Jack+M.+Barrack+Hebrew+Academy

Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy is a pluralistic Jewish day school for students in grades six through twelve from a broad variety of backgrounds. The school integrates a comprehensive and rigorous college preparatory curriculum with the teaching of essential Jewish and American values and texts. Barrack graduates value diversity, celebrate the richness of Judaism's language, culture, and history, and have a strong connection to Israel. Barrack prepares future leaders of the American, Jewish and global communities who work for a better world through acts of justice and compassion. Members : Allen Gottlieb : Jewish Studies and Bible, Middle School Joyce Ferber : Resource, Middle and Upper School Susan Schwartz : Spanish, Middle and Upper School Laura Lyn Stern : Art, Middle and Upper School Minna Ziskind: History, Upper School

**Action Research Project - Template**
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**Abstract**
To initiate an online Resource Site for all of our teachers, enabling them to access various examples and uses for links, wikis, and blogs. Team members will be Resource Teachers as well, enabling our staff to have a go-to person, in order to receive support in using these tools. The site will expand as new technology resources and tools are available at our school, and as more teachers integrate into utilizing the resource site. The site will be "user friendly" -- and like riding a bus, a user can get off whenever they want !

**Problem, Issue, or Possibility**
Teachers are overwhelmed with time issues, and see time spent learning new technology difficult or impossible to schedule into their work week. Teachers are reluctant to use Technology. Some feel it is not applicable to the subject they teach. PLP members were called to duty several times over this school year to teach professional development sessions- so - most of the faculty did learn some new technology or approach to teaching their courses. Some have embraced new knowledge and are integrating their new practices into their classrooms. We are hoping that once teachers realize the benefits of changing up their teaching approach, they will get on board and invest the time needed to learn the technologies.

**Objectives and Assessment**
Even though time/energy/staff constraints seemed to be issues not unfamiliar to our group, I do think that much positive was gained by our participation in PLP. On an individual basis, each participant has successfully moved forward , using at least one or two "new" technologies on a daily basis in their classrooms. Through our professional development teaching sessions, we have had the opportunity to "spread the word" and get others on board. I think the true test will be once the Resource Site is up and running, seeing how many teachers spend the time to go through and work with it .Interdepartmental connections are proving to be the best examples/resources to use as ease of practical classroom application in these cases. A few current PLPeeps will be on a newly christened "Technology Committee" starting during the 2011-2012 school year. I am hopeful that this will be a positive experience that will bring to light increased need for keeping up to date technologically.

//*Please include the timeline for the project. This can be a bulleted list.*//
- Sept: Set up / Outline Resource Help Site " on JBHA faculty server. Assign specific technical areas to teacher / "experts" . (Ex: Making decisions about safe research sites, Classroom Blogging, Haiku, etc) - Oct / Nov : Experts upload information onto site . Hold small test groups to see how people respond to work in progress. - Dec: Launch "JBHA Resource Help Site" . Use an after school or professional development time frame to introduce teachers how to use. - Jan - June : Experts continue to add to resource site and are available for tutorials and/ or group meetings.

**Evaluation and Results**
We have an overall idea of who is doing what area of "expertise" -- but I will guess that that will evolve as we dive deeper into our projects. Faculty will call on "experts" to advance their knowledge and use of tools in their classrooms.

**Artifacts and Documentation**
Our Resource Wiki: Supportme103, which will include links to other support sites