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Roselle Public Schools5-Year Technology Plan Executive Summary
Technology
is a very powerful, essential tool in the education process for both students
and staff. Technology is an appropriate part of all curricula at every level
of instruction. TECHNOLOGY MISSION STATEMENT The
Roselle Public School System recognizes the use of technology as an essential
life skill. Therefore, technology will be integrated into all areas and levels
throughout the district. The school system will provide an environment that
supports access to all available technology resources. This will be
accomplished by: ·
developing
an instructional program which is developmentally appropriate and promotes
life-long use of technology ·
providing
opportunities for the integration of technology into all areas of the
curriculum to enhance teaching and learning ·
ensuring
that members of the school community have equal access to all technology for
instruction and communication . ·
providing
community access to technology resources ·
providing
technology training for all district staff ·
establishing
an ongoing, systematic, evaluation process ·
promoting
school, community and business technology partnerships ·
providing
the necessary financial and human resources ·
pursuing
alternate sources of funding Planning Process
(Timeline: ongoing)
It is a firm tenet of the Roselle Board of Education that the most effective planning takes place when two groups of individuals are involved. The first group consists of individuals that have a stake in the outcomes of the planning and the second group consists of individuals that have an expertise in the technical issues of the plan. In order to develop a 5-Year Technology Plan the Roselle School District formed a Technology Advisory Committee. This committee had strong representation from each of the two groups mentioned above. In addition, as a means to ensure equal stakeholder representation and participation, and to maintain the principle of site based management, each school was asked to send a representative to take part on the planning committee. The responsibility of this representative is to identify and report to the committee, the technological issues and concerns that are of importance to his/her building. The list below indicates the individuals that were involved in the planning process with a delineation of their contributing roles. Technology Advisory Committee
Committee meetings are called quarterly to discuss the various components of the plan and to make recommendations that comprise the biennial revisions made to the plan. The structure of the advisory committee is one that utilizes subcommittees for analysis and deliberation of individual components of the plan. After subcommittees make their decisions a formal recommendations is made to the committee as a whole, all recommendations are considered for inclusion into the plan. In
the approach to planning, this committee first considers the current
technological status of the school district. This assessment provides a
starting point from which improvements will be made. The next consideration is the technological goals (or
technological outcomes) for the district at the end of the 5-year period.
This projection allows the committee to develop appropriate goals,
objectives, and activities that lead to the intended outcome. The steps to
achieving the outcome have been structured in “phases” each phase covers a
1-year period, and there are 5 phases in the plan.
The
two parts of the plan that the technology committee deems as the more
significant components are the areas of instructional
and administrative technology infusion. To ensure the most effective
planing takes place in these areas, there is representation of staff from both
of these areas and their concerns, suggestions and input has strongly
influence the recommendations made in this plan. A synopsis of the
recommendations from both of these areas can be found in the “5 year
implementation table (below)”. The committee views this plan as a dynamic and evolving document, one that requires frequent and consistent review and revision (as necessary). At each of the committee gatherings each part of the plan goes under review. Revisions to the plan are made according to committee recommendations. Achievement
of the Educational Technology Vision and Benchmarks by 2001-2002 The
planning process for technology in the Roselle schools fully espouses the Vision
for Educational Technology in NJ, as stated by the NJ Department of Education.
It will be clear that the ideals of equal access for all students to a vast
array of curriculum and instruction resources are at the heart of goals and
commitments of this plan (pages 4 and 6-8). Our progress towards achieving the
Benchmarks
can clearly be seen in the implementation table on pages 11and 12 of
this plan. The table shows that
as of this year (1998-1999) we have fully achieved most of the benchmarks and
have outline plans that will allow us to achieve all of the benchmarks by the
2000-2001 school year. Status (for support of distance learning)
Currently the Roselle School district is able to support distance learning activities in the following capacity at each district site.
