A Micro-Summary

AMHERST, PELHAM AND

AMHERST-PELHAM REGIONAL SCHOOLS

AMHERST, MA  01002

K-12 TECHNOLOGY PLAN

DISTRICT TECHNOLOGY VISION AND MISSION STATEMENTS

The changes brought about by technology are having a dramatic impact on personal and professional lives, on local and global communities, and on governments and international relations. Learning to locate, manipulate and present information is becoming a critical success factor for all citizens. For these reasons, it is important that students develop an understanding of when and how to apply the tools of technology, the confidence and comfort to use these tools, and an appreciation for the impact technology has on people, organizations and society.

Today’s technology offers tools for developing intellectual curiosity and creativity through research, analysis, problem-solving and communication.  Equipping classrooms with these tools will transform them into multipurpose rooms where students can learn interactively. With technology, the school district will create a more effective environment for teaching and learning, and our students will gain the skills and confidence they need to become lifelong learners.

Preparing students to learn, work and live in an information-based society has become an essential educational goal. But the greatest and potentially most exciting role for technology in schools is in the improvement of the breadth, depth and quality of students learning. This promise is yet to be realized. Despite almost two decades of computer applications in the curriculum, schools are still in the infancy stage of using technology to improve instruction and learning. As technology becomes a standard part of our education environment, we want to maintain a focus on this goal. Thus, each proposed use of technology in our schools will be measured against the standard, “how does this improve the process of learning and the achievement of learning outcomes?”

These opportunities form the basis of the broad goals we have in our school district to link teaching, learning and technology. Our mission is to use technology in order to:

• Improve the depth, breadth, and quality of student learning.
• Develop the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue further education and obtain employment.
• Develop the attitudes, values and ethics needed to function responsibly in the emerging information society.
• Offer opportunities for leaning about technology as a discipline of study.
• Connect school, community and world-wide resources.

In order to accomplish these goals, we will develop and maintain a technology network support system that will:

• Provide all students with equitable access to technological tools.
• Provide telecommunication access to the world beyond our community, thereby expanding students’ opportunities to think analytically, learn and grow.
• Connect students and teaching with learning resources in our community, including libraries, town offices and faculty from local colleges and the University of Massachusetts.
• Allow all students and faculty, regardless of their school building, grade, ability, race or gender, to have equitable access to an appropriate range of technological tools in their classrooms and staff workrooms.
• Improve communication between and among district buildings, as well as between the schools, parents and the community.

Effective integration of technology into the school district’s instructional program will require an ongoing program of professional development for classroom teachers. Teachers must have knowledge, skills and a level of comfort with technology that enables them to be mentors for one another and model learners, coaches and resources to students.

Accomplishing our goals will also require a sufficient number of technology support staff to provide training for teachers and to assist them in introducing technology in their classrooms. Finally, since technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, we must make provision for continually maintaining and upgrading equipment as well as the instructional programs it supports.

Curricular and Instructional Goals

I. Improve student learning though the use of technology

A. Increase the ability of students to synthesize and conceptualize information and ideas.

1. Students at all grade levels will use technology tools for visualization, experimentation, and manipulation of words and symbols.
2. Students will explore content and the consequences of different policies and decisions with interactive simulation programs.
3. Students will use simulations which provide them with experiences of cultures and lifestyles in other countries and at other times.
4. Students will use technology based research tools which assist them in developing vivid and complex understandings of their world.
5. Students will be able to use technology to think critically and solve complex problems.

B. Enhance student efficiency, effectiveness, and innovation in all disciplines through strategic application of technology.

1. The use and mastery of word processing tools will be integrated into the writing curriculum at all grade levels.
2. Students will learn to use database software to organize, manipulate, store and retrieve information.
3. Students will learn to use spreadsheet software to analyze and graph quantitative information.
4. Students will have access to individualized, self-paced tutorial software which motivates them to master basic academic skills in spelling, arithmetic and foreign languages.
5. Students will be able to use technology to enhance their production skills.
6. Students will be able to use technology to enhance their presentation skills.
7. Students will use technology in the design, building, and testing of solutions to real-world problems.

C. Provide equal access to instructional computers for all students.

1. Every student will have access to computers to ensure development of computer competencies.
2. Schools will maintain a laboratory of computers with sufficient numbers of stations to ensure that each student has access.
3. The district will use technology tools which enhance the achievement and performance of students with special needs.

II. Develop Skills and Knowledge

A. Provides students with the knowledge and skills to enable them to use technology-based resources.

1. Students will receive instruction in keyboarding, information retrieval, word processing, and use of multimedia and desktop production tools.
2. Students will use data and statistical analysis tools in mathematics and other academic disciplines.
3. Technology based tools for creative projects in art, music, and writing will complement (but not replace) students’ use of traditional creative tools.
4. Students will have the opportunity to take a sequence of computer and computer science courses leading to an Advanced Placement curriculum in computer science.
5. Community volunteers will be invited to the schools to introduce students to careers and interesting topics in technology.
6. Students will learn and practice ethical use of the technologies that prepare them for the workplace of the future.

B. Use technology in ways which promote collaboration, sharing and teamwork.

1. Students will enhance interpersonal skills by working with technology in collaborative groups.
2. Students will work on collaborative multimedia projects to demonstrate knowledge of a subject.
3. Students trained in technical support will help other students and teachers.

C. Enhance student awareness of our multicultural world through access to telecommunications.

1. Students will participate in e-mail and electronic bulletin board projects. They will communicate experiences, compare experimental data, exchange ides, and discuss results with sponsors and other groups of students.
2. Students will e-mail to communicate with mentors who are experts in various disciplines.
3. Students will learn effective search and retrieval techniques so that they can access information on the Internet and use that information on their projects.
4. Students will learn the skills required to evaluate the quality of information retrieved from the Internet.

Communication Goals

I. Provide staff and students with resources not limited by geography through the development and maintenance of a telecommunications network.

A. Develop a wide area network (WAN) within the school district.

B. Develop local area networks (LAN) within each school building which connects all offices, classrooms, teacher work areas, computer laboratories and the library-media centers.

C. Make computers and other technology available to staff in each school for communicating and accessing information.

D. Make computers and other technology available to students in each school for communicating and accessing information.

Administrative and Management Goals

I. Develop internal and external telecommunications capability in all school buildings.

II. Improve processes for gathering and generating information internally and externally.

III. Provide ongoing training and support so that staff can effectively use technology.

The use of technology in administration and management will span: 

• Financial Management - accounting, payroll, budget management, requisitions, purchasing
• Personnel–position control, salary placement, salary projections, transfers, longevity, seniority, professional development records
• Student Data–scheduling, attendance, State and Federal reporting requirements, grade reports, transcripts, discipline records, student records
• Student Assessment
• Transportation– scheduling and routing
• Energy Management
• Inventories–technology hardware, software, textbooks, fixed assets
• Maintenance – work orders, vehicle repairs, equipment repairs
• Special Education–Individualized Educational Plans
• General Administration
• Student Services–homework, hot-lines, out-of-school access to library resources, student activity information
• Community Services – school activities and events, adult education activities, school space availability