Dave Teague Technology Director Certifications Earned Internet and Computing Core Certification   Employer Freeman School District Location Rockford, Washington

In his own words: "IC³ protects our investment and our time because it results in an industry-based certification."

IC³-certified School District Successfully Integrates Technology into Classrooms, Requires Less Technical Support and Boosts Staff Confidence and Development
Certification standard enhances in-service trainings by establishing a base level of computing knowledge for all faculty and staff

Administrators at Freeman School District in Rockford, Wash., needed a standard from which faculty and staff could receive ongoing information technology (IT) training. Because of its unique exam methodology and comprehensive subject matter, Certiport Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC³ ®) was chosen and school district staff members were encouraged to earn the credential. Now, a more unified Freeman School District better incorporates technology into its classrooms, requests technical support less frequently and looks forward to providing computing education—as well as more-advanced certification opportunities—to its students.

BACKGROUND
Located just south of Spokane, Freeman School District consists of an elementary school, a middle school, a high school and an alternative consortium high school totaling over 850 students and more than 60 staff.

"We've struggled for years to provide technology in-service trainings to meet the needs of our teachers," said Bill Thurston, superintendent of Freeman School District. "On these occasions, about one-third of the members of our staff say the training is what they need, one-third have knowledge and skills above the level of training we are providing and one-third are below it. It has been difficult to target the needs of our staff and establish a base of knowledge to provide everyone. We knew if we could put a certification standard in place, all of our staff would have the same knowledge base from which we could continue to provide training."

Three years ago, Freeman School District set a goal to have staff earn IC³, the world's only globally recognized standards-based certification for basic computer skills. Dave Teague, Freeman School District Technology Director, said IC³ was chosen because of its task-based methodology, the concepts it covers in its three component exams—Computing Fundamentals, Key Applications and Living Online—and its logical gateway to other certifications in the IT world.

"Staff development is a priority," Teague explained. "But it's difficult because the members of our staff are at all levels of knowledge about technology. IC³ provides our teachers a level playing field and an equal foundation from which they can develop their IT skills."

Freeman School District faculty and staff agreed the goal to earn IC³ was worthwhile. "I believe whatever the administration asks me to do is in the best interest of our students and will help our district move ahead," said Mary Ellen Wall, a third-grade teacher at Freeman Elementary School. "Earning IC³ was a great opportunity to get technology education, which I hadn't had in years. The school district asked us to do it, and it made sense."

Kelly Neely, a history and computer teacher at Freeman Middle School, set his own goals when he approached the IC³ program. "I hoped to improve myself, find ways to incorporate technology in my classroom and share these skills with my students," he said. Neely also hoped the district-wide program would alleviate other teachers' needs to rely on his computing expertise to solve their technology problems.

PROCESS
The Freeman School District school board established a policy to encourage staff to study for and earn IC³. In addition, new hires are expected to earn the certification within one year of their hire date.

With these policies in place, Teague organized three half-day in-service trainings for the district's teachers. Teachers were given DDC Training Services practice tests and Thomson™ Learning textbooks, which they were encouraged to study from to prepare to achieve IC³ and keep to use as a reference after they earned the certification.

"We purchased the books, and teachers get to keep them," Teague said. "They are on-the-shelf resources staff members now have the knowledge and confidence to use."

Neely said having his own textbook was a good resource. "Some teachers read it cover to cover," he said. "I used mine more for review. The practice tests were awesome."

Freeman High School is a Certiport Center, an authorized testing center, where staff took their IC³ exams. When teachers earned IC³, they received 150 clock hours plus a $200 stipend. The district paid for all preparation materials and exams from its professional development funds. "IC³ protects our investment and our time because it results in an industry-based certification," Teague said.

Wall, who, at age 52, considers herself a "mature teacher," was especially enthusiastic about the IC³ training and testing process. "It was really interesting and certainly very doable, even for someone my age," she said. "I was able to go through the program, and when I was finished, I had earned my certification. I had a tremendous feeling of accomplishment, and I became an example to other staff. I'd say, �If I can do it, you can do it.'"

"Many of our teachers used a team approach," Teague said. "We encouraged this collaboration, and the idea perpetuated throughout the district. Soon teachers were going to one another for advice and help with computing problems."

RESULT
Ninety percent of the members of Freeman School District's staff, including its teachers, principals and superintendent, have earned IC³.

