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2 INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY RESOURCE TEACHER G U I D E L I N E S F O R T E A C H E R S A N D A D M I N I S T R A T O R S JULY 2008 This document revises the Instructional Technology Resource Teacher and Technology Support Positions: A Handbook for School Divisions (hereafter ITRT Handbook), published by the Virginia Department of Education in This new publication revisits the original intent of the ITRT program; examines results, as documented through three studies; and offers recommendations. 1
3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS State Board of Education Dr. Mark E. Emblidge, President Dr. Ella P. Ward, Vice President Dr. Thomas M. Brewster Isis M. Castro David L. Johnson Dr. Gary L. Jones Kelvin L. Moore Andrew J. Rotherham Eleanor B. Saslaw Virginia Department of Education Dr. Billy K. Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent of Public Instruction Division of Technology & Career Education Lan Neugent Assistant Superintendent Office of Educational Technology Dr. Tammy McGraw Director 2
4 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction...4 Studies of the ITRT Program...5 Actual Roles, Responsibilities, and Characteristics...6 Job Tasks Performed with Teachers...7 Job Tasks Performed with Administrators...8 ITRT Guidelines...10 Roles, Responsibilities, and Characteristics...10 Time Management...11 Factors That Foster Successful ITRT Support...13 ITRT and Teachers...14 ITRT and Administrators...15 Communicating Progress...16 Troubleshooting...17 Document Progress and Activities...17 Recommendations for the ITRT Program...18 Varying Levels of Technology Integration...18 Raising Awareness About the ITRT Program...18 Understanding the Need for Educational Technology...18 Using Technology to Engage Diverse Learners...18 More Effective Use of ITRT...19 Classification of ITRT Job Responsibilities and Titles...20 A Culture Open to Change...20 What an ITRT Is Not...20 References...21 Apendix A: Superintendent s Memos...22 Superintendent s Memo No. 5 June 18, Superintendent s Memo No. 204 October 8, Superintendent s Memo No. 1 January 14, Appendix B: Additional ITRT Job Titles...30 Appendix C: Sample ITRT Job Descriptions...31 Arlington County Public Schools, Virginia...31 Harrisonburg City Public Schools, Virginia...33 Lancaster County Public Schools, Virginia...34 Spotsylvania County Public Schools, Virginia...35 Appendix D: January 2007 Information Brief...37 Appendix E: Glossary
5 INTRODUCTION In 2004, the Virginia General Assembly authorized and funded two new education positions: instructional technology resource teachers (ITRT) and technology support staff. This action and the reauthorization of the funding in 2006 represented a continued commitment to integrating technology into K-12 instruction. As a result, these positions now exist in all 132 Virginia school divisions, and more than $500 million has been spent to support educational technology infrastructure. All Virginia school divisions are moving toward the requirement of employing one ITRT and one technology support staff member per 1,000 students. Based on a 2006 survey (Hooker, 2006), 83 percent had met the required ratio. Virginia s educational technology plan (Virginia Department of Education, 2003) presented a vision of technology use in schools and classrooms, serving as a blueprint for division technology planning. The plan emphasized the importance of integrating technology into instruction and outlined the essential elements of successful technology use. Crucial to effective technology integration is an adequate support system consisting of these elements: Technology administrators manage programs and provide educational technology leadership in their school divisions. Technology support manage each school s information network, hardware, and software. ITRT train teachers to integrate technology and software effectively. Many of the programs included in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 rely on appropriate and effective technology use. The Act also included the Enhancing Education Through Technology program, which promotes initiatives that provide teachers, principals, and administrators with the capacity to integrate technology effectively into curricula and instruction. 4
6 STUDIES OF THE ITRT PROGRAM Three major studies of the ITRT program have been conducted to date: A Study of Instructional Technology Resource Teachers in Virginia s Public School Divisions: Who Are They and What Do They Do? by Kimberly Hooker (2006), Understanding Instructional Technology Resource Teachers: Ways of Knowing, Ways of Doing by Janis Streich (2007), and Evaluation of Instructional Technology Resource Teachers (ITRT) Program of the Commonwealth of Virginia by Virginia Tech s Office of Educational Research and Outreach (Virginia Tech, 2007). The Hooker and Virginia Tech studies were based on the same 2006 survey of ITRT in all school divisions; the Streich dissertation was based on intensive research of one division. Hooker s study (2006) focused on how ITRT dedicate their time: Based on the findings, 40.9% of the respondents listed Instructional Technology Resource Teacher as their official job title. The majority of respondents held a master s degree and teacher s licenses. Respondents reported that 95% were full-time ITRTs. Most worked on a 10- or 11-month work calendar. The findings showed that instructional technology resource teachers were assisting teachers somewhat with technology integration, but the time spent on solving software (64.8%) and hardware (53.3%) problems remains a concern. The majority stated that they had received training from their school divisions. The analysis showed that only 1.6% of the respondents had no training. Respondents overwhelmingly agreed that the most effective way to meet each school s instructional technology needs is to have one full-time instructional technology resource teacher in each school. Respondents stated there was not enough time allotted for teachers to plan for technology in the classroom and that there were insufficient funds for hardware and software needed for implementing technology into the classroom. Most agreed that support from school division administrators are assisting teachers in successfully integrating technology into the classroom and the majority of respondents disagreed that Standards of Learning (SOL) prompt teachers to use technology as a daily instructional tool (pp. 2-3). Streich (2007) examined the daily work of ITRT and how an ITRT attempts to promote technology integration among teachers (p. 8). The study also addressed previous professional and personal experiences, skills, and core values about teaching and learning (p. 8). Streich concluded the following: Results show that ITRTs share similar core values, skills, and background experiences regarding students, teaching and learning, and technology integration, but differed in their approach with teachers and colleagues during their first year. Differences in how individual ITRTs worked in their assigned schools reflect their core values about teachers, breadth of skills they bring to the ITRT position, and a variety of past teaching and related career experiences. Strong interpersonal skills, knowledge of curriculum and current instructional practices, technology integration, teacher leadership and coaching experiences, and the ability to build cultural synergy through coaching of individual teachers were found to be skills associated with change-making ITRTs. Technical, computer and leadership skills appear to be ancillary skills for change-making ITRTs. Additional results indicate that ITRTs need a variety of professional development training in their role as an ITRT. Their needs were very individualized and reflected their own perception of what they need at the end of their first year to improve their practice as an ITRT (Abstract, n.p.). 5
