iEvaluate courses start May 16

The Iowa Department of Education, in partnership with AEA PD Online, is now offering Evaluator 1 & 2 online, packaged together in a 2-credit course entitled iEvaluate. Because of the high demand for the courses, the Iowa Department of Education is selecting participants on the basis of need (that is, whose license is up for renewal first). This spring, they have created a waiting list for the course, and will begin to notify those who are at the top of the list on how to register. Once every person on the waiting list has had a chance to take the iEvaluate course, the course will then be available for open registration on AEA PD Online's registration catalog.

How do I know if I'm on the waiting list?
If you have not done so, or if you would like to check to make sure, please contact Matt Ludwig at the Iowa Department of Education at matt.ludwig@iowa.gov or (515) 281-3750. You will need to provide him with 1) your name, 2) your email address, 3) your license folder number, and 4) when your administrative license expires.

How many credits is the course?
The course is 2 license renewal credits. It is not available for graduate credit at this time.

How many different iEvaluate courses are there?
iEvaluate replaces both Evaluator 1 & 2, which are no longer being offered. However, there are 2 different iEvaluate courses, one for the evaluation of teachers, and one for the evaluation of administrators. Just like before, you need to complete one of those to meet the BOEE requirements for administrative licensure. Multiple sections of both courses will begin on May 16.

How long does the course take?
The course is designed to take 5-6 weeks. There is a final assignment requiring the recording of a teacher/administrator conference and reflections, and there will be additional time afforded for this final assignment.

Is the course all online? What is the format for the course?
Yes, the course is entirely online. It also is entirely asynchronous, meaning the participants won't meet at the same time (as opposed to via the ICN, for example). Participants can select when in the day to participate in the course.

What technical requirements do I need for the course?
Each participant needs a computer with Internet access. The course is accessed through AEA PD Online's Moodle system via a standard web browser. Each participant will also need access to either Microsoft Office or compatible software, as there are Microsoft Word and Power Point documents used in the course. And finally, participants will need to have the ability to record digitally their teacher/administrator conferences. There will be an online dropbox for participants to submit their digital video file. Participants needing assistance with technology may contact their instructor to find alternative methods.

What work is involved in the course?
In addition to recorded teacher/administrator conferences, there are a variety of activities in the course. There are reflection forums (discussion threads), quizzes for checks of understanding, as well as individual writing assignments.

If you have additional questions, please contact Matt Ludwig at the Iowa Department of Education at matt.ludwig@iowa.gov or (515) 281-3750.

Introducing AEA PD Online!

For the first time, all of the AEAs are putting their online courses in one place. The result is AEA PD Online, and it is up and running, available for registration.

Educators across the state have taken advantage of online courses. Online courses fit better in busy schedules, as instructors can choose when during the day it works for them to log in. They provide a 21st century learning experience, embedded with digital resources and self-directed activity, mixed with digital collaboration with classmates. And it saves on the costs of gas!

Currently the AEAs are offering summer courses on Google Apps, project-based learning, integration of web 2.0 tools, and much more. To register for courses, check out our registration system at https://prodev.aeapdonline.org. For more information, check out our website at http://www.iowaaea.org, and click on the "AEA PD Online link."

AEA PD Online Needs Instructors
Have you been interested in delivering professional development courses and teaching online? The AEAs, through their joint initiative AEA PD Online, are looking for experienced online instructors or those that are interested in learning how. We are assisting current professional development provider with modifying their face-to-face courses for an online setting and helping new instructors develop an online course.

For more information on where to start, visit our website at http://www.iowaaea.org, click on "AEA PD Online" from the left, and then select the "Instructor Toolbox" link down below. Also, feel free to contact Evan Abbey at eabbey@aea11.k12.ia.us with your questions.

Google Apps Professional Development Online

AEA PD Online is offering summer courses in the Google Apps suite. Google Apps 101 is a course that helps teachers understand how to use Google Docs, Calendars, Mail and Sites in their classrooms. This 1-credit course is held online, and participants can log in when it fits in their schedule. To register for summer courses, please see the website at https://prodev.aeapdonline.org.

Updated Special Education Procedures and Documents now Available

Please find the updated editions of the Special Education Procedures, Special Education Procedures Documentation Guide and the March 1, 2011 Release Notes. Key changes include:

• Deferring standards-based IEP requirements to July 1, 2011
• Extended Educational Decision Maker procedures
• Early Childhood Setting Code procedures that reflect December 1, 2010 Web IEP changes
• Clarification of the two IMS codes (RRC & RRT) that denote a return to general education

These documents area also posted on the Iowa IDEA website.

New Iowa AEA Online Databases for 2011-12

Iowa’s Area Education Agencies are pleased to announce the Iowa AEA Online resources for 2011-2012. These resources continue to be provided at no cost to accredited public and non-public PreK-12 schools. Heartland users will find that some past resources have changed or been replaced.

