Instructional Technology Services of Central Ohio (ITSCO) is participating with eight K-12 public school districts to participate in the Webinar Experience (WE) pilot project funded by a generous grant from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation. The WE project schedule combines one face-to-face session and a six month webinar series to provide educators with sustained support throughout the project. The WE activities provide extensive exposure to innovative uses of Project Based Learning (PBL) strategies and 21st Century Tools with research-based practices for effective integration within the classroom.

Project Goals:

Implement PBL strategies into curriculum

Effectively assess and evaluate effects of PBL and 21st Century technologies on student learning

Provide a teacher induction program utilizing mentoring and coaching from veteran colleagues

Increase teachers' comfort level and skills to successfully integrate web 2.0 technologies

Each WE team will consist of:

Two teachers (one veteran/one novice with up to three years teaching experience

• District Technology Coordinator
• Building level administrator (optional)

Project Components:

The Face-to-Face Session will kick off the project and present three main themes:

• PBL strategies and best practices
• Overview of 21st Century skills and tools
• Practical application of webinars

      The entire WE team is required to attend this face-to-face session.

The Webinar Sessions will consist of nine, one hour Internet based training sessions for novice and mentor teachers that occur after school hours over a six month period. The four main webinar themes are:

•  WebQuests
• Web 2.0 Tools
• Assessment
• PBL Lesson Creation

Final Project - Each teacher will create a lesson founded on PBL strategies that incorporates the Ohio Academic Content Standards and 21st Century tool

•  Time will be given for the classroom implementation of the lesson.
• Two, one-hour webinars will be held after school hours at the close of the project for presentation and discussion of project implementation. The entire WE team is required to attend these webinars.

Project Funds & Graduate Credit Option:

The cost to participate in the WE project is $100 per team. Upon successful completion of the project by both participating teachers in the team, ITSCO will pay the participating school district $100 per team for rights to use materials and lessons created by participants. Grant monies do not cover stipends for participants or costs associated with travel. Graduate credit is available for a separate fee.

Expectations of Each School Team
Martha Holden Jennings WE Project Grant:

The grant will run from January 15 through May 14, 2009. Commit team members for each of the following:

•  A veteran teacher (more than three years of teaching experience)
• A novice teacher (up to three years of teaching experience)
• A district technology coordinator
• A building level administrator

-Must provide all team members access to Elluminate via the Internet when needed throughout the project.

-Attend the January 15th kick-off meeting in Columbus. The hours will be 10:00AM-3:00PM. Lunch will be provided. Participants will not be paid stipends, mileage, or lodging.

-Veteran and novice teachers must participate in 8 of the 9 instructional webinars held on the following dates: 1/22, 1/29, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26, 3/5, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2. Each webinar will be one hour in length with the specific times to be determined at the 1/15 meeting.

-All team members must participate in the final two, one’Äêhour webinars held on 5/7 and 5/14. The times will be determined at the 1/15 meeting.

-Participate in a pre & post assessment of the project.

-Each teacher will create a lesson founded on Project Based Learning strategies that incorporates the Ohio Academic Content Standards and 21st Century tools. Upon successful completion of the project by all team members, ITSCO will pay the participating school district $100 per team for rights to use the materials and lessons created by participants.

-The cost to participate in the WE project is $100 per team. No payments will be made for substitute teachers, mileage, stipends, food, or lodging.

-Up to three quarter hours of graduate credit is available through Ohio University for a fee of $150 per quarter hour. One semester hour of graduate credit is available through Ashland University for a fee of $166.