UNION COUNTY SCHOOLS TECHNOLOGY

Needs Assessment

See the Tennessee Star Chart for each school at end of Plan or Website

Stakeholders

School Board Members
David Coppock
Don Morgan
Mark Devault
Calvin Chesney
Gerald Smith
Calvin Chesney
Brian Oaks

Donald Tharpe –Network Administrator
Brandi Coppock – Student Data Management

Stakeholders were asked to brainstorm, develop, write, and/or approve a comprehensive district technology plan that would prepare our students to become technology literate and be able to use technology in career goals. The stakeholders were charged with setting district-wide technology goals and coming up with a plan that would be both attainable and visionary.

05-06

06-07

07-08

Item #2

FUNDING

Tech Plan Submitted    (July 2005)

Tech Plan Submitted for Board Approval   (June 2005)

1 technician per 800 machines

Apply for Formula E-rate Funds (2005-2006)

Applying for grants to supplement and fund technology plan (yearly)

Request Board-Supplemented Technology Funds   (yearly)

Request Board-Supplemented Funds for Technology Replacement(yearly)

Add 1 Technology Coach

Add 1 technician per 500 machines

Applying for grants to supplement and fund technology plan (yearly)

Request Board-Supplemented Technology Funds (yearly)

Request Board-Supplemented Funds for Technology Replacement (yearly)

Add a supplement for school technology contacts and 1 additional technology coach (August 2007)

Add 1 technician per 400 machines

Applying for grants to supplement and fund technology plan (yearly)

Request Board-Supplemented Technology Funds (yearly)

Request Board-Supplemented Funds for Technology Replacement (yearly)

Item #3

INFRA-

STRUCTURE

Network and Internet cabling to every classroom continued for new classrooms (June 2005)

Update Servers (2005)

Begin wireless node installation in every school

Increase egress bandwidth

Establish Union County Schools Technology Center providing technology and other resources to teachers, students, and community. (2003)

Network and Internet cabling to every classroom continued for new classrooms (June 2006)

Identify new networking technologies to improve speed of delivery of content (2006)

Complete wireless node installation in every school(2006)

Network and Internet cabling to every classroom continued for new classrooms (June 2007)

Identify new networking technologies to improve speed of delivery of content (2007)

Finalize wireless node installation in every school

Item #4

HARDWARE/

SOFTWARE

Continue adding computer workstations in all workspaces as needed

Implement wireless computer teaching aids

Expand use of CompassLearning curriculum software

Expand use of Fast Forward educational software

Increase teacher use of technology

Expand use of other educational software including: Kidpix Deluxe, FastForword Gateway, Kidspiration, GraphClub, Timeliner, Compass, Active Classroom, Gaggle,

Nettrekker, Storybook Weaver, Type to Learn

Implement countywide teacher training lab

New email server (August 2005)

Encourage use of student email

Update/replace networking equipment at all schools

Implement Odyssey software to allow students to use CompassLearning software from home

Implement United Streaming at UCHS

Implement TV stations at LES

Implement spam filter for email

Implement Term parent web access software

Implement Term gradebook software

Continue adding computer workstations in all workspaces as needed

Continue adding wireless computer teaching aids

Expand use of CompassLearning curriculum software

Expand use of Fast Forward educational software

Increase teacher use of technology

Expand use of other educational software including: Kidpix Deluxe, FastForword Gateway, Kidspiration, GraphClub, Timeliner, Compass, Active Classroom, Gaggle, Nettrekker, Storybook Weaver, Type to Learn

CreateTeacherTechnology/Resource Center

Continue to encourage use of student email

New servers for all schools

Continue to update/replace networking equipment at all schools

Promote use of Odyssey software

Promote use of teacher center

Update spam filter for email

Promote use of Term parent web access software

Expand United Streaming to all other schools

Continue adding computer workstations in all workspaces as needed

Continue adding wireless computer teaching aids

Expand use of CompassLearning curriculum software

Expand use of Fast Forward educational software

Increase teacher use of technology

Continue promoting teacher use of Technology Center

Update spam filter for email

Continue to encourage use of student email

Continue to promote use of Odyssey software

Continue to promote use of Term parent web access software

Item #5

STAFF

TRAINING

Mandatory 8 hours professional development in a weakness from the Technology Self-assessment Rubric

District-wide county in-service

Coordinate with school-level administrators on working on gaps from the Tennessee Star Chart and Union County online assessment
tool.