This technology plan emphasizes distance learning
activities at all grade levels. Some
of the proposed distance learning activities to be implemented as part of this
plan are: Ø students using internet video conferencing with subject area experts, and other students. Ø conducting web based technology supported projects that address all NJCCCS Ø students taking part in interactive courses with other students as close as in the county and as distant as across the nation. Ø
offering courses to students and staff from locations around the
world using satellite downlink and interactive television. Key Commitments of the Roselle
Public School’s Technology Plan Enhancing
Learning Process:
Ensure that teachers are skilled in facilitating/implementing the learning
process. Technology is viewed as a tool to enhance the learning process, and
shall be tied to curriculum and sound pedagogical procedures. Equity:
The enhancements to learning made possible by the use of technology are
available to all students in all district schools, consistent with sound
educational practice. No student shall be denied access because of gender,
age, grade, ability, socioeconomic level, language differences, handicapping
condition, or other exceptionalities. Instead, educators determine what
technologically assisted instruction is appropriate for students within the
context of their total learning process. School-Based
Management:
It is essential that there be provision within this master plan for choice and
flexibility in the selection, placement, and use of technology at each school
site. Each school shall integrate educational technology into a school-based
plan that coordinates with the district Educational Technology Plan.
Leadership and coordination shall come from the principal and a designated
educational technology resource person, as well as other staff members. Curriculum:
Technology must be integrated into all areas of the curriculum. The Curriculum
office will work with district's Technology Advisory Committee to ensure that
educational technology reinforces, extends, and enhances all curricular areas. Staff
Development:
Staff development must support technology usage. Training at district and site
levels, which matches the self-identified needs of staff must be ongoing and
must keep pace with rapidly changing technologies. Support
System: In
order to integrate technology into the daily instructional process, reliable,
timely technical support will be made available. Technology
Advisory Committee:
The committee will be comprised of district technology supervisor, site
administrators, teachers, students and other site and community members. The
Technology Advisory Committee will be the hub of communication between school
sites, the district, and the community regarding the revision and
implementation of the technology plan. Partnerships:
Solicit and expand partnerships with business, industry, and institutions of
higher learning to enhance the infusion of educational technology into the
curriculum. This district recognizes that schools alone do not have the
resources or expertise to keep pace with rapidly changing technology. We
believe that these partnerships will serve the growing needs of an
increasingly technical society. Student
Technological Proficiency Objectives K-12
Kindergarten to 2nd Grade
Students
will be introduced to a broad range of technology experiences. The
introduction should include instruction in basic computer use, such as
start-up, disk management and appropriate care. Students will learn how to
explore or browse through various grade level appropriate programs. Also,
students will create documents that include pictures and text relating to
curricular activities and objectives. Computer presentations of student work
will be enhanced by adding sound and graphics. 3rd to 5th
Grade Students
will work toward proficiency of the grade level objectives. Emphasis of
instruction will shift from student browsing toward student created
presentations, including desktop publishing and hypermedia presentations.
Multimedia presentations may be created by students in any curricular area.
