Introduction Children are native to the digital age and adults are immigrants. Students are growing up digitally and, as a result, they learn differently. The challenge to educators is in understanding what that means. -Cheryl Lemke, executive director for Milken Exchange on Educational Technology
Description Green Year Round Elementary School is a K-5 school that operates on the year round calendar. Students enrolled in year round schools are divided into four groups, called tracks. Each track has its own 180-day calendar, divided into nine-week quarters, with a three-week break at the end of each quarter. Year round schools provide a continuous learning experience; since students do not have long summer vacations, major reviewing in the fall is eliminated. The three-week breaks provide frequent enrichment and remedial opportunities for students during the year.
Green Year Round is located in Raleigh, NC. In the 2004-2005 school year, we serviced 735 students from a diverse urban and suburban population. We are located near a major and well-known research industrial center and seven accredited colleges and universities. Green Year Round and the greater metropolitan area are positioned for growth and development in a rapidly expanding global economy.
Purpose
The Technology Plan is a flexible document intended to provide direction and focus with respect to the integration of technology into the classroom. The Technology Plan is an integral part of the School Improvement Plan and is to be interpreted and modified as needed to address changes in technology, staff proficiency, and other school needs.
Philosophy
We believe that technology has and will continue to shape society and the learning landscape. Technology can be used to augment lesson plans, monitor student progress and enhance communication among all stakeholders in the school community. As we educate, it is important to empower the staff and student body with the confidence to become life-long learners and succeed in an information-rich networked society.
Mission
The mission of the Media and Technology Advisory Committee (MTAC) is to cultivate an environment where technology is an essential part of our academic culture, empowering diverse learners to meet federal and state academic standards in all content areas.
Goal Green Year Round will cultivate an environment where reliable technology is used by a technologically competent and confident faculty. The instructional staff will work collaboratively to create technology-centric lessons in order to meet cross-curricular objectives and facilitate the success of all students.
Measure of Success
Each year, the MTAC will meet to evaluate the success of the goals in each section of this plan and make changes where deemed necessary.
Connectivity & Hardware "Among many technological trends with the potential to affect education in the coming years: universal accessibility to computing devices and the internet, dramatically faster access to information, increased private sector involvement in delivering technology, information, and applications to education" -Marshall Smith Deputy Secretary of Education
Progress to Date
Desktop Computers Until the 2003-2004 school year, the policy at Green Year Round was to replace all the computers across a single grade level whenever computers were purchased. In an effort to distribute newer computers more equitably and because of the difficulty in securing funds for so many computers at one time, the policy has changed so that two grade levels per year will get a new computer in each classroom. Presently, we are attempting to have a more equitable distribution of newer computers across grade levels, while replacing the oldest computers in the building. Out of our 192 networked computers, 160
of them are dedicated student computers. Of those, 48% (77) are running Windows 98, 18% (28) are running Windows 2000, and 34%
(55) are running Windows XP.
Printers In the past, color inkjet printers were in most of the primary classrooms and were networked with JetDirect boxes. The intermediate grades have used both black and white laser and color inkjet printers. WCPSS Technology Services Division (TSD) no longer supports inkjet printers or networking them with JetDirect boxes but will continue to support JetDirect boxes for use with high-volume color inkjet printers. To satisfy these conditions and ensure equitable access across all grade levels, new printers have been purchased and existing printers have been relocated so that grades K-2 have one black & white laser and one high-volume color inkjet printer. As requested, third, fourth, and fifth grade have only black and white laser printers. Specialist classrooms and offices are either networked to a nearby printer, or have an inkjet printer directly connected to their computer. All computers have access to the double-sided black and white laser printer in the library.
Laptops Green Year Round was one of the first Technology Connections Schools in the WCPSS; subsequently, our teaching staff received laptops during the 1999-2000 school year. In 2004 we began a program to replace laptops with school funds. Our expectation is that grant money, applied for each spring and awarded by the WCPSS TSD will be sufficient to replace nonfunctioning laptops as well as those running Windows 98.