Courses/Workshops

Mandatory 8 hours professional development in a weakness from the Technology Self-assessment Rubric

Courses/Workshops

Software Training

*Tech Coach to hold Library Media Specialist Semester Training

Applications Support

Information Literacy & Net

Courses/Workshops

Mandatory 8 hours professional development in a weakness from the Technology Self-assessment Rubric

Mandatory 8 hours of Training (Initial Network/Hardware/Software Training)

*Tech Coaches to coordinate on-site professional development based on needs of schools

Applications Support

Information Literacy & Net

Courses/Workshops

Item #6

ASSESSMENT

Staff to take the online Technology Self-assessment Rubric (TSAR)

Analysis of TSAR data (2005)

Workstation Use Survey (2005)

School Report of Standardized State Testing (2006)

Staff to take the online Technology Self-assessment Rubric (TSAR)

Analysis of TSAR data (2007)

Workstation Use Survey (2007)

School Report of Standardized State Testing (2007)

Staff to take the online Technology Self-assessment Rubric (TSAR)

Analysis of TSAR data (2008)

Workstation Use Survey

(2008)

School Report for the past 3 years (2008)

Item #7

STUDENT LEARNING

Students to take the online Technology Self-assessment Rubric (TSAR)

Student Performance Assessment

Item #8

STAFFING

* Add a full-time technician

* Add a full time technology coach at UCHS

* Add a full-time technology coach

* Add a full-time technician

* Add another full-time technology coach

* Add a full-time technician

In Union County Schools, the learning community will become technologically literate, self-directed and life-long learners. Learners will be able to interact successfully with technology to achieve their personal, educational, and career goals.

Administrative/Faculty Goals

A. Use technology to identify gaps in student learning and analyze assessment data. ---(April Donaldson, Wayne Goforth, Brandi Coppock)

B. Use technology that is developmentally appropriate to promote active learning and individualize instruction.— (April Donaldson, Wayne Goforth, Brandi Coppock)

C. Ensure access to assistive technology for students with disabilities.— (Sandra Price, Robert Clark)

Student Goals

The following have been identified as broad overview of K-12 goals.— (April Donaldson, Wayne Goforth)

B. Students will communicate visually, graphically and artistically through multi-media presentations.

Use a variety of technology (computers, projection devices, camcorders, video-editing equipment, scanners, calculators, copiers, DVDs, video and audio equipment, cameras, wireless handheld devices).

Use computer networks and telecommunications (electronic mail, voice mail, video)

Use on-site electronic resources (encyclopedias, catalogs indexes, hand-held learning tools)

E. Students will use CompassLearning Software to support learning in all content curriculum areas.

In support of these goals in the district’s strategic plan, several key components have been developed to integrate the use of technology into the work of schools.

Assures skillful use of technology to support the development of lifelong learning skills and process skills (flexibility, adaptability, critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration) which are essential to success in our rapidly changing information age.

LIFELONG LEARNERS ARE:
Responsible for their own learning
Skilled in accessing & processing information
Confident in using technological tools
Able to solve complex problems alone or collaboratively
Capable of being creative and innovative
Able to communicate locally, nationally, and worldwide

Item #12 PLANNING PROCESS FOR STAFF TRAINING
(See Staff Development Section for more detail)
-Provides introduction to networked systems (district-planned and delivered).
-Supports using basic network software (district-planned and delivered).
-Develops school-based technology plans (district and/or school delivery).
-Implements training and ongoing support for school-based plans (school-based      delivery).
-Incorporates training for new curriculum (math, writing, etc.) with technology applications (district- and/or school-based delivery).