7 The Virginia Tech evaluation (2007) incorporated an online survey, Standards of Learning (SOL) scores, a field study, and a short interrupted time series analysis to determine whether ITRT have helped integrate technology into instruction and improve SOL scores. The study, summarized in an information brief (Virginia Department of Education, 2007), found that the ITRTs are well prepared, extremely competent, and active. The ITRT program clearly has made significant progress in helping school divisions integrate technology into their instructional programs (p. 3). The Virginia Tech study recommended the following: More ITRT are needed in each division. The ITRT Handbook should be updated. Methods of disseminating information should be revised. Administrators should be involved in the process of changing expectations about technology integration. The study concluded that the ITRT program has produced improvements in 32 percent of the subject areas tested by the SOL tests and that the program has made significant progress in helping school divisions integrate technology into their instructional programs. The Virginia Tech study (2007) determined that the Commonwealth s ITRT are qualified and, for the most part, working on appropriate tasks (p. 36). It also found that Virginia schools have integrated technology into their classrooms. Although technology integration has not transpired in every classroom, the process is well on the way to being completed with early goals. Therefore, the evidence points to successful technology integration in a relatively early phase of the ITRT program (p. 36). An interrupted time series analysis (Virginia Tech, 2007) showed major improvements in approximately 32 percent (six of nine) of the SOL test areas. Significant effects were found in third-grade, fifth-grade, and high school English reading; eighth-grade English writing; and fifth-grade mathematics. Some improvement, though nonsignificant, occurred in eighth-grade English reading. There were no discernable impacts in eighth-grade and high school history, eighth-grade mathematics, and science at all grade levels. Negative impacts were found in the following subject areas: fifth-grade English writing, third- and fifth-grade history, and third-grade and high school mathematics (p. 36). This may be due to other remediation efforts to address the SOL test areas or to the influx of a transient population. The amount of fluctuation in results noted in the analysis is typical of all SOL test areas and any given grade level. While many of the initial ITRT Handbook s assumptions were on target, it assumed incorrectly that technology integration would be uniform across the Commonwealth, regardless of division and school size and economic status. This clearly is not the case. Socioeconomic differences throughout the Commonwealth likely account for the variety of tasks ITRT perform. A related factor is the proximity of schools. The Virginia Tech study (2007) found that ITRT spend too much of their time traveling among schools in rural areas. Actual Roles, Responsibilities, and Characteristics Both Virginia Tech s and Hooker s studies found that statewide, ITRT generally are prepared and qualified, with only a few exceptions at the division level. Most ITRT are highly qualified licensed teachers with at least three years of experience. ITRT tend to seek personal professional development that mirrors the needs outlined in their personal learning plans. 6
8 Numerous ITRT job descriptions have emerged (see Appendix B), reflecting how different schools and divisions envision the position; a couple of these descriptions align closely with the original intent of the position. A few school divisions have assigned additional tasks to ITRT. Examples include ITRT who also serve as assistant principal, art teacher, librarian, computer lab assistant, and keyboarding teacher. This is not optimal, as the ITRT does not get to focus on leading the school s staff toward deeper technology integration. The most effective models place ITRT on equal footing with classroom teachers in terms of salary and professional status. This fosters more respect and less intimidation from teachers. When viewed as equals, classroom teachers will be more likely to work collaboratively with ITRT toward the common goal of integrating technology into instruction. Length of Contract. Most ITRT contracts vary throughout school divisions from a traditional 10 months to 12 months (Hooker, 2006; Virginia Tech, 2007). One of the most effective models is an 11-month contract, where ITRT work through the summer but then have 20 days of leave to take off at their discretion during the school year. In the 11- and 12-month models, the additional time typically is dedicated to providing professional development events for instructional staff during summer vacation and preparing for such events. Job Tasks Performed with Teachers The original ITRT Handbook outlined the percentage of time ITRT were expected to spend on various tasks. Based on the studies, ITRT spend the majority of their time conducting professional development, as intended. Of the ITRT who participated in the Virginia Tech study, 63 percent frequently model strategies for teachers, 51 percent frequently train teachers on hardware, and 75 percent frequently train teachers on software. Table 1 provides a breakdown of the duties ITRT perform with classroom teachers. Table 1. Percentage of Duties Performed by ITRT with Classroom Teachers Duties with Teachers Almost Rarely Occasionally Frequently Very Never Frequently Design Lessons Integrate Technology Model Strategies Train on Hardware Train to Use Software Assist with Students Projects Maintain Web Site Discuss Technology Assist with Curricular Resources Research Technologies Help with Software Problems Help with Hardware Problems Overall Averages
9 Most divisions emphasize professional development as the main ITRT task, a few supplement the duties with other assignments, including data mining, bus duty, and classroom coverage. These added roles prevent ITRT from focusing enough time on professional development. ITRT should be available when classroom teachers need them; this includes before and after school and during lunch and planning times. When ITRT are occupied with non-itrt tasks, they cannot support technology integration and provide instruction to teachers. Despite the various demands on their time, ITRT have found time to collaborate with classroom teachers on integrating technology, modeling technology-integration strategies, and researching technologies. While ITRT dedicate the majority of their time to designing lessons, integrating technology, modeling strategies, and conducting professional development, individual duties vary based on financial and size factors. According to the studies, smaller divisions often rely on ITRT to cover other duties, which is typical of all personnel in smaller school systems. A division s size generally correlates with its economic health, leading to the conclusion that these issues are related. The Virginia Tech study showed that nearly 50 percent of ITRT frequently maintain Web sites. Although the ITRT Handbook implied that ITRT should develop and maintain Web sites, these are intended as instructional resource sites, not administrative sites. A more effective use of time would be to gather online resources for teachers and students, which has occurred in many instances. Job Tasks Performed with Administrators ITRT have considerably less involvement with administrators than with teachers (Virginia Tech, 2007). On average, 58 percent of the ITRT in the Virginia Tech study rarely or never interact with administrators. Ideally, ITRT and administrators should work together to choose technology resources and make purchases for the school or division. However, in the Virginia Tech study, nearly 42 percent of ITRT rarely or never interact with administrators to plan technology development; 65 percent rarely or never train administrators on software applications; and 75 percent rarely or never collaborate with administrators to write grant proposals for technology funding. Table 2 provides a complete breakdown of tasks. Table 2. Percentage of Duties Performed by ITRT with Administrators Duties with Administrators Almost Rarely Occasionally Frequently Very Never Frequently Plan Technology Train on Software Applications Find Alternative Funds Prepare Press Releases Mentor Technology Leadership Develop Assessments for Tracking Train to Use Software Maintain School Web Site Maintain Division Web Site Edit Technology Articles Give Presentations Work with Content Specialists Purchase Equipment Overall Averages
