Three Year

Technology Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Revision 2007-2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepared by:

The Jay School Department Technology Committee

Scott MacCallum, chair

 

With contributions from:

The Jay School Department

 

 

 

 

Acknowledgements

 

The Technology Committee of the Jay School Department wishes to express its gratitude to the teachers, staff members, students, parents, community citizens and the School Board for their support of technology and their assistance in crafting this plan and its supportive documentation.

 

Background and Planning Participants

 

The Technology Committee in the Jay Schools

 

The technology committee is a school-wide, standing committee, meeting regularly, giving advice and feedback, as well as recommendations on proposed systems and programs. This committee oversees district-wide technology plans and school based issues regarding technology while promoting the practical, ethical and deliberate use of technology within the Jay School Department.

 

Scott McCallum, Chair

Linda Peterson, Librarian – Jay High School

Janet Bennedetto, Distance Education coordinator/Learning Center Director

Joe Makley, Curriculum/I.T. Director (Staff Development, Federal Programs)

John Robinson, Principal JHS (Staff Development)

Michael Simoneau, High School Teacher

Dan Lemieux, Technology Teacher

Shannon Cuthburtson, Middle School Techer

Carol Reed – Technology Integrator, Grades PreK-6

Randy Easter, Technology Integrator, Grades 7-12

 

 

 

Executive Summary

 

The Technology Committee of the Jay School Department has developed this three-year technology plan to bring systemic coordination to the initiatives involving technology in the Jay Schools while remaining focused on our primary objective of supporting learning in this community. The plan continues our work in seven goal areas we see as critical to achieving that objective. These areas include access to technology, network optimization (performance,) funding, maintaining current resources, curriculum integration, evaluating technology activities, and staff development. The action steps in this revised plan for 2007-10 are the result of significant self assessment, combined with broad discussion about future needs related to one-one and wireless computing, curriculum review, special needs, etc. In using planning and evaluation as an ongoing, deliberate process for addressing our goals, we feel certain we will have the capacity to assess and ensure learning impacts for all students.

 

 

1. Community and Parental Involvement

How will Jay School Department …

 

Involve a broad representation of the school community in the planning process?

·       The Jay technology committee shares at least 25% of its membership with the federal programs advisory board, (including titles IID and V) which is a key liaison group for parents, students, school board members, as well as teachers.

·       Meeting agendas and minutes will be posted to the district web site and distributed via email.

·       Jay students will have substantive input on technology decisions through surveys, focus groups, interviews and invitation to Tech committee meetings.

·       A percentage of teachers

·       A percentage of technologists

 

Use technology effectively to promote community and parental involvement?

·       The district web site will continue as a robust source of school/district information for the community

·       Distance Education facilities and technology will be staffed, supported, and made available to the community.

·       Presentation and media technology will be used to enhance the quality and effectiveness of publicly attended events.

·       Email lists will be established for improved communication with parents

 

Increase communication with parents?

·       A parent/community email list will be implemented.

·       The student handbook and acceptable use form will be available on line.

·       The district and school web sites will continue as a robust source of information for parents

·       A web based student information system will be established

 

Inform parents about the technology and its proper use?

·       Newsletters (district, school, and program) will feature regular articles on technology use at Jay.

·       Acceptable Use Policies and regulations will be included in the student handbook.

·       Public events will feature Maine Learning Technology Initiative and technology use, especially a series of parents’ Maine Learning Technology Initiative meetings

·       Instruction in technology will be made available to the community in the high speed Internet labs through Adult Education.

 

 

 

2. Vision

 

  Computer based technology is an essential component of an educational program that prepares individuals for becoming responsible citizens in a modern, information-based world. This resource needs to support engaged learning and be seamlessly integrated into all areas of inquiry and made equitably available to all citizens of our learning community. When this occurs…

 

·       Students actively help adults and each other to use technology.

·       Students use technology easily for school tasks and activities.

·       Students create, archive and present works in a variety of electronic media.

·       Students take specific courses in advanced technologies.

·       Students have extended learning experiences using advanced technologies including distance learning.

·       Students with special needs receive coordinated assistive technology services.

·       Examples of high quality student work, aligned with the standards are visible and accessible in a variety of electronic media.

·       Teachers actively support and enhance curriculum and instruction using multiple technologies.

·       Staff members communicate with each other and with outside information sources using multiple technologies.

·       Staff members actively seek opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge using a variety of technologies, including distance learning.

·       Parents and community members are aware of, and support the use of technology in the schools.

·       Administrators use a variety of technologies to support their leadership and management tasks.

·       Administrators advocate, plan for and provide educational technologies.

·       Administrators know what their staff members are supposed to be doing with computer technology, and hold them formally accountable.