Item #13 EQUAL ACCESS FOR THE LEARNING COMMUNITY
-Establishes basic technological networking capabilities provided at all sites.
-Provides for minimum standards of hardware and software for all students, staff, and            sites.
-Assures that all students, staff and sites will be provided with and have equal access to             minimum standards of hardware and software.
-Implements grade-level technology goals identified to insure equity of delivery to all students (see Learning Goals).
-Expands and enhances voice communications to provide parents/community greater access to school information and to school staff with the capability to leave messages 24 hours a day.
-Enables students/parents/community via telecommunications, access to school learning resources, classroom lessons/assignments, school information and electronic mail messages 24 hours a day.
-Provides the learning community with greater opportunity for interaction, collaboration and information exchange. The school will become a vital meeting place for a host of community services.
-Promotes equitable access to learning technology as a community investment and encourages an active partnership between schools, businesses, homes and the community.

Item #14 INTEGRATION OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM
-Expands classroom tools for teaching and learning.
-Provides for the integration of multiple resources for existing and emerging curriculum.
-Enables learning community to communicate more effectively, access and process information, and work productively.
-Links the classroom with educational resources within the building, community and worldwide.
-Creates a collaborative environment for project-oriented activities.
-Increases the productivity of students as they work toward attaining learning outcomes.
-Encourages the use of multimedia tools enabling students to become active and experiential learners.
-Enables learning to involve partnerships within the school, among schools, and with other organizations.

Item #15 SUPPORT FOR INSTRUCTIONAL CHANGE
-Facilitates access to collegial support and best practice information from a wide variety of resources.
-Expands the variety of teaching tools and strategies to support diverse learning styles.
-Supports productive and efficient management of student assessment and portfolio data.
-Increases support for emerging instructional strategies: inter-disciplinary, collaborative, and active learning options.
-Enables curriculum, instruction and assessment to be developed and aligned with each other.
-Provides a system that helps students, parents and teachers work together to support educational outcomes.

TECHNOLOGY GOALS IN SUPPORT OF LIFELONG LEARNING

         Item #16 COMMUNICATION
           Students will use technology to communicate effectively and creatively.
                        1. Students will communicate through applications software.
                              Create well-written documents, spreadsheets and databases.
                             Use computer-assisted design tools.

                     2. Students will communicate visually, graphically and artistically through multi-                       media presentations.
                             Use a variety of technology (computers, projection devices, camcorders,                                          video-editing equipment, scanners, calculators, copiers, DVDs, video and                                           audio equipment, cameras, wireless hand-held devices).

                       3. Students will communicate through networks and telecommunication.
                             Use computer networks and telecommunications (electronic mail, voice mail,                                    satellite, video).

           Item #17 INFORMATION PROCESSING
            Students will use technology to access and retrieve, to interpret and evaluate visual                        and auditory information.

                          1. Students will access and retrieve electronic information.
                            Use search strategies to retrieve information.
                              Use on-site electronic resources (encyclopedias, catalogs, indexes, hand-                                         held learning tools).
                              Use networks to access information (on-line databases, libraries).

                          2. Students will interpret and evaluate information to support learning in all                                          content areas.

               Item #18 PRODUCTIVITY
                Students will use technology and its applications to maximize productivity and skill                           development.

                          1. Students will use technology to enhance their productivity.
                              Use technology to develop learning and workplace skills.
                              Develop strategies for problem solving, critical and creative thinking.
                              Create high-quality multi-media products.
                              Develop creativity and innovation through the use of technology.

                          2. Students will develop basic technology skills.
                              Select and access technology appropriate to needs.
                            Use correct starting and exiting procedures.
                              Develop keyboarding skills.
                              Operate peripheral devices.
                              Use technology independently and cooperatively.
                              Use technology safely and ethically

Item #19 Collaboration among educators

In August of 2001, the Tennessee State Board of Education approved the Curriculum Standards including the Content Standards, Learning Expectations, and Accomplishments. Currently, Union County educators are in the process of revising their Curriculum Framework to align with the Curriculum Standards. In Union County, technology is an integral component in the implementation of the Union County K-12 Curriculum.

The county will hold a district-wide in-service where classroom teachers, library staff, administrators, guidance counselors, special area teachers, physical education teachers, music teachers and educational technology staff will discuss the technology goals and decide how to best implement them into their classroom.

Union County Schools has also collaborated with other school systems by sharing equipment and technical expertise.

Union County Schools currently collaborates with county government to maintain county websites and provides the adult literacy program with Internet access. Union County Schools provides email service to all school staff. Union county Schools hosts its own web site and website domain - www.ucps.org . Local business and industries are involved with the schools in job programs (i.e. TVA , Sunset Bay, LLC.). The district will develop partnerships with local universities to provide distance learning for AP courses and library access and extended borrowing privileges for teachers.

