TECHNOLOGY PLAN: |
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Technology |
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To facilitate
life-long learning and promote school-community interaction, the |
"The potential of computers for improving education is greater than that of any prior invention, including books and writing." Darrick Walker, Promise, Potential, and Pragmatism: Computers in high School. Institute for Research in Educational Finance and Governance Policy Notes, 16(5), pp. 3-4, 1984.
Technology Beliefs:
- Technology promotes change.
- Technology can become a catalyst for educational
change, ultimately resulting in restructuring teaching and learning.
- Staff development, technical support, and accessibility
of equipment are essential for effective use of technology in CISD.
- Technology can be used as a tool to develop and
integrate curricula.
- Technology is an effective tool for learning when combined with and active, engaging learning environment.
- Students gain a variety of cognitive benefits when technology is combined with restructured schooling (communication skills, problem solving skills, comprehension skills, writing skills, etc.)
- All students should be prepared to deal with our increasingly technological society.
- Teachers can use technology to enhance learning and
instruction.
- Technology is an invaluable management tool that can
assist educators in making informed decisions.
- The future of CISD staff and students depends on their ability to utilize technology.
- The successful integration of technology requires a comprehensive technology implementation plan.
Technology Goals:
- To combine the tools of technology within a restructured teaching and learning environment to improve achievement and productivity.
- To provide easily accessible and continuous support, training and time for the utilization of technology.
- To provide technological connections for voice, video and data applications between the school and the home, and between the classroom and the resources available across the world.
- To provide continuous monitoring, evaluation and updating of district and campus technology plans.
The Challenge:
Five challenges must be met to significantly improve the effectiveness of
technology use to support educational goals and the Technology Mission
Statement. The five challenges are:
- Vision: Develop a vision for powerful teaching and learning through the integration of technology.
- Planning and Assessment: Establish a planning process for integrating technology and appropriate assessment processes.
- Support: Implement the support systems necessary for success, including staff development and technical support.
- Literacy: Understand the technology – its potential, limitations, and meaning.
- Communication: Collaborate and communicate so that all the stakeholders are engaged, involved, and valued.
The Vision:
A school district must have a clear vision of how the tools
of technology can be used to improve teaching and learning. It is through
visioning that possibilities are translated into goals, goals into plans, and
plans into actions. The capacity of the school/district, through leadership, to
operate from a shared vision of technology that is characterized by the belief
that:
a comprehensive, integrated approach to
technology-enriched teaching and learning will improve student performance.