Technology Plan
(2004-2007)

We believe that administrators, teachers, staff and students should become proficient in the use of technology to further the mission of the Church and to spread the Gospel to all people. We believe technology will assist us in creating a dynamic learning environment - one that links our schools, families, the community and the world. It is within this environment that life-long learning becomes the model for success.

We recognize that the world of the 21st century will require vision, investigation, reflection and collaboration. The use of evolving technologies will empower students to approach new challenges and will provide the critical processing skills and confidence necessary to be successful problem solvers. Our mission is for all members of our school communities to become self-directed, continuous learners and responsible citizens prepared to meet the increasing challenges of a global technological society.

We are committed to the ongoing development of an engaging, interdisciplinary learning environment rich in Christian values which embraces the use of technology to support the educational goals of the schools within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.

We maintain that an effective use of technology occurs when:

• a vision of the future is shared by all stakeholders

• learning will take place anywhere, anytime

• through teacher guidance, students will utilize technology to become more active participants in their own learning

• more opportunities for individualized instruction will be available

• new ways to evaluate learning will be available through the use of technology

• all students will have access to computers and computer based technology

• our students will be prepared for the challenge of an information based society

• our school community will have access to world-wide resources

• technology is included in the overall planning and budget process

• long-term, sustained, quality staff development and training are implemented

• there is a commitment to the acquisition, utilization and support of hardware and software

• technology will be seamlessly integrated into all aspects of teaching and learning

• technology is modeled and utilized in all programs for research, shared information and communication.

• the various types of technology and their uses are monitored, evaluated and revised based on regularly solicited feedback from the users.

In support of the overall mission of _______________ School to prepare its students for the challenges of life ahead, the district Technology Planning Committee has created a three-year Strategic Plan for Educational Technology. This plan covers the years July 1, 2004-June 30, 2007. The following pages address technology's curriculum linkages, staff development in teaching with technology, the development of a robust educational technology infrastructure, and the budgets and resources necessary to activate and maintain this plan.

The over-riding vision of this plan is that technology is a powerful force in an educational environment, which fosters the development of lifelong learning skills within an effective and diverse teaching, and learning environment. Our plan maintains that technology must be thoroughly incorporated into schools and classrooms so that our teachers, students, and administrators can use it in all aspects of the educational experience. Our goal is to prepare our students to become key contributors to world of the 21st Century; the positive role of technology in education becomes undeniable.

This plan lays out a strategy by which this widespread integration will occur. This plan takes the position that technology is a tool that can be applied broadly across the curriculum. In fact, the value of technology is its value as an integrated curriculum tool or strategy. Our goal therefore is not to teach technology solely for its own sake. Rather, we have set out a sound curriculum integration plan, which identifies ways in which students and teachers will use technology as a part of their overall educational experience.

In order for technology to become so thoroughly integrated into our curriculum, we must engage upon a rigorous and systemic program of staff development. Our teachers need the technology-using skills necessary to incorporate multimedia, the Internet, and sophisticated curriculum software into their classes. Moving well beyond the basic operation of technology devices, our teachers need to develop the ideas and visions necessary to see how technology can truly reform instruction. This plan describes how we will develop these skills and visions within our teaching staff through support, training, and other opportunities.

II. INTRODUCTION & OVERVIEW

__________________________ School currently has the following inventory of equipment:

SEE APPENDIX A FOR CURRENT INVENTORY LIST

The computers are located in the computer lab, library, and in the classrooms.

__________________________ School is now preparing students to go on to college and/or the workplace in the 21st century. These students will be challenged by a technologically advanced global society. To prepare them, we must make sure all students are not only familiar but also proficient with the tools of information technology to obtain information, to communicate and to solve problems.

To this end, we must ensure that technology is an integral component in the learning process and use it to enhance learning, instruction, and administration of this whole process. Our staff must be highly knowledgeable and able to incorporate current and emerging technology in the delivery of instruction of curriculum content and skills. Educators will use these tools to promote active learning, while implementing new models of instruction recognizing different learning styles.

__________________________ School’s educational community believes that people are empowered by their independent use of information technologies and that they are united by opportunities to share resources and communicate in our local and global communities. In this Information Age, it is essential that __________________________ School commits to preparing its students to work in an evolving, information-centered, global community. Given the rapid pace of technology change, and the growth of information technologies in all aspects of our lives, it is critical that students become familiar with the tools of information technology, and their application in the core curriculum. All students and staff must be competent in the use of these tools so that they may obtain information, communicate, and solve problems.