Presentations will include carefully selected
materials, including scanned and digital camera images, along with CD, laser
disc and Internet resources. Students will learn communication skills by using
a computer, VCRs and digitized video, scanners, and laser disk players to
create original computer presentations that reflect an understanding of
curricular objectives. Finally,
students will expand their learning community by sharing curricular projects
with people across the globe using telecommunications equipment. Increased
proficiency of keyboarding will be expected. 6th to 8th
Grade Students
will manipulate the various technological tools in a more mature and
professional manner with a wider range of applications. Middle school students
will work toward and achieve mastery in all targeted areas of technology
presented in the K-8 curriculum, including spell and grammar checking of
word-processed documents; chart
data in spreadsheets; use desktop publishing with appropriate inclusion of
graphics and multi-column designs; prepare multimedia projects with text,
animation, voice and video segments; create video presentations, web site
design and use of all forms of telecommunications. Mastery of keyboarding and
the automated library catalog and circulation systems should be achieved by
the end of this phase. 9th to High
School Graduation High school students will apply their mastery level skills in all targeted areas of technology to the 9-12 curriculum. Students may also elect to receive instruction in computer programming, business applications and network design. By the end of 12th grade, students will be productive citizens, ready to apply their skills to the environments of higher level learning or the work force. Goals/Objectives
of this Technology Plan (Timeline: Present--Ongoing) Goal 1: The Roselle Schools will provide access to technology for all students in order to improve student achievement and to help students exceed all state academic standards. 1.1
Provide
on-going instruction in the utilization of all technologies for the purpose of
meeting NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards. 1.2
Students
will analyze, organize and communicate information using technological tools. · Provide additional equipment and software to enable effective communication - these may be shared among rooms (computers, televisions, video cameras, multimedia production equipment) . · Maintain access to integrated programs and presentation software and hardware (laser disks, digitizing equipment, etc.). Goal
2: The Roselle
School District will emphasize the use of technology as a means to support
curriculum goals. 2.1
Integrate technology
in development of curriculum/courses of study. Provide opportunities for staff to investigate the use of technology for their subject. area. Support and promote innovative projects and uses of technology in classrooms. 2.2
Provide means for students to retrieve and share educational resources at the
local,
regional, state, national and international levels. 2.3
Provide access in each classroom to technological equipment (computers,
printers,
phone lines, CD-ROM and network software, etc.) the district network
and the
internet. ·
Automation
and network access in all library/ media centers. ·
Maintain
Local Area Network within each district site and Wide Area Network between each district site. ·
Maintain
access to the internet and on-line content providers for all district sites. ·
Provide
greater opportunities to investigate information resources electronically
(increase availability and access of computers and
internet access for all students/teachers).
Goal 3:
The Roselle Schools will use technology to improve communication among staff,
faculty, students, parents and the community. 3.1 Maintain the district website with links to websites of each district school. 3.2 Instruct students in the use of technology to electronically transfer data at the local, state, regional, national and global levels. 3.3 Provide e-mail accounts for all teachers so that they may communicate with other teachers, with parents, and administration. All classrooms should be wired with access to administrative areas and media centers with workstations access in all classrooms. Promote an e-mail channel of communications to the community in order to improve awareness and involvement. 3.4
Promote and/or participate in partnerships between the community and the
schools. ·
Have
business people come to the school and demonstrate how they use technology in
the workplace. ·
Conduct
district "TECHNOLOGY NIGHTS" to demonstrate to community the new and
innovative technology that students utilize. ·
Develop
technology-supported projects that allow students to work with community
businesses and organizations. 3.5
Use technology to communicate between administrative, classroom and support
areas. ·
Emphasize
use of electronic communication vs. paper. ·
Create
an Email/Bulletin Board or District Newsgroups for posting messages. ·
Standardized
applications/programs.
3.6
Accurately and efficiently assess, monitor and communicate student progress.
·
Implement
grading, attendance, and management software that minimizes data recording and
task redundancy ·
Create
"Homework Help" Website. ·
Computerize
all report card preparation tasks. ·
Maintain
a common database of student demographics and data (district wide). ·
Promote
the use of electronic student portfolios (alternative assessments). ·
Continually
develop projects, which encourage use of electronic information retrieval. Goal 4:
In recognition that the single most important factor for the effective
implementation of a technology plan is a comprehensive and thorough
technology-training program for all staff. The Roselle School District will
commit to ensuring that all district staff has adequate and appropriate
training in the use of technological tools. 4.1 Expand the district’s Professional Development Institute to provide a variety of courses and opportunities for technology training for all district staff. 4.2 Maintain and develop new agreements with technological schools (e.g. DeVry) to provide district staff with technology training. 4.3 Provide technology related satellite downlinked courses using the satellite capability of the district’s ITV room. 4.4. Arrange and provide district staff with technology courses received from other districts and institutions of higher education using the ITV lab.
