Forming Innovative Learning Environments Through Technology. Conversations in Excellence. INSTITUTION National Catholic Educational Association, Washington, DC
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 455 828 IR 020 851 AUTHOR Cimino, Carol, Ed.; Haney, Regina M., Ed.; O'Keefe, Joseph M., Ed.; Zukowski, Angela Ann, Ed. TITLE Forming Innovative Learning Environments through Technology. Conversations in Excellence. INSTITUTION National Catholic Educational Association, Washington, DC. ISBN ISBN-1-55833-253-7 PUB DATE 2000-00-00 NOTE 162p. AVAILABLE FROM National Catholic Educational Association, 1077 30th St., NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20007-3852 (NCEA members, $17; non-members, $22) .Web site: http://www.ncea.org. PUB TYPE Books (010) Collected Works General (020) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC07 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Catholic Educators; *Catholic Schools; Computer Assisted Instruction; *Computer Uses in Education; Educational Development; Educational Environment; Educational Practices; *Educational Technology; Elementary Secondary Education; Instructional Innovation IDENTIFIERS Technology Integration ABSTRACT Selected Programs for Improving Catholic Education (SPICE) was initiated in 1996. This venture of the National Catholic Educational Association, in partnership with the Jesuit Institute at Boston College, identifies exemplary Catholic educational programs from around the counLry, and invites the schools and dioceses named to share their ideas and practices in a 3-day gathering called Conversations in Excellence at Boston College. The focus area of SPICE 1999 was "Forming Innovative Learning Environments through Technology." Specifically, the SPICE committee was looking for programs that seamlessly weave the use of technology into every aspect of the learning experiences for students. The 1999 Conversations in Excellence symposium was held at the University of Dayton, running concurrently with another program, "New Frontiers for Catholic Schools." Following an overview of SPICE 1999 (Carol Cimino), this book describes (in chapter 2) each of the 11 model programs selected for SPICE 1999 (Carol Cimino), including ideas for implementation along with contact information about school and diocesan personnel who are willing to help others to replicate or adapt what they have done. SPICE 1999 presentations included in subsequent chapters are: "Technologies of Liberation: Education in the New Century" (David D. Thornburg); "Increasing Students' Participation via Multiple Interactive Media" (Andrey L. Kremer with Christopher Dede); "Approaches for Reflecting on Communication from the Perspective of Catholic Education" (Angela Ann Zukowski); "Computer Literacy-Media Literacy: What's the Connection?" (Frances Trampiets); and "Checkpoints for Excellence in Curricular Technology Integration" (Judith Oberlander). This volume also contains a compilation of a survey on the past SPICE programs (Thomas McLaughlin), and a discussion of the results of the Quality Education Data 1999-2000 Catholic school technology survey (Joseph M. O'Keefe). (AEF) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. Forming Innovative Learning Environments Through Technology. Conversations in Excellence Edited by Carol Cimino, Regina M. Haney, Joseph M. O'Keefe and Angela Ann Zukowski U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS CENTER (ERIC) BEEN GRANTED BY sit This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. P. Kokus CI Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES Points of view or opinions stated in this INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. 2 BEST COPY AVAILABLE Forming Innovative Learning Environments Through Technology Conversations in Excellence Edited by Carol Cimino, SSJ Regina M. Haney Joseph M. O'Keefe, SJ Angela Ann Zukowski, MHSH ILIMIN A' A Component of SPICE: Selected Programs for Improving Catholic Education, a national diffusion network for Catholic schools National Catholic Educational Association ii Forming Innovative Learning Environments Through Technology Conversations in Excellence Edited by Carol Cimino, SSJ; Regina M. Haney; Joseph M. O'Keefe, SJ; Angela Ann Zukowski, MHSH A Component of SPICE: Selected Programs for Improving Catholic Education, a national diffusion network for Catholic schools National Catholic Educational Association 3 Copyright 2000 National Catholic Educational Association 1077 30th Street, NW, Suite 100 Washington, DC 20007-3852 www.ncea.org ISBN 1-55833-253-7 Layout by Twillman Associates, based on a design by the Center for Educational Design and Communication, Washington, DC Cover photos (clockwise from top): Photo by Cathy Joyce; Photo courtesy Blessed