Saving money while increasing the effectiveness of school technology investments was the recurring theme discussed by the school superintendents, technology directors, and instructional coordinators who gathered at the eSchool News "Best Practices in School Technology" conference in Vienna, Va., Oct. 7-9.

During perceptive presentations, educators heard best-practice stories from their peers, experts, and corporate solution providers about how best to train teachers, increase technology use in the classroom, and budget for technology initiatives.

Attendees also shared strategies for cutting technology costs, increasing school safety and security, and improving relations with stakeholders.

The conference—which was sponsored in part by Aladdin, AMD, bigchalk, Gedanken Experiments, NetSchools, and SurfControl—also featured a special presentation on what schools need to know about the Children's Internet Protection Act. (For more details, see the "CIPA Survival Guide" on the eSchool News web site—link below.)

Professional development

Now that a majority of schools have computers and internet access in each classroom, school administrators are challenged with getting teachers to use the technology in their instruction. Attendees heard professional development strategies ranging from technology mentors and off-site visits to summer institutes and online workshops.

At the Klein Independent School District in Texas, teachers train each other through a mentoring program called Technology Integration Mentor.

The district pays teachers a $1,750 stipend to be a mentor, said Ann McMullan, Klein's instructional technology director. Each mentor serves as a lifelong learner, a teacher of students and teachers, a technology advocate, and a curriculum team leader.

"Professional development becomes part of every day," McMullan said, as teachers can turn to a mentor in their own building for help, support, and encouragement.

Heidi Clevenger-Blair, digital media coordinator for the Deer Valley Unified School District in Phoenix, said her district holds two-hour, face-to-face workshops in the mornings and afternoons to accommodate teachers' busy schedules.

"We usually have three times the attendance in the morning than we do in the afternoon," Clevenger-Blair said. As part of the training, teachers have to travel off site and look at how other classrooms and schools operate.

Clevenger-Blair also said she forms user groups—like a Palm user group—so the district's users of specialized technology can get together and share software and tips.

Charlie Garten, executive director of the Poway Unified School District outside of San Diego, recommends that school districts spend at least 30 percent of their technology budgets on staff development.

Besides traditional professional development sessions throughout the year, Poway teachers attend summer institutes to sharpen their technology skills. Then, these teachers share what they learned with at least six other people.