Drew Central School District

Technology Vision and Mission Statement

November 1997

Table of Contents

Technology Vision

Mission Statement

Inventory of Currently Available Technology

Telephone Services

High School Inventory

Elementary School Inventory

Electrical Systems

Satellite Delivery Systems

Training

Local District Programming

Monitoring and Evaluation

The Drew Central School District recognizes the need for students to possess the computer literacy skills necessary to enable them to meet the demands of a rigorous and challenging academic program and to successfully prepare them for post-secondary educational endeavors as well as employment opportunities following high school graduation. To this end the board of directors, administration, faculty, staff and patrons envision an educational program in which students, teachers, and administrators have access to, and training in the use of, advanced technology tools to assist in information gathering and processing, problem-solving, creating, and evaluating across a broad spectrum of experiences. Technology tools encompass not only computer hardware and software, but telecommunication media including satellite transmission and the global computer resources of the Internet. Our vision includes access to technology tools in every classroom from kindergarten through twelfth grade, a powerful local area network connected to the Arkansas Public School Computer Network and the Internet, as well as specialized technology laboratories for advanced problem-based-learning projects. The district recognizes its responsibility to the community and makes its resources available to parents and the business community through the creation of Parent Resource Centers and training facilities for local businesses and industries.

Mission Statement

The Drew Central School District believes that all young people, without regard to race, sex, national origin, age or handicapping condition, have an equal right to a free and appropriate education and should be encouraged to developed their abilities to the highest extent possible. Students should be encouraged to believe that the habits and characteristics they develop while in school are determining factors in the way they will interact with society.

It is the obligation of the school to see that all students are provided with the opportunity to experience excellence in some realm of their education.

The Drew Central School District Educational Objectives are:

1. To teach core concepts and abilities in the educational curriculum.

2. To develop critical and creative thinking skills for making good, responsible choices.

3. To develop social responsibility, such as cooperation, respect for the rights of others and self, honesty and dependability.

4. To develop civic responsibility through teaching the basics of American democracy and good citizenship.

5. To develop leadership ability.

6. To promote student curiosity and independence to the extent that they will become their own best teachers.

7. To promote a wise and productive use of leisure time.

8. To teach students to be proud of their achievements and themselves.

9. To ensure that each child is well-nourished and understands the importance of a well-balanced diet.

10. To increase parental involvement and participation in promoting the social, emotional and academic growth of students.

11. To develop an awareness in the changing workplace critical to the students' future

economic well-being.

12. To strive for a safe and disciplined environment conducive to learning, free of drugs, alcohol, weapons and violence.

Inventory of Currently Available Technology

A. Telephone Services

Number and type of phone instruments -

43 8-line telephones with plans for installation of 4 more telephones during this school year.

Number of phone lines -

13 regular lines

Two fax machines (9600 speed)

B. Computers

High School Inventory

LCD Panel

1 Apollo Vision 32K LCD projection panel

Printers

10 HewlettPackard HP600

3 HewlettPackard HP850

3 HewlettPackard HP540

10 Star NX2430

2 Panasonic KX-P2430

1 Epson LQ-870

2 Okidata OL16N

Network

2 8-port hubs

1 16-port hub

3 LanRepeater 2E

250 user Novell Netware 4.11

10 user Novell Netware 3.12

Elementary School Inventory

Printers

22 HewlettPackard HP694

11 Panasonic KX-P2130

4 Apple Imagewriter II

1 Okidata OL810E

3 Epson LQ-2170

1 Epson EPL6000

1 HewlettPackard HP540

2 Epson LX90

Network

3 LanRepeater 2E

1 LanRepeater 8E

1 16-port hub

4 8-port hubs

100 user Novell Netware 4.1

Maintenance of the computer inventory is achieved through an in-house technician hired by the district.

C. Electrical Systems

Adequate for current and future needs.

