Five-year Technology Plan

Grand County School District
Five-year Technology Plan
Last updated 05/30/03

Executive Summary

Purpose of the Plan: The Grand County School District five-year technology plan is a comprehensive plan which will be used to guide our curriculum, instruction, staff development, and purchases and installation. It is based on the Seven Dimensions for Gauging Progress of the Milken Family Foundation and is written according to state guidelines and requirements. "The Seven Dimensions outline how schools can begin to measure their own progress in transforming classrooms into active, stimulating and academically sound learning environments that use technology." (www.mff.org)

Philosophy of the Plan: Preparing our technology five-year plan was a year-long process carried out by a committee of teachers, administrators, and other stakeholders. The teachers on the planning
committee were selected by their building principal. (Refer to ppendix A for a complete list of committee members and readers.) Although the goals and action steps of the plan are extensive and lofty, the planning committee included very few mandates. Instead, authority and responsibility for implementing the plan is left where it belongs -- with teachers and building administrators. This document is intended to provide a plan to support and enhance the teaching and learning process rather than to dictate timelines and actions. The committee realizes that reaching the goals of the technology five-year plan is highly dependent upon needs assessments and funding. Goals will be met only with aggressive funding plans and grant applications. Thus, although it is not specifically stated, each goal is "... based on needs and available funding."

Format of the Plan: The numbers in parentheses indicate the initial year of implementation for a particular goal. After the initial year, most goals and activities are ongoing in nature. The plan stresses that, where appropriate, students with disabilities will be able to access technologies in regular settings. After most numbered goals, the plan includes various action steps which may be used to implement the plan and meet the goal. Throughout the plan, the term 'administration' includes the Superintendent and Building Principals or their designees.

Appendices: Appendices to the plan include the list of committee members and readers as well as various technology policies and procedures in place in Grand County School District.

Student Learning

Learners (Curriculum)

1.Students will be competent in the skills/objectives of the Utah Core Curriculum for Educational Technology -- Those standards include:
Basic operations and concepts
Social, ethical, and human issues
Technology productivity tools
Technology communications tools
Technology problem solving and decision-making tools

2.Students will be competent in the skills/objectives of the Utah Keyboarding Standards. (2004-2005)

Learning Environment (Instructional Strategies)

1.Teachers and administrators will model uses of technology in an effort to encourage student competency with technology.

a.Staff will publish via E-mail, or post on the Web, appropriate memos, agendas, announcements, newsletters, etc. (ongoing)
b.Staff will present lessons using available technology. (ongoing)

2.District administration* will work toward providing trained personel in the elementary school technology lab positions. (ongoing)
3.Staff will provide students educational experiences for utilizing technology. (ongoing)
4.Staff will allow all students to use technology as an option for selected project assignments. (ongoing)
5. When funding and staff are available CyberCorps Coordinators, four building liaisons, and technology instructional staff will identify and train students who will serve as troubleshooters, researchers, and aides to teachers in creating activities and finding Web sites. (Refer to programs such as S.W.A.T., GenYes, and CyberCorps.) (on going)
6.Staff will be given an opportunity to attend regularly-scheduled technology spotlight sessions.

a.A Technology Representative from SESC and the District Technology Committee will coordinate the staff training. (ongoing)
b. A Technology Representative from SESC and District Technology Committee will assess training needs. (ongoing)
c.Administration* will provide time for training. (ongoing)

7.School and District Webmasters will maintain District and School Web sites in order to build and share lists, databases, tools, and resources. (ongoing)

Professional Competency (and Staff Development)

1.In order to improve staff competency with technology, administrators and staff will be given the opportunity to receive appropriate training.

a.The Superintendent and district administrators will attend technology training meetings when possible. (ongoing)
b.All district staff will have the opportunity and will be encouraged to be trained to use existing technologies that are currently available. (ongoing)
c.Each building administrator will provide technology training opportunities for staff. (ongoing)
d.The District Technology Committee will develop incentives to encourage staff development such as... certification points stipends earned hardware/software. (ongoing)

2.Staff will be given an opportunity to attend technology spotlight sessions.

a.Staff will be encouraged to share curriculum lessons and projects which include a technology component. (ongoing)
b.Staff will be encouraged to teach their peers how to access and use technology. (ongoing)
c.District administration* will provide staff with peer mentoring opportunities. (2004-2005)
d.Teachers will be encouraged to utilize Pioneer tools and My Edesk to submit and store resources. (ongoing)

3.Educators will be able to share lesson plans, sites, and/or concept ideas related to curricula utilizing technology.

