Tech for Learning Initiative: Overview

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Student at computer
  • How can we maximize educational technology to more effectively support teaching and learning?
  • How can we make learning more student-centered, while still helping educators balance their roles as leaders?
  • What does meaningful 21st century learning look like?

If you’ve asked these questions, or others about how to get the most out of technology in the classroom, the Tech for Learning Initiative is for you!

The Jewish Education Project is inviting teams of educators from Tri-State area middle and high schools to join us for a 3 day Summer Institute. Through the Tech for Learning Initiative, supported by the Jim Joseph Foundation, school teams will work and learn together over several days in August. We will identify key challenges and opportunities that drive technology use, and the processes to implement educational technology that helps address them. We will also explore pedagogic approaches and theories behind integrating technology with learning. We’ll learn from each other and from leading experts in the field, and each team will create a plan for piloting new technology projects in their school. After completing the Summer Institute, schools will be eligible to submit applications for microgrants of up to $5,000 to help put their plans into action.

If selected to receive a microgrant, each school will participate in a year-long project. In addition to a special mid-year all day workshop, schools will receive six coaching sessions from The Jewish Education Project between November and May, including a site visit to your school. Coaching sessions will be available to your team leader and/or individual teachers who attended the Summer Institute.

  • When: Monday, August 14 to Wednesday, August 16, 2017 
  • Where: The Jewish Education Project, 520 8th Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, NY
  • Who: All members of schools teams are required to attend all Summer Institute sessions.

The Summer Institute will include a mix of keynotes from experts from the field, guided and facilitated workshops, case study discussions, and time for school teams to collaborate and make solid plans for next year. School teams will also support each other in expanding their thinking and experimenting with new ideas and resources. Each step of the Institute will be carefully scaffolded so that upon reaching its conclusion, each school team will have a clear picture of how educational technology can enhance learning in their school.

After Completing the Summer Institute:

  • Participating schools will be well versed in the potential educational technology resources available to them.

  • Participants will be familiar with the most current advances and best practices in educational technology implementation.

  • Participants will be familiar with pedagogical theories behind implementing educational technology.

  • Educational technology directors and teachers from their respective schools will have established and strengthened supportive, productive working relationships.

  • Participating school teams will have pinpointed the challenges and opportunities that have the potential to be addressed by implementing educational technology.

  • Each participating school team will have worked together to establish pilot plans for implementing educational technology on the classroom level beginning in Fall 2017 and continuing throughout the school year.

  • Participants will have gained confidence and comfort in working with educational technologies.

Who Should Apply:

  • The Tech for Learning Initiative is open to middle and high school educators from Jewish day schools in the Tri-State area.

  • Each school must have a team of 3-4 staff that includes the school’s Educational Technology Director or Coordinator or a teacher leader/administrator with those responsibilities.

  • Participation in the Summer Institute is required in order to apply for a microgrant, but does not guarantee that a school will receive one. There will be up to 10 microgrants awarded

Applications for the Summer Institute are now closed.