In 1996, forward-thinking West Virginia legislators drafted landmark educational reform legislation which sought to ensure sustainable technology integration across the secondary curriculum. That legislation authorized the allocation of approximately $8 million per year to create the West Virginia SUCCESS program (Student Utilization of Computers in Curriculum for the Enhancement of Scholastic Skills). The planning and implementation of SUCCESS was based on a ?turnkey approach. Kathy Boone, Assistant Director of the Office of Technology, said, ?We started this process by clearly articulating our end goals for technology use with our student learning objectives [the West Virginia Content Standards and Objectives]. We envisioned all of the resources needed to support our county schools from hardware and network infrastructure to professional development, instructional resources and administrative and technical support, and then worked backwards from that point to systematically implement our plan.?
Kathy added, ?We want students to achieve the learning objectives in our CSOs by using technology tools to gather, analyze and evaluate information and construct new knowledge in a real- life context. These are new skills that can and must be learned if students are going to be successful. What technology can do is open up this whole process by introducing a dimension of interactivity that can enhance the development of those skills for each student. Our teachers must also gain these skills themselves, supporting each other as contributing members of professional communities of practice that reach across classrooms, schools and counties in our state.?
Kathy went on to say, ?The SchoolKit staff and their solutions are strongly aligned with our objectives and can help us to realize our goal of preparing every student in West Virginia with the skills, competencies, and attributes necessary to succeed in school, become lifelong learners, and to attain economic self-sufficiency.?
The West Virginia vision for sustaining the continuous improvement of teaching and learning has been meeting the needs of students and teachers ever since its inception. So much so that Brenda Williams, Executive Director of the Office of Technology, was bestowed the honor of the 2004 ?Leader of the Year.? This was the first-ever such accolade presented by her colleagues from the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), and an honor she readily shares among her team of committed educators.
Currently, teachers in all elementary, middle and high schools across the state of West Virginia are using TechSteps to teach and assess technology literacy in an integrated,
21st century context. TechSteps unique approach to integrating technology and 21st century learning into every class across the state is now driving systemic change across the entire state by providing contextual and embedded professional development for over fifteen thousand educators.
Effective Technology Integration Using TechSteps
?To live and work productively in the 21st century, our students must be able to think creatively, solve problems, communicate well, and make effective use of technology. By providing technology tools that support West Virginia s demanding curriculum, such as SchoolKit s professional development and instructional materials, the WV SUCCESS Initiative helps prepare students to achieve at ever-increasing levels, to leave school prepared to lead successful, productive lives in the workplace, and to continue learning throughout their lifetimes.?
Brenda Williams
Executive Director, Office of Technology
West Virginia Department of Education
2004 SETDA Leader of the Year |