4.Staff will be provided with instructional and software support on an as-needed basis.

a.The District Technology Committee will provide a list of resource people to all staff members. (ongoing)
b.The Grand County School Board will continue to provide a full time Technology Supervisor. (on-going)
c.Instructional support will be provided by mentors, school committees, one-to-one support, etc. (ongoing)

Leadership and Vision

It was recommended that the technology five-year planning committee continue meeting once a month (Tuesdays, after school) to support implementation of the plan. Membership on the committee may change as building principals vary their schools' representatives.

1.Administration* will coordinate the Master Schedule to insure the best usage of labs and equipment.

a.Each building administrator will schedule their school's lab facilities to effect maximum usage. (ongoing)
b.Administration* will provide Mobile Labs (e.g. AlphaSmarts; wireless; I-machines) where appropriate and needed. (ongoing)
c.Administration* will establish classroom mini-labs (decentralized) where appropriate and needed. (2003-2004)

2.Administration* will devote time for technology information and instruction.

a.Computer Services will attend Administrators' meetings in order to share information and provide updates on installations and repairs. (ongoing)
b.A Technology Representative from SESC will attend Administrators' meetings in order to share information and provide updates on grants and in-service training. (ongoing)
c.Superintendent will arrange for 10-15 minutes at Administrators' meetings for building principals to spotlight technology integration in their schools. (2003-2004)
d.Superintendent and the Technology Representative from SESC will arrange training for Administrators.(on going)

3.Administration* will provide time in order for staff to learn and practice technology skills and techniques.

a.Administration* will arrange a technology component during each district-wide early-release day. (ongoing)
b.Administration* will work with the CyberCorps Coordinator to direct CyberCorps students to help save teacher time. (2003-2004)
c.Administration* will increase number of early-release days. (2003-2004)

4.Administration* will consider the technology competency of job applicants when hiring.

a.Administration* will add the following questions on the hiring application: (ongoing)
What does it mean to integrate technology into the curriculum? How would you use technology in this job?

5.Administration* and Administrative Assistants (secretaries) will publish via E-mail, or post on the Web, appropriate memos, agendas, announcements, newsletters, etc. when appropriate. (2003-2004)
6.District administration* will work with the Special Education Department to fund and facilitate adaptive technologies for students with disabilities. (ongoing)

Community Connections

1.A technology progress report will be included in the yearly District Report Card sent home to parents.

a.The Technology Supervisor will provide data to the District Office on hardware, software, access to labs, how many computers in labs, how many computers in classrooms, what programs students are using, etc. Generic terms will be given, including explanation of terms. (2003-2004)
b.School Administration will provide data on what technology each grade level/departments are utilizing. (2003-2004)

2.Administration* will publicize District technology usage using appropriate public media.

a.Site administration* will invite Channel 6 news and Times Independent to report on new technology items being used in each building. (ongoing)
b.The building administrator will appoint a technology committee at each building. (ongoing)

3.Computer Services will provide parent access to appropriate student information systems (e.g.,SIS 2000+ attendance and grades).

a.The Superintendent or designee will advertise access information on the Channel 6 rolodex and/or in the Times Independent, and the Grand County School District web site. (2003-2004)
b.The Technology Supervisor will establish network access for parents to SIS 2000+ (as per law). (ongoing)
c. Each School will provide training for parents to us the SIS 2000+ program. (2003-2004)

4. School Administration will provide technology access to their patrons.

a.Provide open labs -- 2 hours a night -- 2 nights a week. (2002-2003)
b.Offer computer assistants to be at open labs for community use. (2002-2003)
c.Offer free Internet access to ommunity members willing to volunteer and work in open labs as "lab monitors." (2002-2003)
d.Advertise labs on Channel 6 News, Times Independent, and Advertiser. (2002-2003)