10 ONE-ON-ONE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Mr. Burch, a principal, asked his ITRT to help prepare his monthly school board PowerPoint presentation. Previously, his secretary had developed his PowerPoints, but she was out sick. Mr. Burch initially wanted the ITRT to do the work for him; however, she guided him through his fears of the program, incorporating skills she had learned at the first ITRT Academy. Mr. Burch created his own presentation with assistance from the ITRT, who added some transitions and animations. Prior to having a schoolbased ITRT, the principal would not have been able to prepare his own PowerPoint and the secretary would have continued to create the presentations. The time investment on the part of the ITRT was well worth the outcome of a more confident and competent PowerPoint user. USING DATA TO INFORM INSTRUCTION Mr. Cook was hired as principal of a low-achieving middle school. Despite some evidence from grades and anecdotal information, there was no hard evidence to identify the biggest deficiencies. The ITRT used the EIMS system to locate data and taught Mr. Cook how to extract the data for subpopulation groups. Mr. Cook identified the students with the greatest needs and the most deficient subject areas (reading and mathematics). He again sought out the ITRT to select instructional technologies to address the problem areas. Mr. Cook encouraged all teachers to use the available data and identify and address instructional-area weaknesses by integrating technology. By the end of the year, the entire school experienced an average 18 percent increase in reading and mathematics scores. ITRT are instructional leaders and educational technology leaders; as such, administrators should rely upon them as mentors. In the Virginia Tech study, however, 47 percent of the ITRT rarely or never work with administrators to mentor leadership in instructional technology; only 15 percent frequently serve in this capacity. In a related role, 57 percent rarely or never help administrators develop assessments; only 11 percent frequently work with administrators in this manner. ITRT need to assume a greater role in developing assessments, particularly for professional development and technology-integrated lessons. It was not the General Assembly s intention for ITRT to maintain technology infrastructure or school or division Web sites; this was the rationale for authorizing new technology support positions. The reality, however, is that technology support has become a major ITRT task at least at the school level. The Virginia Tech study shows that while nearly 93 percent of ITRT rarely or never maintain division Web sites, nearly 50 percent frequently maintain school Web sites. The demands of maintaining a school Web site could be a full-time job, which means the ITRT are losing valuable time that should be spent working with teachers or administrators. It also was intended that administrators would rely on ITRT as a knowledge base for preparing articles and presentations. In the Virginia Tech study, 52 percent of ITRT rarely or never assisted administrators with articles, and 89 percent rarely or never helped with presentations on technology integration. These study findings provide adequate data for updating the original ITRT Handbook. The following chapters offer guidelines and recommendations for the ITRT program. 9
11 ITRT GUIDELINES This chapter outlines the key responsibilities of ITRT based on the program s goals and the realities of the actual work, as determined by the study findings. The original ITRT Handbook outlined roles, responsibilities, and characteristics; time management expectations; factors that foster successful ITRT support; and a delineation between ITRT and technology support. Many of these initial expectations anticipated the challenges of the ITRT program and still apply. Some in particular, those related to time management need to be adapted due to current conditions within schools and divisions. Roles, Responsibilities, and Characteristics The overall goal of the ITRT program is to provide effective support for curriculum and technology integration. The main challenge is to provide adequate training and support to bring teachers at every point of the continuum, from technophobia to technomania to an adequate level of technical expertise to meet learning goals. The original handbook recommended developing clear descriptions of responsibilities and precise expectations of the ITRT. As demonstrated by Appendix B, ITRT have functioned under numerous job titles, indicating their roles are not well-defined or widely understood. First and foremost, the ITRT are full-time-equivalent licensed teachers. It is important to note that while ITRT serve as resources to classroom teachers, they should not serve as classroom teachers. Their primary purpose is to train teachers in technology use. In this role, they are also agents of change and actively engaged in curriculum development and lesson planning. It is not the responsibility of ITRT to evaluate a teacher s performance; however, ITRT should work with teachers to assess the effectiveness of technology-based lessons. In addition, ITRT must be available throughout the school day to plan and implement integration activities. This addresses the time challenge of providing support while meeting teaching obligations. Duties and responsibilities of an ITRT include but are not limited to the following: Working collaboratively with individual teachers or groups of teachers to integrate technology into instruction Assisting with curriculum and content development Disseminating information regarding technology resources, emerging technologies, best practices using technology, and professional development opportunities Facilitating or conducting technology-related professional development for school staff Assessing levels of teacher and student technology use and skills Modeling effective instructional strategies using technology Serving as a member of the school technology committee Supporting implementation of the division and state technology plan 10
12 Researching use of newer technologies in instruction Using data to design technology-based instructional strategies Recommending hardware, software, and related resources Identifying trends in software, curriculum, teaching strategies, and other educational areas Creating learning resources for teachers, staff, and students Serving as a strong advocate for technology integration Participating in software selection and use Time Management Time management is essential due to variables such as assigned roles, number of schools served, size of staff, available technology support and resources, and technology integration goals. Table 3 demonstrates the amount of time ITRT should spend on various tasks, with the understanding that actual times will vary among ITRT due to various school and division factors. This table revises the initial time-management chart, as spelled out in the original ITRT Handbook, based upon actual job demands. SMART-TIME LESSONS As a kindergarten teacher in a rural school, Mrs. Fletcher often infuses different instructional practices to revitalize her teaching. When her ITRT demonstrated a SMART Board at a faculty meeting, she wanted to figure out how to integrate it into her lessons. The ITRT conducted small group professional development during the gradelevel meetings, allowing extra time for each teacher to use the SMART Board. Mrs. Fletcher created an interactive timetelling activity using an oversized clock face. The students could manipulate the clock hands, which allowed them to use various intelligences and develop a deeper understanding of the topic. Mrs. Fletcher noted how much fun the students had while learning this usually difficult standard. The primary revision from the original intent is more time for professional development. ITRT should spend approximately five percent of their time in personal professional development to keep their knowledge and skills current. Professional development activities should include online and traditional courses, workshops and conferences, and related literature; focus topics should include instructional practices, emerging technologies, and effectiveness of existing technologies and instructional practices. 11
13 Table 3. Recommended Percentages of Time for Various ITRT Tasks Percent of Time >=68% Initial estimate: >=70% Task Assist teachers with the integration of technology in the classroom, train teachers to use technology, assist with curriculum development as it relates to educational technology, model instructional strategies with students, provide training and professional development, collaborate with teachers, research technology-based instructional strategies, review/evaluate technology software, offer direct assistance to teachers by way of classroom visitations, or fulfill similar kinds of duties and responsibilities as the school division may deem appropriate. Provide professional development activities for administrators. <=14% Initial estimate: <=15% Meet with administrators and content supervisors at the building and/or central office level to coordinate services and resources. Serve on building and/or division leadership teams relating to technology and instruction, professional organizations related to technology, and other responsibilities. Assist administrators and content supervisors with data-driven decision making relating to all areas of curriculum and instruction. <=9% Initial estimate: <=10% <=3% Initial estimate: <=4% <=1% Initial estimate: <=1% <=5% Initial estimate: N/A Create and implement a plan to communicate progress and activities to school, faculty, and administration (e.g., newsletter, technology Web site, notifications). Conduct minor troubleshooting of computer lab equipment, hardware, or software problems. Maintain records necessary to document progress and activities, such as a journal, blog, or database of activities (see Spotsylvania database example: Conduct personal professional development, including research relating to professional growth goals, related conference attendance, workshops, and coursework. 12
