Technology Solutions
Educational Technology Integration

Educational Technology Training & Follow-Up
EASTCONN personnel train and coach educational personnel to integrate technology tools into the classroom curriculum. Training addresses the CT Teacher Technology Competencies’ four broad areas:
▪ Educational Technology Concepts and Operations;
▪ Creating Learning Experiences;
▪ Productivity and Professional Practice; and
▪ Social, Legal, Ethical and Human Issues.

Training is held on-site at workplace locations using your equipment or our portable lab, or at EASTCONN facilities. EASTCONN’s training lab has state-of-the-art technology. Training ranges from one or more days and can be customized into a half-day series. Trainers can provide evening and weekend sessions to meet customer needs. Training is designed so that participants leave with the ability to begin using technology with students in the classroom.

eSchool Builder
eSchool Builder is the first and only course management system developed by K-12 educators for K-12 educators. It's a powerful browser-based online course management system. The customizable tool makes it possible for anyone to create, edit, and maintain course Web sites with no background in Web programming. eSchool Builder also contains an additional dynamic Web application that allows schools to create and manage an online course catalog and registration system. [eSchool Builder site]

Benefits:

• Facilitate teacher technology integration

• Establish an online presence

• Expand educational opportunities

• Enhance communication

• Spend less time on tech support

• Save money

TaskStream
TaskStream's Web-based tools enable educators to design lessons and units, map and track Connecticut standards, create rubrics, develop electronic portfolios, and compile and distribute shared curriculum resources. Interactive templates allow educators to incorporate easily accessible standards and assessment rubrics as well as attach links and documents to their learning activities. Educators can collaborate on lessons and units to create shared online curriculum libraries.

Benefits: 

• Easily embed Connecticut Standards into units and lessons
• Collaborate with teachers on lesson and unit development

Contact:  Jim Huggins
EASTCONN Windham Mills, Bldg. 1, 322 Main St., Willimantic, CT  06226
8860-455-0707;  FAX: 860-456-7845
Voice Mail:  860-455-0029, box 3054
jhuggins@eastconn.org

Technology / Curriculum Development & Integration
EASTCONN personnel work with educators to ensure that technology is integrated across the curriculum as a tool for teaching and learning. Technology curriculum integration can consist of:

• Modeling the use of technology by doing demonstration lessons in classrooms for students with teachers observing.
• Providing peer coaching to individuals or small groups of educators who wish to integrate technology at specific grade levels or within particular content areas.
• Team teaching lessons with teacher in the classrooms or computer labs that use technology as a vehicle for learning.
• Facilitating district curriculum development committees through a curriculum revision process to ensure that current technology tools are included as resources.

Technology curriculum integration services can occur on site at workplace locations or at EASTCONN facilities. EASTCONN can quickly develop technology curriculum integration services that meet the specific needs of a particular school district. For best results, technology curriculum integration is provided as a sustained, ongoing and systematic service with EASTCONN personnel working with school staff for several weeks or months.

Benefits: 

• Teachers benefit because they are using technology effectively with their students as tools for teaching and learning. 
• Students benefit because they are using technology tools in their learning environment and being prepared for work in the "real world." 
• School districts benefit as their curriculum is revised to remain current and reflect the technology tools that are available for education.

Contact:  Jim Huggins
EASTCONN Windham Mills, Bldg. 1, 322 Main St., Willimantic, CT  06226
8860-455-0707;  FAX: 860-456-7845
Voice Mail:  860-455-0029, box 3054
jhuggins@eastconn.org

Technology Planning Support
EASTCONN provides assistance to groups seeking to plan for the effective use of educational technology. A variety of quality tools and processes are used to help groups define vision, mission, goals, objectives, activities, cost benefit analyses, and action plans. A range of facilitation support is available from one-time consultation to long-term, comprehensive facilitation of technology planning.

Benefits: Nearly 100% of LEAs which have utilized these services have been awarded SDE infrastructure grants or U.S. Department of Education Technology Literacy Challenge grant funds enabling them to increase the funding available for technology development.

Contact: Jim Huggins
EASTCONN Windham Mills, Bldg. 1, 322 Main Street, Willimantic, CT 06226
860-455-0707;  FAX: 860-456-7845
Voice Mail: 860-455-0029, box 3054
jhuggins@eastconn.org

Training in Administrative Applications of Technology
EASTCONN provides training in administrative applications which prepares participants to use technology for such workplace applications as: fiscal records management, personnel records management, student database management, scheduling, grading, etc. Training is held on-site at workplace locations using your equipment or our portable lab, or at EASTCONN facilities. EASTCONN training labs are cross-platform environments with state-of-the-art technology. Training ranges from one or more days and can be customized into a half-day series. Most training is designed so that participants leave with a product they can use.

Contact:  Jim Huggins
EASTCONN Windham Mills, Bldg. 1, 322 Main St., Willimantic, CT  06226
860-455-0707;  FAX: 860-456-7845
Voice Mail:  860-455-0029, box 3054
jhuggins@eastconn.org

Virtual High School
Virtual High School (VHS) is an international collaborative offering full semester online courses to high school students from member districts. Over 162 courses are available including a range of AP courses and offerings in Art, Business, World Languages, Language Arts, Life Skills/Health, Math, Science, Social Studies and Technology.

Benefits:

• Expand curriculum without the cost of adding onsite classes.
• Overcome scheduling challenges by offering courses anytime and anywhere.
• Access online professional development training. 
• Eliminate costs for travel and substitutes.

Contact: Heidi Van Flatern (formerly Goldsher)
EASTCONN Windham Mills, Bldg. 1, 322 Main St., Willimantic, CT  06226
860-455-0707;  FAX: 860-456-7845
Voice Mail:  860-455-0029, box 3013
hvanflatern@eastconn.org