Greenwich Public Schools
Technology Plan 2009-12
Executive Summary
Introduction
The goals of the Technology Plan center on using technology to further our vision of academic excellence as well as ensuring that students demonstrate proficiency in Information, Media and Technology Literacy Standards as led by the Media and Technology Program. In a time when change is the rule rather than the exception, students need to learn how to adapt to the explosion of new information. In effect, teaching them how to learn is the most critical responsibility we have to our students. It is not only about what we teach; it is about how we teach it. The Technology Plan’s goals speak to the larger issues of preparing our students for their future, providing professional learning for teachers to use information technology tools and resources in the everyday business of teaching, and ensuring proper and adequate funding and resources necessary to equip our classrooms for teaching digitally.
Vision for Educational Technology
The changes in our world have introduced an urgent need to teach students skills that transcend across all curricular areas. The 21st century classroom will ensure that technology is an integral and ubiquitous part of a flexible and relevant environment. Students will be challenged to use technology and information resources responsibly and to think critically and creatively to solve problems effectively and efficiently.
Educational Technology Mission
Technology in education is a teaching and learning tool, that when used effectively, will support and help transform how we interact, produce and seek personal growth and enjoyment. We expect effective, competent, and purposeful use of technology by administrators, teachers, and students to establish seamless integration of technology on a daily basis throughout the curriculum and extracurricular activities.
Core Beliefs for Educational Technology
1. Engagement and learning increase with the use of technology.
2. Technology supports differentiation of learning.
3. Active participation and contributions to the learning process increase with the use of technology.
4. Project and inquiry based learning experiences are enhanced with the use of technology.
5. Technology skills are best learned in context through project and inquiry based learning.
6. Technology supports broader collaboration opportunities both locally and globally.
7. 21st century communication requires fluency in the use of technology.
Our core beliefs for educational technology are based on research studies and observations recounted in the literature. Case studies, longitudinal research studies and day-to-day anecdotal evidence point to confirmation that effective use of proven instructional strategies with technology improves student learning by reaching diverse learning modalities, supporting differentiation, and by definition, require authentic, project-based and inquiry-learning.
Review
In 2006, the district technology plan main goals included providing consistent, high-quality resources accessible from within and outside of the school, media center and classroom to prepare our students for the 21st Century. Specific plans to outfit all our classrooms with Smartboards has progressed successfully as we now have about 50% of our classrooms outfitted with these A/V systems. In addition, new systems to improve web content management, provide students with access to district-wide databases, an online catalog, homework portal and teacher portal were implemented under the guidance of the 2006-09 Technology Plan and will be continued and refined, as needed, within the next three years.
2009-2012 Focus Areas
Purposeful use of technologies and digital tools is a centerfold of the 21st Century classroom. In the next three years, the District is committed to moving forward to address our vision by improving access, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness of technology resources and tools to meet a variety of student learning needs within the context of a challenging economic reality. As such, the District Technology Planning and Advisory Committee explored the top technology trends for 2009 and explored how these trends will help to support our vision.
The Trends reflect the priorities of the Plan for the next three years and include:
• Curriculum: Refine and develop interdisciplinary curriculum units featuring standards-aligned, assured experiences and measured through ICT student assessments.
• 21st Century Classroom: Continue implementation of SmartBoard Plan, begin expanding access to Wi-Fi, establish “cloud computing” as well as increase access to technologies through low-cost devices. (See appendix for details on SmartBoard Plan).
• Media Tools and Resources: Increase access to high-quality digital resources including eBooks, databases and ability to videoconference for collaboration.
• Professional Learning: Increase access and flexibility to professional learning as well as provide differentiation based on assessment of staff and administrator skills.
• Systems: Explore, pilot or upgrade critical systems such as Student Information, E-mail and other.
Our journey for creating a vision for the 21st century learning, providing teachers with the tools and resources needed to teach in context and assessing student ICT skills will enable us to ensure their future success. The goals of the Greenwich Public Schools Technology Plan can help frame the larger district discussion on a vision that includes 21st Century learning and skills. In developing this Plan, the Technology Planning Committee considered the reality of the current economic condition while ensuring that our students have access to the tools that will best meet the needs of our students and teachers. The following are the goals and strategies for 2009-12. Finally, we will meet periodically each year to review and evaluate the success of this plan and reserve the option to change this Plan based on changing conditions, needs and funding.
