit to a major publisher and has an early morning flight to catch, so our session might be abbreviated. But we appreciate her taking the time to chat with us and hope that Lucy will return someday for another session.
Kathleen - Lucy, do you have sample projects on the web site?
Lucy - Not yet,just started with new job, but keep my email lmiller196@aol.com and I would love to include all of you on my new advisory committee, you are all top notch with some great questions. Please stay in touch with me!
Kathleen - Marjan! I was telling Lucy about you, saying that she should stop by during one of your monthly chats here at Teachers.Net. Marjan Glavac, author of "The Busy Educator's Guide to the WWW"
Lucy - I have replication materials on my SWAT site with an evaluation too. My next mission is to build my resources into a How to kit, that is next grant!
Marjan - Kathleen, you're too kind!!!
Lucy - I would be happy to answer more questions in email with anyone. I love to help! I have other resources to connect you with too as I do not have all the answers
Ljames - What is the address of your web site and how has your background in SPED helped you. I am SPED too.
Marjan - Lucy, all the best with the publisher...go and WOW them!
Lucy - I taught the most profoundly handicapped students in state instituions in NY. I began my journey in technology years ago with assistive devices helping non-verbal students to communicate, no one will ever stear me away from the benefits of technology. It is here to stay because it helps children in many, many ways!
Kathleen - Lucy, thank you for taking time out of your very busy schedule! We'll let you go and pack, please be in touch and GOOD LUCK!!
Lucy - Thank you Marjan! I am pumped after tonight You have all inspired me to keep plugging away! Good luck to all of you. Keep up the great work!
Kathleen - Goodnight, Lucy!! Thank you VERY MUCH!
Lucy - Goodnight everyone, please email me!
RaiderLover - we dont' have internet yet. :(
RaiderLover - July 1999 supposedly. The last school in the district to go online.
Kathleen - RAider, that's a shame, you sound really ready for it
Kathleen - RAider, what level do you teach?
RaiderLover - I am. My luck they will run out of money before it makes it to us.
RaiderLover - I teacher 3rd grade.
Kathleen - Marjan, what %age of schools are online now, any idea?
Marjan - Raider, hang in there, it'll come. Just be prepared for it when it does come.
Marjan - Kathleen, no idea. Here in Canada, the government's mandate is to get all 16,500 schools online by 2000. I think they may just do it.
Kathleen - Marjan, it's sad that being online could mean the office, or one classroom
Marjan - Well Raider, I too wished that every one of my students could do what I do with e-mail and the Internet. A couple of years ago I got my wish!
Tracy - I will graduate in May but I am considering going for a Masters in Ed. Technology. Is this something that is in demand right now?
Kathleen - Tracy, I'm no expert, but I think the answer is YES!!!!
RaiderLover - Grin Tracy. I'm thinking about a doctorate. :-) What program are you interested in? I'm looking at the University of Texas.
Marjan - Tracy, I'd love to be able to do that! I agree with Kathleen, that the answer is a definite yes!
Kathleen - Tracy, even if your position were a classroom position, you would be valued for your expertise and ability to support other teachers
RaiderLover - One think Marjan, our district is planning where they will put the drops?? If the drops are one wall, will I be able to spread my computers out and still have them on the network?
Tracy - My purpose is for just that--to be a classroom teacher but to be able to help my school utilize the technology out there.
Kathleen - Tracy, you probably couldn't select a better field at Masters level now
Marjan - Raider, yes, you should be able to spead them out. We've got one drop in the lab with 22 computers hooked into it.
RaiderLover - I think they are thinking that the computers will be all along one wall. But I like to spread them out so more kids can sit comfortable at them.
Kathleen - wires are a big problem in classrooms! :-/
Tracy - In fact, the school I will be student teaching does not have a web site and I thought that I would check into what it takes to start one. I don't know if it is something the school would be interested in (because I don't start until Janurary) but I would like to have an idea of how to do it. Where do I find this info?
Marjan - Raider, I really wanted a horseshoe layout, but the room is too small, so my computers are around the outer walls and a row in the middle of the room. It still works.
Marjan - Tracy, the trend here is for more and schools to have a presence on the WWW. I'm sure they'd love to have the extra PR and publicity that goes with the web site.
Kathleen - Tracy, come to Marjan's session on Friday, that will be a good discussion starter..and you should get his book, it's an excellent guide to everything a teacher needs to know in the way of introduction about the Internet, projects and sites
Marjan - Kathleen, thanks. You can order my book from http://www.glavac.com I'd prefer you ordering through teachers.net They've been great and I really appreciate their support.
Kathleen - Goodnight all! Thank you, and I'll see you Friday, Marjan. :-)