Vision
At all times, all of our students and staff will have access to a reliable, well-supported network.
Goals
We will decrease the average age of the existing hardware
We will upgrade to a Windows 2003 networking solution
We will update and improve the peripherals used to facilitate learning
Action Steps
Replace all Windows 98 computers
Replace all Windows 98 laptops
Maintain a reliable and consistent printing environment
Four-Year Plan
Desktops
All Windows 98 computers will be systematically replaced with Windows XP computers
The oldest Windows 98 computers will be replaced first, but computers will be relocated for an equitable distribution of new/old computers in all classrooms
All classrooms will have no more than two different models of desktop computers
Laptops
The distribution of laptops will be prioritized as follows:
Classroom teachers, floating teachers, specialists who assign report card grades, specialists who do not
All classroom teachers will have a laptop instead of a desktop computer
The newest laptops will be available to teachers based on seniority
Printing
Each grade level will have at least one black and white laser printer
Grades K-2 will have one high-volume color inkjet printer
Only high-volume color inkjet printers may be networked
At the beginning of each semester, school funds will be used to purchase printer cartridges so that there are exactly half as many cartridges for each type of printer
Measures of Success
Presently, there are eighty-one desktop and twenty-eight laptop computers that must be replaced over the next four years. Beginning at the end of the third quarter in 2006, a yearly assessment of our progress will be made.
Budget
The expectation is that each year, the IBM Match program will donate four desktop, the PTA eight desktop and the WCPSS grant eight laptop computers. In order to satisfy our goal we need only use school funds to purchase nine desktop computers each year. If however, we are unable to secure the expected donations from these outside sources, additional funds will be required.
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Desktops
$6,100
$6,100
$6,100
$6,100
Software
$750
$750
$750
$750
Printer Ink
$3,000
$3,000
$3,000
$3,000
Total
$9,850
$9,850
$9,850
$9,850
Instruction & Electronic Resources "Computers inside classrooms were more effective in producing basic skill gains in students and in promoting the confidence and technological competence in teachers." -West Virginia Study Milken Family Foundation Study Results
Progress to Date
From 1997 until 2001, Green Year Round was considered a Technology Connections School. In 1999, the technology committee was invited by the WCPSS to preview software and recommend purchases for the entire school district. Software was added to our server after the technology specialist and individual grade levels purchased it. Later, WCPSS policy changed and Green Year Round’s curriculum committee determined whether or not requested software could be used to meet NC Standard Course of Study objectives before it could be purchased. Presently, only district-approved software may be placed on our server. Although it continues to be supported by the WCPSS TSD, their policies continue to change to support fewer older software titles.
Vision
All teachers will utilize electronic resources to meet technology objectives set forth in the NC Standard Course of Study. They will seamlessly integrate technology into other subject areas while also providing technology-centric lessons.
Goals
Teachers will utilize relevant technology to enhance classroom instruction and attain high student achievement
Our
website will
always be current, accessible and informative
Action Steps
Software will be categorized on our server and reviewed on a regular basis by a software subcommittee in order to assure relevance and compatibility
All teachers, students, and staff will use the network to save, retrieve, and share information
Teachers will be made aware of the various policies concerning internet usage
Teachers will guide students to make appropriate choices regarding the use of electronic versus print resources
Our website will be routinely updated so that it is always current and accessible to the community
Four-Year Plan
Technology leaders will collaborate with other teachers to help create lessons that meet specific technology objectives while integrating objectives from the core content areas. Technology leaders will be available to model lessons as well as instruct students; however, all teachers should become more comfortable using technology to facilitate learning without assistance.
As our hardware improves older software may not be compatible with newer operating systems. A software subcommittee will be created to review and acquire software within the constraints of WCPSS TSD policy (on the
WCPSS intranet). The subcommittee will ensure that teachers are aware of the software within our library and that it can be used to meet curriculum objectives.