Sacrament, Newark, NJ; Photo © Comstock 4 Chapter One Overview of SPICE 1999 Carol Cimino, SSJ Chapter Two Model Programs Carol Cimino, SSJ Chapter Three Technologies of Liberation: Education in the New Century David D. Thornburg 59Chapter Four Increasing Students' Participation via Multiple Interactive Media Audrey L. Kremer with Christopher Dede 77 B3Chapter Five Approaches for Reflecting on Communication from the Perspective of Catholic Education Angela Ann Zukowski, MHSH Chapter Six Computer LiteracyMedia Literacy: What's the Connection? Frances Trampiets, SC Chapter Seven Checkpoints for Excellence in Curricular Technology Integration Judith Oberlander Chapiev Eight Survey of SPICE Recipients, 1996-1999 Thomas McLaughlin 39'hapter Nine The Use of Technology in Catholic Schools: An Overview Joseph M. O'Keefe, SJ .1,Afterentord Angela Ann Zukowski, MHSH -"_15y5lkilovit the Presenters and Auth rs _5_7_,Acknowiedgerrnents aind Sponsors OeLr Form Overview of SPICE 1999 -Carol Cimino, SSJ Selected Programs for Improving Catholic Education (SPICE) was initiated in 1996, when the National Diffusion Network was meeting its demise. With the absence of a national program designed to identify and disseminate outstanding educational programs, SPICE was positioned not only to fill the void, so to speak, but to highlight specifically Catholic educational programs. The idea was to have a particular focus area each year, drawing from exemplary programs around the country that would be chosen and recognized for their merits and effectiveness. In 1996, the focus area was Integrating Mission; in 1997, Providing for the 7 Diverse Needs of Youth and Their Families; in 1998, Creatively Financing and Resourcing Catholic Schools. This venture of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), in partnership with the Jesuit Institute at Boston Col- lege, not only identifies the programs, but also invites the schools and dioceses named to share their ideas and practices after receiving input themselves in a three-day gathering called Conversations in Excellence at Boston College. The end result is that creative ideas are first shared and refined among the SPICE participants, then are available for adoption and adaptation by Catholic schools over the country. That is why, in the subse- quent chapter describing each program, ideas for implementa- tion are included along with contact information about school and diocesan personnel who are willing to help others to repli- cate or adapt what they have done. The focus area of SPICE 1999 was "Forming Innovative Learning Environments Through Technology." Specifically, the SPICE com- mittee was looking for programs that seamlessly weave the use of technology into every aspect of the learning experience for students, either through teacher training programs or in the education and training of students in the use of the latest in technology. Sufficient data show the state of technology use in Catholic schools. In 1998, Quality Education Data (QED) published the results of a survey taken of all 8,383 Catholic schools in the United States. Of the 78% that responded, the following pic- ture emerged: O 70% had a technology plan, and QED points to the e-rate as the motivating force behind this statistic. O 67.9% had a technology coordinator. O 60.4% had intermediate- to instructor-level software skill level. O 45% of dioceses incorporated technology use into student content performance standards. O 66% had Internet access. Because of the focus area, the 1999 Conversations in Excellence symposium was held at the University of Dayton (UD), running concurrently with another program called New Frontiers for Catholic Schools. Since 1990, the University of Dayton has hosted the latter four-day institute designed to introduce school teams to the use of technology in Catholic schools. Spearheaded by UD professor Sister Angela Ann Zukowski, MHSH, and Regina Haney of NCEA, New Frontiers has success- fully trained hundreds of teachers and administrators in the in- troduction, application, and use of computer technology in their schools. Eleven programs were selected for SPICE 1999 and invited to Conversations in Excellence. The program representatives and sponsors were asked to share their programs with the other participants by using "cutting edge" technology. Thus, one of the goals of SPICE, the dissemination of outstanding programs and practices, was promoted. These programs are outlined in chapter two. At the end of the time allotted for the SPICE presentations, the New Frontiers teams arrived and both groups spent an entire day getting input from persons expert on both the develop- ment of new technologies and on imagining the future of edu- cation. Dr. David Thornburg focused on three questions: What hap- pened? What