Two Additional Notes to Consider
OK, here are the ideas that pop into my mind. First, I think we need to establish some working relationship with Tom Barrett (Technology Coordinator, t-barrett@mail.ed.uiuc.edu) and Judy Frank (Evaluation Specialist, jdfrank1@yahoo.com). I initially thought we should consider asking them variations of the questions that we first asked the others, though we may want to focus them even more on training in a fashion similar to the one below:
As members of the NEF (National Education Foundation) formative evaluation team, we would like to initiate electronic interaction at this time regarding Wildwood's NEF proposal (http://www.outreach.uiuc.edu/cter/wjhs/nef/wynne.html). We are performing early formative evaluations of a number of newly funded projects, with the dual goals of 1) updating NEF regarding NEF-funded program activity progress thus far and 2) providing short-term, informal consulting in an effort to assist Wildwood JHS in achieving its vision outlined in the NEF grant.
From the onset, please be aware that our advisory role is short-term. We suggest that funded program participants use our formative evaluation services maximally during this period. Please don't restrict your interactions with us to those components of your funded activities which are in place and working well. We are just as interested in working with you in addressing the myriad of concerns, side issues and questions which arise as a natural part of any educational institution broadening its technology-based educational program. Software, hardware, Internet connection, staffing and training questions and concerns should, and will, arise.
As the district's Technology Coordinator, we are particularly interested in your feedback regarding past and present technology training for teachers and administrators. Could you briefly outline a history of technology training in the district and Wildwood JHS? When did it begin? How was it funded? Was a needs assessment conducted? Who did the training? What was the degree of teacher and administrator participation? How successful would you consider the training thus far? Was the training evaluated in the past. If so, how was it conducted? What were the results? If you consider the training in need of improvement, how do you think it could best be improved?
We are also interested in training impacts of the ISBE grant and the current NEF grant. How have each of these grants impacted training, both broadly in the district as well as specifically at Wildwood?
Thank you, in advance, for your response. We look forward to working with you.
As members of the NEF (National Education Foundation) formative evaluation team, we would like to initiate electronic interaction at this time regarding Wildwood's NEF proposal (http://www.outreach.uiuc.edu/cter/wjhs/nef/wynne.html). We are performing early formative evaluations of a number of newly funded projects, with the dual goals of 1) updating NEF regarding NEF-funded program activity progress thus far and 2) providing short-term, informal consulting in an effort to assist Wildwood JHS in achieving its vision outlined in the NEF grant.
From the onset, please be aware that our advisory role is short-term. We suggest that funded program participants use our formative evaluation services maximally during this period. Please don't restrict your interactions with us to those components of your funded activities which are in place and working well. We are just as interested in working with you in addressing the myriad of concerns, side issues and questions which arise as a natural part of any educational institution broadening its technology-based educational program. Software, hardware, Internet connection, staffing and training questions and concerns should, and will, arise.
In your capacity as the district's Evaluation Specialist, we are particularly interested in your feedback regarding evaluation of past and present technology training for teachers and administrators. Has there been either formal or informal evaluation of the technology training in the district and/or Wildwood JHS? If so, when did it such evaluation begin? How was it funded? Who did the evaluation, what method(s) were used and what were the findings?
We are also interested in learning more about past evaluation of teacher and administrator training impacts of training made possible by the past ISBE and the current NEF technology grants. How have each of these grants impacted teacher and administrator training, both broadly in the district as well as specifically at Wildwood?
Thank you, in advance, for your response. We look forward to working with you.
Created 10/20/98 by Dave Stone