September+and+October+2008

= = = __Virginia__ __Department__ __of Education__  __ Office of Educational Technology (OET) Updates __ =

=__ Learning without Boundaries __=

// A new initiative from the OET that incorporates wireless handheld devices into teaching and learning //
=== Funded by a grant from the Governor’s Productivity Investment Fund and in collaboration with Apple Computers, Virginia Tech, and Radford University, the OET will study the potential benefits of wireless mobile technologies such as an iPod Touch and GPS receivers in day-to-day teaching. Initial use may begin with Radford and Blacksburg schools. ===

=__ iTunes U K-12 Initiative __= ===  In July 2008 The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) announced the availability of a wealth of free content for K-12 educators on Apple's iTunes U. Arizona, Florida, Maine, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Utah, along with school districts, museums and other educational institutions are sharing resources not only for K-12 educators in their own states, but for teachers around the world. This initiative creates a destination where professional development, curricula resources, examples of best practices and student samples are easily accessible. The state of Virginia, via the Virginia Department of Education, will be among the second group of states participating in the iTunes U K-12 Initiative. Discussions are underway to determining an appropriate institution that will accept, review and upload resources from educational institutions in Virginia. ===

=__ Pokemon Learning League Initiative  __= === The Pokemon Learning League initiative launched in December 2007 by OET at the Educational Technology Leadership Conference and based upon the [|Pokemon Learning League] online portal for lower and upper elementary grades will no longer be supported by Pokemon USA. Discussions are underway to transfer ownership of the PLL content to the [|Professor Garfield Foundation]. ===

=__ Intel Grant __= === The OET has received a grant from the Intel Corporation to train Master Trainers in the [|Intel Teach Program]. The Master Trainers will be trained on the Intel Teach Essentials Course which is one of several professional develop offerings for classroom teachers on the integration of technology into classroom instruction. The target audience for the OET will be the 1200 ITRTs in Virginia. === =__ Oracle Education Foundation __= === The OET is working with the Oracle Education Foundation to offer training on the use of the [|Thinkquest] learning platform. Thinkquest is a learning portal that provides resources and opportunities for teachers and students to design learning projects that utilize technology and development core content knowledge as well as 21st century skills. ===

=__ Instructional Technology Resource Teacher (ITRT) Guidelines Updated __= === The ITRT Guidelines to school divisions on the implementation of the ITRT program have been updated to revisit the original intent of the ITRT program; examine results as documented through three studies; and offers recommendations. [|Superintendent’s Memo #215] announces the new guidelines. ===

=__ International Year of Astronomy Information on DOE web site __=