After a review of relevant research conducted by Milken Exchange on Education Technology (to view the complete report, link to http://www.mff.org/pubs/ME161.pdf) and CAST Center for Applied Special Technology (to view the complete report, link to http://www.cast.org/udl/index.cfm?i=121), it has been determined the following curricula and teaching strategies that integrate technology show positive gains in student achievement.

The Internet will be integrated into the classroom as a research tool where students can become independent, critical thinkers and be able to find information, organize and evaluate it through project-based learning and web quests.

Online tutorial and practice programs such as CompassLearning Curriculum, Fast Forward Gateway, Active Classroom, Gaggle, Type to Learn, Nettrekker HyperStudio, Inspiration, Kidspiration, KidPix Deluxe, Graph Club, Printshop, Timeline, Math Munchers, Storybook Weaver, Accelerated Reader, AR Math, Writing Center, Ulead Vision Studio 6, Picture It, Cornerstone, and Microsoft Frontpage will continue to be used to supplement instruction in the classroom and as an enrichment and remediation tool.

Simulation and software that teaches higher-order thinking skills will be used to enhance classroom learning experiences (web page design, video editing, and computer aided industrial technologies).

Presently, all teachers in Union County have Internet access in the classroom. All grades K-3 classrooms are equipped with a minimum of 4 networked computer workstations. All grades 4-5 classrooms are equipped with a minimum of 9 networked computer workstations. All grades 6-12 equipped with a minimum of 4 networked computer workstations. UCHS has 7 networked computer labs. Union County Schools will acquire funds through the Board of Education and state and federal grants to purchase wireless, LCD projectors, mobile computer/television stations, and video/distance learning equipment for each school in the district. These labs will ensure that students and teachers will have increased access to computers and the Internet.

Item #23 Equity

Item #24 Professional development

A plan will be placed on the website to inform all personnel of the technology plan, including teacher and student expectations. Each school will designate one full day of in-service based on the needs of their faculty in technological training. Union County will obtain a full-time district technology coach to assist the technology supervisor in being responsible for providing ongoing teacher, administrator, and library media specialist training in the following areas:

Item #25 Budget
See timeline subject to funding.

Item #26 Interoperability

Union County Schools Technology staff will do an assessment as technology is available and funded that will guarantee interoperability (hardware to hardware, software to software, hardware to software).

Data is housed on public shares for a wide variety of applications. Shared applications also reside on file servers throughout the WAN.

Networked print server devices are used with TCP/IP for some DEC/VMS remote print services. Some networked workstations are configured to provide peer printer sharing. All schools are equipped with at least one networked Oki 8c Laser type color printers.

Phonemaster Software delivers Homework Hotline (992-0211) and automatically calls homes of students who are absent on a daily basis.

The District has servers which provide internet caching service and firewall security.

Computerized Library cataloging service is provided at each school and is interlinked with the WAN.

Student records, fiscal and human resources databases reside at the local school on a server or stand-alone machine. Centralized data resides at district office.

The district uses Management Software for network monitoring and management. Network Sniffer software provides LAN and WAN protocol analysis services. T.E.R.M. Software provides inventory, staff, transportation and student data management services. All management systems are operated and configured by district technical staff.

The district Internet connection is a Fractional DS3, 12 megabyte per second – Full Duplex (simultaneous 12 mps outbound and 12 mps inbound). Internet services are provided by the Connect-TN. provider for the State of Tennessee. Internet connection hardware is physically located in the district’s Technology Center’s Main Distribution Frame (MDF).

Education Networks of America provides a single internet egress connection. Internal IP addresses and names are issued and maintained by the district technical staff.

Proxy Server caching; currently achieving an average hit rate approaching 50%, significantly conserves Internet bandwidth. Firewall and security services are also available through the proxy server filtering service. Our World Wide Web Server hosts our district web site along with the web sites of each school in the district.

Some higher end non-networked workstations exist throughout the district. Most are to support students with special needs.

All PC compatible networked workstations are at least Intel or AMD CPU class computers. All district workstations are Pentium or AMD processor based. There are currently over 1.5 computers to 2 students fully networked workstations in the district.

