Waterford-Halfmoon

Union Free School District

Long Range Technology Plan

2007-2010

Developed By:

The Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District

 Technology Planning Team

Joe Spretty

Teri Feldkamp

Carl Klossner

Long Range Technology Plan

Introduction

The objectives of the plan are consistent with the goals set by the NYSED and the federal government in NCLB of 2000. Our Internet usage and internal connections meets the requirements of the Neighborhood Children’s Internet Protection act and federal e-rate technology plan.

This Long Range Technology Plan was developed by the Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District Technology Planning Team.  The plan builds on the on-going technology efforts of the Waterford-Halfmoon UFSD, and is an extension of prior district technology planning initiatives.

This technology plan was developed to meet all the prerequisites for participation in the Learning Technologies Services COSER, as well as a number of other BOCES technology services (including the WAN services of the Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES).

The purpose of the technology plan is to direct present and future educational activities within the district, and to provide a vehicle for Waterford-Halfmoon to use in seeking grants and other funding opportunities as they arise.

1.0 Mission and Goals

1.1 Educational Mission of the District

            The mission of the district is to:

·        Ensure that every student develops the essential skills, knowledge and personal characteristics needed to become a productive citizen and to be proficient in the uses of technology in their lives.

·        Empower students to be life-long learners in a society where technology is integral to most business and personal activities. 

·        Create a challenging and developmentally appropriate learning environment that integrates technology across all the curricular areas and where all students have equitable access to technology.

1.2 Educational Goals of the District

To accomplish this mission, the district will plan, organize and manage its resources in order to:

·        Provide a learning environment where students are focused on high levels of achievement, and continual improvement.

·        Provide a learning environment that actively engages students in independent study based on inquiry.

·        Utilize research-based teaching approaches.

·        Change the teaching and learning environment to better address the requirements for higher achievement as reflected in the NCLB regulations.

·        Integrate technology as a delivery system and as a tool in the teaching and learning environment to extend curriculum, instruction and assessment practices.

1.3 Vision of a Technology-Enhanced, Electronic Learning Community

The Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District Technology Vision is based on the implementation of technology improvements developed over the past 5 years.  This interconnected learning community includes multimedia computers, Internet access, and other electronic tools for use by students and teachers.  The vision encompasses additional workstations in classrooms, and other locations, with high-speed connections to resources within the school as well as outside the school.  Students and teachers have access to a range of software tools and curriculum resources available in various multimedia, video and textual formats.  Teachers and students have access to a range of electronic input and output devices such as LCD projectors, scanners, digital cameras and printers.  Software applications may include tools such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, graphics and presentation software, as well as communication tools such as e-mail, world wide web and desktop video conferences.

In discussions of the technology vision, and why it is important for the students of the Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District, the Planning Team dedicated time defining the role that technology can and should play in the district.  The following provides an answer to the questions, “Why do we need to have technology in our schools:”

·        Technology allows teachers to individualize learning experiences based on learner needs and to better organize and track student progress.

·        Technology motivates and empowers students because it gets them actively engaged in learning.  Technology-enhanced learning is not passive learning. Rather, technology involves the use of tools (such as word processing, graphics, presentation software databases, and the Internet) to interact with others, both students and adults, to create knowledge and to share knowledge.

·        Technology creates the opportunity for more up-to-date and authentic learning experiences by getting students involved collaboratively in real-world projects and interactions with real-world professionals.

·        Technology is a powerful tool that students can use for accessing and manipulating information, synthesizing concepts and communicating ideas in video, text and audio media.

·        Technology use prepares students as 21st century information workers and helps them to achieve world class standards and global competitiveness.

·        Technology creates learning beyond the four walls of the classroom.  It expands the range of learning opportunities and curriculum resources for students who would otherwise be limited to what the district could make available in its library or resource centers.

·        Technology connects individuals to new people and promotes understanding and equity by providing a diverse array of resources and experiences regardless of the geographic location of the student.

·        Technology can offer a multimedia interactive learning environment.

·        Technology can increase teacher and administrative productivity by providing tools that speed up the process of entering and analyzing data.

These points support and explain the district’s vision of a technology-supported learning environment, and are important for all members of the school and the larger community to understand.

1.4 Objectives

Objectives for the District--2007-2010

·        Provide hardware and materials to support the learning environment.

·        Provide a strategy for keeping pace with technology, yet maximizing the district’s investment, at the lowest possible cost.

·        Increase access to technology, by adding an additional open/staffed computer lab.

·        Support and enhance the network infrastructure that links computers, phones, and cameras in the district.

·        Provide widespread filtered and monitored Internet access.

·        Identify curriculum applications that benefit from the use of technology.

·        Upgrade and connect existing machines where feasible. 

Longer term objectives include extending the level of access and use of technology across the district.  These include the following:           

·        Upgrade existing machines where feasible

·        Upgrade workstations as funding allows

·        Review existing deployment of machines and redeploy machines, where appropriate, to address educational requirements (On-going).