·       Leaders and planners understand Universal Design as it applies to technology.

 

 

3. Goals

Goal I: Improve Access to computers for all members of the educational community

In addition to the special program (Maine Learning Technology Initiative) of laptops for 7th and 8th graders, Jay School department currently supports one-one computing for students in grades 5,6, one adequate computer for every instructional space, Laptops on carts for high school students, lab access in every school, and a variety of “clusters” of older equipment in classrooms. Each teacher has a late model laptop, and all buildings have wireless coverage.  The total number of client units is approximately 600, (a better than 2-1 ratio of students to computers,) but a part of this installation has come into being outside a reasonable replacement regime (is more than 5 years old and has been replaced once already in its primary location.) The goal for this three year plan is to establish an appropriate level of access consistent with a final objective of ubiquitous (on demand) access, and to maintain that level.

Costs: Local/Maine Learning Technology Initiative/ Title IID

 

Goal II: Optimize computer and communications networks

The network infrastructure in Jay schools was dramatically improved from 2005-2007. 

Cabling: There is a fiber backbone which connects all buildings. The high school has new LAN cabling between key locations and the server room. The middle school is of recent construction and has a robust copper cabling system. The elementary and high schools still have some copper wiring which was pulled by volunteers or local staff and not certified. There is a need to certify and perhaps reinstall LAN cabling runs in these two buildings.  The cabling racks were filled quickly, and need to be redone (space equipment, route cables, etc.)

Network Equipment:  There is a robust Cisco-based network, with backbone traffic all at 1000Base-T.  All nodes on the network are on switched ports, mostly Cisco, with much 100Base-T in the mix.  Most switches have 1000Base-T uplinks, and there are areas of the LAN which should be upgraded to1000Base-T.  Wireless has been installed in all building areas.  It is a large network, with several  uses of intelligent switching, and a complicated VLAN architecture, part of which was installed by engineers or consultants.  There is a need to gain a full understanding of LAN optimization opportunities with the existing equipment, and to increase staff knowledge of Cisco networks to facilitate planning for growth. 

Servers/Services: All network servers have been replaced or moved to a central location (a completely renovated server room at Jay High School.) The number if services is large and growing, with new camera systems, Student Information Systems, increased student storage, teleconferencing, web servers, biometric time clocks, email, etc.  Short term needs include with NWEA, (server based testing for grades 2-10,) a terminal server pilot, etc.  It has become an axiom that each department will want new or improved services from I.T. each year.  There is a need to improve the reliability and capacity of the camera networks.  The LAN surveillance software needs to be changed/improved at the high school.  Power to the servers needs to be overhauled. Back up systems meed to be improved and documented.  Disaster recovery plans need updating.

Support/management: The I.T. department has been professionalized, with 2.5 staff positions added since 2005.  A ticket system was set up to manage support calls.  Survey reports have improved dramatically since prior to 2005, but will continue to be monitored as a major indicator for quality of service.

Voice:   The voice systems have shown a need to consider upgrade or replacement. 

 

Summary of network goals:

·       Increase training, expertise of network staff (especially Cisco)

·       Continue to optimize LAN equipment and infrastructure
Enhance network capacity to accommodate expansion of services:

·       Surveillance camera

·       NWEA assessment

·       student video production

·       R.U.S. teleconferencing

·       Provide robust personal voice communications

·       Explore the feasibility of providing mobile phones to teachers

Costs: Local/E-rate/Rual Low Income

 

Goal III: Maintain a sustainable funding plan

·       Educational technology will have an operating budget at or near the national average of 3.4% of the total education budget.[1]

·       Grant writing will continue to be a supplemental component of funding activity.

·       E-Rate discounts will be an annual component of technology budgeting.

Costs: Local (technology staff, administration, Tech. Committee)

 

Goal IV: Establish a sustainable support/maintenance plan

Ongoing service, maintenance and user support for technology will be provided in the Jay School Department technology budget, as a component of the percentage above. Integration and application support will be a regular part of the instructional budget. Service benchmarks[2] will be used to establish a continual improvement model, with regular meetings to analyze performance data, and make adjustments.

Costs: Local

 

Goal V: Curriculum Integration

·       Technology will be used in the implementation of learning standards, to facilitate the complex logistics of the change process, new data recording, etc.

·       Technology will be used to increase students’ knowledge and skills in the content areas, in particular literacy, numeracy and technology.

·       Student technology proficiencies will be identified and incorporated into the district curriculum matrix.

