Casey Farmer Technology Plan Project 3.

3 Project EDTECH 554-4172

Table of Contents

Technology Plan Project

Question 1..page 3 Question 2..page 5 Question 3..page 6 Question 4..page 8 Question 5..page 9 Question 6..page 10 Question 7..page 11 Question 8..page 12 Question 9..page 13 Question 10..page 14 Question 11..page 15 Question 12..page 16

1. What is your districts vision or mission statement? Five years from now, would a visitor coming to your school see technology supporting learning and teaching? Would there be an improvement from today?
Students are engaged in a challenging curriculum that uses technology as a tool to increase student focus on inquiry-based, hands-on learning. Technology supports students in developing the life-long learning skills necessary to have a positive impact on society. Technology will support this development by refining students' creative thinking skills, enabling effective communication, and fostering creativity. Teachers use technology to engage students in achieving the high academic state curriculum standards and to increase students' skills in critical and creative thinking: problem solving, collaborating, and applying knowledge in new and real-world situations. Teachers acquire ongoing and continuous professional development in the use and integration of technology to effectively help students attain these high standards. Administrative functions, including those performed by instructional staff, are fully automated, thereby allowing more of the school system's energy and resources to be focused on student education. The schools become an environment where all students and staff have ready access to a full range of current technology, software tools, and applications. The schools have knowledgeable staff and external resources (such as parents, community members, business, higher education, and network resources) to further the curriculum goals.

Technology Plan Project

Five years from now if a visitor came to our school district to see how well this mission is being applied I think they would see that it a mission that is being implemented in each school. Over the last couple years and continuing into the next couple years our district has purchased computer labs for each grade level and purchased iPads for each core classroom. The district first purchased iPads for each high school student to use for school and may take them home to complete classwork. The district also purchased labs for each grade level to use. This past year middle school core teachers were given 30 iPads for each classroom to use in the class to help promote student learning and engagement. Next year iPads will be purchased for a couple elementary classrooms. Each classroom also has a Promethean Board and different Promethean tools. These tools include ActiVotes, ActivExpressions, and ActivSlates. This is a process and this is why I feel that our district is moving towards a strong technology learning environment. The district also does a wonderful job training teachers on using the iPads effectively for student instructions. The district has trainers come from an iLearning team that travels all over the country and world working with teachers on how to effectively use the iPads in their classrooms. The district also purchases great software licenses to help students use iPads and computer labs. All teachers have also been trained in using the Promethean software and hardware.

Technology Plan Project

2. Has the district established levels of proficiency in technology by grade levels? If so, are these proficiencies woven into the academic curriculum? Are they taught in separate stand-alone technology lessons/classes?
Currently I am unaware of any technology levels of proficiency that the district has established. Being a core classroom teacher I would think that I would have been made aware of any curriculums designed by the district. I do know that there are academic art classes available for students to sign up for, however they are not a required course. We as core teachers are not required to use the technology, but it is recommended that we use it as much as possible. I teach sixth grade and I do know that most of my students do not know how to type or know the correct finger placement for typing. I am unaware of how other schools handle their technology integration. This is why I am pursuing a job in the technology department, to help bridge this gap. I myself as a core teacher have tried to integrate as much of these skills during regular instruction. I work with the students on using Google apps and internet safety skills.

Technology Plan Project

3. What are some of the classroom management strategies that work with the amount of technology actually available in the classrooms?
Most teachers that I have spoken with find that classroom management is more difficult with the iPads. It is not that their behavior problems have increased it is the misuse of the iPads. In the sixth grade alone we have dealt with over 60 student referrals on the iPads alone. The difference is that in the computer labs the computers are designed for the students and they must log in and every keystroke can be traced back to the user, so desktop and laptop computers are not a problem. However once the students get the iPads they do not need a login and have the ability to use all the apps that Apple includes on the iPads. The biggest problem is students taking pictures and videotaping themselves and even events that are happening in the classroom. There have been many students that have been caught searching pornographic pictures and downloading games. The teachers have assigned each student with an iPad number and the teachers do an excellent job monitoring and moving around the classroom, but the option is still there for the students and temptation gets the best of them every time. We have been told there is currently no software that keeps an iPad to minimal use like they have been able to do with laptops and desktops. We also have integrated new websites like Edmodo into our classrooms and that is becoming a problem. Students are finding out each others passwords and logging in outside of school and making inappropriate comments, one as far as saying they are going to come out to school and kill all the teachers. Students are using it like Facebook thinking that they will not get caught or they can delete it and have it disappear. As far as good strategies work there are a couple of them. The most important one is to constantly move around the classroom to make sure the students are using the iPads the way they

Technology Plan Project

are meant to be used. Another strategy that works extremely well is when students have the iPads make sure they are flat on their desks. When a student begins holding them up or trying to hide what they are doing you know they are not on what they need to be. To make sure the iPads do not get broken it is important to make sure the students have their otter boxes on when moving around the classroom or in the hallways. I personally have not had any issues with students misusing their Edmodo accounts. One technique that I have used that the other teachers have not is making the students read only which prevents them from having conversations. They still are able to complete quizzes and turn in assignments but cannot do any direct posts on the accounts.

Technology Plan Project

4. Does the district have an inventory system or does one need to be developed to track the type and age of hardware?
Yes the district uses Destiny for all technology and software. They have location, age and when updates or repairs need to be made. If a Promethean Board needs a bulb replace or filter cleaned the teacher is sent an email making them aware that they need to put in a repair ticket.

