It is now only a few months until we meet in San Diego, and I wanted to send a few notes to you. First, if you have not yet voted for our officers, and for the officers for AERA, please do so. Your vote really counts!

Second, the program is now up and available for you to browse, as long as you log in with your AERA membership number. It is worth a look to see what will be happening. One thing of note is our business meeting, with Dr. Marcia Linn of Berkeley doing our keynote and fabulous refreshments you have come to expect. The session is Monday evening, the 13th of April, and here is the information:

6:15pm to 7:45pm
Technology as an Agent of Change in Teaching and Learning SIG Business Meeting 
Building: Manchester Grand Hyatt, Room: Manchester Ballroom - Section D 

Our best paper award is now officially sanctioned by the AERA executive council, and I hope you will join me in celebrating this. We have the authors of the nominated papers almost ready to submit their papers, and now we need some volunteers to review those papers. Please, if you have just a bit of time, volunteer so we can identify the very best of the best. If you are willing, please send your name and specific information (what topics or what types of methods you feel comfortable reviewing) to Kelly Glassett at kglasset@siu.edu

Thank you for a great year and I look forward to seeing you in San Diego, and especially at our meeting on Monday evening.

Lynne Schrum

Professor/Director of Teacher Education
CEHD Robinson A 337 MSN 4B3
George Mason University, Fairfax VA 22030
703-993-4047

Marcia's books include Computers, Teachers, Peers (2000), and Internet Environments for Science Education (2004). Awards include the National Association for Research in Science Teaching Award for Lifelong Distinguished Contributions to Science Education and the Council of Scientific Society Presidents first award for Excellence in Educational Research. You can read more at: http://tels.berkeley.edu/~mclinn/

Currently, we are one of the largest SIGs and also one of the most rapidly growing ones. In just a few short years, we have had a significant impact on the program! It is very important to our growth and expansion that we continue to have your support as members, and also through the number of submissions to make presentations next year.

The deadline for SIG submissions is August 1st, but the system opens in early June.

When you submit, please also consider signing up to review proposals. We have had an excellent program due to the efforts of our program chairs, but also because you care so deeply and work hard at making the review process important; we really need your valuable expertise in helping us review our submissions. Even if you do not intend to submit a proposal, you can still go into the system and volunteer to be a reviewer. And please also encourage your colleagues who have expertise in this area to volunteer to review for SIG TACTL.

I wish you a healthy and productive summer and look forward to seeing you in San Diego next April!


Lynne Schrum, lschrum@gmu.edu
TACTL SIG President, 2008-09
]]> http://tactl.unt.edu/index.html B5B7252F-CAEE-4294-9606-9DFA4DEA1D4F-4641-000080663B8A2F4B-FFA Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:33:29 -0500 Monday, April 13 - Friday, April 17, 2009
San Diego, CA

The deadline for SIG submissions is August 1st, but the system opens in early June.

When you submit, please also consider signing up to review proposals. We have had an excellent program due to the efforts of our program chairs, but also because you care so deeply and work hard at making the review process important; we really need your valuable expertise in helping us review our submissions. Even if you do not intend to submit a proposal, you can still go into the system and volunteer to be a reviewer. And please also encourage your colleagues who have expertise in this area to volunteer to review for SIG TACTL.

Does Technology Integration "Work" When Key
Barriers Are Removed?

by Deborah Lowther - University of Memphis, Jack

Strahl - University of Memphis, Fethi Inan - Texas Tech University and
Steven Ross - University of Memphis was the recipient of the TACTL SIG PAPER
AWARD. This paper examined the effectiveness of Tennessee EdTech Launch
(TnETL), a statewide technology program designed to meet the NCLB mandate
was investigated in this mixed-methods study. The goal of the program was to
provide full-time, on-site technology coaches to prepare teachers to create
lessons that engage students in critical thinking and use of computers as
tools in order to increase learning. The study examined TnETL impact on
student achievement, teachers' skills and attitudes toward technology
integration; use of research-based practices; and students' skills in using
technology as a tool. The study involved 54 schools, 28,735 students and
1,746 teachers. Program effectiveness was measured via direct classroom
observations, surveys, student performance assessments, focus groups, and
student achievement analysis. A matched treatment-control
quasi-experimental mixed-methods research design was used. Survey results
showed that program teachers had significantly higher confidence to
integrate technology and in using technology for learning. Observation
results revealed that program as compared to control students more
frequently used computers as tools, worked in centers, and engaged in
research and project-based learning. Although the TnETL program
demonstrated progress in changing school culture to benefit students through
the use of technology, student gains on high-stakes tests were mixed. The
implications of the results are discussed relative to implementation
successes and barriers, sustainability prospects, and the observed impacts
of technology integration on teaching and student learning.
Thanks to the judges Christine Greenhow (chair), John Rice, Victoria
Giordano, Kelly Glassett and Peter Adamy for their work. The award was
presented during the TACTL business meeting during AERA.