May 12, 2011

TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:

SUBJECT: Project Share and Student Accounts

This letter is the fifth in a series of letters to inform districts and open-enrollment charter schools of activities in Project Share. Throughout the 2010-2011 school year, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has worked closely with the twenty education service centers (ESCs) and many districts across Texas to create educator accounts and introduce users to the Project Share platform. As of the first week of May, over 300,000 accounts have been created for Texas K-12 educators so that they may participate in online professional development courses. These courses were developed by TEA and are provided through the ESCs at no cost to districts. This first year of implementation has been incredibly busy, exciting, and rewarding.

We recently had the opportunity to hear Project Share success stories along with over 800 attendees at the inaugural SXSWedu Hosts Project Share Conference (http://sxswedu.com/). Educators from across Texas gathered together to share how they are using Project Share for classroom instruction, as a tool for sharing ideas and resources across campuses, and as a means of delivering district-created training. Each day of the conference included a Spotlight Session in which guest speakers talked about the history and future of Project Share and the ways in which districts are using the statewide platform. All three Spotlight Sessions provide valuable information and are available on the Project Share website at http://www.projectsharetexas.org/SXSWedu_vid.html.

Our primary focus during the first year of Project Share was the creation of teacher accounts and the dissemination of online professional development courses. Now that those two objectives are well underway, we recognize that some districts and open-enrollment charter schools are ready to begin creating student accounts. The TEA is prepared to open the platform to students, and we are ready to invite districts to begin creating student accounts this spring. As districts plan for future phases of Project Share implementation and the possibility of student accounts, it is important to consider if current acceptable use policies address activities and conduct in a statewide online platform and if staff and students are ready to transition to the platform. If yes, we are happy to offer this opportunity and look forward to working with each of you. If your district would like to proceed with creating student accounts this spring, please send a brief email to the Project Share mailbox at projectshare@tea.state.tx.us that includes contact information for district personnel who will oversee the student account creation process. Project Share staff will then work with the district contacts to provide further information and instructions.

If a district opts to wait until a later date, the ability to create and/or add student accounts will be an ongoing option. A new TEA document, “Know the Rules Before You Use the Tools: A Students User’s Guide to Project Share,” is available to districts and may be shared with students in preparation of becoming Project Share account holders. The document is not intended to replace local policy but to serve as an additional tool as districts create accounts for their students. The document is attached to this correspondence and will also be available for download from the Project Share website at www.projectsharetexas.org.

As we move into the summer break and prepare for the 2011-2012 school year, we will continue to provide information about Project Share, including professional development opportunities and student account updates, at the Project Share website at www.projectsharetexas.org and through institutional announcements within the Epsilen platform. The website provides a wealth of resources such as a professional development courses catalog, tutorial videos, and informational documents. The website also provides a convenient place for educators, and, in the near future, students to log in to their Project Share accounts.

It is an exciting and innovative time for Texas education, and we are pleased that we can continue to offer online opportunities for educators and students. The TEA welcomes your questions and is happy to provide additional information about Project Share. You can learn more about Project Share by visiting www.projectsharetexas.org or sending questions to the Project Share mailbox at projectshare@tea.state.tx.us. You can also contact Kerry Ballast, Director of Special Projects, at (512) 463-9087 or via e-mail at kerry.ballast@tea.state.tx.us.

Sincerely,

Anita Givens
Associate Commissioner
Standards and Programs

Attachment

Student Guide to Project Share