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"To achieve a 25 percent
penetration rate in U.S. homes, it took 35 years for the telephone,
26 yearsfor television, 16 years for personal computers, seven
years for the Internet, and three years for personal digital assistants
(PDAs)."
Willard R. Daggett,
Ed.D.
"My fear is that
our
schools are so focused on today’s battles - teaching to
the tests - that our students are not receiving the education
they need for the world in which they will live."
Willard R. Daggett,
Ed.D.
"The U.S. fared poorly
overall, coming in 21st among 29 member countries in math and
24th in problem solving, with an overall average of 483 (versus
the survey average of 500).
This study supports what we have been finding for over a decade:
U.S. curriculums need to focus more on application and relevance,
not just academic rigor, so our students are prepared to compete
in tomorrow's global workplace."
Cox News Service
Dec. 7, 2004
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eChalk Information
 In
an effort to help teachers meet curriculum standards related to
electronic communication and to encourage more contact with parents
and the community, The Charleston County School District provides
eChalk for use in the schools. Each school has an eChalk Web site
with a school and district calendar, publishing tools, announcements,
and a faculty and staff directory. All students, teachers, and
administrators have personal eChalk email accounts, online file
and bookmark storage, and personal web pages. In addition, teachers
are able to post homework and class events online for students
and parents.
- Schools can easily create up-to-date, professional-looking
web sites that inform the community about school events and
successes.
- Teachers can involve parents in a productive and ongoing way
in students' academic work.
- Students can learn and use current technology skills such
as email, file sharing, and online discussion.
EChalk is an excellent tool for communication as well as classroom
technology integration. Teachers can teach writing and collaboration
through e-mail activities, post WebQuests and other online projects
on class pages, and post other documents to help students who
missed classroom instruction.
Administrator Recommendations
- Establish an eChalk site manager for the school by the first
day of school each year.
- Establish a team to support the site manager by the first
day of school each year.
- Ensure that the school eChalk web site is current and professional
in appearance.
- Site message should be updated at least once per quarter.
- School calendar should be maintained with major events
cited at least one month in advance.
- Resources should be educationally sound and all links
active.
- Ensure that parents, students and teachers have agreed to
the Acceptable Use Policy.
- Establish and enforce a discipline plan for inappropriate
use.
- Ensure that teachers maintain their class pages as outlined
in the Teacher Responsibility section.
Site Manager Recommendations
- Complete parts one and two of the Site Manager walk-through
with an eChalk Community Manager (by telephone at 1-800-499-2741).
- Participate in Site Manager Refresher trainings when offered.
- Coordinate the maintenance of the eChalk school site as outlined
above.
- The school eChalk web site should be current and professional
in appearance.
- Site message should be updated at least once per quarter.
- School calendar should be maintained with major events
cited at least one month in advance.
- Resources should be educationally sound and all links
active.
- Read and respond to e-mail at least once per day.
- Promptly address any reports of misuse and follow the appropriate
discipline plan steps.
- Coordinate faculty eChalk training and provide ongoing support.
- Coordinate the administration of user accounts and establish
policy for passwords.
- Coordinate with administration to establish and enforce a
discipline plan for inappropriate use.
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