Thank you for taking the Speakout Survey.

Thank you for participating in this year's Speak Up Survey. As a result of your efforts over 269,000 students, teachers and parents shared their views about K-12 education topics.
I will post the results from MSAD#52 out in late January.
Sharon

Leeds 5th grade in worldwide collaboration

Donna Storer's fifh grade class at Leeds Central School participates in Global collaboration to brainstorm online solutions to combate global warming.

Read more.

Technology Teacher of the Quarter

We are initiating a new program in MSAD#52 - each quarter a teacher (and their class) will be recognized for their use of technology to transform learning. The first recipient has been announced:
Tim Thompson, second grade teacher at Greene Central School, has been selected for Quarter 1, 2006-2007. You can read more about Tim on the district website.

Here's one worthy of subscription

About Solution Watch

Began May 30th, 2005, Solution Watch surveys the new generation of the web, reviewing and providing in-depth walkthroughs of today’s best products and services. Owned and maintained by Brian Benzinger, Solution Watch has grown and become a member of the 9rules Network and Web 2.0 Workgroup. Solution Watch aims for writing quality reviews of products and services that are of benefit to its users.

Brian, 20 year old web watcher, has compiled a fantastic list of web 2.0 tools with a lean toward educational use.
I am going to have to pry myself away from testing these out today.
http://www.solutionwatch.com/512/back-to-school-with-the-class-of-web-20-part-1

Also learned from his site that Google purchased Jotspot - onward with the empire.

technorati tags: sharon_betts web2.0

Help us by Speaking up.

You can help us understand your ideas and opinions, by participating in the 2006 Speak Up National Survey. Click the banner - and speak up!

We will review and report on the data collected during the month of January 2007.
Thank you for taking the time.

Technology supports NWEA

The students in grades 3 - 10 will be completing the Northwest Educational Assessment during the next month. It is our first attempt at using an online assessment package outside of the MEA online at Tripp Middle School.

NWEA offers state-aligned computer adaptive tests measure student achievement and growth. The entire technology staff has been working to make this a smooth learning experience for the students.

Busy with MainEd Conference

This week is really busy with the Maine Education Technology Conference (ACTEM) - I hope to post some sessions on my other blog, Sharon's Share.

Great news - School Site of the Month

http://www.msad52.org has been chosen as School Site of the Month by Technology and Learning Magazine for September.

"Maine School Adminstrative District No. 52's recently renovated site is concise and informative, and interactivity is key. Comments about the new site may be posted to the Technology Blog. The School Board Policies area provides a searchable database of all policies. Recommended Web resources are offered through the Webmaster's del.icio.us links." -- Susan Brooks-Young

We are on the map again!

Time for Website input

The new website can no longer be considered "new". We have now established ourselves under the name(s) www.msad52.net and www.msad52.org. What we need now is input on how to best make this a site for you, the readers.

Please give us your comments and suggestions. We have heard that the Leavitt parents would really like to see daily announcements -- they are coming. What else?

New equipment arriving

The new equipment is arriving and all the district Computer staff are working non-stop to get them prepared and distributed to the teachers and schools. It is a very exciting process and we thank all the msad52 community for their patience in making this happen.

New equipment arriving

The new equipment is arriving and all the district Computer staff are working non-stop to get them prepared and distributed to the teachers and schools. It is a very exciting process and we thank all the msad52 community for their patience in making this happen.

And thus it begins

Today was new staff orientation day in MSAD#52.  It is always enjoyable to meet the eager new faces each August.  It doesn't seem possible that I was one of those last November - this has been a great 9 months!  I put together a webpage with Teacher Technology - it may be of interest to you.

Everyone was excited to learn of the classroom teacher laptops and the new desktop machines in the labs.  We have also been working on the replacement MLTI (ibooks in grades 7-8) machines.  I would like to extend an invitation to everyone in the community to drop in after school gets into full swing.

Sharon

technorati tags:teachers

Blogged with Flock

Tech_Summer

Summer is rapidly slipping by and the technology department has been very busy. With gratitude for the community support, we will be upgrading computer equipment across the district. Teacher machines will be replaced with laptops and labs with new desktops. We are preparing for delivery of these units now. The students and staff at TMS are continuing their participation in the MLTI project which is also replacing the old iBooks with new machines. We purchased a group of the retiring units for placement at LAHS in the Language Arts department. These are being placed on two traveling carts.

Groups of teachers have been participating in summer training and you will see many new webpages becoming available for parents and students as the year progresses. It is an exciting time in MSAD52 -- please stop by sometime.

Budget Info made available

There will be a public hearing at Greene Central School Gymnasium on Monday, June 12, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. and the annual district budget meeting will be held on Thursday, June 15, 2006 at Leavitt Area High School Auditorium at 7:00 p.m.
We have provided electronic copies of the MSAD #52 budget warrant for 2006-07 school year and a summary of the proposed budget on the website. For more detailed information, please contact Deb Holland, Business Manager, at 225-3406.

Deb Holland
Business Manager
MSAD #52
486 Turner Center Road
Turner ME 04282
(207) 225-3406
dholland@msad52.org

As summer approaches

As we begin to enjoy the warm sun and anticipate a break from normal routines, planning for next year slides to the top of the list. We are working to implement a listserv for the community, update old equipment and continue expansion of the website. There are also many other thoughts bouncing around, but what we really need is input from you, our readers. If you have any thoughts about technology and learning in msad52, please start some conversations here.
Thank you, The technology team.

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Five Year Plan nearing completion

The comments have all been compiled and included in the final draft of the long range plan. It will be submitted to the state department of education for approval immediately after Spring break.
This is your last chance for input before this submission.
You will find the newest draft here.

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Budget presented

The proposed 2006-2007 budget in technology was presented this week. Upgrading the againg equipment through a lease / purchase program is the foundation of the hardware portion. Extending the use of web resources for the community through the website and distance learning was also presented. Watch the website for eventual posting of the data.

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Technology Budget on the Agenda

The technology budget presentation is scheduled for the next budget workshop on April 11th. We are looking forward to a great year with goals established. The Community Technology Advisory Team meeting was also very productive with discussions around the following topics:

• expanding technology to every child in a when needed/where needed system
• review of the 5 year plan
• the new web site

If you are interested in joining this group or giving input to the MSAD#52Tech. Team, you can post here, email Sharon Betts, or call us at 225.4565.

Welcome to the Technology Blog

This is a test to open a line of conversation between the community and the technology team at MSAD#52. Please post your comments and concerns remembering that this is an open line and can be read by everyone.