14 HIGH SCHOOL FROGS In Ms. Lamison s high school biology course, students are required to dissect frogs and other animals throughout the year. The Commonwealth of Virginia requires that students have the choice of virtual dissection in place of the actual hands-on dissection (Code of Virginia ). After reviewing various software options, the ITRT selected the software Froguts and led hands-on training for science teachers. Several of Ms. Lamison s students were squeamish of dissection and preferred the virtual method. Ms. Lamison arranged for these students to work in the computer lab with a lab assistant while the remainder worked on actual frogs. The computer lab students, who otherwise may not have been able to participate in the activity, virtually dissected frogs and removed organs and tissue to see how all the parts relate to one another. Like all teachers, ITRT are accountable for their time. They should report to division-level instructional leaders, such as the instructional technology coordinator, director of instruction, or similar. Some ITRT have been placed directly in a school setting where the principal is the supervisor. The division-level supervisor should accept this input while maintaining the integrity of the ITRT as a teacher of teachers who provides professional development services for the instructional staff. ITRT are entrusted to maintain logs of their time and activities. Several methods have been employed successfully, including a narrative journal of activities, a blog for ease of access, and a database of time on task and resources created or accessed. The database/journal/blog should help account for the corresponding area of Table 1, allowing ITRT to monitor their total time in each area. Factors That Foster Successful ITRT Support Communication. Communication is key to the success of the ITRT program. ITRT are responsible for communicating known instructional strategies and resources to the instructional personnel they serve. Many ITRT have created resource portals, which their teachers use to integrate technology regularly. An easy way to communicate with content area teachers is through regular Hot Topic s. These short weekly messages to teachers briefly describe an available technology and explain how it can be integrated into curricula; they also include links to sample lessons and resources. Another communication method is through Tech Tip Ads a three-to-five-minute demonstration of a technology integration tool, including an announcement of upcoming or available training opportunities, tips, tricks, and links. Technology Availability. At the program s outset, it was anticipated that available technology would vary greatly among schools and divisions although the guidelines for ITRT did not reflect these differences. The Virginia Tech study (2007) substantiated these variances, due primarily to socioeconomic differences among schools, divisions, and their populations. Technology support contacts within each school or division should be able to provide an accurate inventory of the hardware and software available for classroom use. Many disadvantaged schools and divisions take advantage of grant funding through many resources such as the federal No Child Left Behind program and independent corporations. ITRT should enable teachers to make full use of available technology and recommend purchases to the school or division technology support personnel to enhance and support existing technology and curriculum. ITRT should also seek out affordable online resources to support such curriculum. Fiscal Resources. With the exceptions of hardware and infrastructure, the ITRT is responsible for recommending the purchase of technology items that support instruction. These include software, consumable materials, incentives, substitutes, and emerging technologies. 13
15 Planning. ITRT and content area teachers should plan for technology-integrated instruction. Collaborative planning is most effective to pull from the strengths of each participant. There must be time throughout the day for ITRT to meet with teachers and administrators. ITRT should also develop a professional development plan for their instructional staff, including courses and workshops and individual learning plans. All professional development should support the school division s overall school improvement plan and comprehensive plan as well as the instructional technology plan. Supervision and Evaluation. ITRT should be supervised and evaluated by a combination of divisionlevel instructional leaders and principals. This allows for a more comprehensive evaluation. An ITRT s and content area teacher s evaluations should vary because they do not serve many of the same functions. The focal point of an ITRT s work is to provide professional development, which should comprise the crux of their evaluations. The Salem and Spotsylvania school divisions have developed rubrics for ITRT evaluations: Salem: Spotsylvania: Program Evaluation. Each division should evaluate the effectiveness of the overall ITRT program in meeting the goals of its instructional technology and comprehensive plans. Spotsylvania offers an example of how to evaluate the ITRT program at the division level: ITRT and Teachers The primary responsibility of ITRT is to provide professional development to help teachers integrate technology into the curricula. The main outlets for this professional development are through modeling strategies, participating in collaborative teaching, and researching technology and reviewing software. See Table 1 for a complete breakdown. The ultimate goal of the program is for all teachers to develop the knowledge, skill, and desire to integrate technology throughout the curricula. This is a natural outcome of the professional development provided by ITRT, who can assist teachers directly through classroom visitations and individual cooperative planning sessions. Professional development can occur anytime during, before, or after the school day. ITRT namely are teachers of teachers. Their main responsibility is to train faculty in their school or division. The recommended approach is the five-step modeling method: Step 1: The content area teacher and ITRT plan together for a technology-integrated lesson. Step 2: The ITRT models the lesson with the content area teacher, providing only content assistance as needed. Step 3: The next day or period, the ITRT and the content area teacher coteach the same (or similar) lesson, sharing responsibilities 50/50. Step 4: The content area teacher teaches the lesson, with the ITRT assisting with technology use as needed. Step 5: The content area teacher and the ITRT review, reflect, and evaluate the lesson. 14
16 OVERCOMING TECHNOPHOBIA Mrs. McGillicuddy has taught sixth-grade English for 28 years. Her students are always near the top of the GPA list and maintain the highest SOL scores. She has reluctantly used technology for her grade book and lesson plans and to communicate, when required. She had always been successful, so why should she try something new? After her school division started requiring at least one technology-rich lesson among each teacher s three observations, she attempted to meet the requirement with printed overhead transparencies. The administrator gave her a second chance and suggested she talk to the school s ITRT. After examining Mrs. McGillicuddy s SOL class scores, the ITRT identified a couple of areas for improvement. The ITRT found some online resources to target these areas and shared her findings with Mrs. McGillicuddy, who was surprised. She thought technology would be too hard. The ITRT eased her concerns and assured her that students already have the necessary technology skills. The ITRT agreed to attend and coteach Mrs. McGillicuddy s classes for the first two periods of the day. After the lessons, the ITRT debriefed with Mrs. McGillicuddy, who requested more online resources. The ITRT showed her how to set up a PortaPortal page; three months later, Mrs. McGillicuddy was using her own PortaPortal with students in her monthly technology-integrated lessons. She has come full circle, integrating technology, when appropriate, to enhance her teaching. Despite this goal of collaborative teaching, some educators believe ITRT are