·        Continue to review bandwidth demands.

·        Address staffing and technical support

·        Address server requirements

·        Enhance security and increase user awareness of. 

2.0 Staff Development

Staff development is a critical component of the district’s technology activities. As a small district, the issue is addressed through a combination of district sponsored in-service courses in Windows, Macintosh, workshops provided by public and commercial vendors, turnkey training by district technology staff and through tuition reimbursement for computer technology courses.  The district participates in the BOCES Model Schools program which entitles us to attend a variety of software training classes at a reduced price. The staff has been trained in the areas of computer use, operating systems, tool software, and integration of technology software into classroom instruction.  The district will continue to provide staff development through its long-distance learning room as part of the Saratoga Network.  It is the intent of the district to provide future staff development in the area of integrating technology across the curriculum. 

The district will explore the use of the Long Distance Network for continuing education courses through local colleges.

3.0 Inventory

          The Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School Districts current inventory consists of both Macintosh and Windows based PC’s implemented in classroom and computer lab environments. In addition the district has employed a wide range of peripheral devices that complement the overall computing experience.  The table below details the districts current computer technology inventory.

4.0 Five Year Estimated Plan and Budget

The overall goal of this effort is to plan, design and implement technology that would support and improve teaching and learning in the Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District, and better prepare students in the district with the necessary information technology skills.

• The design reflects Waterford-Halfmoon’s technology vision, covers a five year period, and is intended to provide the following technological capabilities to support the curriculum, instruction and assessment goals of the district.

• Additional instructional application software and tool software for workstations that is needed beyond the standard software for the district.

• Workstations in labs with networked printers.

• Funds are also allocated for a range of specialized peripherals such as scanners and digital cameras, LCD Projectors, and other devices.

• Provide LCD projectors for presentations and group Internet research in the classroom.

• An additional open computer staffed with a computer lab aide.

• Renovation costs are included to implement the wiring closets and to make the physical changes necessary in the library/media centers and labs.

        All network equipment to support a high speed (100Mb+) switched connection to the gigabit fiber-optic network backbone to meet future bandwidth demands, as well as separate student and administrative segments for security.  All new workstations are specified to have 10/100/1000Mb network interface cards, and are connected to the LAN with access to all appropriate network resources.  Included in this LAN are all wiring closets with interconnections via fiber cable between the wiring closets, as well as network switches in each of the wiring closets. 

        A high speed Internet connection is budgeted to link the district to BOCES as an Internet Service Provider.  The connection is specified as a dedicated, T-1 leased line or higher speed.

        LAN cabling will be installed in each classroom and instructional space.  The classroom cabling includes drops in each classroom to network workstations and printers.  The costs also include video in each classroom. 

        Additional A/C power service upgrades, and electrical distribution to provide sufficient power and a duplex outlet for each workstation and device, where needed. In all existing spaces where power and data cabling will be implemented, surface mounted raceways will be used.  For aesthetic and practical reasons, a twin-channel raceway will include data, phone, video, and electrical outlets.

        High capacity central servers for district e-mail, student management systems, file storage, web filtering, antivirus deployment, and firewall/proxy services

Library automation software and server for district-wide cataloging and circulation control.

        Funding identified for on-going staff development to increase skills at all levels, and to insure that the technology gets used to the maximum benefit of students.

        Projected educational and technical support staff to supplement existing district staffing.

        On-going operational costs over the five years for all printing supplies and materials (paper, ink cartridges and toner) as well as to cover the increased cost for electrification for the additional workstations.

        Specialized technical support and initial design and installation costs.

        Technical staff training.

        Standardized software packages installed across all district computers.

 4.1 Five Year Estimated Plan and Budget

5.0 Evaluation

Based on a review of the available research on technology projects, as well as a review of actual technology projects across New York State and beyond, the following seven factors were identified as critical to successful technology projects.  These factors must be addressed in any technology initiative.  This technology plan addresses all of these goals.

5.1 Annual Review

Annually the district will review our progress in developing technology and adjust our goals as follows:

·        Continue to review and periodically update this technology plan to confirm the mission, goal and vision of the district.

·        Review the technology components and the budget/proposed time line.

·        Establish a process for identifying technology applications that support the district priorities, as well as the Standards and Frameworks.

·        Develop software review criteria and a process for software standardization.

5.2 Integrating Technology Into the Curriculum

The integration of technology across the curriculum is seen as one factor in helping all students to meet the new higher standards. Staff have studied the NYS Standards and have developed several curriculum initiatives over the past couple of years in which the integration of technology is an important component.

5.3 Evaluation of Technology

The district will annually review our technology progress using the following:

Factors of Success

·        A clear and shared vision/plan

·        Sufficient access to technology and the infrastructure to support this access

·        Leadership and community support

·        Integration into the curriculum rather than as a supplement

·        Changes in organizational and teaching structures

·        Technical training and staff development

·        Technical support to address the maintenance of the system.