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During the summer of 2003, teachers participated in fifty hours of Intensive training through the Southern Regional ETTC. The training was part of the ETTC Intermediate Technology Certification Certificate program.
During the 2003-2004 school year, teachers participated in an additional thirty hours of Star-W training in the use of technology to help improve reading and writing skills. This training was also contracted through the ETTC, but was customized to meet the specific needs of the Atlantic City. A listing of the courses is provided here.
As is the case with most of the efforts in the MLK Jr. Star-W project, the professional development is driven by curricular needs. All professional development during the school year is being customize in response to meetings and feedback from the Star-W teachers, administrators, and Marilyn Cohen, Atlantic City Schools Supervisor of Technology.
A major part of the focus of the Star-W grant is mentorship. The mentor for the MLK Jr. Complex is Art Wolinsky. Art's an Internet pioneer who brings 30 years of teaching and 20 years of technology staff development experience to his mentorship role.He's the technology director of the Online Internet Institute, the OEO of 3DWriting, Inc., a member of the Big6 Academy, and author of the Internet Library, a six book series for students about the use of the Internet. You can view a cyber-age version of a resume by doing a Google search for his name.
There are many pieces that come together in a technology program, but regardless of how much technology you have in place, unless you have teachers who are willing to step out of their comfort zones, take a risk and grow, the technology will go to waste and without the support of the administration and enlightened technology leadership teachers are reluctant to take a chance.
All of the pieces are in place at the Martin Luther King Jr. Complex. In my 35 years of education I have seldom seen the administrative support, quality technology leadership, and top notch motivated teachers that are functioning here to make the Star-W program a success.
Art Wolinsky
Star-W Mentor
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