Our Result(s):

Student Technology Curriculum
Within the schools, students in grades kindergarten through 8 participate in a rigorous technology curriculum. The 8th grade standards call for students to be able to use a PC or Mac and necessary periferrals for word processing, data analysis, communication, research (Web or CD sources), and publication. Further, 8th graders are expected to trouble shoot and repair typical problems that arise with software or hardware.

Artifact: District Launches new learning program

SABID, Students Against Bad Internet Design  
The ultimate goal of SABID is to make Pekin a better place on-line by helping organizations in the Pekin area develop high quality web sites. LC2000 staff organized, trained, and supervised SABID's high school students who performed one or more of the following services: develop a first-time web site, update and remodel an existing site, perform a site audit, and/or train organizational staff to maintain a web site. Organizations received the service free of charge. Students were paid $6.00 per hour from LC2000 grant funds.

Student Tech Clubs
District 108 established after school tech clubs that enhanced students web publishing skills.

Artifact #1:http://www.pekin.net/pekin108/archive/97/december/webtraining/webmaster.html

Artifact #2:http://www.pekin.net/pekin108/archive/photos/webcamp/index.html

Artifact #3:http://www.pekin.net/pekin108/archive/98/august/webdesign/index.html

Community Classes
3 times a year, LC2000 offers both free and low-cost community classes to the general public

Pilot Program
Each cohort of "pilot teachers" completes a 4-year process in which they learn in successive years 1) personal productivity tools, 2) one-computer classroom, 3) Teaching and Learning with Computers (flexible grouping with 5 networked workstations in the classroom), and 4) Mentoring.

Technology Academy  
The purpose of LC2000's “Technology Academy” is to provide teachers with technology skills, tools, and strategies that help them prepare learners for the twenty-first century. Three times a year the district offers free voluntary technology classes that take place off contract hours. A variety of classes are offered and all instructors are District 108 staff. Both instructors and pupils receive incentives. A formula negotiated with the teachers' association allowed them to apply Tech Academy courses toward advancement on the salary schedule.

Teacher Research and Development Fellowships  
The District offered fellowships to certified staff during the period from January 1999 through June 2000 as an opportunity for instructional pioneers to explore new instructional practices, methodologies and or technologies to enhance teaching and learning. The fellows" research and development work will pave the way for future full teacher implementation. The fellowship provided a stipend for project time outside the regular school day and during the summer

Summer Technology Camps  
To provide teachers with authentic professional learning opportunities, LC2000 conducted four summer technology camps for kids in June and August of 1997 and 1998. Over 70 teaching teams designed 26 week-long instructional units, taught them to 15-35 students, and used that experience to refine their instructional plans and materials. To design their units, teachers researched content, learned to use the necessary software and hardware needs, and created lesson plans and materials. Each teaching team created two unit kits--one for themselves and one for checkout through the LC2000 Tech Center. Each team also submitted a reflective journal about what they learned from the summer experience and from the first classroom use of the unit.

School Webmasters  
In each school, LC2000 identifies and pays one teacher to act as the Webmaster. The Webmaster is responsible for creating and maintaining the school's homepage within Pekin.net, training other teachers to use IBM's "Learning Village" homepage software to create and maintain a classroom homepage, and sponsoring a Student Webmaster Club. School Webmasters receive extensive training, including theory and practice of Web design, Web-based marketing, HTML, Adobe Photoshop, and various graphics tools.

Internet Driver's License Online Tutorial and Test  
The Internet Driver"s License Tutorial gets teachers started using the Internet. This tutorial, which is part of the Internet Driver's License program, is designed to get teachers online while they learn the skills to drive the information superhighway. Teachers must successfully complete all the steps and pass the Internet Driving Test to earn the privilege of accessing the Internet at Pekin District 108.

SAI Online Tutorial  
LC2000 maintains an on-line tutorial to help teachers and parents understand the full literacy program, Standards-Assessment-Instruction (SAI). The tutorial follows a middle school student through the content and activities of the SAI cycles. Contextual links explain SAI's goals and design, procedures, materials, and also provide sample student work products.