• CultureGrams is a new resource
• SIRS Issues Researcher is a new resource
• Britannica Digital Library replaces World Book
• Gale eResources replaces part of EBSCO
• DEStreaming will not be offered statewide--stay tuned for more information and options for accessing that content

The following databases have been available in the Heartland area for a couple of years, and are now available statewide:

• BookFLIX
• Teen Health & Wellness
• Soundzabound
• Atomic Learning's ATT and 21st Century Skills

Teachers will have more engaging and age-appropriate resources to integrate in their units. Students will have easy access to multimedia and etext for just-in-time learning. Parents will have homework helpers readily available. Workshops on how to integrate these resources in teaching will be offered. Promotional materials for students and parents will be available this summer.

Learn more about available online resources at http://www.aea11.k12.ia.us/library/OnlineDatabases.

Contribute to the First National Study of Social Studies Teachers

The University of Iowa Social Studies Education Program has asked Heartland AEA to help them in the first ever national study of social studies teachers. Their role in this study is to collect survey data from as many Iowa social studies teachers as possible to assess the state of social studies at this time in our history. As a result, we’ve been asked to request your help in contacting elementary teachers and secondary social studies teachers in the Heartland area.

A consent form can be found here and includes a description of the study and a link to the survey. All responses are anonymous, and the aggregate Iowa data will be made available after completion of the study. This study will not only be the first of its kind for the nation, but also the first of its kind for our state.

Please take a few moments to read the attached consent form and forward the information to appropriate teachers in your building so that they can take the survey. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Google Apps for Education Professional Development Webinar Series

Google will be offering a series of webinars on Tuesday evenings (6:30 CT) for educators. These are very similar to what the Iowa Area Education Agencies have been offering; however, unlike the Iowa AEA’s webinars, you must preregister for these webinars. The webinars will be lead by Google Apps Certified Trainers and will focus on a variety of topics. The first of these webinars will be held next Tuesday, November 9 and will cover Using Google Sites. The webinar will be lead by Andy Crozier of Grant Wood AEA. The webinar can be accessed at http://goo.gl/gEqJr.

The Iowa AEA’s webinar series will continue the following day. There have been many questions on how to transition from public accounts to Google Apps accounts and the next webinar will address those concerns. If you have questions or would like to know the proper steps of merging accounts, attend the webinar, Transitioning to Google Apps, next Wednesday, November 10. The previously scheduled webinar for November 11 on Using Gmail will be rescheduled.

If you have not already done so, please consider signing up for Iowa Teachers Google Apps User Group Listserv. The listserv is designed for teachers and administrators using Google Apps everyday with students and staff. Visit http://groups.google.com/group/IA-Teach-GApps-UserGroup to sign up and receive important updates on opportunities.

DE News: Iowa Evaluator Approval Update

During the past two years, the Evaluator Advisory Committee represented by schools, area education agencies (AEAs), colleges/universities, School Administrators of Iowa (SAI), Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB), Board of Educational Examiners (BoEE) and the Department of Education (DE) have been meeting to analyze data regarding evaluation, reading and reflecting on research, seeking best practices in evaluation that improve teaching and learning and designing Evaluator Approval Level III. As the new calendar year approaches, the DE will be unveiling Evaluator Approval Level III for those professionals who will need to renew their administrator/evaluator license and have successfully completed Evaluator Approval Level I and II prior to January 2011. At the same time, the DE will be combining Levels I and II into an online course, iEvaluate.

Evaluator Approval Level III
The training for Evaluator Approval Level III will look somewhat different than the previous training for Evaluator Approval Levels I and II. Beginning January 2012, the four credits required to renew an administrator/evaluator’s license will be completed by selecting from a menu of required modules that will enhance the skills necessary to be an effective instructional leader and evaluator. Each administrator/evaluator will successfully complete one common learning module - Assessing Academic Rigor – for two required renewal credits. The additional two credits required to renew an administrative/evaluator license will be earned by selecting from any one of the additional modules:

• Fierce Conversations (available in all AEAs)
• Increasing the Effectiveness of Leadership Teams (release date Spring 2011)
• Employee Discipline/Intensive Assistance Plans
• Developing Professional Development Plans that Impact Teaching and Learning
• Leadership Skills for Beating the Odds

Not all modules are fully developed at this time, so it is suggested that individuals watch the DE, SAI, BoEE and their respective AEA websites for more information.

NOTE: The DE does understand that some professionals have already completed two hours of credit toward this renewal and are awaiting information from the DE about future evaluator training to complete the four required renewal credits. To accommodate those individuals, the DE will allow a professional to use hours accumulated prior to December 31, 2011, plus the Assessing Academic Rigor module to meet requirements for renewal of administrator/evaluator licensure. Any hours completed after December 31, 2011, other than the required modules may not be used toward renewal.

For further information, you may download the following resources in the Administrator Connection blog:

• Evaluator Approval Level III FAQ
• Evaluator Approval Scenario Matrix
• Evaluator Approval Process

Google Apps Webinars Available for You!

Yesterday, participants logged in the AEA-sponsored live webinar covering GoogleDocs. As communicated in a past Administrator Connection, these Google App webinars are free and open to all educators in Iowa. If you were unable to attend yesterdays webinar, make sure to sign up for one of the below listservs that pertains to you. Signing up for the listserv will allow you to watch the recorded webinar.

