The Alabama State Department of Education offers a fully array of resources and support services to advance 21st Century teaching and learning.

ALSDE Office of Technology Initiatives

The Office of Technology Initiatives in the State Department of Education, under the direction of Dr. Melinda Maddox, is leading many of the state’s most important initiatives around 21st Century learning. Teachers will be familiar with the OTI’s role as coordinator of the summer Alabama Educational Technology Conference (AETC), and its management of programs like ALEX, ACCESS, Technology in Motion, and eLearning Alabama, the OTI’s online professional development program. The OTI webpage is a good jumping off point to all of these programs. You can also download the state Technology course of study and the State Technology Plan: IMPACT: Indicators for Measuring Progress in Advancing Classroom Technology.

Technology in Motion

APT Plus

Alabama Public Television’s APT Plus program is well known among many Alabama teachers and schools for its free portal to many of the video resources in the United Streaming database. But that’s just the top layer. APT Plus offers access to a dozen other video libraries covering core content areas – plus links to outside collections like Annenberg’s teacher PD site, Learner.org. http://www.aptv.org/APTPLUS/index.asp

Technology in Motion is one of the crown jewels of Alabama’s ed tech programs. TIM was a huge help during several of our face-to-face conferences, providing a wireless laptop network and the know-how of Elizabeth Whitehead and other TIM technology specialists. Based at various Regional Inservice Centers around the state, these specialists can help schools advance their digital learning agenda through online and face-to-face workshops, support for professional study groups, equipment loans, and more. The TIM’s professional development follows the philosophy and standards of the National Staff Development Council – it’s practical, job-embedded, hands-on learning. Visit the TIM website and find out more about the services and how to contact your area specialist.

Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX)

The ALEX motto is “quality for every facet of learning.” The Quality focus of this excellent state-supported resource is apparent as you peruse the ALEX website. It’s a great place to search for technology-infused lesson plans tied to the state Courses of Study. Need some Personal Workspace for developing lesson plans or teacher websites? Click on the button. ALEX is also a good starting point if you’re searching for professional development opportunities with a tech twist. Check out the ALEX listserv discussion groups for teachers and professional support staff. And be sure to explore the assortment of content-area resource links recommended by teachers--and help build the database by recommending your own.

Alabama Virtual Library

The Alabama Virtual Library is a free public resource that gives students, teachers – and all citizens of the state – access to databases that are typically available only to those who can afford to pay subscription fees. Brought to you by The Office of the Governor and the Alabama State Legislature, the Virtual Library (much like a physical library) offers essential information resources, including magazines, journals, and newspaper articles. This “equitable core of information” includes the massive databases of EBSCO, Thomson Gale and Britannica. It’s a “must go to” place for 21st Century teachers. Any state resident can gain home, school or work “remote access” by visiting your local public library or school media center. Find out more at the AVL website.