This document outlines a professional development program called Voices in History (VIH) that aims to improve student achievement in English Language Arts. It will do so by training teachers to effectively integrate technology into their social studies instruction. Over three years, participating teachers from 28 schools will develop strategies to address the needs of struggling English Language Learners. They will receive training to create lessons that develop writing, critical thinking, and align with standards while using technology as an instructional tool. Students will conduct research and incorporate writing into multimedia presentations using various technologies.

1. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEW YORK CITY
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO
Joel I. Klein, Chancellor
ATTEND A TWO DAY TRAINING IN
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING AND ONE The Office of Educational Technology
OPTION LISTED BELOW. Division of Assessment and Achievement Resources
CHOOSE ONE TRACK ONLY
Option A: Face-to-Face Sessions
Participants will attend six face-to-face Saturday
workshops from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Participants
will choose to receive either 3 “P” credits or train- Enhancing Education
ing rate.
Through Technology
TENTATIVE DATES: (EETT)
1/23/10, 2/27/10, 3/20/10, 5/1/10, 5/8/10, 6/5/10 Title IID funded
Voices In History
Program
Title IID Funding
September 2009–
Contact: December 2012
Option B: Pull-Out Sessions Queens Office of
Participants can attend six pull-out sessions during the Educational Technology
school day from 9:00 to 3:00 pm. NOTE: No “P” 82-01 Rockaway Boulevard
credit will be offered for this option.
Ozone Park, NY 11416
TENTATIVE DATES: Winnie Bracco
1/22/10, 2/26/10, 3/19/10, 4/20/10, 5/7/10, 6/3/10 Technology Innovation Manager
Wbracco@schools.nyc.gov
The Office of Educational
Option C: Online Course—30 hours Technology (OET) provides
“P” course. This course is designed for grant teachers innovative solutions to transform Diane Kay
who are comfortable working online and have experi- teaching, learning, and leading Community Superintendent CSD 25
ence taking online courses. Participants must be pre- through professional development
approved prior to registration and seats will be services and on site support. Dr. Philip Composto
strictly limited. NOTE: This course is offered for “P” Community Superintendent CSD 30
credit only.
STARTING DATE: Jan 22, 2010 http://www.oitqueens.com
http://oitqblogs.com

2. VOICES IN HISTORY
Voices in History (VIH) - is an intensive profes- Goal
sional development program that will focus on im-
The ultimate goal of the VIH Program is to improve
proving student achievement in ELA by integrating academic performance in ELA by enhancing teachers’
technology into the Social Studies curriculum. VIH abilities to effectively infuse technology into their
serves the goals of the Enhancing Education Through Social Studies instruction. Throughout the three-year
Technology theme, “Technology Infusion into Instruc- cycle, participants and school Inquiry Teams will
tion through Professional Development,” by empow- identify and target English Language Learners for
ering educators to engage students in interdisciplinary whom traditional instruction has failed. Teachers will  receive professional development using multi-
projects that develop writing, critical thinking, and develop strategies to address the specific needs of media tools to create lessons and videos that
problem solving skills. The VIH program aims to these students in order to fill instructional gaps and are aligned to the NYS Social Studies and Eng-
carefully monitor the results of each strategy. For lish Language Arts standards. In addition, the
train teachers to use technology as both an instruc-
each consecutive year of the program, it is proposed lessons will align to the National Educational
tional tool for the Social Studies curriculum Technology Standards for teachers and stu-
that 80% of target students will achieve at least one
and as a way to reinforce fundamental ELA year of growth on their scale score of the NYS ELA dents and the Professional Teaching Standards
skills. exam. .
 develop and strengthen their collaboration
Twenty New York City public and eight non- with other Social Studies teachers while inte-
public schools within Community School Districts 25 grating technology into instruction to advance
and 30 will be participating. These schools have been ELA skills
identified as SINI, SRAP or Corrective Action.
 incorporate the project-based learning process
Dist 25 Technology Infusion within their content area and use technology
IS185, IS189, IS237, John Bowne HS, and Flushing HS to enhance research and writing skills
Dist 30 Students will conduct research by reading literature,
IS10, PS76, PS92, PS111, PS112, PS127, PS151, IS126, IS141, historical fiction, biographies and use primary sources  collaborate within ARIS Connect and using a
IS145, IS204, IS230, William Cullen Bryant HS, Long Island around selected topics. Through the use of technol- variety of virtual community tools, such as
City HS and Newcomers HS ogy students will incorporate their non-fiction writing email, blogs, wikis, the web portal and synchro-
Non-Public Schools into multimedia presentations using graphics, audio nous communications
St. Mel, St. Kevin School, Muslim Center Elementary
files and video. Culminating projects will be collected
School, Shevach HS, El –Ber Islamic School, St. Francis of
Assisi School, Queens Lutheran School, in e-portfolios with student reflections of the project-
based learning process and their understand-
ing of the specific content.
Support
Teachers and school leaders will receive on-going
professional development — face to face and online
and in-school mentoring support. Workshops will
take place throughout the year to allow for teacher
experimentation and online collaboration using re-
cently learned content between sessions.