Iowa Google Apps Group Listserv
The Iowa Google Apps Group is for tech directors, network administrators and other individuals that are deploying or managing Google Apps in their schools. Visit http://groups.google.com/group/iowa-google-apps-group

Iowa Teachers Google Apps User Group Listserv
The Iowa Teachers Google Apps User Group is designed for teachers and administrators using Google Apps everyday with students and staff. Visit http://groups.google.com/group/IA-Teach-GApps-UserGroup

Be sure to mark your calendars for the next two scheduled webinars. All live webinars will be accessible at http://iowaec.na4.acrobat.com/googleapps and do not require a pre-registration. Each webinar will begin at 3:30 p.m. on the dates below.

November 11, 2010 - Using Gmail
December 16, 2010 - Using Google Groups
(More webinars will be scheduled in 2011.)

For more information about the Google Apps webinars, contact Andy Crozier at acrozier@gwaea.org or (319) 399-6866.

SchoolDude Survivor Tour Comes to Iowa

SchoolDude is coming to Iowa on their 25-city tour, bringing you a free one day seminar focused on best practices for achieving success in educational facility and business operations. The state budget crisis continues to have a tremendous impact on your job. This may be the only opportunity you have to sharpen your survival skills for succeeding in a difficult economic environment. Due to the need, SchoolDude is bringing the tour to Iowa!

SchoolDude Survivor Tour
November 9, 2010 at Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames, Iowa
Register at http://discover.schooldude.com/forms/SurvivorTourAmesIA

This no-cost, Iowa event will feature:
• Survival Skills sessions
• Insight from peer networking and panel discussions
• Best practices and proven methods for success in tough times
• Strategies and tactics that are achieving results for your colleagues
• Expert advice in the SchoolDude Consulting Center

UNI College of Education Professional Development Webinars

The University of Northern Iowa College of Education is launching a new 2010-2011 professional webinar series for educators, Hot Topics in Education: Professional Development Webinars. These free one-hour webinars taught by faculty and staff will be offered once a month, September through May. The webinars allow educators an opportunity to learn from UNI experts in the comfort of their classroom, office or home. This year's webinars will feature popular topics such as classroom management, core standards, achievement gap, technology in the classroom, STEM education and more. Participants can choose the topics of their interest.

Do you want to learn classroom management strategies? Join the next free Hot Topics webinar, Classroom Management for the First-Year Teacher, at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2010.

For more information about these free webinars and to register for this presentation, visit www.uni.edu/coe/professional-development-webinars

IAHPERD Convention, November 19-21

The IAHPERD Convention (Iowa Association For Health, Physical Education, Recreation And Dance) will be held from November 19-21 at the Davenport West High/YMCA complex. A pre-conference workshop will take place on Friday, November 19. For more information on the convention, visit http://www.iowaahperd.org/.

Google Apps Webinars Planned for Educators

This past summer, Iowa’s Area Education Agencies announced an exciting agreement with Google to provide all K-12 schools in Iowa with free access to Google Apps for Education. Click here read the announcement.

A series of webinars for educators implementing Google Apps in all Iowa schools is planned during the 2010-2011 school year.

Sponsored by Iowa AEAs, these webinars will be distributed using two Google groups listservs. Anyone can join the following two Google groups free of charge.

The Iowa Google Apps Group is for tech directors, network administrators and other individuals that are deploying or managing Google Apps in their schools. Visit http://groups.google.com/group/iowa-google-apps-group

The Iowa Teachers Google Apps User Group is designed for teachers and administrators using Google Apps everyday with students and staff. Visit http://groups.google.com/group/IA-Teach-GApps-UserGroup

All live webinars will be accessible at http://iowaec.na4.acrobat.com/googleapps and do not require a pre-registration. Each webinar will begin at 3:30 p.m. on the dates below. The schedule of webinars through December 2010 includes the following topics:

October 21, 2010 - Using Google Docs
November 11, 2010 - Using Gmail
December 16, 2010 - Using Google Groups
(More webinars will be scheduled in 2011.)

For more information about the Google Apps webinars, contact Andy Crozier at acrozier@gwaea.org or (319) 399-6866.

State PEC Transition Conference: Great Expectations October 27-28, 2010

This outstanding conference for parents, educators, community service providers and high school students focuses on the areas of living, working and learning. National and local presenters will share insights and information through general sessions and 51 small group sessions.

James Autry and Sally Pedersen kick off the conference with The Big Transition, From Birth to Employment: A Child with Autism's Journey from Toddler to Graduation to Employment.

Many conference sessions are designed with student participation in mind, and high school students receiving services through an IEP are encouraged to attend. LeDerick Horne, a noted poet, playwright and motivational speaker will conduct sessions on his poetry and self-advocacy for students in addition to his closing keynote to the general conference.

There is no fee to attend this year due to a special grant, but registration is required. To register, go to http://www.iowa.gov/educate/calendar/calendar.html#/?i=1 and click on October 27: Secondary Transition Conference. Click here to download a complete program of the conference.