Thanks so much for your VERY strong, detailed, and thoughtful comments. This is EXACTLY the kind of feedback that is needed to make the plan as rich as possible. You can count on your comments becoming part of the plan!! Would you have any interest in being a part of the working group that takes this initial draft to the next level? We're talking a meeting (at most two) and some online responding. We'll hire a writer to put the words on paper. Bill
 

-----Original Message----- From: Joyce Morris [mailto:jmorris@zoo.uvm.edu] Sent: Friday, September 01, 2000 6:12 PM To: bromond@VISMT.ORG Subject: Technology Plan Hi Bill, I've spent some time reviewing Frank's review of Vermont's Technology Plan. I think he did a superb summarizing the history and identifying some further directions we need to consider. I found the implications for the plan's revision specific and comprehensive and the citations particularly useful. I focused by comments however on recommendation 2, professional development. Action 4 is the key in my opinion-developing pre-service and relicensing requirements because this pushes the agenda for learning how to use new technologies to enhance student learning. Should we also consider including some ability to evaluate educational software under #3 of Applications of Technology in instruction? Just integrating software doesn't make for the best use of technology to support learning. Somewhere they need to learn about technology and new research on learning and the pedagogy of best practices and should know this before new teachers are licensed. In Action 7: Establish standards that identify effective professional development programs in information technology.....Somewhere we also need some criteria to assess the success of this professional development and this needs to be more than self-reported. Perhaps as part of professional development -especially when supported by federal and state funds, we should ask teachers to keep a portfolio documenting their products. I like the inclusion of Vermont College's of Education in this plan. Joyce Joyce L. Morris, Ed.D. Department of Education http://www.uvm.edu/~jmorris University of Vermont 530 & 431 Waterman Burlington, Vt. 05405 802-656-3356, 656-4140