Technology Plan Goals & Strategies 2009-12:
1. GOAL 1: Curriculum Integration: Improve student academic achievement through the use of technology in elementary and secondary schools.
a. Train media specialists and implement new Information, Communication and Technology Literacy (ICT) curriculum.
b. Participate in every curriculum review to ensure the integration of technology throughout all content areas.
c. Require teachers to design and implement at least one lesson featuring technology skills per semester/marking period.
d. Improve student technology literacy as measured by the 5th, 8th and 10th grade technology literacy assessment.
e. Refine and build on the successful integration of technology skills through grade-level assured experiences.
f. Ensure library media specialists and teachers have common planning time to collaboratively plan units and enforce appropriate media scheduling to meet the needs of the curriculum.
g. Provide teachers with a toolbox of mini-lessons, graphic organizers and benchmark assessments on technology skills.
h. Continue incorporating high-quality digital resources such as video streaming, web 2.0 technologies.
i. Continue and complete implementation of the Smartboard Plan with a goal of outfitting every classroom with a Smartboard of A/V presentation system.
j. Explore and adopt open source and open content curricular resources and online textbook materials.
k. Infuse technology to improve achievement in reading and writing through the use of digital storytelling, multimedia, video documentaries, audio books, eBooks and other resources.
2. GOAL 2: Professional Learning: Ensure that all educators are proficient in the use and integration of technology and ongoing professional development activities are provided.
a. Train Administrators on a "Technology integration" evaluation instrument for classroom observations, and walk-throughs.
b. Develop and implement a technology assessment for administrators and teachers to inform training needs.
c. Continue to offer a wide range of district-wide technology training opportunities to GPS staff and administrators on technology integration best practices.
d. Develop standardized “new staff” technology curriculum and training plan.
e. Develop eLearning means of delivering “just-in-time” training to support user group or individualized professional learning
3. GOAL 3: Equitable Access: Ensure that all K-12 educational institutions have the capacity, infrastructure, staffing and equipment to meet academic and business needs for effective and efficient operations.
a. Explore, pilot and implement flexible access to mobile devices such as Netbooks, handhelds and laptops.
b. Provide availability to classroom sets of digital cameras, video streaming library, eBooks, audio books.
c. Maintain five-year replacement and upgrade cycle for desk computers and laptops.
d. Increase capacity of school-based staff to troubleshoot lower-level hardware and software issues through creation of a self-help audio, video clips for tech tasks.
e. Continue and build upon deployment of District Data Dashboard for improved single source access to data, assessments and homework bulletin board.
f. Explore, pilot and implement share-point access to documents and resources.
g. Improve student access to portable and wireless technology devices such as laptops, netbooks, handhelds, classroom performance systems (clickers).
h. Evaluate technology systems and recommend, budget and upgrade systems such as e-mail and student information.
4. GOAL 4: Equitable Resources: Ensure that K-12 resources are available for all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, income, geographical location, or disability, so they can become technologically literate by the end of eighth grade.
a. Explore, pilot implement or build upon research-based software to support improving reading and writing skills including but not limited to supporting RTI.
b. Identify and standardize compatibility issues of diverse technologies.
c. Continue implementation of student technology assessments to ensure we meet NCLB requirements.
d. Create and monitor Individual Student Improvement Plan (ISIP) for each student not reaching goal on high stakes testing. Interconnect RTI with ISIP for monitoring purposes.
5. GOAL 5: Evaluation: Develop a continuous process of evaluation and accountability for the use of educational technology as a teaching and learning tool, a measurement and analysis tool for student achievement, and a fiscal management tool.
a. Continually evaluate the success and progress of the Technology Plan based on changing environments. Technology Plan Committee to meet quarterly to review progress of the plan.
b. Monitor assessment data and review curriculum to ensure alignment to standards.
c. Use tracking system to monitor usage of computers or software.
d. Explore the possibility of maintaining student formative assessment data in centralized system such as a curriculum mapping solution or student information system.
e. Continue enforcement of the AUP for students and staff.
f. Continue enforcement of security procedures including password security, Internet filtering, etc.
6. GOAL 6: Funding: Develop a schema of current and future financing requirements to support the District Technology Plan.
a. Fully pursue funding avenues through e-rate, grants, capital and operating funds
b. Explore additional grant opportunities and alternative sources of funding
c. Explore alternative funding sources through partnership with PTA for Technology Council and other community organizations.
d. Explore, pilot and implement specific open source, open content and a variety of low-cost computing devices.
7. GOAL 7: Telecommunications: Develop a telecommunications services plan to support both instructional needs and administrative needs.
a. Monitor and maintain voice/telephone over IP system.
b. Implement a school-home communication system for parent alerts including attendance, school activities, and special information.
c. Improve web communications including improve web content management system and increase use of web tools including web 2.0 tools such as wikis, blogs, discussion forums, social networking, and other tools.
d. Evaluate and continue use of student e-mail for improved communication.
e. Evaluate, upgrade as needed information systems (student information system, email).
290 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830