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Megan Yeiter, The Park Record
The Park City Education Foundation has agreed to set aside $60,000 over the next three years to fund the districtwide technology endorsement program, which started a month ago. The program seeks to train teachers on how to integrate laptop technology in the classroom. According to Park City Education Foundation Communications Manager Jennifer Billow, the district grant will provide support for professional development for technology integration.

"It's quite a time commitment, but you have to be good in technology in this world and the teachers want to utilize this technology," she said.

Billow said the PCEF started the initiative because, next year, all students in sixth grade through high school will have laptops.

"Last year, Ecker got laptops. Treasure got them this year and the high school will next year. But it doesn't do you a ton of good if teachers don't know how to use that technology."

Billow said the PCEF is trying to collaborate with the school district to stretch out its funds.

"The district funds the laptops and PCEF funds the technology integration. It's fun to do this hand in hand with the district," Billow added. "You can make your dollars go a lot further when you work together."

Treasure Mountain technology instructional coach Mike Kisow, who is also one of three instructors for the endorsement program, said the course involves 24 teachers and will run throughout the school year.

"We have a lot of technology training that happens in the school district, but the problem is that they are a little disjointed because we have to work around schedules," he said.

Kisow said having the schools come together in one class has been beneficial.

"It's such a blessing that we can build these relationships," Kisow added. "The coolest thing about the training this year is that the high school, Ecker and Treasure teachers are all in the same room."

The program has been approved by Southern Utah University as a graduate course, which allows teachers to receive three graduate credits every six weeks. Teachers completing all six courses will earn 18 credits.
"That's exciting for teachers because we don't have any type of education reimbursement. I went and got my master's and I had to pay for it," Kisow said. "It's a great resume builder and could provide opportunities in the future."

The program topics include: learning the Canvas management system; structural design for learning how to create effective lessons; software training; integrating multimedia resources; classroom management and technology advocacy; and ending with evaluating technology.

"It's so cool that we will have a group of teachers who will be in the know and can apply the technology in the classroom," Kisow said.

Teachers attend class for four hours once a week. Reading and research homework is assigned after each class for the following week.

"We have a lot of projects, reading homework and discussions. I've started my first classes with over an hour of literature review. And then it's a lot of demonstrations and practice," he said.


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