Van
Buren County School District
Technology
Plan
2005
– 2008
Neal
O’Neal, Director of Schools
Van Buren County School District
Technology Plan
2005-2008
I. Mission Statement
II. Technology Mission statement
III. Vision Statement for Technology
IV. Technology Goals/Strategies
a. Goal 1
b. Goal 2
c. Goal 3
V.
Curricula
Teaching Strategies
VI.
Evaluation and
Accountability
a.
Needs
Assessment
b.
Technology
Team Meeting
c.
Teaching
and Learning
d.
Educator
preparation and Development
VII. Technology Overview and Budgeting
VIII. Technology for Community Involvement
IX. Adult Education Enhancement to Learning Technology
X. Polices, Guidelines, Safeguards
XI. Stakeholders
XII.
Committee Members
Table of Correspondences
I. Van Buren County Mission Statement
The mission of the Van Buren County School System is: (1) To provide
each student a quality education and the skills necessary to function
successfully in today’s changing society; (2) To develop an appreciation for
diversified cultures; (3) To develop problem solving and critical thinking
skills necessary to meet the demands of the future; and (4) To foster an
appreciation of learning as a life-long process.
II. Technology Mission Statement
Through
the use of technology in the 21st century, it is our goal to insure the educational growth and development of
all students while enhancing the teachers’ expertise and comfort in the use of
these technologies in the classroom.
III.
Vision Statement for Technology
To continually access advancements in technology that can help provide
for a productive future in our technology based society.
IV.
Technology Goals –
Strategies – Implementations
All goals are aligned
with State academic standards.
Goal 1: Use technology as a means to increase student achievement on state standards, and to improve problem solving, and critical thinking skills.
Strategy 1: Enhance school learning labs.
Completed
by
Measure: Deploy wireless labs for all schools 2005 - 2006
Measure: Provide wireless connectivity throughout 2005 - 2006
Measure: Student computer ratio will be 2:1 2009
Measure: Plato software will be updated in Lab 1,
Lab 2, and the Vocational School. Annually.
Strategy 2: Provide for individualized learning through on-line instruction.
Measure: Students in grades 4-12 will participate in on line
writing evaluations and electronic
portfolios. By 2008, 85% of students should become
proficient in writing through the use of technology.
Strategy 3:
Promote
student learning through on line assessment of students’ skills. Van Buren
County School System participates in Following the Leaders, which brings a
diverse range of resources. These include classroom and district-level tools to
help teachers and administrators incorporate state standards curriculum into
their classrooms, and assist with the analysis and reporting of student
performance data. These
curricula and teaching strategies that integrate technology effectively into
curricula and instruction are aligned to Tennessee Instructional Technology
Standards.
Measure: Follow the Leaders Program allows students in grades 3-8 to take online tests in Homeroom.com and Skillstutor.com indicating their specific skill needs. Teachers will use this information to monitor student progress throughout the year and to adjust teaching and learning strategies.
Measure: Teachers enhance student’s learning through the use of
streaming video from the use of UnitedStreaming.com.
Strategy 4: Increase students’ reading abilities through a computer based reading program.
Measure: All students will participate in the Accelerated Reader program.
Goal 2: Librarians information technology and telecommunications are effectively used to improve education services.
Strategy 1: Improve educational services through use of available communication resources such as e-mail by assuring that all staff personnel effectively use e-mail for efficient and timely communication, and all staff personnel effectively use the Internet to communicate general and school specific information through out the school year.
Measure: All staff personnel are surveyed to determine their e-mail account status. All staff are supplied with a working e-mail account.
Measure: All school administrative personnel are directed to use e-mail communication for intra-school and inter-school communications
Measure: District and school departmental web sites are constructed.
Measure: Each school designates a school web site representative
Strategy 2: Improve educational services through effective use of available
information technology resources such as software, computers, servers, printers, and networks by assuring that all staff personnel are provided access to appropriate administrative and instructional computing, printing and data storage resources.
Measure: All staff personnel are surveyed to determine their computing needs.
Measure: All staff personnel are provided with access to appropriate computing and printing resources.
Goal
3: Staff personnel effectively use technology to improve education
services.
Strategy 1: Provide adequate professional development opportunities to ensure that
staff personnel are effectively trained in the use of available technology tools by assuring that appropriate personnel are trained in the use and maintenance of individual e-mail accounts, the construction and maintenance of specific web sites, the use of administrative and instructional computing and printing resources.
Measure:
All staff personnel are directed to
receive ongoing technology training of technology through the services of
Atomic Learning. Time spent in these activities may be used for appropriate
in-service credit.
Measure: All personnel staff receives e-mail staff development
Measure:
All school web site representatives
receive web site use and maintenance staff development.
