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Resources for Teachers…developed by Teachers
Come Now - Teach in Florida
 

Fast Facts

§         Basic Info:

o        Who? – The Florida Department of Education has partnered with Microsoft to facilitate discussions with school districts and a community college in the development of a teacher tool to assist teachers, school leaders and parents use up-to-date, relevant data to better individualize teaching and learning and ultimately improve student achievement. Phase I organizations involved in the development are the Bay, Dade, and Duval School Districts, the North East Florida Educational Consortium member districts, and Indian River Community College.

o        What? – The DOE/Microsoft/local partnership will result in a web-based teacher tool to assist teachers, school leaders and parents with up-to-date, relevant data to better individualize teaching and learning and ultimately improve student achievement. This web-based teacher tool is referred to as "Sunshine Connections."

o        Where? – Teachers and other education stakeholders may use Sunshine Connections from anywhere with nothing more than access to the Internet and a web browser. All data and software will be housed in central servers with access via the internet and various web browsers so there will be no need to have other specific software on local computers.

o        When? - The partnership is over a five-year period, but versions (or "releases") of Sunshine Connections will be available in intervals to teachers across the state, beginning with the first release to our initial Phase I districts, with future availability to all Florida public school teachers.

o        Why? – Governor Bush and Commissioner of Education Winn were very interested in maximizing the use of technology to assist teachers as they helped students achieve. This partnership and Sunshine Connections provide Florida’s teachers with tools that link them to student data, curricular materials, and even other colleagues in ways that support their everyday classroom activities.

o        How? – Sunshine Connections is being developed around the needs of classroom teachers and other education stakeholders. Focus groups of teachers, principals and other educators from Florida’s schools, districts, and institutions are providing direct input into the development of Sunshine Connections.