The Microsoft Office suite and Microsoft Publisher comprise the district's primary personal productivity software package. Scheduling and calendar functionality is provided by the Microsoft Office suite and operating systems.

Typical educational support software includes CAD, Internet browsers, typing and keyboarding programs, drawing/desktop publishing programs, presentation programs, database management systems, and search engines. Special software programs are used to support testing and evaluation of student progress. Each school uses on-line reference systems such as Electronic Library, and NewsBank.

Each school (except Sharps Chapel Elementary School) has cable television routed to all building classrooms. Regional broadcasts originate from either local cable company feeds or from building satellite dishes. TCI cable Channel 1 news and educational feeds are implemented at all schools.

Each school has one or more VCRs, DVD players and video monitors on portable carts.

In addition to all classrooms in high schools, all buildings (except Sharps Chapel Elementary School) have cable TV provided to the school library.

All schools (except Sharps Chapel Elementary School) have cable feeds from ComCast, the local cable franchise company.

New and renovated facilities will be equipped with Category 6 Unshielded Twisted Pair or subsequent high-speed wire standard certified to 622 Megabytes per second. Every classroom and administrative workspace will be provided with at least one outlet box per permanent structural wall. Each outlet box will accommodate four 4-pair cables. Fiber drops are preferred for data, voice and video services where high bandwidth applications are used. Fiber riser and backbone connections will be provided to telecommunication closets to replace copper backbone connections and enhance bandwidth. Fiber ring or star topology is the target architecture connecting remote buildings to the district central office for voice, data, and video digital communications.

ATM, FIDDI or subsequent standards will be applied in the design of WAN and LAN backbone connections. The objective system will require minimum 100 Megabyte per second connections to all nodes using either copper or fiber. The network infrastructure will naturally evolve to higher bandwidth standards as media and supporting equipment become proven and economically feasible. Ultimately, there will be a single, composite signal path for voice, data and video into end terminal equipment.

The district will adopt fiber optic, wireless or other high-bandwidth, quality-of-service protocols as evolving standards certify them for use and common acceptance drives their price into affordable ranges.

The planning goal for the District Area Network (DAN) is to replace the current T-1 multiplexed voice and data circuits with fiber to all schools. As opportunities arise, the district will obtain 1000 Megabit or faster connections to other governmental nodes such as the public library, city government, and local colleges and universities.

The use of microwave full duplex Ethernet will be evaluated to provide DAN connectivity for remote sites when fiber is not available and bandwidth demands exceed the limitations of T-1 circuits.

Digital lines comprising single or multiple T-1 connections will be implemented at sites insupportable by the technologies mentioned above.

Newer routing technologies, protocols, and higher bandwidths will require upgrades to routing devices, repeaters, hubs, switches, network interface cards and other elements of the network infrastructure.

The district will experience significant changes in its need for server-based resources in the next two to three years. This will be a direct result of the growing demand for data services for streaming media applications, video servers, graphic servers, audio servers, and data sharing services for collaborative applications. Continuing trends toward specialization of server platforms will eventually put high-end servers in place for file services alone.

The district will continue to expand its current print services to keep pace with the anticipated demand for more shared personal printers. The introduction of high-speed 100 Megabyte per second laser and color-laser printers for site use will profoundly affect bandwidth requirements and accentuate the need for dedicated, switched printer segments on the various school LANs.

The district will continue to expand the use of servers to include integrated delivery of learning applications such as streaming audio/video and distance learning software programs.

Continued use of Proxy caching technology will also be expanded with redundant and specialized-media proxy servers ensuring bandwidth and processor load balancing. The district will continue to increase the functionality and inherent complexity of its World Wide Web presence using emerging ASP technologies and Microsoft .NET technology. There will be a high demand for a robust intranet presence with increasing DAN bandwidth in order to provide distance learning opportunities and administrative software applications, including web-based back-end database access for student and HR programs.

The district will provide continued maintenance of DNS services, including integration with the TCP/IP protocol implementations. Similarly, there will be continuing use of evolving dynamic configuration schemes with ensuing versions of Internet Protocols.

New implementations will be required for specialized servers with ever increasing content demands such as central library databases, security, streaming media servers, and application servers.

