Current Happenings
Microsoft Settlement Deadline Draws Near
Please remember that the last day to submit your Microsoft Settlement Vouchers is March 12, 2009. Suzanne Griffin and Camp Price, our state MS Settlement consultants, indicate that they need the information for approval purposes no later than 45 days prior to March 12, 2009. You can find more information on how to complete the process, as well as contact information for the NC MS Settlement Consultants at the NC Microsoft Settlement Website.
New Plagiarism Site Launched
Plagiarism is a persistent problem in today's society. As a means of providing guidelines for teaching students how to avoid plagiarism and for handling a student's suspected claim of authorship or creation of an assignment, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) has developed a plagiarism web site . This site is designed to support K-12 instruction in all curriculum areas and the North Carolina Graduation Project. The site provides resources for students, teachers, and parents.
Neill Kimrey, New Instructional Technology Section Chief
October 13, 2008 Neill Kimrey became the new section chief for the Instructional Technology Section. Neill comes to the Department of Public Instruction from a Stanly County where he served as the District Chief Technology Officer. He brings to the agency a vision of leadership for both instructional and infrastructure use of media and technology. Please welcome him to this new position when you see him at DPI, as well as the Instructional Technology sessions at our three state media and technology conferences: NCSLMA, NCETC, and NC TIES.
Neill's contact information:
- Email - nkimrey@dpi.state.nc.us
- Phone - (919) 807-3270
2009-2013 Technology Plan Update
As the deadline for new School District and Charter School Technology plans draws near, required for approval is the submission of paper copies and one copy on a CDR of the new plan. These documents and media are due in the Instructional Technology office by 5:00 on November 3, 2008. Plans will be reviewed in the order that they arrive.
Digital copies of the new plan may be posted on a district or charter web site but the link should not be public until after the plan has been approved by the State Board of Education. As a reminder, for security purposes the network diagram portion of the technology plan should be removed from the document posted on the web.
Approval of these new plans will enable school districts and charter schools to participate in both state and federal funding for technology including E-Rate, Connectivity and State Technology Funds for the 2009-2010 academic year. If you have questions about or need assistance with your new technology plan, please contact Neill Kimrey, Section Chief.
Technology Award Applications
Would you like to honor the leaders in your district who plan and implement instructional technology? Do you want to recognize individuals who have modeled the role of teacher, technology facilitator, and administrator in the successful implementation of technology in school and district-wide education programs?
This is your opportunity to nominate educators in your district for the 20th Annual NC Technology Educator Awards!
The purpose of the Technology Educator Award is to recognize individuals who have provided outstanding leadership in planning and implementing instructional technology into the ongoing school program. Awards will be made for administrators and teachers.
Please visit http://www.ncwiseowl.org/it/educatoraward/ for additional information and a nomination form.
All nominations must be received by 5:00 p.m. on November 11, 2008 and will be awarded at the NCETC Luncheon on December 4, 2008.
E-mail completed nomination forms to:
Cathy Mathews
cmathews@dpi.state.nc.us
Instructional Technology Joins Forces with K-12 CIT
The reorganization in process at DPI has created a new "home" for Instructional Technology. Instructional Technology is a new section in the Division of K-12 Curriculum, Instruction and Technology. Dr. Cindy Williamson is the Director. The new Instructional Technology Section was created by merger of the former Educational Technology Implementation and Planning (ETIPS) and the Resources Development and Evaluation (RD&E) Sections.
AMTR Open Year Round
The Annual Media and Technology Report (AMTR) system is open year round. On June 30th of each year, data will be pulled down for the School Report Card. If you have any questions about the AMTR, please contact Melanie Honeycutt at mhoneycutt@dpi.state.nc.us
Challenged Materials Process
In response to requests for assistance with challenged materials, Instructional Technology staff developed a document, Meeting the Challenge, that outlines a process for response. Meeting the Challenge-Tips for Principals provides simple instructions in a step-by-step process. For additional information you may contact, Gerry Solomon by email at gsolomon@dpi.state.nc.us.
NCDPI and Qualcom Partner with Schools and Smartphones
On February 4, 2008, Dr. June St. Clair Atkinson, North Carolina State Superintendent, Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC), Tim Magner, Director of the Office of Education Technology for the US Department of Education, and Dr. Irwin M. Jacobs, Chairman and Founder of Qualcomm kicked off the Project K-nect program in Jacksonville, NC. Over 100 Smartphones were distributed to 9th grade Algebra I students in Onslow, Durham, and Winston-Salem/Forsyth Schools to measure their achievement in using these tools for advanced purposes. See the NC DPI K-nect page for pictures and more information.
