eChalk

= Return to projects page = =Overview=

Approximately two years ago, our School Board voiced their concerns to the Technology Director that they were dissatisfied with the then current Dover Area School District website through Edline. They stated that there were “too many clicks” to find information that they (or the community members) wanted. The navigation of the website was difficult, clunky, and not user-friendly. The technology Director then charged the Instructional Technology Coordinator, Ms. Angie McWilliams, with the task of researching different website hosting sites for school districts. Another issue that was making Edline less attractive was the increase in price. Edline had gone up to $28,000 per year.

The Instructional Technology Coordinator compared several alternatives. Wordpress, Zumu, School loop, and School wires were all examined as possible choices. E-chalk became the best alternative because of its features, the support is very good (a district can call up to 8:00 pm EST and talk to a person), it is user friendly for both those editing and the community, and it’s price was the most cost effective at about $12,000 per year. One of the best features is that it is user friendly for the teachers.

Once the decision was made, Ms. Williams began to migrate the information and formulate the links on the new district e-Chalk webpage to match those that were included on the previous Edline webpage. Around October of 2011, those who were on our LAN could access the webpage to view its contents. It was officially published to the web in November 2011. In January 2012, the district trained principals, secretaries, and a select few teachers to register, log in, and begin to create teacher webpages. The intent was that the select teachers would become trainers for other teachers in their buildings.

I was one of the teachers who was initially trained in January, so I was expected to then train other teachers on how to use the website.

=Action steps=

= = =Procedural details/documentation=
 * 1) Train teachers/ administrators in January 2012
 * 2) April- Teachers complete an initial log in and set up
 * 3) May- Teachers forward eChalk email to school accounts
 * 4) July- Create video Tutorials for how to access and use the features (announcements, discussions, events, and resources) for the group pages
 * 5) August- Create flip chart for the professional development for staff on the first day back
 * 6) August-Organize professional development for the first day back (see PLP project for more detailed explanations)
 * 7) August-Lead professional development for staff, including how to use group pages and teacher webpages.

10.Create groups of teachers for the training sessions. 11.Assign trainers to groups 12.Email trainers with group/building/room assignments 13.August 23rd- Host training session for eChalk group and teacher page development and maintenance 14.2012- beyond- Continue to support teachers in maintaining their teacher pages = = =Conclusion=
 * 1) April- Email teachers to determine a date that would be appropriate to assist in the log-in
 * 2) Meet with teachers individually as necessary because of scheduling conflicts
 * 3) Send reminder email to teachers for initial log in training
 * 4) Host initial log in training
 * 5) May- Email staff to set up meetings with individual teachers to assist in following screen shots to check that eChalk email is properly forwarding to their district account
 * 6) Meet with teachers accordingly
 * 7) July- Meet with Angie McWilliams to develop tutorials for eChalk using Captivate software purchased by the district
 * 8) August-Contact trainers through letter to notify them that they will be assisting with the training for the first day back
 * 9) Create flipchart with screen shots and links to the video tutorials on the dasdtechsupport.wikispaces.com website

Although I am not in a position to make decisions about how the eChalk roll out was completed, I have some ideas as to how I feel it would be appropriate for this type of change to occur. I have outlined a four-pronged approach below.

Four Pronged Approach:
 * Introduction and registration ** - Select three teachers from each building to participate in the eChalk official training. These teachers will train the remainder of the teachers in their buildings on how to register and give a brief introduction. This part will be completed by June 7, 2012.
 * Basic training ** - This part will be completed on August 23rd, 2012. Teachers will be broken into smaller groups and be given a lead trainer (one of the original trainees) to assist them in creating a teacher webpage and leading them through how to add content. Teachers will be expected to show this site to parents at back to school night.
 * Monthly refresher sessions- ** Monthly refresher sessions will be held during faculty meetings. These will be brief, five-minute sessions that address questions presented to the trainer prior to the meeting. The “master trainer” teachers will also make themselves available to other teachers whenever necessary to assist with the teacher websites.
 * Directive and expectations ** The administration will develop a district- wide directive for the minimum content that will be present on the website and the frequency at which this content will be updated.


 * (Parents) **
 * Pamphlet ** containing information and screenshots as to how to access vital student or class information
 * Screen cast ** on the front page of the website that describes where some of the commonly used links are located.
 * FAQ ** link in an obvious location to assist parents
 * Teacher demonstration ** to parents on back to school night on how to access their pages from the district website
 * Email distribution list ** of the parents who will access the website for class information

I am going to continue to be responsible for assisting all teachers in my school with the development and continued implementation and maintenance of their groups and teacher webpages. Throughout the course of the district’s relationship with eChalk I will be an “expert” to use as a reference in my school.