Technology Plan Project

5. Are assistive technologies available to students with special needs as well as to other students, such as English language learners, who might benefit from the use of those devices and software?
There are many available technologies available for students with special needs. Some of the technologies available are speech to text software that allows our hearing impaired students to have words translated into text for them. Teachers also have a microphone that is attached to their shirt to help amplify what the teacher is speaking. We also have dragon software for our students that have visual impairments, this takes the words and turns them into speech. Students with visual impairments also have a Braille printer and typewriters that allow them to take notes. These students are also accompanied by an assistant and a visual enlarger to enlarge whatever is on the board or projector. English Language Learners as well as students who want to learn another language are allowed to use such tools as Rosetta Stone.

Technology Plan Project

6. What replacement cycle has been built into the plan? Will adequate funding be set aside for replacements? The current cycle is for every five years. Insurance and some funding is set aside for any replacements. The cycle is also broken up by core classes. Every three years technology, science and mathematics classes have their technology upgraded. This is done on alternating years. Three years ago science had their upgrade, last year math had their upgrade and this past year technology classes had an upgrade. This is something that is not included into the technology plan visible to the public or teachers, but I contacted the technology coordinator to find this information out. They also indicated because of a new director they are looking to rewrite and change this current plan to update this plan.

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7. How does the tech plan address technology proficiencies and information literacy skills?
Our plan understands the importance of learning informational literacy skills and uses researched based methods to help promote this learning. With the upcoming switch to common core it is built around informational skills and it will be guided by technology. As important as it is for students to learn these skills it is foremost to train teachers on the strategies to implement these new ways. The county has written this in their plan. Beaufort County School District will use research-proven strategies to provide online and technology based learning environments conducive to our students achieving digital literacy. Beaufort County School District will provide curriculum development and professional development to increase the competency of all educators so that research-proven strategies and the effective integration of educational technology systems can be used to increase student achievement. Beaufort County School District will use current and emerging technologies to create learnercentered instructional environments that enhance academic achievement. Beaufort County School District will provide students and teachers with opportunities to expand their learning via virtual learning and virtual professional development courses.

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8. How will the school district know whether implementation of this plan has made a positive impact on teaching and learning?
In order to understand whether or not this plan has made a positive impact on teaching and learning the county looks at a variety of data. One of the most important pieces of data to look at is through teacher observations. One of the requirements on teacher observations is technology integration and resources. If the teacher is not proficient in this category then this plan has failed this teacher because they do not feel comfortable integrating technology. If the teacher is proficient or distinguished in this category the plan has been working. The next data to look at is both MAP and PASS data. This measures student data. If students are continually showing growth it would appear that the technology plan is working. If the students are not showing growth the evaluators must then look at the teacher evaluations to see how they are being scored in the different sub-categories to understand why learning is not taking place. There is also parent, teacher, administrative, and student surveys that go out through the course of the year to understand whether technology is being used and how parents and students feel the technology is being used. This survey asks whether students feel they learn more through the use of technology and if they feel they are using technology enough in their classes to get the most out of learning to better prepare them for todays current society.

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9. Does the plan address a time frame by which the district proposes to implement the various components of the plan?

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The current plan does not address any time frames. When speaking with the new director of technology this was a main concern and why they are going to re-visit the plan.

10. Do you think this plan has addressed issues such as equity for all students? Please explain your thinking.
Sadly I do not feel the current plan addresses equity for all students. The technology plan that is listed is short and simple. Though I think that this is addressed it is not currently in writing. I think that is why the new director is working on rewriting this plan. I think they feel that there is a lot of information that is missing out of the plan. The last director did an excellent job in getting the county up on technology, integrating the technology and educating the teachers on how to use the technology but lacked the written part. I think that the written part of the plan is just as important as the implementation of the plan. A vision is clearer when the complete vision is in writing.

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11. Does this plan provide tools to help lower the achievement gap? Please explain your thinking.
I feel the plan provides multiple tools to lower the achievement gap. The plan is addressed to incorporate technology for all levels of learners and all types of learners. This is important because our county is so diversified that at one end of the county it is a wealthier class and students have the skills when they come to school and they have multiple resources that are available for the to grow and learn with. On the other end of the county is a poverty stricken area and the students do not have access to computers or internet at home and there are plans set aside for them and the teachers do everything they can to implement technology in the classroom because they know when the students go home they will not have access to all the information they will need.

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12. If you could recommend some improvements to your district's technology team regarding this plan, what would they be and why?
I think the district really needs to be more specific in their plan. I am actually hoping to be on the committee when they begin writing the new plan. They will begin in July reworking the plan. I think the district has done an excellent job thus for incorporating the technology but not presenting it in a way they need to. Though the plan states how and why they are using the technology there are no specific dates nor room for adjustments. Unless someone is in with technology department they will be unaware of the actual plan. Our new director seems to be on the ball of wanting to change and adapt to a new plan and I think they are making the right move. I believe the new plan will have more detail and will be better suited for our district. In conclusion my districts technology plan is missing a lot of key information but is doing a wonderful job in supplying and training the teachers to use the technology. I feel that the district has supplied us with more technology then most schools and the teachers are using them to the best of their ability. We are still a young district to technology, but we are growing and learning each year that passes.

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