Office of Educational Technology

The Office of Educational Technology (OET) provides leadership and assistance to schools regarding the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) into the teaching and learning process; and also provides leadership, assistance, and guidance in the effective use of virtual, online, and distance learning.

Information is collected and disseminated on the use of Information and Communication Technologies in education, such as annual technology surveys, online professional development, virtual schools, technology planning, library media services, Internet safety, and the federal E-Rate program, based on current trends, research, and funding opportunities. OET also manages the NH Educators Online (NHEON) Web resources and the NH e-Learning for Educators project (OPEN NH). The office also administers the distribution and evaluation of the US DoE Enhancing Education through Technology (ESEA Title II-D) program. The office is also coordinates district and state preparedness for online assessment as Tech Readiness liaison on the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium NH Team.

Title II Part D: Enhancing Education Through Technology

With the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act in January 2002, a program was established within Title II Part D to provide federal funding to schools for educational technology. This program is called Enhancing Education Through Technology (E2T2). Until July 2006, federal guidelines required distribution of the funds through both a competitive and a formula driven process. Formula awards were based on Title I allocations. After July 2006, because of changes in the law and a nearly 50% reduction in federal funding to the program, states were allowed to issue all of the funds on a competitive basis starting with the 2006-07 awards. Districts are still allowed to use the federal transferability provisions to transfer funds from other Title programs in order to use such funds for activities allowable under Title IID. All awards must be used in accordance with the New Hampshire State Educational Technology Plan.

NH e-Learning for Educators

The NH e-Learning for Educators initiative offers online professional development courses as well as online facilitator and developer training through OPEN NH. OPEN NH is growing a cost-effective statewide online professional development system geared to support school or district needs. We do this by selecting and training facilitators, designing online courses specifically designed to meet the needs of NH schools and educators, and researching effective online professional development.

OPEN NH courses use a 7 week discussion-based model. A 1 week orientation unit, light in content, is followed by 6 weeks of heavier content review and discussion. The course content is 100% online and no additional materials are required. Each unit consists of readings and participation in discussions. An authentic course project is developed throughout the 7 weeks of the course which you can use in your classroom or school. There is an expectation that approximately 4-5 hours each week will be committed to participation the course. Following successful completion of the course, you will earn a Certificate of Completion for 35 contact hours of professional development.

Online Learning in New Hampshire

There are a variety of resources and links, from helpful hints on finding an online school or program to the latest research findings about online learning on the Online Learning NH site. We hope to provide students, parents, teachers, and administrators with the information they need to make informed decisions concerning K-12 online learning opportunities available to the students and teachers of New Hampshire.

Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium Readiness Coordination

The SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium, in collaboration with the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) consortium, has developed a Technology Readiness Tool to support districts with planning for technology as they transition to next-generation assessments to be launched beginning in 2014. This new open source tool assesses current capacity and compares that to the technology that will be needed to administer the new online assessments in four areas-devices, device to tester ratio, network infrastructure, and staff and personnel. There will be a series of six data collection windows in which the tool will be open for updating of informaiton. The goal of the first data collection window is to collect easily-accessible baseline data. Data collection will occur once each spring and fall through 2014. All districts in New Hampshire will be requested to use the tool to assess technology readiness during each window. The data collected and reports provided by this tool will be valuable in developing district technology plans in future planning cycles.

In support of this effort, an the role of State Readiness Coordinator (SRC) will be assumed by the Office of Educational Technology. The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), along with the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), will communicate with and provide training and support to the state liaison as well as districts and interested stakeholders through an online portal, Assess4Ed.net.

Resources for Educational Technology and Online Learning

Contact the Office of Educational Technology