solely responsible for everything related to educational technology, including teaching all technologyenhanced lessons. In reality, ITRT are supposed to enable teachers to perform technology-related functions and integrate technology into the classroom; it is not the ITRT s responsibility to do this work for them. Teachers need to learn how to select appropriate technology tools or software and apply these to their lessons, without relying on ITRT to select and implement these tools and software. The ITRT should not be the gatekeeper for technology use. Multiple demands on ITRT time is proving to be one of the program s greatest obstacles. Due to their knowledge of technology, ITRT frequently are assigned other duties that generally should be addressed by technology support staff. As a result, ITRT often are not available when faculty and staff have time for professional development typically, before or after school. Another problem is that some teachers are reluctant to incorporate technology into their lessons and do not look to ITRT for assistance. In some instances, the ITRT is viewed incorrectly as a lab assistant. This is an inappropriate use of ITRT time; the ITRT should teach the teachers, and the lab assistant should assist the teacher or ITRT in the computer lab. In other cases, ITRT have been asked to teach students about computers. The ITRT s role in this scenario should be to work with teachers on technology integration or to model strategies as needed, not to teach the students directly. Additionally, the ITRT should not be responsible for day-today lessons and evaluation of student learning. Teachers need to be more aware of the ITRT program s purpose, particularly the roles ITRT are intended to fill. Toward this goal, administrators need to communicate more effectively with teachers regarding ITRT duties and help ensure that ITRT spend their time on the intended tasks. ITRT and Administrators The main responsibility of an ITRT s work with administrators or content supervisors is to conduct one-onone and group professional development. In addition, ITRT should work with administrators to research technologyrelated topics, including hardware and software purchasing decisions; coordinate services and resources; develop technology-related policies and procedures; demonstrate how to use data to make instructional decisions relating to technology; and serve on building and/or division leadership technology committees, such as professional development, technology plan, or technology evaluation teams. See Table 2 for a complete breakdown. 15
17 ITRT should work with content supervisors or specialists to use existing data to identify areas of deficiency. They also can collaborate to determine effective technologies for addressing these areas. As with teachers, a developing pattern indicates administrators often ask ITRT to perform technology functions instead of doing the tasks themselves or learning how to use technology. This temporary problem fix does not address the central issue lack of technology literacy among administrators. As one example, administrators frequently expect ITRT to create multimedia presentations (e.g., PowerPoint) for them; a better alternative is for ITRT to teach an administrator or administrative assistant/secretary to develop the presentations. ITRT are not technology support staff and should not be asked to install or troubleshoot hardware or software. These types of assignments consume time that could be spent training administrators or teachers. Likewise, ITRT are not data specialists. While they should demonstrate for administrators how to interpret or use data, it should not be their responsibility to manage data. Communicating Progress One of the biggest challenges is that some educators are reluctant to incorporate technology and will not follow through on professional development opportunities. ITRT should strive to include these teachers in training sessions and encourage them to integrate technology. As such, recruitment and communication are important ITRT tasks. Each ITRT should create and implement a plan for communicating instructional technology-related information to faculty and staff. Communication methods may include newsletters (electronic or hard copy), technology-resource Web sites, and notifications. One proven strategy is to send a weekly update that describes upcoming professional development and offers suggestions for available technology. Each should address only one or two topics and offer links to related resources. Since some faculty members do not always check their regularly, ITRT should provide a hard copy of the communication. The hard copies should be eliminated as faculty become accustomed to checking for updates. ITRT should use regular staff meetings to advertise professional development opportunities. Whenever possible, ITRT should plan training sessions that address the specific types of technology a teacher plans to use in the classroom. This supports the teacher s efforts and encourages others to consider incorporating similar technology. Other proven successful strategies include: The five-step modeling transition strategy Hot topics weekly updates Training sessions scheduled on teacher workdays Training sessions scheduled during team meetings to meet specific needs of a particular grade level or subject area team Creation and maintenance of instructional technology Web resources for parents as well as school personnel Provide one-on-one training as needed Research the content of a teacher s curriculum, offer suggestions for technology integration to improve instruction, and then offer to model using the five-step modeling strategy 16
18 One misinterpretation of ITRT is that they should manage a school or division Web site. ITRT should post their own resources to Web pages but not maintain a schoolwide or divisionwide Web site. Another misperception is that ITRT are administrative assistants, responsible for developing school newsletters. They should write articles relating to educational technology but should not be relied upon as newsletter editors or publishers. Troubleshooting One of the most significant problems is that ITRT time is continually tied up with providing technical support. This clearly is a full-time job and was the impetus for creating the technology support positions. ITRT should assist with troubleshooting only when the problem is minor and hindering a lesson with which they are involved. Otherwise, if requested, ITRT should help teachers or administrators contact the proper technical support personnel. Eventually, faculty members should learn how to contact technical support without relying upon the ITRT as a liaison. ITRT should follow the five-minute rule. When a teacher has a technical issue, an ITRT should spend no more than five minutes attempting to solve the issue; if progress cannot be made in that time, they should direct the teacher to report the technical issue to the appropriate personnel. In addition, ITRT should not be required to perform basic maintenance, oversee the technology inventory, or replace outdated or broken technology. Document Progress and Activities Effective time management is essential due to varying job demands. ITRT should account daily for how much time they spend on various tasks with teachers, administrators, and on their own. Documentation methods can include keeping a journal or blog of activities or inputting the information into a database or spreadsheet. The documentation should be anecdotal and data driven to allow flexibility. The record should help ITRT identify which faculty members they have trained on specific technology or teaching methods. This will help ITRT target which educators they still need to work with and potential training ideas for those prepared to take the next step in educational technology. The documentation should be available to administrators who are responsible for evaluating the ITRT. This record should demonstrate that ITRT have specific areas of responsibilities and do not have time for miscellaneous duties such as solving technical problems, teaching students, or preparing multimedia presentations. The biggest problem with this task is that many ITRT do not have adequate time to document their work. If ITRT were not overextended with technical support, they would have more time to document and manage their work. 17
