Academy Overview

The explosion of technology has changed every aspect of how we think, work, and play. Students in today's classrooms must learn to use technology effectively for future academic and professional success. Yet many classrooms look just as they did decades ago, having tools no more sophisticated than paper and pencil. The Smart Tools Academy is a four-day residential immersion experience that will give school leaders the tools to infuse technology into their schools. These institutes offer participants an intensive educational experience and opportunities to exchange ideas with other school leaders across the state.

The Smart Tools Academy has been developed to promote the effective use of technology in Washington's K-12 schools by training approximately 2,500 public and private school superintendents and principals in two years. The University of Washington Office of Educational Partnerships and the Technology Alliance have partnered to create the Smart Tools Academy. Education leaders, business representatives, and community members from around Washington State support and advise the Academy. The Smart Tools Academy is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and SAP Public Sector and Education.

The Academy Program

Experts in education and technology--mostly principals and technology directors--lead participants through the sessions, which will include presentations, facilitated discussions, on-line coursework, and hands-on workshops with computer hardware and software. The curriculum and post-Academy activities, including regional meetings, Web sites and listservs, have been designed to support continuing relationships among the school leaders. Academy participants will each receive a laptop computer for use during the Academy and for professional use at the school or district. The Academy will provide each participant with meals, lodging, and all instructional materials.

Curricular Goals

The Academy's residential sessions and follow-up activities will enable each participant to:

• Understand the ways that educational technology contributes to student learning, curriculum integration and the creation of educational communities.
• Prepare for the management challenges associated with introducing and supporting technology into an organization.
• Develop a technology leadership plan for each school, including a thoughtful approach to professional development for each school's teachers.
• Explore models for involving the community in technology programs at schools both during the school day and after-hours.
• Increase productivity and understanding of technology through hands-on training in the use of technology tools.
• Create connections among fellow participants that will extend beyond the institutes and will support the learning that begins in the residential program.

Instructional Components


• Expert instruction on teaching, learning and technology from K-12 and university education leaders.
• Best practices presentations from a variety of the state's most successful programs, including presentations from teachers and students who have effectively used educational technology in their teaching and learning.
• Facilitated discussions centered on case studies, video presentations, and speakers.
• Networking among participants during Academy sessions and continued during follow-up meetings and via Web sites and email listservs.

For more information, contact Susannah Malarkey, Academy Co-Director, Executive Director of the Technology Alliance, susannahm@seattlechamber.com, or, Louis Fox, Academy Co-Director, Vice Provost for Educational Partnerships, University of Washington, lfox@u.washington.edu.