D. Satellite Delivery Systems

C-Ku Band Satellite System

Downlink mode only

Channel One System in high school

E. Training

The board of directors and administration recognize that investments in technology hardware are devalued unless commensurate training is provided to teachers to fully realize the potential of the available tools. To this end the district has received a Computer Literacy Challenge Grant to provide training to all faculty and staff in Computer Basics (Windows 95 operating system, file management, accessing the LAN-based software, and using CD-ROMs), Word Processing, E-mail and Internet In The Classroom, during the 1997-1998 school year. At the end of the 1997-1998 school year all faculty in the district will have been trained in basic computer literacy skills and will be able to demonstrate minimum competency in the specific areas in which they have been trained. The district will provide this training to all new faculty as a regular part of the district staff development program in subsequent years. Additionally, interested faculty will be given the opportunity to participate in workshops devoted to graphics, desktop publishing, web page development, and presentation tools beginning with the 1998-1999 school year.

Local District Programming

A. Curriculum

Linking technology applications to curriculum frameworks

Although a formal, comprehensive plan to link technology to the frameworks has not been developed at this time, a large number of classes at the high school level are actively using laser disk instruction, CD-ROM applications and the Internet as integral components of the instructional program. Uses include direct instruction and supplemental resources, as well as tutorial and drill activities. It is anticipated that all classrooms will be utilizing technology in the instructional program by the beginning of the 1998/1999 school year.

Linking technology applications to identified student needs

The district is in the process of evaluating our curriculum as a means to improve student performance on the SAT9 and other mandated assessments. A result of this evaluation has been the identification of specific areas of low student achievement. One outcome of our evaluation will be to structure teacher technology training to directly relate to classroom instruction. This instruction will be directed specifically to the identified weaknesses in our instructional program. An example of this linkage is the requirement of our trainers that the teachers create projects based on their newly acquired skills that can be taken back to the classroom immediately.

Major software programs

Major software programs currently available to all teachers and students include:

Corel Suite8

Microsoft Office 97

Accelerated Reader

B. Instruction

Acquisition of basic computer literacy skills

Currently, all Drew Central High School students are required to take a basic keyboarding and computer technology course for two semesters. This course is taught in the ninth grade primarily, but is offered to eighth grade students on a space available basis. This ensures that our student body has basic computer literacy skills. Formal training in the use of Internet, e-mail, and software applications is offered in our Computer/Business classes. Informal training takes place in many classrooms through teacher/student interaction.

Student Research

In many classes students are required to cite Internet sources among their bibliographic entries in projects and reports. Additionally, the library has available Encarta, Groliers, and Britannica encyclopedias on multimedia CD-ROM's. Several classroom also have these resources available for student research, as well as content-specific CD-ROM's.

Integration of technology into regular instruction

As the availability of technology tools in classrooms increases, textbook publishers are making computer technology related supplemental resources available to teachers. Our Language and Social Studies departments are currently using CD-ROM's as part of the regular instructional program through the use of TV-to-PC converters that allow the video and audio to be shown on the classroom televisions. As staff training and availability of quality resources increases, all of our classrooms will be utilizing technology as an integral part of the instructional program. It is anticipated that all departments and grade levels will be integrating technology into the regular instruction program by the beginning of the 1998/1999 school year.

Presentation of student projects

The technology exists in our district currently to allow student projects to be published on the World Wide Web, as well as to be created and viewed in individual classrooms. As more teachers are trained in using the tools, we anticipate an increase in multimedia presentations of student projects.

Preparation of lesson plans and student lesson material

Current use of technology to create lesson plans and materials is becoming widespread in our school. As teachers become familiar with the software and tools available to them, they are rapidly becoming informed and creative users.

C. Training and Professional Development

Technology training for the faculty and staff is an integral part of the district's staff development program. As a result of funding through the Technology Literacy Challenge Grant, all faculty will have basic computer literacy skills that will enable them to incorporate technology tools into their instructional program and their administrative tasks. As described in the previous section on Training, the district has a plan in place to provide training to all faculty and to make this effort on-going in subsequent years. Funds have been budgeted for technology training and will continue to be budgeted in the future to keep our faculty abreast of the rapidly changing world of technology.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Current Monitoring and Evaluation activities include student and teacher responses to an annual technology survey that addresses attitudinal and concrete issues. Among the data gathered in the survey are statistics on use of the technology, what specific technologies are being used, and how the teachers and students feel the technology has enhanced or improved their professional and educational experiences. This survey as well as classroom observations enables the district to assess technology use and effectiveness. This information allows the district to modify current uses and plan for the future very effectively.

