TIES

== =TIES (Technology Information Education Services)=

Brandon Raymo TIES website

TIES Mission
The mission of TIES, a dynamic consortium of Minnesota school districts and the leader in E-12 education technology, is to ensure our members can optimize student learning by:
 * Promoting a collaborative relationship among member districts
 * Providing critical instructional and operational technology products and services
 * Conducting research and development

What is TIES?
TIES is a consortium of 40 Minnesota school districts which includes about 400 schools. They offer software applications, hardware, internet services, and professional development.

Membership
Cost: $3.27 per student/$1000 minimum Benefits:
 * Professional development opportunities put on by TIES staff (at TIES center and within district)
 * Free teacher webpage templates
 * Internet2 activities
 * Use of TIES facilities
 * Data-driven decision-making tools

Workshops and Conferences
TIES offers a variety of workshops either online or face to face. A full list of workshops can be found here. TIES offers one of the biggest technology conferences in the state. The 2010 conference is December 4-7. The conference website can be found here. Participants can choose their own breakout sessions to attend and therefor offers a unique individualized conference. Cost of the conference is $290 for attending both days, or $170 if only attending one day. Personal note: This is an awesome conference and offers participants TONS!!

Why would I join TIES?
TIES is an awesome organization that offers tons of support for school districts and helps them integrate technology into the classrooms. If my district was closer to the cities, I would hope they would join this organization as some of the benefits include use of the TIES facility and staff development training at the TIES facility. TIES is the organization that helps districts work together, and anytime groups of people work together, the product seems to be better than if an individual were working on it.