A Middle School English Teacher;

As I consider the past 9 months, I realize the transformation I’ve undergone.  I cannot define my role as an agent of change without first looking at where I began.  When I applied to the Maryland Technology Academy I probably had less experience with technology than any other applicant.  That, however, did not deter me.  I certainly had an eagerness to learn all that I could and an acceptance of every opportunity that presented itself. . .Personally, I have become more of a risk taker. My experience in the Academy provided a wonderful confidence booster.  My own comfort with and use of technology have increased tremendously. . . The Maryland Technology Academy 1999 was a wonderfully enriching experience for me and ultimately for the children that I touch.

A Middle School Foreign Language Teacher;

The Academy has been one of the most powerful and enlightening experiences of my post-graduate career.  The three weeks that I spent truly changed my career.  The Academy changed me in the following ways: Increased confidence, technology knowledge, presentation skills, and leadership skills. . .The Technology Integration Plan (TIP) I created was the driving force for me and my department.  It gave my department a technological edge that the rest of the school did not have.  I created two WebQuests for students to research Spanish-speaking and French-speaking countries.  About 200 students utilized my sites to research countries, and numerous students completed the performance-based task of a PowerPoint presentation.

My technology knowledge has greatly increased due to the Academy.  I now feel very confident in integrating technology into my class and helping other teachers. . .My increased knowledge has also fostered a dramatic increase in my confidence.  Since the Academy,  I have presented on technology in the foreign language classroom at five conferences. . . My three weeks at the Technology Academy were the best three weeks of my post-graduate career in education. I unconditionally recommend the Academy. . .

A Middle School Language Arts Teacher

Attending the Academy last summer was a blast of springtime fresh air, invigorating and reshaping my classroom practices.  For several years I had been interested in integrating technology into my classroom.  I had been practicing integration on a rather limited scale and even giving a couple of local presentations on this topic.  When I came to the Academy, I found confirmation that I was indeed on the right track in what I was trying to accomplish.  I found that I wasn’t alone either:  I met teachers who had the same vision I had, but who were so much further along the implementation trail than I was.  At the Academy I was excited by the challenges that I found and the people that I met…As a result of attending the Academy, I have re-evaluated my teaching and tried to incorporate technology into as many lessons as possible.  I have become even more aware of the enormous potential of the World Wide Web for instruction…

A High School Biology Teacher;

When I developed my instructional activity during the Academy, I had reservations about whether I could significantly increase student achievement in biology.  My concern was that our school attendance average hovered at about 60 percent.  I implemented my plan during the first biology unit, which was ecology.  I was very careful about stressing the writing process and often referred to the handout, “Tips on Answering Constructed Response Questions,” that was available on the High School Assessment MSDE website.  I posted a copy in my room, and every student kept a copy in their notebook, which they used as they answered constructed response questions.  I also reviewed with them the “Constructed Response Scoring Rubric,” so they could score their own answers after they wrote their responses.  We talked about the writing process on a daily basis, and I think that this made a difference. 

At the beginning of the semester, most students were scoring either 1 or 2 for their constructed response answers.  By the end of the semester, most students were scoring at least a 3 for their constructed response answers.  I observed a significant improvement in their writing skills.

A Kindergarten Teacher;

As a result of attending the MTA during the summer of 2000, I have gained more technological skills, a community of other professional educators that use technology via the ELC, resources and integration techniques, and insight into professional development.  I feel that the skills, knowledge, and connections in the technology community that the MTA has equipped me with has given me the skills I need to make a change in my school and county…As a result of going to the MTA I was asked to serve as the technology representative on the renovation committee for my school…I was no longer [just a] second year teacher, but I have become…the “tech coordinator.”