CITI Commonwealth Information Technology Initiative

Alana Wiens & Charles Schiller

CITI is a public/private partnership to promote IT education, through strategic investments, that prepares graduates to participate, lead, and innovate in the knowledge-based economy of Massachusetts.

Launched in 2000, CITI brings together K-12, community colleges, public universities and industry to promote IT education across the curriculum and respond to technology workforce needs.

Instructional Technology vs. Information Technology ????

Technology for learning vs. Learning technology

What is Information Technology Fluency and why is it important??

Promoting Information Technology Fluency Skills - a sufficient body of knowledge to permit people to use a computer effectively today Concepts - refers to the fundamental knowledge underpinning IT, such as how a computer works, digital representation of information, assessing information authenticity. Concepts provide the principles on which students will build new understanding as IT evolves Capabilities - forms of higher-level thinking applied to IT problems, including everything from sustained reasoning to thinking technologically (National Research Council report: “Being Fluent with Information Technology” 1997 currently being revised and Sponsored by the National Science Foundation)

Fluency Concepts –Fundamentals of computers –Organization of information systems –Fundamentals of networks –Digital representation of information –Structuring information –Modeling and abstraction –Algorithmic thinking and programming –Universality –Limitations of Information Technology –Social impact of computers and technology

Fluency Skills –Set-up a personal computer –Use basic operating system facilities –Use a word processor to create a document –Use a graphics or artwork package to manipulate an image –Connect a computer to the Internet –Use the Internet to locate information –Use a computer to communicate with others –Use a spreadsheet to model a simple process –Use a database to access information –Use on-line help and instructional materials

Fluency Capabilities –Engage in sustained reasoning –Manage complexity –Test a solution –Find problems in a faulty use of IT –Navigate a collection and assess quality of the information –Collaborate using IT –Communicate using IT about IT –Expect the unexpected –Anticipate technological change –Think abstractly about Information Technology

“The new standard of “fluency” assumes an ability to use abstract reasoning; to apply information technology in sophisticated, innovative ways to solve problems across disciplines and subject areas;

to interpret vast amounts of information with analytic skill; to understand basic principles of programming and other computer science fundamentals; and to continually adapt and learn new technologies as they emerge in the future.” Tech-Savvy: Educating Girls in the New Computer Age: AAUW

Why fluency??

Three rationale: -Education -Workforce -Societal (From “Being Fluent with Information Technology” Computer Science and Telecommunications Board)

Educational Rationale Technology as an enabler for new educational opportunities Computers as a conduit of powerful ideas and cultural change Providing the opportunity to develop critical thinking

Workforce Rationale All jobs need to understand IT Business needs employees with a core understanding (i.e. Easily trainable) Improved job mobility

Changing nature of work Massachusetts economy needs workers to work in technology infused sectors Changing job descriptions Employees no longer at one job for life – need broad skill sets

Societal Rationale Better understanding of the world around them (e.g. Databases to understand risks of datamining or credit card transactions) Better educated electorate Understand how to evaluate social impacts of information technology

How do we achieve this?

Soapbox #1 Multiple Points of Entry

Soapbox #2 Information Technology Across the Curriculum

IT Minors & ITAC (H.E. and now K-12) (Information Technology Across the Curriculum) Example:

Example courses: Social Impacts of IT (Communications) Contemporary Internet Communication (English) Introduction to Visual Culture (Art) Genomics and Bioinformatics (Biology) Geographic Information Systems (Forestry)

Taking IT out of pure computer science and integrating it with other subjects. IT in context. Provides multiple points of entry.

Obstacles or This makes a lot of sense, why aren’t we doing it??

Teachers The system (including parents) Testing Gender, race & income divides

Teachers Installing hardware before teachers receive training Training in basic skills rather than integration Disseminating best practices Show tangible benefits Need to reach pre-service teachers

The system Administration, teachers and parents need to value IT fluency Need to have time and budgets (infrastructure & training)

Testing

Gender, race & income divides 4% of CS undergrads at UMass Amherst are female Underrepresented in IT classes, workforce & academia

What’s CITI and how can you help us??