Remote access will evolve to T-1 connections, and/or virtual private networks from independent ISPs.

The district will obtain new fiber connections providing significantly enhanced access to the internet. Since the district is fully networked now, this will eliminate many of the connectivity issues that currently restrict the effective use of the Internet as a learning resource. It is anticipated that as Internet throughput is improved, there will be a natural tendency toward relaxing the restrictions placed on proliferation of Internet browser software as a means to control bandwidth utilization. This will necessitate a continuous review of how available bandwidth is being used and what changes need to be made to accommodate the expanding use of technology in the curriculum. ENA will monitor and manage bandwidth usage.

The district will continue to maintain and update a standard set of contemporary software for educational, personal productivity and administrative uses. The Microsoft Office Professional suite will become the district standard. Client software will be upgraded to keep pace with evolving Windows standards; server software will parallel this evolution. Hardware upgrades will be a continuing necessity to meet the ever increasing processor and memory requirements of more demanding client and server software implementations. All software will be maintained at a functional revision level.

The district has implemented T.E.R.M., a decentralized, distributed processing, client-server model student record system that resides on servers with components at teacher desktop level. Database replication and backup services have placed increased demand on DAN bandwidth and increased the memory and processing load requirements of host server platforms.

The district workstation paradigm will also continue to evolve. The first notable shift will be away from a model that installs all software on a local hard drive to one that places more emphasis on server delivered applications. The emergence of Net PCs and Thin Client systems will necessitate a continuing review of software delivery methodologies as these technologies mature.

The district’s telephone system needs will also change with the introduction of new technologies. A larger capacity, higher bandwidth central PBX will be necessary for transport of projected advanced signaling enhancements such as based teleconferencing. More physical ports will be necessary to service fax, modem and handset needs at each site. Enhanced 911 will be implemented, possibly requiring PBX upgrades at multiple sites. Telephony will continue to evolve toward potential workstation integration with voice, data, and video services, especially at administrative worksites, requiring greater bandwidth and processor/memory requirements for those systems.

Greater emphasis will be placed on digital signaling for classroom video systems. Displays will originate from digital sources in greater proportion to traditional VCR or cable television feeds; for example, educators will be able to transmit PowerPoint slides or cached Web pages into the classroom TV monitor. Teleconferencing will be deliverable to the classroom level from DAN and wide area sources, profoundly impacting bandwidth requirements, both internal to the building site and across wide area links.

The district is scheduled for a Primary Rate Interface (PRI) T-1 drop to support a video conferencing system. The district will implement a group video conferencing system utilizing the full T-1 PRI bandwidth at a centralized location. Integration with streaming media applications will be utilized for video teleconferencing as that technology matures.

The district will continue applying electrical standards to its sites to provide adequate levels of service and to afford adequate protection of equipment. Planning for new construction and existing building renovations will include provisions for a comprehensive review of electrical capacity requirements to ensure that technology enhancements are considered and included in project engineering and design.

The district would like to increase the level of technology available to staff and students and has identified this as a high priority this year. The District believes that funding provided on a competitive basis by the No Child Left Behind technology grants is an excellent opportunity to do that. The grant application will provide for details of how we propose to use those funds.

Item #39 Leadership

The Union County Schools administrators will play an integral role in the effective integration of educational technology. The most effective way administrators can promote technology use is to themselves be knowledgeable and effective users of technology. Administrators will be expected to follow the Technology Standards for School Administrators developed by the Collaborative for Technology Standards for School Administrators, (to view the complete list of standards, link to http://cnets.iste.org/tssa/view_standards.html ) Administrators will be an advocate in the schools for research-based effective practices in use of technology. They will also advocate the district technology plan and administer its components in their local schools to achieve the plan’s goals and objectives. Union County administrators currently implement and use the integrated technology-based management system, TERM, to collect and manage student and teacher data. Administrators in Union County Schools also feel that modeling effective practices and uses of technology are an integral part of technology integration. Administrators will ensure that each staff member has the opportunity to engage in professional development to enhance their classroom instructional procedures. Administrators will also be expected to complete the self-evaluation Mankato Scale to set technology goals for themselves.(see #17)

The Union County School System has an acceptable use of technology and the Internet policy for students and teachers. Union County Schools also provides local blocking and filtering of Internet sites. Software to monitor email is implemented. Union County Schools is in compliance with the Child Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Union County Schools has a board policy on digital and paper copyright. (see links)

Item #41 Evaluation

Administrators, teachers, and students will complete an online, self-evaluation rubric based on the Mankato Scale, developed by Makato (Minnesota) Public Schools and adapted by Bellingham (Washington) Public Schools. The results will be used to plan further district in-services and school-wide professional development activities.