Technology Capacity and Access

1.All students will have access to appropriate technologies to meet individualized needs (e.g., touch screens, speech synthesizers, etc.)

a.Special Education will purchase appropriate technologies for individuals with IEP stated needs. (ongoing)

2.Each grade level/block/department in the district will receive a data projector.

a.Building Technology Committee will do an assessment to determine/demonstrate needs for usage and curriculum. (ongoing)
b.District will purchase equipment based on demonstrated need and available funding. (ongoing)

3.Computer Services will evaluate and administration* will provide adequate networking infrastructure, technical support, hardware, and software in each school

a.Computer Services will assist each building in completing a needs assessment for infrastructure, technical support, hardware, and software needs on a biannual (mid-second trimester and end-of-year) basis. (ongoing)
b.Building administrators will establish a Building Technology Committee. (ongoing)
c.The Building Technology Committee will look at software purchase requests and act as a resource to suggest software. (ongoing)
d.Computer Services will provide drops for additional connections to the network (as needed). (ongoing)
e.Building administrators will be familiar with the Technology Five-Year Plan and help incorporate this plan into their own building technology plans. (2003-2004)
f.Computer Services and the District Technology Committee will evaluate new technologies to determine which technologies would be appropriate and useful in the class room setting and then would make recommendations to the Building Technology Committees. (on going)

4.Provide equitable access to computers for all personnel.

a.Building administrators will provide a needs assessment per person/per situation. (ongoing)
b.Building administrators will implement technology solutions for itinerate teachers possibly including: Notebook computers or open computer access. (ongoing)

#5 is not possible (due to cuts in the budget) at this time

a.Administration* will determine how to distribute money. (2002-2003)
b.Look at Administration* will fund common computer supplies at building level, not by individual or place (not as "Mr. Smith's budget" or "media budget.") (2002-2003)
c.Administration* will remove toner/paper "roadblocks" such as "you use your own paper to print." (2001-2002)

6.Provide training in minor maintenance of equipment for teachers and lab managers who will be expected to complete those procedures for computers in their classrooms/labs

a.Computer Services will provide a checklist for maintenance. (ongoing)
b.Computer Services will create a troubleshooting guide. (ongoing)
c.A Technology Representative from SESC and Computer Services will provide training. (ongoing)

7.Computer Services will provide information to administration* to keep them informed of what is available in their buildings and the status of repairs/installations.

a.Computer Services attends administrative team meetings to inform/answer questions. (ongoing)
b.Computer Services should be included on all committee e-mail lists. (ongoing)

8.Ensure Cable TV is available in all classrooms in GCSD.

a.Administration* will assess who has and who does not have cable. (completed)

9.Establish a staff development training and meeting room.

a.The District Technology Committee will recommend that administration* provides space and equipment. (completed)
b.The District Technology Committee will recommend use of mobile labs where appropriate. (2003-2004)

 

Accountability

1.The District Technology Committee will, on a yearly basis, survey all staff to determine the effectiveness of the current five-year technology plan.

a.The District Technology Committee will develop a survey that includes such items as: support needs (to be filled out by teachers) (2003-2004) curriculum needs (both teachers and students) (2003-2004) language/vocabulary usage (geek speak) (2003-2004)
b.The District Technology Committee will compile the results of the survey. (2003-2004)
c.The District Technology Committee will interpret results and develop implementation strategies where applicable. (2003-2004)

2.The District Technology Committee and teachers will create and share rubrics and/or assessment guidelines for student technology projects. (ongoing)
3.Administration* will demonstrate how they have led and promoted the use of technology with their staff.

a.Building administration* will facilitate/promote the uses of technology in their buildings.
(2003-2004)
b.The School Board and Superintendent will evaluate Principal's technology
accountability via an existing administrative survey. (2003-2004)

4.The District Technology Committee will administer the UTAP to all teachers and administrators.

a.The District Technology Committee will administer the UTAP as a baseline measure. (ongoing)
b.Educators will re-take the UTAP assessment year 3 and year 5. (2002-2003(completed 4-04-03) and (2004-2005)

5.District Administration* will complete an accurate inventory of existing technology.