K-20 strategy Awareness – conferences, articles, networking Policy Networks/cooperation Policy Licensure Grants

CITI & BHE - Board of Higher Education Our recent past and our current relationship Matching funds and the private sector Economic Stimulus Bill funding FY2005 and FY2006

BHE - Seven Regional STEM Networks Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics Berkshire Network Central Network Greater Boston East Network Greater Boston West Network Northeast Network Pioneer Valley Network Southeast Network Berkshire Network Central Network Greater Boston East Network Greater Boston West Network Northeast Network Pioneer Valley Network Southeast Network Pre K-16 Networks

The STEM Collaborative At STEM Summit II, CITI funded The “Wingspread” Strand Goal: Thinking about “Strategic Planning for Information Technology Fluency in PK-20 Education”

IT Licensure Study funded by CITI Information Tech. in all teacher licenses? IT in Principal and Supervisor licenses? Expand Instructional Technology licenses –Keep Instructional Tech. Teacher? –Reinstate Instruction Tech. Specialist? –Clarify IT Coordinator, Director, etc.? Supporting ETAC and MA DOE decision making

Summer 2005 Projects Teachers Implementing Imaging and Imagery for Classroom Learning (TI 3 CL) – PV STEMnet Berkshire Teachers Teaching with Technology (BT 3 ) – Berkshire STEM Pipeline Network Project MAKE-IT and LIFT 2 – Framingham SC QCC Summer Technology Academy (Quinsigamond CC, BATEC Replication Project)

Teachers Implementing Imaging and Imagery for Classroom Learning (TI 3 CL) – PVSTEMnet Workshops for teachers to expand their skills in using Imaging and Imagery in their teaching through the use of digital photography and Photoshop Elements. C:\Documents and Settings\cschiller\Desktop\Zielenski Monocots-Dicots.ppt

Berkshire Teachers Teaching with Technology (BT 3 ) – Berkshire STEM Pipeline Network Workshops and online components for teachers in Berkshire County to increase fluency skills in their teaching and use various technologies in their classes.

Multidisciplinary Achievement, Knowledge, and Experience through Information Technology - Project MAKE-IT Framingham State College Online course for teachers to upgrade their information technology skills in order to facilitate their integration of these skills into their teaching.

Leadership Initiative for Teaching and Technology - LIFT 2 Framingham State College Development and implementation of differentiated instructional support through two online graduate courses to meet the varied needs of Middle and High School teachers in improving IT integration in STEM curricula.

QCC Summer Technology Academy (Quinsigamond CC, BATEC Replication Project) Two three-week workshops for HS Juniors 1)Robotics 2)PC Maintenance, Game Programming, and Webpage design A lot of business-industry involvement.

Eleven New Projects for ProjectTypeLead Organization Getting Fluent in ITPD newBristol Community College PV ITAC: Robotics, Design, and Collaborative Learning with ITPD new Holyoke Community College and Educational Technology Program UMass Amherst IT Module Field Testing and Dissemination PD newUMass Boston Infusing Technology Across the Curriculum PD newUMass Medical School Leadership Initiative for Teaching and TechnologyPD continuationFramingham State College and LIFT 2 Multidisciplinary Achievement, Knowledge, & Experience through Information TechnologyPD continuationFramingham State College and the Learning Curve Berkshire Teachers Teaching with TechnologyPD continuation Berkshire STEM Pipeline Network; Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Teachers Implementing Imaging and Imagery for Classroom LearningPD continuationPV STEMNET Creative Classroom Computing Pre-Service Course Devel.Northern Essex Community College Literacy in New Times Pre-Service Course Devel.UMass Amherst Starting Out with Computer Savvy Teachers Pre-Service Course Devel. UMass Boston

Questions to consider: What are other obstacles IT faces in our schools? How do we overcome these obstacles? What could ITAC look like at my school?