Measure:
Tennessee Technological University
provides Van Buren Schools a “Technology for Teachers” class each fall to
improve teacher’s technology skills and keep informed of new technologies.
Teachers will receive graduate credit for attending and completing
requirements.
Strategy 2: Provide adequate professional development opportunities for appropriate staff personnel to attend technology related conferences and seminars.
Measure: The technology department is directed to coordinate and monitor technology related staff development, conference and seminar attendance.
Measure: A full-time technology trainer position should be
added to the technology department staff.
Measure: The Technology Department will provide online or
distance learning programs or sites.
V.
Curricula in Teaching Strategies
Our
curricula and teaching strategies that integrate technology
effectively into curricula and instruction are
aligned to Tennessee
Instructional Technology Standards.
Some teaching strategies that integrate technology to improve student
achievement are:
q On
line instruction with Homeroom.com and Myskillstutor.com to identify students
with specific skill needs. These web sites are aligned with
state standards.
q On line writing evaluations for students in grades 3-12 that maintain an
electronic portfolio of each student’s work.
q Continue Accelerated Reader program, computer based reading program.
q Planned training for integration of new technology into the classroom.
q Bridgestone Company annually provides a $500.00 competitive grant to one teacher who successfully integrates technology into classroom activities.
q One time $10,000.00 award from Samsung Corporation providing Spencer Elementary with four 17” LCD screens, one 61” flat screen T.V., one 32” flat screen T.V., 7 DVD/VCR combo with card reader, 1 digital video/camera recorder.
q Extended computer lab times are provided before and after school.
q All students in grades 1-5 attend weekly computer classes.
To successfully integrate technology into the classroom curriculum, the user must be trained in certain skills. Not only should the user be trained to operate the technology but also to understand and apply the connection between the technology resources and the instructional curriculum. To increase the implementation of technology uses in the classroom, a technology coach should aid the teacher in adaptations of new technologies.
VI.
Evaluation and Accountability
Needs
Assessment:
The ETOTE Survey
and Star Chart are used by the Technology Director to assess the development of
each school in terms of technology readiness. A
telecommunications requirement survey is conducted to improve services. These
improvements are needed to meet the changes in education integration.
Communication services that may need to be improved
in the future include better internet services, software and advancements in
new hardware. The student assessments are used to give guidance in
adjusting technology for educational content. We use technology to focus on
those standard content areas that need improvement.
System
Technology Team Meeting
School Technology Teams: Each school has its own Technology Team that
develops school site plans and makes recommendations and/or request to the
Technology Director and/or the System Technology Team. The System Technology
Team met in a post school conference to discuss the future use of technology in
Van Buren County Schools. Strategies are discussed to keep teachers involved in
technology:
q Hands on technology session will be planned for teachers based on current teacher needs.
q Technology Director, Computer Lab Instructors, and Principal will attend
TETC in the fall to keep abreast of new technologies and procedures.
q Daily memos will be sent to teachers via e-mail
q Teacher Lesson Plan to be posted on school web site
Teaching
and Learning
Results of the surveys indicate
that continuing professional development is needed to ensure that teachers will
use technology as a learning tool for students and management goals. All
teachers are required to attend the technology workshops given throughout the
year. All curricula are based on Tennessee State
Standards. Teachers will review student test data to guide their instruction.
Textbooks will be used as one resource to teach those standards. In addition to
Homeroom.com and MySkillsTutor.com, all teachers who teach subjects with state
assessments will receive training on the use of other standards based web sites
that provide individualized instruction for students. Teachers will include
these web sites in their lesson plans. Teachers and students will complete
surveys to indicate the effectiveness of the web sites. State test data will be
reviewed for improvement in student achievement. Other teachers who teach
classes with out state assessments will also receive training on technology
integration.
Educator
Preparation and Development
Technology training is needed to provide site-based
instruction to promote technology literacy that will enable teachers to
integrate technology into the curriculum that would improve student
achievement. From these meetings the following accountability strategies were
developed:
Strategy 1: Annually, each school will review and relate its technology needs to the Technology Director and Needs Assessment Committee.
Strategy 2: Annually review technology plan and update as appropriate.
Measure:
The Technology Department conducts an
annual review of the technology plans and submits plan modification to Director of Schools
and Board of Education for review and approval
VII.
Technology Overview and Budgeting
Technology is the term used by the Van Buren County Board of Education to refer to a set of tools (computers, software, networking infrastructure, televisions, video cassette recorders, compact disk players, projectors, scanners, cameras, printers, intercom systems, etc.) that are intended to enhance the learning process, provide access to information, and assist educators and administrators in performing their daily tasks. Technology, as a tool, is intended to improve efficiency, productivity, and safety in the school and work environment. The technology plan will be updated annually, to determine professional development needs and new technology requirements.
