HISTORY
Over the past several years Governor William J. Janklow has initiated an
aggressive program to bring the benefits of technology, especially
telecommunications technology, to South Dakota schools in order to enhance
educational opportunities for students in the State.
To date, these efforts have included the innovative “Wiring The Schools”
(WTS) project http://wts.state.sd.us.
This project has resulted in South Dakota’s undisputed national leadership
as the state with most completely wired schools
Starting in 1999, the governor began the latest phase of his efforts to
bring leading-edge technology to the schools with his “Connecting the
Schools” (CTS) initiative http://cts.state.sd.us.
CTS includes creation of a robust telecommunications infrastructure capable of
supporting high-level school use of interactive data and video applications.
CTS has provided schools with a wide range of on-site technology tools for
creation of Local Area Networks and to maintain their connections to the
statewide /international infrastructure. Items supplied to schools have
included sophisticated network servers, switches, routers, videoconferencing
equipment, and an assortment of computers and peripherals designed to enhance
teaching and learning opportunities. WTS and CTS have provided a solid
technical infrastructure as a foundation for the TTL efforts.
Technology for Teaching and Learning (TTL)
TTL for Teachers
Perhaps the most visionary aspect of Governor Janklow’s initiatives is
his attention to providing educators with the training needed to use
technology as an effective teaching and learning tool. In 1997, the Governor
initiated the first Technology for Teaching and Learning (TTL) Academy.
Now entering its forth year, this very successful staff development academy
provides teachers with skills and knowledge that enables them to create new
and more engaged learning environments for their students through the
integration of technology into curriculum. Academy graduates are part of a
growing networked cadre of teachers who act as effective community-wide
advocates for the integration of technology into classrooms, and who serve as
technology integration mentors to colleagues within their local districts.
Over 1500 teachers have already participated in TTL training. Plans call for
continued expansion in the Summer of 2000.
TTL for School Administrators
In 1999, Governor Janklow expanded his training initiative to include
school administrators (TTL for School Administrators) and network
administrators (TTL for Network administrators). In its first year, TTL
for School administrators (TTL SA) provided nearly 100 superintendents and
principals with training similar to that provided to teachers. However,
instead of developing instructional units, TTL SA participants concentrated on
examination of educational technology issues that are of concern to
administrators. Some of issues addressed during the Academy include
supervision and evaluation in a technology infused environment, administrative
uses of technology, technology planning processes, budgeting for technology,
technology staffing issues, and technology related curriculum issues. Eighty–nine
administrators participated in the first TTL SA during the 1999 summer
sessions. This effort is also slated for expansion in 2000.
TTL for Network Administrators
TTL NA was also added in 1999 to help insure that all school districts had
one or more individuals on their staffs with the knowledge, skill, and
expertise to create and maintain their local area networks. All participants
completed a rigorous course of study that included salient elements of the
Microsoft Official NT curriculum. In keeping with the heritage of the TTL
academies, TTL NA participants gained valuable training and experience through
“hands-on” instruction that included disassembly, re-assembly, and
configuration of high-end servers that were made available through the
CTS program. One-hundred and seventy-five network administrators representing
160 public school districts attended the first TTL NA. As with the previously
mentioned TTL efforts, TTL NA will be offered on an expanded basis in 2000.
DTL (Distance Teaching and Learning)
An additional academy is also being added as we enter the new millennium.
Entitled Distance Teaching and Learning (DTL), this newest staff-development
effort will train interested educators to appropriately use statewide video
conferencing capabilities that are scheduled to come online in the Fall of
2000. As with the TTL academies, DTL’s major emphasis will be on the
creation of high quality, interactive curricular content by participating
educators. This content will form a starting base for the instructional use of
the statewide interactive video capacity and will provide a platform for
further development of capacity and skill in using distance teaching and
learning technologies.
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