The following grade specific technology goals can be used to provide ideas and suggestions to teachers for future planning. These goals should be considered when integrating technology into the curriculum and incorporating the use of technology into the classroom. This process is expected to take several years to be fully implemented with staff development and support considered a top priority.

There are many levels in which these goals can be accomplished. These goals provide direction for basic key experiences with technology needed by our students, but also account for the varying levels of difficulty and complexity expected at different grade levels. For example, a goal such as: create documents using word processing skills and publishing programs, would have a first grader finishing a simple sentence and perhaps adding a publishing program graphic, while a high school senior might be writing a lengthy, complex report with self-designed graphics. The goal would remain the same; however, the product would look different depending on the level and the ability of the individual student.

As this plan is implemented, individual school sites, as well as specific grade-level and subject curriculum committees, would help to further develop and refine these suggestions. These proposed technology goals were not planned as an add-on to an already full school day, but rather as support for teachers and students to better accomplish goals as lifelong learners.

                       1. Students will communicate through applications software.

                                   Create documents using word processing skills and simple publishing                                              programs.

Create tables, graphs and charts.

2. Students will communicate visually, graphically, and artistically through multimedia presentations.

Students will use technology to access, retrieve, evaluate and interpret visual/auditory information

1. Students will access and retrieve electronic information.

Students will use technology and its applications to maximize productivity and effectiveness

Create written documents using word processing skills, writing process steps, and publishing programs.

2. Students will communicate visually, graphically, and artistically through multi-media.

Students will use technology to access, retrieve, evaluate and interpret visual/auditory information

1. Students will access and retrieve electronic information.

Students will use technology and its applications to maximize productivity and effectiveness

Develop keyboarding skills at 15 to 20 wpm with hands on home row keys at least 80% of the time.

Produce a document using word processing incorporating both text and graphics and following the writing process steps.

Create databases and spreadsheets and integrate them into reports.

2. Students will communicate visually, graphically, and artistically through multi-media and computer-assisted design tools.

Produce a videotape using a camcorder and video-editing equipment.

Use network communication (such as electronic mail and voice mail) to access school information.

Students will use technology to access, retrieve, evaluate and interpret visual/auditory information

Use electronic encyclopedias, almanacs, indexes and catalogs to retrieve, and select pertinent information.

Use cable-delivered services to access information from TV, satellite and other electronic databases.

Students will use technology and its applications to maximize productivity and effectiveness

1 Students will use technology to enhance their understanding and development of basic skills.

Develop keyboarding skills at 20-25 wpm with correct body posture and fingering position on all keys using touch typing at least 80% of the time.

Understand copyright laws and other ethical issues pertaining to use of technology in society.

Understand basic capabilities and limitations of technology's hardware and software.

Create a document at the keyboard using word processing skills and the writing process steps.

Communicate with spreadsheets: enter data; set up formulas, analyze costs with percentages; create graphs or charts to visually represent data.

2. Students will communicate visually, graphically, and artistically through multi-media and computer-assisted design tools.

Use electronic mail, voice mail, satellite telecommunications and classroom telephones.

Students will use technology to access, retrieve, interpret and evaluate visual and auditory information

Use search strategies to locate electronic information (identify key words, narrow search by addition of terms, broaden search, use truncation, use wild cards).

Use hand-held electronic devices: calculators and graphics calculators, electronic dictionaries, thesauruses and spell checkers.

Develop keyboarding skills to 25-30 wpm using correct body posture and finger placement 100% of the time.

Administrative/Faculty Goals

Student Goals

Item #19 Collaboration among educators

Item #24 Professional development

Item #25 Budget See timeline subject to funding.

Item #26 Interoperability

Item #41 Evaluation

Item #25 Budget
See timeline subject to funding.