The Annual Technology Survey is reproduced below:

Drew Central Schools Annual Technology Survey

Teacher Evaluation

Are you (circle one) Elementary or Secondary?

1. Which Technology Training did you participate in this year (check all that apply)?

_____ Computer Basics _____ E-Mail

_____ Internet/WWW _____ Word Processing

_____ HTML _____ Desktop Publishing

_____ Multimedia Presentation ______ Spreadsheet/Database

2. Using a scale of 1 as least beneficial and 5 as most beneficial to you in learning to use technology in your teaching, rate each component of the training that you participated in:

_____Computer Basics _____ E-Mail

_____ Internet/WWW _____ Word Processing

_____ HTML _____ Desktop Publishing

_____ Multimedia Presentation ______ Spreadsheet/Database

3. What elements of technology were you actually able to incorporate into your teaching this year (check all that apply)?

_____Computer Basics _____ E-Mail

_____ Internet/WWW _____ Word Processing

_____ HTML _____ Desktop Publishing

_____ Multimedia Presentation ______ Spreadsheet/Database

_____ CD-ROM software _____ Scanner

_____ Digital Camera _____ Other Software

_____ Other Technologies (list)

4. How did students use technology in your classes this year?

_____ Student Projects _____ Research _____ Communication With Others

_____ Preparing Reports and Presentations _____ Tutorials and Practice

_____ Test Taking _____ Games and Simulations _____Other (list)

5. How satisfied were you with the technology support (maintenance and repair of equipment, software installation, etc.) you received this year (1 = low 5 = high)

6. Did you observe an increase in student learning this year that could be attributed to increased access to and use of technology in your classes?

7. What training and staff development in technology do you recommend for next year?

8. Comments

Drew Central Schools Annual Technology Survey

Student Evaluation

Are you (circle one) Elementary (K-6) Junior High (7-8) High School (9-12)?

1. Do you have a computer at home? ____ Y ____ N

1a. Does your home computer have Internet access? _____Y _____N

2. What technologies did you use in your classes this year?

_____ E-mail _____ Internet/WWW _____ Word Processing

_____ Desktop Publishing _____ Spreadsheet/Database _____ Multimedia Presentations

_____ WWW Publishing _____ CD-ROM _____ Laser Disk _____ Scanner

_____ Digital Camera _____ Other (list)

3. How did you use computer technology in your classes this year (check all that apply)?

_____ Find information (research) _____ Test taking _____ Tutorial and Skill Practice

_____ Prepare Reports _____ Communication with others _____ Conduct experiments

_____ Prepare projects and presentations _____ Games and simulations

_____ Other (list)

4. On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being low and 5 being high, how beneficial to you was having access to technology in your classes this year?

5. Did your grades improve this year as as result of your access to technology in your classes?

Drew Central School s Annual Technology Survey

Parent Evaluation

Is you student (circle one) Elementary (K-6) or Secondary (7-12)?

1. Does your student have access to computer technology at school?

_____ Yes _____ No _____ Don't Know

2. How important is it for your student to learn to use computers and technology in school?

_____ Not Important _____ Somewhat Important _____ Very Important

3. How did your student use technology at school this year (check all that apply)?

_____ Find information (research) _____ Test taking _____ Tutorial and Skill Practice

_____ Prepare Reports _____ Communication with others _____ Conduct experiments

_____ Prepare projects and presentations _____ Games and simulations

_____ Other (list) _____ Don't Know

4. Did you notice an increase in your student's grades this year that could be attributed to having access to technology in the classroom?

5. How would you rate your student's interest in school this year compared to last year?

____ More Interested _____ No Change _____ Less Interested