Budgeting
The Van
Buren County Board of Education uses E-Rate discounts, and reimbursements, for
local telecommunications service and Internet services. A part of the
technology funds are used to purchase specific learning materials for students
such as: Accelerated Reader support services, software updates, AR quizzes,
Criterion Online Writing Evaluation Program, Plato updates, and printer
supplies. An updated plan must be approved by the Van Buren County Board of
Education, and the Tennessee State Department of Education.
Technology Budget
Van Buren County School System
2005-2008
(Future year’s funding is pending
and final amounts/costs are approximate)
Miscellaneous Items may include but not limited to the
following: Electrical tape, nylon wire ties, network cable, cable connectors,
printer cables, video cables, small network hubs or switches, tape, usb cables,
usb hubs, video splitters, printer servers, mouse balls, test equipments,
crimping tools, etc
Future Budget
Our future budget depends
heavily on local, state, and federal funding trends. We do not foresee
any reduction with some increases in maintenance.
VIII.
Technology and Parent Involvement
Each school will
have student/parent reading nights throughout the year to address the target
group of students in a high poverty area. “Accelerated Reader” is used for
parent and student involvement in the reading program. Parents are encouraged
to bring their child to Family Reading Nights that occur once a six-week
period. During this time parents read and read to their child and then both may
take a test on a computer located in the library and in the computer labs.
Prizes and refreshments are provided in a grant from Caney Fork Electric
Cooperative, who partnerships with Spencer Elementary School. Parents are
encouraged to view the School web site for teacher lesson plans and school
activities. The Technology Director and other trained personnel will be
available at all parent night activities to assist parents as they access the
programs that the school offers their children, including the Accelerated
Reading activities. This personnel will
provide the parents with training on how to access the school website and use
all the information it provides.
IX.
Adult
Education Enhancement to learning Technology
Collaboration with Adult Education will enhance system
goals.
Adult education
program will be provided access to all online software that is used in the
schools for self-paced learning. The
adult education computer lab will be used for training in newer technology to
which many adult learners have not been exposed. Basic keyboarding, word processing, document presentation,
e-mail, and Internet use will also be addressed. Technology Director will meet
with the adult education teacher monthly to discuss technology needs.
X.
Polices Guidelines and Safeguards
Technology
guidelines and safeguards consist of any policy, procedure, regulation, or
requirement designed to guide, control or regulate the Van Buren County Board of
Education technology program. All assurances have been signed and are on file.
We are full in compliance with all these
include policies, procedures, and regulations covering such areas as:
Internet use, web site use, computer use, network use, the
Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA),
E-Rate funding, equipment inventory, and any State, Federal, or Local
Governmental requirements.
XI.
Stakeholders
System Technology Team: Team consists of Neal
O’Neal, Director of Schools; Chris Hargrove, Director of Technology; Glenece
Cole, Supervisor of Instruction; Linda Singleton, Family Resource; Mike Martin,
Principal; Denise Whittenberg, Principal; Diane Hodges, Computer Lab Teacher;
Phyllis Deweese, Teacher.
XII.
Committee Members
Members of this committee
establish the framework and revisions for the purposes of technological
advancements for the Van Buren County Schools. Formal and informal
recommendations are made through conversations and telephone correspondence as
well as meetings that are scheduled yearly.
Committee Members
Van Buren County Director of Schools
Neal Wayne O’Neal
Citizen’s Bank
Vice-President
Freda Christensen
Van Buren County Schools Technology Team
Technology Coordinator
Chris A. Hargrove
Van Buren County High Principal
Michael Martin
Spencer Elementary School
Denise Whittenberg
Curriculum Coordinator
Linda Singleton
Supervisor of Instruction
Glenece Cole
Spencer Elementary Computer Lab Teacher
Diane Hodges
Table of Correspondences
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Required Elements of the District Plan |
Location within District Technology Plan |
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Section VI: Evaluation and Accountability |
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Section XI: Stakeholders Section XII: Committee Members |
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Section IV: Technology Goals Goal A, B, and C: Timelines
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Section IV: Technology Goals Goal A, B, and C: Responsibility |
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Section I: Mission Section III: Vision |
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6. Goals and Objectives |
Section IV: Technology Goals and Strategies Goal A, B, and C: Strategy under each goal |
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7. Collaboration among educators |
Section XI: Stakeholders
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Section XII: Committee Members |
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Section V: System Technology Team Meeting |
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Section V: System Technology Team Meeting |
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Section II. Mission Section III. Introduction |
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Section VI. Educator Preparation and Development |
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Section VII. Current Budget |
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Section VI. Administration and Support Team |
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Section X. Guidelines and Safeguards |
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Section VI. Evaluation |