Costs: Local//Title IID/Maine Learning Technology Initiative

 

Goal VI: Distance Learning

Explore and enhance local capabilities in the following areas:

·       Regional Learning Network (school-school)

·       Statewide Learning Network (ATM/ University System)

·       Distance Learning (Institutional/ commercial providers)

·       International teleconferencing partners (school-school)

·       Staff development

·       Virtual Field Trips (institutional and commercial providers)

·       Virtual Field Trips (self designed remote learning)

·       Virtual Field Trips (International/cultural)

·       Virtual Field trips (dangerous occupations/environments)

·       Foreign Language (contracted tutors in other countries, currently a growing phenomenon on Skype)

·       Regional/statewide/national and international collaboration/planning

Costs: Rural Utilities Services Grant (U.S.D.A.)/Local (A.T.M. system)/Rural Low Income (NCLB Title VI.)

 

Goal VII: Coordination/Assessment

 

·       The Technology Committee and I.T. Coordinator will maintain a continual improvement planning model, and report annually to the School Board on the progress of this plan.

·       A technology self-assessment tool will be developed and employed.[3]

·       An annual revision of the Technology Plan will be conducted.

Costs: Local/Title IID/

 

Goal VII: Staff Development

 

·       Quality staff development opportunities for educational professionals on the instructional and administrative applications of technology will be provided enabling staff to move beyond basic competencies toward integration

·       In-service offerings will be coordinated with identified student proficiencies and curricular needs

Costs: Local/Title IIA

 

 

 

4. Identify Necessary Technology

After a formal needs assessment and technology audit, it was determined by a representative committee of the Jay school community that the following capabilities at the following service levels would be needed to bring reality to the vision as expressed by the community:

 

Benchmarks:

1.    Any student or staff person who requires help using approved information tools can expect to receive it during the same class period or work session.

2.    All staff members and students can print documents reliably 99% of the time.

3.    All classrooms and instructional spaces have the capability to use an Internet browser and an approved suite of computer tools.

4.    All staff have functioning, easy to use, accessible voice and email.

5.    All students have frequent access to a capable Internet browser and an approved tool suite.

6.    All secondary students have frequent supervised access to email

7.    All staff have immediate access to a voice phone, and a reasonable expectation of making calls beyond the building.

8.   All staff have portable, personal voice communications.

9.    All staff have immediate access to pertinent student data.

10.                       All classrooms have periodic (scheduled) access to Projection/presentation capabilities

11.                      All staff have periodic (scheduled) access to one-one computing (lab, mobile cart, etc.) for an entire class.

12.                       All staff and students have periodic (scheduled) access to video editing capabilities.

 

By Grade level:

(Pending state program)

All students in grades 7-12 have immediate access to a personal computing device.

 

Standard

District-wide information Technology Services that are approved and expected to function, do so at least 99% of the time.

 

 

5. Collaboration with Adult Literacy Service Providers

Up-to-date technology facilities at Jay will continue to be made available for adult literacy service providers.

 

 

 

6. Strategies for Improving Academic Achievement and Teacher Effectiveness –

  The primary evaluation target for the technology program is improved academic achievement, as measured by the M.E.A., S.A.T., Course completion rates, etc. Technology Literacy will be established through ETAC standards. In addition to direct measurement of student learning, staff members will be surveyed on technology knowledge and competency. Staff requests will also be analyzed for type (I.E. basic vs. advanced) to assess staff capacity. Ed. Tech funds will be used to support equitable access (shared equipment and supplies as requested through the technology committee) improved staff knowledge and competency (training/conferences/seminars) and will be matched with significant local support.

 

 

 

7. Integration of Technology with Curricula, Instruction, and Assessment –

During the next three years, literacy, numeracy and technology will be a particular focus of curriculum integration planning. Goals will be tied to student performance, and specific technologies will be evaluated and implemented to improve curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Staff and students will be involved in piloting, selecting and deploying these new capabilities. Key leaders will be: Curriculum/I.T. director, integrators, classroom teachers and building principals. This special emphasis will have a three year time line: 2008,2009,2010.
 

 

 

8. Technology Type and Costs, and Coordination with Funding Resources

Develop a step-by-step action plan, with time line, that includes goals, activities, required hardware and software, costs, and funding sources. Describe the type and costs of technology to be acquired and how it fits within the current structure (use the list developed in the technology assessment in # 4, above.). Designate sources of funding, specifically Ed Tech funds, E-Rate funds, and funds from other Federal programs, and state and local sources that support technology acquisition and integration. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TECHNOLOGY TYPE, COST, AND FUNDING SOURCE

 

 

 

 

 

GOALS

ACTIVITIES

HARDWARE/SOFTWARE

  Per year COSTS

FUNDING SOURCE

Improve Access

As stated in….

 

 (Goal 1 above)

Replace/add new equipment to achieve improved access for grades 7-12, and adequate computers for K-6)

 $80,000

Local (ESPS set-aside,) MLTI, Title I