Hooked on Tech: Westonka Teachers Hone Technology Integration Techniques

An enthusiastic group of Westonka teachers, staff and administrators spent the first part of their summer vacation discovering new technology tools and strategies at the Second Annual Westonka Tech Academy (WTA). The district’s Technical Integration Learning Team (TILT) hosted the two-day event, held June 5 and 6 at Grandview Middle School.

A video featuring TILT members dressed as anglers along with fun props—including a canoe, fishing gear and bobber earrings—in the Grandview cafeteria introduced the 116 attendees to this year’s theme: “Get Hooked on Technology.” 

More advanced technology users were encouraged to tweet about their academy experiences using the Twitter hashtags #WTA and #GetHookedOnTechnology. 

Superintendent Kevin Borg started out Wednesday’s opening session by thanking the participants for their unique roles in helping technology integration succeed in Westonka Schools. 

“To each TILT member, and to all of you who are helping a team member with technology, we appreciate you,” Borg said. 

He also acknowledged the support of the Westonka community, saying the district would not have been able to move forward with many aspects of its new technology plan without the passage of the 2011 referendum.

Borg explained that, although it is crucial that students leave Westonka equipped with 21st century skills, technology will never replace an effective teacher. “Our focus is on supporting teachers as they integrate technology into their classrooms,” Borg said. “Technology is only a tool—but it is a tool that is becoming a necessary component for teachers.” 

Following the superintendent’s introduction, Technology Integrationist Sue Simonson told the attendees some of what they had in store over the next two days. She explained that, after carefully reviewing the feedback they received from the inaugural WTA, the TILT members made a number of changes to improve the overall experience.

“What we learned from last year's Academy was that we need to have an elementary track of classes and a secondary track of classes,” Simonson said. “We learned that the integration of technology looks very different to these two groups of teachers.” 

TILT also reformatted classes to accommodate different experience and ability levels. This year’s classes included three levels of Google Apps training—minnows (beginner), croppies (intermediate) and muskies (advanced).

“We literally have something for everyone,” Simonson said. “Whether you are a teacher preparing for one-to-one integration or someone who has trouble signing in to Google Apps.” 

Simonson noted that Google Apps are making a big impact in education circles worldwide. The number of students using Google Apps for education has increased from 10 million in October 2010 to 20 million in October 2012, with over 7 million users in the United States alone. Additionally, Simonson shared that 72 of the Top 100 U.S. universities use Google Apps.

“It’s the place our students are headed and the place we’re going,” Simonson said.

WTA also offered classes on iPads, Google Chromebooks, YouTube, “flipped” classrooms, SMART Boards, 21st century projects, ePortfolios, Twitter, online assessments and more. Another new addition this year was set collaboration time for teachers to work with their grade level teams and integrate what they learned into their curriculum for next year. 

Learn more about the classes offered on the Westonka Tech Academy site: https://sites.google.com/a/277apps.org/wta2013/home

Simonson concluded by thanking the superintendent, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Mark Femrite and Technology Director Cory Wolf for their support of TILT and their work on the new district new technology plan. 

“Thank you for your vision and leadership and for bringing us into the 21st century” Simonson said.

Reeling in New Skills

The 2013 WTA had overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees and TILT members. 

“It’s so much fun,” Simonson said. “It’s my favorite thing we do all year.”

“For the TILT members, it felt more comfortable this year,” Mound Westonka High School teacher Kristin Wallace explained. “Last year there were a lot of unknowns. We took what we learned last year and enhanced the overall experience.”

This was the first WTA for Scott Lhotka, who joined Westonka in 2012 as media specialist at Shirley Hills Primary School. Lhotka said his favorite part of was “collaborating with colleagues over fun technologies and devices.” Lhotka also said he has thoroughly enjoyed being a member of TILT this year. "We have a lot of fun doing what we love,” he said.

Special education teacher Pat Hagen said she liked learning all about the YouTube apps. “I’m going to keep working on them all summer,” she said. Hagen also said that the opportunity to collaborate with other Westonka teachers was really beneficial.

MWHS choir director Kate Larson said that she learned a lot of new online video tools and that she will spend the summer thinking about ways to integrate technology into her classes next fall. Band director Gretchen Chilson said working with the Chromebooks was also helpful because students will be using them as part of the EDGE21 one-to-one initiative.