19 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE ITRT PROGRAM Varying Levels of Technology Integration The Virginia Tech study (2007) demonstrates that teachers throughout the Commonwealth incorporate different levels of technology integration. This is much like teaching in a typical classroom, where all students are at different levels. The next step should be to identify each teacher s level of integration, which can be accomplished through a customized assessment or a ready-made assessment, such as the LoTI (http://www.loticonnection.com/). After the levels have been determined, the ITRT can design professional development sessions to meet the needs of various levels, such as beginners and experts. Another method would be to design training that targets specific skills and specific teachers. Raising Awareness About the ITRT Program Classroom teachers and administrators need to understand the true roles and possibilities of the ITRT. To achieve this, ITRT should conduct demonstrations with teachers and administrators that allow for collaboration and a truer understanding of the ITRT s place in education. The presentations should be repeated each fall for new personnel, perhaps at the first staff meeting. The ITRT should be open to discussions and questions but should also accept appointments for collaborative planning meetings and suggestions for professional development topics. One strategy would be to include all personnel in brainstorming workshops and suggest topics for professional development. This can be accomplished easily during regularly scheduled team/grade-level meetings. The ITRT and teachers should share what needs to be achieved to facilitate the best instruction and collaborate on lessons that meet those needs. Another strategy would be to create a brochure outlining potential ITRT services, the proposed professional development schedule, and a plan for meeting with each grade level or subject-area team. The brochure should include links to resources and contact information for the ITRT. Understanding the Need for Educational Technology The studies determined that most teachers are open-minded about integrating technology into classrooms; however, some remain resistant to educational technology or suffer from technophobia a fear of technology. The Virginia Tech study (2007) identified technophobia as one of the most frequent ITRT problems. These teachers often avoid training and do not seek the ITRT s assistance. The successes of the program will win over some of these teachers; however, the ITRT and administrators need to reach out and show them the benefits of educational technology. Using Technology to Engage Diverse Learners Based on Streich s study (2007), There is a recognized need of teacher professional learning in areas of differentiated instruction and instructional strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners throughout the school division (p. 213). The number of English-language learners is increasing throughout the 18
20 ESL PODCASTING Swapna entered Virginia schools in kindergarten as a bright-eyed excited five year old; however, she knew only three English words: yes, no, and bathroom. She had spent her entire life with her parents and grandparents, who spoke only Hindi at home and wanted to preserve their native language. Swapna was eager to learn English, which fascinated her whenever she visited stores or watched television. Her teacher took an online podcasting course taught by an ITRT through the NCLB Title IID Consortia. This taught her that the ipod was a perfect tool for Swapna, who was reluctant to talk with peers but who loved listening. The ITRT and a paraprofessional worked with children throughout the school to record some easy reader books and place them on the ipod. Swapna s eyes lit up when she heard her favorite book Brown Bear, Brown Bear read by one of her classmates. She kept the ipod with her almost constantly and followed along with hard copies of the books she listened to. Within a month, her vocabulary had increased to 150 words; by the end of the first semester, she could understand, say, and read almost 1,000 English words. Commonwealth; many of these students are from low socioeconomic households. Streich suggests, Today s teachers must be armed with sound instructional strategies and the technologies to identify these students learning needs (p. 213). As a result, ITRT should provide classroom teachers with the latest research on how technology can address a diverse array of learning needs and styles. They also should help classroom teachers implement emerging technologies that offer differentiated instruction. More Effective Use of ITRT One of the principal findings of the Virginia Tech study (2007) was that ITRT are spread too thinly, particularly in rural areas (p. 36). Ideally, there should be one ITRT per school or per two schools; this would require increased funding for additional positions in rural areas. Even when ITRT are spread too thinly, they can be used more effectively through organization and planning. When an ITRT is split between locations, effective planning is essential. For instance, ITRT can conduct face-to-face training at centrally located sites; information about these sessions needs to be disseminated widely in advance to give teachers and administrators time to plan their schedules. Another strategy is for ITRT to work at a different location each day; again, communication is important so personnel know where the ITRT will be on a particular day. Another option is to alternate weeks at different schools. This works only if the ITRT has only two or three locations; otherwise, there will be too much time between visits to each school. This strategy also requires advanced planning and scheduling of professional development. In the most extreme situations when ITRT serve four or more schools ITRT should have offices at alternate locations, such as the central office, where they can plan, design, and schedule professional development. This allows them to schedule time as needed at each location and provide services to all teachers and administrators. There are many ways to share information and teach integration strategies from a distance, including developing and implementing online courses, creating tips or job aides for equipment and software, developing and maintaining online resources, and suggesting lessons and strategies through a newsletter (online or hard copy). These techniques allow for better collaboration between the ITRT and curriculum supervisors/directors/specialists. They also allow ITRT to focus on meeting the needs of each curriculum area by including teachers in professional development planning. 19
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Trying to solicit employee participation in a business meeting isn't always easy, especially if your workers think of it as a break from the normal routine and want to sit back and relax. Because effective meetings usually require employee involvement and your goal is to draw people out, you must create an engaging atmosphere that makes people want to speak up. You can't force participation but you can establish a friendly environment that encourages employee contributions.
Share the Stage
One of the best ways to encourage participation is to ask for frequent input or feedback. If you spend the majority of the meeting lecturing, explaining charts or complaining about company issues, you'll likely get silence from your employees. Present relevant information and focus on topics that are most critical so the meeting has structure and purpose, but ask for input every five to 10 minutes. You might start the meeting by letting your employees know you'll be asking for feedback. That way, they'll listen more closely and will likely craft comments and suggestions in their mind so they're ready to contribute when asked.
Ask Specific Questions
Participants often feel intimidated to offer suggestions when they aren't sure what the presenter wants or where the meeting is headed. Business consultant Marlene Chism suggests framing questions in a specific manner that guides participants down the right path, according to her book and website Stop Workplace Drama. You might say, "Let's do some problem-solving on how we might address higher customer service needs during the holidays. Does anyone have any suggestions?" Avoid general questions, such as "What improvements can we make?" or "What should we do about our customers?"
Hold a Final Round
As reported by ''Inc,'' Ev Williams, co-founder of the blogging site Medium, suggests hosting a closing round at the end of each business meeting where participants can voice their final comments or suggestions. Each person has 30 seconds to state their ideas or concerns, with no back-and-forth discussion allowed. This method draws people out because they don't have to fear that their ideas will be rejected or criticized. A closing round is also beneficial for you as the leader because it provides a sense of how the meeting went, defines the emotional tone of the group and reveals ideas or suggestions that weren't expressed during the course of the meeting.