Technology-based lessons and projects will be created and posted to the network
Software will be classified by topic for ease of use
Staff Development & Personnel "What teachers really need is in-depth, sustained assistance as they work to integrate computer use into the curriculum and confront the tension between traditional methods of instruction and new pedagogical methods that make extensive use of technology." -Report to the President on the Use of Technology, 1997
Progress to Date
From 1997 until 2001, Green Year Round was considered a Technology Connections School and had a full-time technology specialist who focused on staff development. Sessions were offered on individual topics such as Word, HyperStudio, email, web design, the internet, digital cameras, educational software packages, etc. The technology specialist, through the use of staff surveys, determined what classes would be appropriate and necessary. Since then, because technology specialists were employed for less than a year at a time, no technology committee meetings took place. In the 2002-2003 school year, the student population fell and, due to the decrease in available school funds, Green Year Round had no technology specialist. In 2003, the staff voted to create the position again and, since the spring of 2004, Green Year Round has had a full-time technology specialist, a technology committee (MTAC) and is in a position to create and maintain a long-range technology plan. The current role of the technology specialist is:
To assist teachers with the development of lessons and projects that incorporate the use of technology in the classroom while meeting cross-curricular objectives
To produce the televised,
student-run morning announcements program, "Lily
Pad Live"
Vision Technology leaders will provide a supportive environment that promotes, encourages, and enables staff to become competent and confident users of technology.
Goals
Staff development will be provided to support a state-mandated level of technology competency
Technology leaders will attend at least one technology conference each year
Action Steps
One self-assessment survey will
be administered each semester in order to assess the instructional
staff's comfort level and needs
Staff development will be provided in order to support a level of technology expertise where the staff is both competent and confident
Technology leaders will attend at least one technology conference per year in order to stay abreast and keep other teachers informed of current technological advances in education
Four-Year Plan
Self-assessment surveys will be utilized to ascertain technology knowledge and needs of the instructional staff and, subsequently, provide the blueprint for a technology staff development curriculum
In order to ensure that all teachers at each grade level possess the core technology skills essential to functioning at Green Year Round, technology leaders will ensure proper instruction is provided in all areas of need throughout their individual grade level or group. The technology specialist will coordinate the necessary training, and teachers will be encouraged to network and discuss how they are implementing and integrating technology successfully in their classrooms.
Teacher assistants will be encouraged to take advantage of the training offered by technology leaders in order to enhance their understanding of the technology skills used for student instruction.
Measures of Success
The technology committee will administer the six self-assessment surveys adapted from the nine basic computer operations competencies set forth by the NCDPI to all teachers and assistants at their respective grade levels, one survey per semester (see appendix)
Communication and Collaboration "The challenge for the 21st century is to bring together parents, the community, and schools so that every child acquires the foundation necessary to succeed in school and in life." -Mary Jean LeTendre, "Collaborations for Strengthened Early Childhood Education in the Next Century"
Progress to Date
Until the fall of 2001, when Green Year Round was considered a Technology Connections School, teachers participated in web conferencing and were often asked to highlight their technology integration to other WCPSS schools and educators in surrounding counties. Today, many strong collaborative efforts remain, including the IBM volunteer program. IBM volunteers have assisted in great numbers with our pilot, technology-based Fast ForWord reading program. Green Year Round has also enjoyed a relationship with IBM called the IBM Match program. When IBM employees donate money to this program, IBM uses that money to purchase computers for our school at one-fifth the normal price. This program has enabled us to purchase about four computers a year for the past three years. The PTA is also a critical piece to the collaborative puzzle. Through annual budget requests, the PTA has provided Green Year Round with about eight computers each year for the past three years.
Vision Green Year Round will develop relationships throughout the community including the PTA, local businesses, universities and community members in an effort to support the goals of the technology plan.
Goals
We will work to identify two mutually beneficial partnerships within the community each year
We will publicly acknowledge and celebrate the successes of school and community partnerships and collaborations
We will maintain a reliable,
informative website to enhance communication among the school community and beyond
Action Steps
Identify possible partnerships and resources to meet the technological and instructional needs of our school
Formalize mechanisms for celebrating collaborative efforts (e.g. news coverage, thank you breakfasts, etc.)
