This post was contributed by Annette Jones, NCEA Assistant Director of Leadership Development.
The 2016 NCEA New Directions STREAM 2.0 Symposium launched an exciting discussion about technology in education! As part of the program, Greg Dhuyvetter, superintendent of Diocese of Orange, CA, delivered an inspirational keynote address to the 235 energetic attendees.
Mr. Dhuyvetter stated, “STREAM is the most important educational initiative that we have going on in our schools.” He suggested that schools create a SOAR team which is responsible for the effective development and aggressive on-going progress of a STREAM program. The small or large team should determine the vision of the lab.
Per his recommendation, the SOAR Team should include the following five components:
Setting the Bar
- Focus on the current year.
- “If you don’t know where you are going, you won’t know if you get there. Getting there is not about having a lab. We exist for student learning. Who will be involved? What programs and activities are/will be done with a curricular tie-in? Share the plan so all know!”
Organization
- Focus on the issues of money, time and space.
- “Monitor the current budget and create a budget for the coming year. Technology is an ongoing bill- not a one-time thing. Develop a maintenance plan and create a rotation schedule for equipment and facility.”
Assessing Progress
- Focus on achieving goals.
- “Gather usage data, meaning when, who, and how space is used. Gather data on student progress toward achieving goals.”
Resetting the Bar
- Focus on short and long term development.
- “Examine best practices. Recommend new equipment annually. Every year something new is going on!”
Remembering Whom we Serve
- Focus on the students.
- “How does this program support our dual mission of Catholic identity and real student progress?”
Thank you, Mr. Dhuyvetter, for sharing your expertise in technology with Catholic educators and leaders.
For additional information about this presentation, Greg Dhuyvetter can be reached at [email protected].
Greg Dhuyvetter has been involved in educational technology for over 20 years. He has spoken across the country and was the keynote speaker at the 2014 NCEA New Directions STREAM Symposium. He was awarded the Lead. Learn. Proclaim. Award for Superintendents from NCEA in 2016.