Set the Tone
The tone of a meeting often plays a big role in how comfortable employees feel interjecting their opinions and offering input. Friendliness and hospitality will likely draw them out. In general, the more formal the meeting, the more likely your employees will see it as a boss-oriented presentation than a team-oriented discussion. Have coffee, bottled water, snacks, fruit or mints available or have lunch delivered during a mid-meeting break. Consider hosting the meeting on Thursday or on a business casual day, so your employees feel relaxed and know the weekend is just around the corner.
Photo Credits
- Creatas/Creatas/Getty Images

subset: commoncrawl


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The top-seeded Gators got two hits, two runs scored and the game-winning RBI from third baseman Josh Tobias out of the nine hole in the order to advance to Sunday's championship game against LSU. The Tigers beat Arkansas 11-1 earlier Saturday to work their way into the title game.
Kentucky led 3-0 after two innings and went back ahead 5-4 after the sixth, but eventually ran out of pitching and defense down the stretch.
Florida scored the tying run in the seventh inning on a miscommunication between UK shortstop Matt Reida and second baseman JaVon Shelby on a fieldable ball up the middle, and the Gators plated the eventual winning run in the eighth after an error by the Cats' Max Kuhn at third base.
Florida (40-20) did the little things it managed to do all season in posting an improbable SEC regular season championship. The Gators got five hits, two walks and four runs scored by the bottom three hitters in their batting order and some terrific relief pitching from Kirby Snead and Eric Hanhold after starter Brett Morales was chased with one out in the second inning.
Snead worked 4.1 innings, allowing no earned runs. The left-hander held the SEC's top offensive club to just three hits and two walks. Hanhold (4-3) worked the final 3.1 innings, allowing no runs, just two hits and striking out four. His biggest moment came in the eighth inning, fanning UK's Austin Cousino and Max Kuhn looking on breaking balls with the tying run at second .
The Cats, whose pitching staff had been stretched thin by winning three games to reach the semifinals, used freshman Logan Salow in his first career start. He gave up two earned runs on three hits, a walk and a hit batter over 2.1 innings. Taylor Martin came out of the pen and pitched two strong innings before a pair of walks cost him two runs in the fifth.
Andrew Nelson and Chandler Shepherd pitched the final 4.1 innings. Nelson allowed one earned run on five hits, while Shepherd (5-4) took the loss after giving up one earned run on a walk and four hits, including Tobias' game-winner with two outs in the eighth.
Three of the four Gators who drew walks came around to score runs.
Kentucky (35-23) did not get a big offensive performance from expected national player of the year A.J. Reed. The Gators held the junior first baseman to just a walk and hit by pitch while going 0-for-3.
Kuhn had a pair of doubles and two RBI to lead UK at the plate. Ka'ai Tom also had two hits and drove in a run.
Kentucky took three of five games from Florida this season, including a 4-2 win on Wednesday in the double-elimination bracket. UK outscored the Gators 45-28 on the season, but fell two runs short of advancing to the title game.
The Cats will now await their NCAA Tournament seeding. The field will be announced on Monday at Noon on ESPNU. Perfect Game projects UK as a 2 or 3 seed in the Bloomington/Indiana regional.


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Art meets function today as we get a look at a Special Edition Retro VW Fridge. This eye-catching, retro-inspired fridge features a functional design in an artistic construction that...
Real & Rare! The Friends & Family KAWS x Air Jordan 4
Living Your Life! Volcom & Fat Tony Launch #ThisFirst
Back in the beginning of Spring, the eye-catching KAWS x Air Jordan 4 hit the shelves. The kicks didn't last long and were released in limited numbers. Well today...
Step It Up! The Luxe New Accessories Capsule Collection From CLOT & Jam Home
The 'X' Is Back! The adidas Originals Tubular X Primeknit Pack
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Cairo 2050
The Egyptian government is undertaking a broad plan to reimagine Cairo. The plan would redistribute the city's people and shuffle its industries to the outskirts of town. Some there see the plan as too much of a change.
Bikya Masr
Celebrate where you came from or where you're going with city t-shirts, jewelry, and neckwear.


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nuancenoun [ C ]uk /ˈnjuː.ɑːns/ us /ˈnuː.ɑːns/
› a very slight difference in appearance, meaning, sound, etc.:
The painter has managed to capture every nuance of the woman's expression.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
(Definition of "nuance" from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)
(Definition of "nuance" from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
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lend a helping hand
to help someone


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J 217, Midc Tarapur , Near Tata Steel, Boisar, Maharashtra 401501
Locate a Mahindra Ssangyong Dealership in Boisar. CarDekho.com makes it easy to find authorized Mahindra Ssangyong dealerships and showrooms in Boisar. Locate over 1Mahindra Ssangyong Dealers in Boisar. We aim to provide you with all important contact details about the Mahindra Ssangyong car dealers in Boisar at your convenience. Details of which are listed above:
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Adoptive transfer of T cells with engineered T-cell receptor (TCR) genes that target tumor-specific antigens can mediate cancer regression. Accumulating evidence suggests that the clinical success of many immunotherapies is mediated by T cells targeting mutated neoantigens unique to the patient. We hypothesized that the most frequent TCR clonotypes infiltrating the tumor were reactive against tumor antigens. To test this hypothesis, we developed a multistep strategy that involved TCRB deep sequencing of the CD8+PD-1+ T-cell subset, matching of TCRA–TCRB pairs by pairSEQ and single-cell RT-PCR, followed by testing of the TCRs for tumor-antigen specificity. Analysis of 12 fresh metastatic melanomas revealed that in 11 samples, up to 5 tumor-reactive TCRs were present in the 5 most frequently occurring clonotypes, which included reactivity against neoantigens. These data show the feasibility of developing a rapid, personalized TCR-gene therapy approach that targets the unique set of antigens presented by the autologous tumor without the need to identify their immunologic reactivity. Cancer Immunol Res; 4(9); 734–43. ©2016 AACR.
Note: Supplementary data for this article are available at Cancer Immunology Research Online (http://cancerimmunolres.aacrjournals.org/).
- Received January 6, 2016.
- Revision received May 25, 2016.
- Accepted May 27, 2016.
- ©2016 American Association for Cancer Research.