a.District administration* will compile existing inventory lists (Teacher inventories of classroom equipment, librarians' lists, etc.) to include computers, graphing calculators,
TVs, VCRs, and software over $100 (or amount set by district). (ongoing)

6.Students will create a Technology portfolio beginning at grade 3 and continuing yearly through grade 12, contingent upon receiving bench marks from the Utah State Office of Education. (State core curriculum requirement)

a. District administration* will apply Educational Technology Core Curriculum standards to determine what goes in the portfolio and how it is to be displayed/saved (when bench marks become available). (ongoing)
b. Staff will create benchmarks for information required in the portfolio(when bench marks become available). (ongoing)
c. Each grade level/school/counselor will view and help students organize portfolios(when bench marks become available). (2003-2004)

APPENDICES

A. Five-year Technology Planning Committee
B. Acceptable Use Policy (Employees)
C. Acceptable Use Policy (Students)
D. Dial-up Access Policy and Application
E. Guidelines for Web Publishing
F. Purchasing Policy
G. Maintenance Policy
H. Security Policy
I. Software and Hardware Inventory
J. Network Configuration Map(s)
K. Job Description -- Lead Computer Network Specialist
L. Job Description -- District Sysop

APPENDIX ONE -- COMMITTEE

Committee Members

Steering Committee

Stephen Hren, GCHS (Chair)
Rick York, GCSD School Board
Ron Ferguson, GCSD Superintendent
Adam Cannon, Technology Supervisor
Jeremy Winder, Lead Computer Network Specialist
Ann Arehart, GCSD Technology Secretary
John Huitt, GCHS Assistant Principal
Mike Arehart, GCMS
Linda Grawet, GCMS
Tom Cox, GCMS Principal
Arlajean Paskett, HMK
Paula Radcliffe, HMK
Stacy Mallory, RRE
Kathryn Jackson, RRE
Taryn Kay, Director of Special Education
Coy Ison, SESC Technology Specialist
Theresa Wilson, SESC Technology Trainer

Adjunct Committee Members

Doug Cannon, GCSD Business Administrator
Tom Brown, GCHS Principal
Margaret Hopkin, HMK Principal
Sherrie Buckingham, RRE Principal
Winn Westcott, ATE Director


Readers

Linda Warren, Title I Director
GCHS Alternative Program Teacher
GCMS Alternative Program Teacher
Bernie Radcliffe, GEA Co-president
Robert Farnsworth, GEA Co-president
Ron Drake, GCEA President
GCHS PTSA Representative
GCMS PTSA Representative
HMK PTA Representative
RRE PTA Representative
Peggy Nissen, GCHS Counselor
Tom Edwards, GCMS Counselor
Libby Vaccarro, GCHS Secretary
Becky McCormick, GCHS Attendance Secretary
Sherrie Zufelt, HMK Secretary
Kathie Holyoak, RRE Secretary
Annie Henderson, GCSS Secretary
Sue Cook, GCMS Secretary
Ginger Torres, GCMS Attendance Secretary
Gaylynn Watson, HMK Attendance Secretary
Carolyn Noyes, RRE Attendance Secretary
GCHS Student (Senior)
GCHS Student (Junior)
GCHS Student (Sophomore)
GCHS Student (Freshman)
GCMS Student (8th-grade)
GCMS Student (7th-grade)
Community Reader
Community Reader
Community Reader
Community Reader
Community Reader
Community Reader
Community Reader
Community Reader
Community Reader
Community Reader

APPENDIX B -- Acceptable Use Policy (Employees)

APPENDIX C -- Acceptable Use Policy (Students)

APPENDIX D -- Dial-up Access Policy and Application

APPENDIX E -- Guidelines for Web Publishing

APPENDIX F -- Purchasing Policy

APPENDIX G -- Maintenance Policy

APPENDIX H -- Security Policy

APPENDIX I -- Software and Hardware Inventory

APPENDIX J -- Network Configuration Map(s)

APPENDIX K -- Job Description: Lead Computer Network Specialist

APPENDIX L -- Job Description: District Sysop

*Students with disabilities will be able to access technologies in regular settings.

*The term 'administration' includes the Superintendent and Building Principals or their designees.

Grand County School District

Moab, Utah

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