Educators must combine these tools with proven teaching methods, as well as with new models to create a learning environment that responds to individual learning styles. The disciplined integration of technology and the curriculum within the classroom, will enable students to formulate appropriate perspectives and questions, resulting in a lifelong love of learning.

Keeping in mind this mission, vision, and the current status and usage, the following are our goals for the next three years. These goals have been further described in Section VI: ACTION PLANS

A. Curriculum

__________________________ School will provide current technology, so students can use technology to:

• Expand their knowledge and improve their curriculum-specific critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills

• Access, analyze, synthesize and evaluate information using technology-based tools

• To communicate information in expedient and creative forms

• To increase their productivity and achievement

• To work ethically, independently and collaboratively with a diverse population both within the classroom and schools, and beyond - across school, state, national and international boundaries

__________________________ School will provide current technology and continual staff development so the staff can use this technology to:

• Improve instructional strategies to increase student achievement and love of learning

• Demonstrate leadership and vision in the use of technology to increase their own productivity and achievement

• Collaborate through sharing of skills, resources, and professional research with colleagues within the local school system and beyond

• Enhance professional skills

• Assess student work accurately and efficiently

___________________ School will provide the technology infrastructure and training opportunities so that the community will:

• Have expanded access to this infrastructure

• Enjoy new learning and information gathering opportunities.

___________________ School will provide a wide range of information technology, networks, and software applications to support its curriculum and the administration of the program. Hardware will be purchased and networks will be built over the next three years of this plan. This infrastructure will include:

• Computers and related equipment

• Computers - desktop, laptop, handheld

• Printers - laser, inkjet

• CD-ROM players/recorders

• DVD players

• Presentation hardware

• Visual presenters

• Interactive whiteboards

• Online resources/telecommunications

• Telephones

• Local area networks

• Internet access for classrooms, library/media centers, and administrative offices

• Faxes

• Media retrieval system

• Videoconferencing Equipment

• Video/still photography

• Televisions

• VCRs

• Cable transmission

• Satellite dish/distance learning

• Cameras - digital still, digital video

• Audio equipment

______________________ School will evaluate periodically the implementation of this plan to insure the goals are being met, especially in the following areas:

• Relevant and effective curriculum connections

• Evolved student expectations for student outcomes

• Frequency of use by staff and students

• Skill levels of students and staff

• Infrastructure implementation

• Consideration of new and emerging technologies, both in software and hardware

Our goals for the integration of technology into the curriculum will be implemented over the next three years through an annual evaluation of students' technology skills.
 

SEE APPENDIX B FOR TECHNOLOGY COMPETENCIES K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

B. Staff Development

A staff that is confident and knowledgeable in the use of technology is essential to attaining our curriculum goals for our students. Staff development activities need to provide the staff with the opportunity to learn about current and emerging technology, methods of incorporating technology into the classroom, and support required to implement changes. Staff development will provide in-service conferences and workshops including:

• applying technology to curriculum (math, social studies, etc.)

• using multi-media resources to enhance learning

• using networked systems to share information

• using on-line resources to supplement instructional resources

We are seeking more community accessibility to and use of our school’s developing infrastructure. To foster closer mutually beneficial community connections, the school will provide the community with:

• access to District and school web pages for information, calendar of events. and school activities

• availability of a Homework Hotline

• expansion of adult education using the technology infrastructure

• development of partnerships with local businesses, colleges and universities training opportunities to participate in volunteer programs in computer lab access to library automated systems using school links

The design of the District's infrastructure must be driven mainly by its curriculum goals and needs.

Frequent evaluation of the implementation of this plan is essential to its success. In addition, because we consider the plan a work in progress, modifications may be suggested along the way as evolving appropriate and effective curriculum connections develop, as the staff and students become more sophisticated, and as new and emerging technologies come to the forefront. In evaluating the implementation of all aspects of the plan, the Assistant Superintendent for Administration and his Technology Planning Committee will ensure that:

• There is a scheduled review process twice a year

• Widespread curriculum integration is occurring and developing

• The staff development process is fostering increased use of technology

• Staffing patterns and effectiveness of performance is assessed

• Equipment purchases, repair. And maintenance is on schedule

The following shows a summary of major educational technology implementation efforts on a year-by-year basis.

SEE TIMELINE IN APPENDIX A

SEE 3-YEAR ANNUAL BUDGET IN APPENDIX A

The District has several options in funding this plan. Any one of or combination of the following strategies are possibilities:

• Through the annual budget

• Through Title funds

• Obtaining grants - federal, state, private

• Community resources

• Partnerships with the public schools

• Partnerships with colleges and universities