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My hair is pretty finicky about what I put in it, and this stuff is a Godsend. I have constantly color treated hair and with this stuff it's always soft, shiny, and healthy. You can normally always find it on sale at a hair salon, and they come in a combo pack together. Unlike some horrifically 'fragrant' hair care products, this one is subtle, and pleasant. The day they stop making it, I'll probably shave my head so I never have to wash my hair again.
These reviews are the subjective opinions of ChickAdvisor members and not of ChickAdvisor Inc.


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The Leaders in Cheap Gold Coast Removals:
Cheap Removalists Gold Coast – Cheap Moves Cheap Removals Gold Coast is the leader in low cost, high quality furniture for Cheap Gold Coast Removals. From a mini move to a large house we provide unbeatable value for money. We can move you from suburb to suburb or across the country, all with the peace of mind of our 'Australian Removal Quality System' and our 'One Truck One Trip Guarantee'. We challenge you to find a better value furniture Removalist company anywhere on the Gold Coast! Have a look in our Moving Secrets Page and understand how the Gold Coast Removal work your are contracting can be optimised guaranteeing you peace of mind. Call Cheap Moves Gold Coast Removalists now and get a quote


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How much do US Army employees make in Fort Stewart, GA? Glassdoor has salaries, wages, tips, bonuses, and hourly pay submitted anonymously by 208 US Army employees in Fort Stewart, GA.
"While Active Duty, it might take a "hot minute" for a service member to be seen for something other than an exposed bone."
"Excelent opportunities to take time off. As long as it doesnt interfere with the mission. Federal holidays are sacred."
"What other place in the world can one retirement within 20 years of working for the same organization. If joining at the age of 17, one can retire at..."
US Army Salaries by Location
Check out the latest US Army Jobs & Careers


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Very strong chopping blocks and chopping blocks of butchers-XXLhoreca It is the workbench for any professional chef, the chopping block or so to the "butcher-chopping block. With chopping blocks Hendi and Diamond ensures that you prepare food on a strong and stable surface. And even if you do not want equal boning quite a few kilos of meat, also for private, these butchers chopping blocks and chopping blocks-compact, stable and durable. You will find XXLhoreca chopping blocks in beech, acacia as well as whole scratch-resistant plastics such as polyethylene.
Meat-chopping blocks and chopping blocks for preparation of meat and vegetables For each height XXLhoreca does have a handy chopping block for you in the assortment. Some chopping blocks have a strong stainless steel frame so that they can take many years. Moreover, our butchers-chopping blocks are sometimes an adjustable foot, so you can adapt them at your own height or counter height. These include chopping blocks are used in the meat processing industry and professional butchers. There are a number of technical requirements which must have a butcher's chopping block. Not least the chopping block must withstand considerable impact forces; exceptional wear resistance and scratch resistance of a butcher's chopping block, or chopping block can only be achieved through the application of high-grade wood and plastics. In XXLhoreca choose from a wide range of chopping blocks and butchers-chopping blocks. We also have separate chopping blocks, which you can attach to a surface. Some chopping blocks and slagershakblokken of XXLhoreca have a warranty of no less than 2 years. Select your chopping block or butcher chopping block and get the item within 48 hours already.
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ALL color Senior Portraits for the Class of 2018 must be submitted to the yearbook staff no later than October 1st, 2017. Any portrait submitted after this date may not be included in the 2018 yearbook, instead, your child's ID photo will automatically be used. Digital images are HIGHLY preferred.
Important school bus transportation news for the 2017-2018 school year! Application period is now open. Deadline is May 1, 2017.
July 12, 26 and August 9, 23 Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Location Middle School Library
Read updates from the principal's desk.
The June newsletter is now available.
Read the weekly memo to the HHS students!
Have a safe Summer!
Junior Parking applications are now being accepted for a lottery. You must have a license by July 1st to particpate in the lottery. Applications are due by Friday, May 26th. They are available by the check in booth and with Office Powers.
Thirteen Reasons Why: Some Points To Consider
"Thirteen Reasons Why" is a very popular Netflix series that teens are watching across the country presently. The series is about a teenage girl who dies by suicide after leaving tape recordings for the thirteen people in her life who hurt her. The show addresses some very serious issues such as bullying, sexual assault, substance abuse, and depression, as well as suicide - topics that may be triggers for fragile or vulnerable teens. We encourage you to have an open dialogue with your teen about the series. Please open the link above to read more.
Principal Evan Bishop is pleased to announce that 15 HHS students were named National Merit Scholarship Commended. These students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2016 competition by taking the 2014 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). They are: William Allen, Jacqueline Barnes, Madison Calkins, Samuel Danaceu, Jennifer DePatie, Victoria Feng, Madeleine Francis, Lydia Frankin, Evan Goldstein, Tiffany Hou, John McAuliffe, Brianna Mirabile, Kyra Moed, Rishabh Shadra, and Chris Zarba. Congratuations!!


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The Apple community is buzzing today over a report from 9-to-5 Mac that the iPhone and iPad maker will be holding its first public open beta for iOS next month.
This would be Apple's latest effort to do away with buggy releases for its mobile operating system. Early adopters of iOS 8 ran into various troubles, as did those early to download the first updates to that OS.
A public beta of iOS 8.3, reportedly open to no more than 100,00 Apple Seed testing program participants (you can sign up for Apple Seed here to try to get a shot at testing iOS), would be a follow-on to a similar effort by Apple last year with Mac OS X Yosemite. The new version of iOS will include support for Wireless CarPlay, improved Siri voice capabilities and more. A new streaming music service from Apple is expected to be supported in iOS 8.4.
Apple is also expected to hold public betas for iOS 9 later this year, according to 9-to-5 Mac.
RELATED: iOS 8.1.2 addresses disappearing ringtone mystery | iOS 8.1.3 won't suck up your storage


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Newcastle have agreed a £5million deal for MK Dons wonder Dele Alli.
Alli, 18, will return to MK Dons on loan for the rest of the season as part of the deal for the England under-19 international.
Liverpool were also keen on goalscoring midfielder Alli but Newcastle have won the race and he will be a Premier League player from next season.
It represents a change in policy for Newcastle as they have moved away from foreign - and particularly French signings - to home grown talent.
They have already done similar loan back deals for Nottingham Forest pair Karl Darlow and Jamaal Lascelles who will move to the North East this summer.
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Rice Virtual Lab to see how a biased coin may disrupt normalcy. Try several variations with different values of p to form a skewed distribution.
See Attachment for full description. DE#4. In RES 341 we flipped coins to learn some features and facts about probabilities. We flipped over 9,000 coins with each student flipping about 30 and the combined team had about 3,000 and three teams brought it up to 9,000. We discovered that the distribution tended to become norma