Where do your prospective students get their info?

You could call it online identity management, online reputation management or social media optimization.

Whatever you call it the question is "Do you frequently go online to check out how your students might be researching you?" If you are not, it is time to start!

This morning I found a new website called campusexplorer.com. Their about us page boast that they have more than 6,000 schools in their database. With a quick search you can find numerous Oklahoma technology centers.

The technology center listings include name, physical address, Web address and a short description that is said to be provided by the technology center. Most have no pictures and very little information about what happens on campus.

Here is a well developed example from Oklahoma State.

If you want to update your listing, or make it complete, you can contact them here.

Web Alignment Tool

This past week I spent with Dr. Ann Benson participating in a Technology Centers That Work Technical Assistance Visit. TCTW is a program of SREB. Currently, Oklahoma's TCTW initiative includes 12 technology center districts participating in this initiative with that number expected to grow.

I have to preface that the experience was invaluable and will translate nicely to the Tech Prep Review and Improvement Process that will begin later this month.

During our classroom observation time we were given a Web Alignment Tool, a product of the Wisconsin Center for Education Research.

The tool gives 4 areas in which to observe classroom questions and asses at which level the instructor is engaged the students. The levels get into recall, skill & concept, strategic thinking, and extended thinking.

It helps guide your observation be letting you plot what types of verbs the instructor is using. Are they asking who, what, when, where and why questions (Level !: Recall) or are they asking students to analyze and synthesize (Level 4: Extended Thinking)

It's a great tool to use and share.

Professional Development

Professional development can take many forms.

Some professional development happens in house, with local trainers working toward local objectives. Some takes place at a state or national level with facilitators who are experts in their fields and there are many other ways in between.

What ever the case may be, in order for the professional development to be effective, it must be systematic and part of a professional development plan.

What is your consortium's professional development plan? How does it fit in with your technology center's professional development plan? When Tech Prep works alone, it becomes ineffective. When we provide one shot professional development the impact of our dollars lessens and our ability to be change agents is diminished.

The professional development provided through Tech Prep should be part of a systematic plan for professional development. The activities that we carry out should compliment the aims and goals of the consortium while working with the objective of the technology center and primary partner.

Are you holding Alliance meetings with your primary partners? If not, is this a case for professional development? Why are the meetings not happening? Is it a lack of understanding of interest? Is it a lack of understanding the Alliances? Is there an opportunity for professional development that will help move the consortium forward?

We are working on the Oklahoma Tech Prep Professional Development Sourcebook. This book will serve as a resource for Tech Prep Coordinators on putting together professional development, activities that work and best practices. There are some ideas already posted online in our professional development section of the Tech Prep Web site.

Are you being a change agent? What is your professional development plan?

Diversity: Journey to Leadership

On Thursday, April 23 at Moore Norman Technology Center CareerTech educators will have the opportunity to attend the 7th annual OAMCTE Leadership Conference.

Featured speaker will be Astronaut John Herrington. Astronaut Herrington is the first Native American to walk in space!

Tentative Concurrent Sessions include

• The Intergenerational Dilemma
• Current Trends in Drug Abuse
• Latino Community Development
  
• Diversity in the Healthcare Workforce and more...

The conference runs from 8am to 3pm. Registration is $75 and includes a continential breakfesat and lunch. For information and to register, contact Cynthia Vick at cvick@okcareertech.org or Linda Houck at lhouc@okcareertech.org Pre-registration is due April 17.

For more information about the Oklahoma Association for Minorities in Career and Technology Education visit their Web site at http://oamcte.org/