"We've had a tremendous return on our investment," Thurston said. "We have a heightened awareness of technology among the members of our staff and more unity as we work together to solve technology problems."

In addition, Freeman School District's IC³ initiative has boosted the confidence of its staff, placed them in a position to pursue other technology education and certifications and dramatically decreased the amount of time Teague and other technology specialists in the district spend providing technical support to their colleagues.

"When teachers pass the IC³ exams and earn their certifications, they feel good about their new knowledge and skill sets," Teague said. "Earning IC³ was a confidence booster for everyone, especially those staff not as experienced with using technology."

Wall said IC³ opened a door to a whole new world for her. "I wasn't raised with technology. I've had to take classes and work with it. Earning IC³ was difficult for me, but once I passed the tests, I realized its benefits. It gave me confidence to approach new technology and use it."

Thurston said a few members of the staff were uncertain about their ability to earn this certification. "But we encouraged them to try, and they ended up being excited when they were able to learn these skills."

Neely, who manages a computer lab at Freeman Middle School, said teachers now use the lab all the time. "They know a lot more and are willing to try new things now," he said. "IC³ reinforced my own knowledge and gave me confidence that I know what I'm doing. I use my textbook to gain insight into things I don't understand and am able to ask questions in a more educated way."

Teague said the school's investment in IC³ has provided teachers core-concept training and common knowledge where they formerly had little technology training and development. "They need these basics to better appreciate other programs and certifications, such as Microsoft® Office Specialist," he said.

"The school district made a financial investment to give us this opportunity to have this certification," Wall said. "They are looking to the future and supporting their staff with training and financial incentives. This is a huge statement of support. It says a lot about the administration's belief in their staff and how they are willing to help us achieve our professional goals."

Neely also appreciates the district's commitment to staying current and not becoming complacent. "IC³ has motivated teachers to step out of their comfort zones," he said. "Now they can always use technology. It says a lot about our community, the school board and the school district to make this investment. It's a stepping stone to the future."

Teague is pleased the investment the district has made in teacher development has naturally flowed into the classroom. "We are a school district that receives little federal funding," he explained. "Therefore, all of our activities are taxpayer funded. Staff certification is a tangible way we are putting technology in classrooms and using taxpayer dollars wisely. Now that our teachers are familiar with IC³, they are better able to incorporate technology into their lesson plans and integrate it into their classrooms."

Thurston said the district is implementing multimedia functionality in its classrooms and is providing more students access to technology. "The base knowledge IC³ provides has helped our teachers utilize these new opportunities," he said. "The new resources are being used effectively with little training."

"I now have enough background knowledge to not be afraid of technology," Wall said. "It has changed my job. We use on-line tutorials, we're moving to a more-paperless system to reduce waste, we use an intranet at school for communication, we access student test scores online—in all these ways we are better serving our students thanks to technology. My job is easier because I can now communicate with parents via the Internet. I can also format my lessons in so many different ways to adapt to different student learning styles."

Wall, like many other teachers in Freeman School District, is also using the skills she developed while preparing for IC³ to solve her own computing problems before calling the district's technical support resources. "I have the tools to try new things," she said.

Teague said the number of phone calls he receives for support is drastically lower because teachers are willing to go to one another for help and collaborate to find solutions to their problems.

"As a staff, we are closer knit," Wall said. "One of the impacts of IC³ is that we rely on one another for assistance and support—even across grade levels—and work together to help each other."

In its efforts to continue to integrate technology into its classrooms, give students new technology skills and encourage them to pursue certification tracks at the high-school level, Freeman School District next plans to provide eighth-grade students the opportunity to earn IC³. "We plan to start teaching computing fundamentals in second, third and fourth grades; key applications and living online in fifth and sixth grades; and culminate their study in seventh grade before providing overviews and testing in eighth grade," Teague said.

"IC³ is a logical program in three sections," he continued. "It presents the terminology, parts and pieces and program functionality that students may already use but don't fully understand. Kids are very in tune with the living online subjects, but need to learn more of the nuts and bolts of computing fundamentals and key applications like word processors, PowerPoint® and e-mail programs."

Although IC³ will not be required of eighth-graders, those students who earn the certification will not have to take the Digital Communications Tools course currently required of ninth-grade students at Freeman High School. "They will be able to bypass it and move to higher-level courses," Teague said.