Survey/Technology Inventory
·
Computer equipment and
modems Each of the elementary and middle schools contains a computer lab of 25 computers and 1 large screen monitor. Each of these labs is equipped with IBM compatible Pentium PC’s, most of which run the Windows 95 operating system. A variety of subject specific software is utilized in these labs for the computer applications classes. The focus of computer applications classes at all grade levels is two fold. The primary focus is to impart foundational to advanced technological skills to all students, the second focus is to support all other curricular areas by using the technology as a tool to aid in the study and reinforcement of skills and concepts being taught in core area classrooms. In each of the 3 elementary schools there are 10 multimedia/internet ready notebooks available to all classes. These computers have network cards that will access the internet via the district network. At our high school there are six computer labs being used for a variety of computer courses from computer applications to computer science. Five of the six labs are equipped with 18-20 Pentium based, multimedia ready IBM compatible PC’s and the fifth is equipped with 20 Macintosh multimedia ready computers. All computer in all labs are equipped with modems, however, they access the internet via the district WAN, and no longer use dial up accounts with the modems. The Basic Skills program in the district has a peer to peer networked, Pentium based lab of 12 computers in each of the elementary and middle schools, these computers will also have internet access via the district network as of 8/1/99. The high school media center contains 6 computers; all of which will have internet access via the district network as of 8/1/99. ·
Internal Network
Connections There is currently a LAN in place at the district's 2 middle schools and there will be a LAN in place in each of the district's elementary schools by 8/1/99. Each LAN consists of one network drop per classroom, and 1 drop for each computer in administrative offices and computer lab(s). At the district high school each lab is a self contained LAN and will be linked to the building LAN that is to be completed by 12/1/99. ·
Software for
Communications Each computer lab utilizes the appropriate communications (browser, e-mail, virus, security and filtering) software for the operating system being used. Products include but are not limited to: Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator SurfWatch, etc. LAN software currently in use is Windows NT Server 4.0. ·
Computer Maintenance
Contracts All computers in the district were purchased with an 18-month on-site warranty. The warranty for the computers in the Macintosh lab at the high school have expired, three of the other 5 computer labs at the high school currently have 1 year remaining on the manufacturer’s warranty, the remaining 2 labs are in the first year of their warranty. All elementary and middle school lab computer are in the 15th the month of their warrant, and notebook computers are in the 3rd month. All BSI lab computers have 4 months remaining on the manufacturer’s warranty. The district's computer technicians will secure parts and service all computers upon expiration of manufacturer's warranty, no extended maintenance contracts will be secured.
Equipment and Facilities Planning District
Site Electrical Retrofitting: Technology Labs and CO
*Capacity
refers to lab + CO areas only (classroom amp specifications below) **
PC units include cpu, monitor, speaker, keyboard, mouse, and printer. This 5 year technology plan calls for a student to computer ratio of 5 to 1 this would require approximately 5 computers in every classroom. The following table indicates the current electrical capacity of the classroom/administrative areas of each school and the necessary electrical upgrades to accommodate 5 computers in each classroom. Electrical Retrofitting of Classroom and Administrative Areas
Total
$1,933,000 Changing the type of computers used in the classrooms will allow the district to circumvent the high cost of electrical retrofitting that is noted above. The types of computers that are traditionally used in classrooms are desktop systems. Each of these types of systems have a high 3.2 amp power requirement. By changing from desktop to battery operated notebook computer systems use in the classrooms the current electrical capacity will not have to be increased in any of the district classrooms All new construction will include wiring of each area for voice, video and data. All buildings are currently wired with category 5-plenum rated cable that meet or exceed all building/electrical code regulations. This wire will allow the transmission of voice video and data at limited rates. The Roselle Public School 1997-1998 to 2001-2002 Activities Implementation Table for TechnologyItalicized Items are Completed
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