RUSSELL BLVD.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

TECHNOLOGY PLAN

1998-2001

Vision

Mission Statement:

All Russell Blvd. Elementary students and staff utilize technology to research, create, and communicate within the school, the community, and worldwide. Technology is being integrated with the curriculum of all subject areas and used as a tool to help produce better readers and writers. Our goal is to develop critical thinkers and empower them to be responsible contributors in the global community.

We Believe:

the key ingredient is the teacher not the technology.

that teachers deserve the best professional tools we can provide.

students and teachers must have access to information via technology as a basis for lifelong learning.

technology can reach the diverse learning styles of our students.

that students must be permitted to use a wide variety of technological tools to enhance their future success.

that skillful use of technology allows for efficient processing and management of large amounts of information.

that productivity and efficiency can be increased through the use of technology.

that technology can enhance communications within and outside the school.

technology is cool...teachers are cooler!

Where We Are

Summary:

Funding for computer technology at Russell has been provided by a two year State Incentive Grant as well as by the PTA and support from the district for network wiring. This past year we started the process of upgrading computers purchased just three years ago. Our priority has been to place the newer workstations in the classrooms to empower the teachers and the students where they spend most of their time. We recently upgraded our server software to Novell 4.11.

Technology training has been provided by the District. Some training in our building has been provided by District Personnel. In addition, each teacher has worked individually with our technology clerk, who is a teacher, to develop ideas for integrating technology with our curriculum. We have been fortunate in our building to utilize state grant money to pay for substitutes to allow our teachers to take advantage of technology in-service training during the school day. Training has been offered on Windows 3.1 and Pegasus mail. The training of our staff in the use and integration of technology should be on-going. We would like to see a combination of district and building offerings with in-service credit throughout the year. A survey of current staff needs has recently been completed.

Existing Equipment:

à 1 server with 4DX33 based processor and 32 mg of memory

à 27 networked computers in a lab with these specifications

à 6 workstations with 4mb ram (5 4SX-33, 1 4SX-25)

à 20 workstations with 8mb ram (7 4SX-25, 4 4SX-33, 5 4DX2-50, 1 4DX2-66, 3 P5-100)

à 1 workstation with 16mb ram (P5-120)

à 24 workstations in classrooms with these specifications

à 14 workstations with 8mb ram (3 4SX-25, 1 4SX-33, 9 4DX2-66, 1 P5-100)

à 4 workstations with 16mb ram (all P5-120)

à 6 workstations with 32mb ram (all Premio Pentium)

à 5 workstations in Media Center with these specifications

à 1 Circulation Computer (old and slow)

à 3 Card Catalog Computers (useful only to browse card catalog)

à 1 workstation with 8mb ram (4DX2-66)

à 4 workstations in the office with these specifications

à 1 workstation with 4mb ram (Packard Bell-25mhz? slow)

à 2 workstations with 8mb ram (4DX2-66, P4D-66)

à 1 workstation with 16mb ram (P5-120)

à Printers

à Lab has one HP Laserjet printer (B&W) and one HP Deskjet printer (color) which are networked to all of the computers in the building.

à Classrooms

à 12 classrooms have Dot matrix printers

à 1 Cannon Deskjet printer (Assistant Principal)

à 2 HP deskjet printers (Media Center and Office-Principal)

à 5 HP deskjet series 500 printers (in classrooms 1 5th, 4 second)

à 5 HP deskjet series 600 printers (first grade classrooms)

à Apple IIe Equipment

à 27 computers placed in classrooms

à 4 Imagewriter printers

à Other Equipment

à 1 Quicktake Digital Camera

à 1 HP Scanjet IIcx Scanner

à 1 Color LCD Projection Panel

à Video and Telephone Equipment

à 6 Television Monitors-26”

à 2 Television Monitors-20”

à 8 VCRs

à 1 Video Camera

à 1 Videodisk Player

à 1 plain paper fax machine

à 19 telephones

Educational Goals

Goal #1

Provide appropriate in-service training and support for school staff to become effective users and facilitators of technology.

Goal #2

Utilize technology as a communication tool within the building, community and worldwide.

Goal #3

Develop an annual plan for upgrade and replacement of equipment.

Goal #4

Provide an environment for teachers to enhance instruction with technology through the provision of adequately equipped classrooms with care that all Russell students have access to technology.

Goal #5

Promote the value of peer instruction in relation to technology throughout the school.

Goal #6

Pursue additional financial resources to adequately fund the infusion of technology at Russell.

Goal #7

Promote the ethical use of technology with emphasis on copyright and acceptable use policies.

Implementation Plans

1998-1999:

Objectives:

90% of teachers will use technology to support the curriculum in the classroom as well as in the lab. This objective will be documented through a year end survey.

Students will have opportunities to provide leadership in technology by sharing projects that they have done and by peer mentoring.

Implement Technology Study Group lead by Technology Clerk and Media Specialist that will give teachers credit on their Professional Growth Plan.

Identify staff technology leaders through the study group.

Empower the technology leaders to support users of technology in the building and to share what they have learned.

Offer training on Pegasus mail and Electric Library for teachers.

Ensure that the hardware and software for e-mail technology is in place.

Activate e-mail links to all school staff on our web page.

Review Acceptable Use of Technology Plan with students at the beginning of each school year.

Increase the hours of the technology coordinator to full time to provide the ongoing support for teachers beginning to take risks with using technology. (Create a job description that clarifies the role of this person and helps to prioritize how time is spent)

Plan inservice opportunities and incentives for teachers to participate based on a survey of need done early in the school year.

Continue to update the technology curriculum as practical and useful applications for technology are discovered.

Continue to explore the resources of local colleges and Universities for technical support and inservice.

Identify two teachers willing to attend a National Conference on Technology in Education and to report back to the technology committee and the principal.

Implement instructional use of TV, VCRs in all classrooms and a distribution center for the school.

Write an annual plan for the upgrading of equipment and add it to this technology plan.

Evaluate with Special Ed. Teachers the need for alternative input devices (touch window, track ball, etc...) and funding sources for them.

Subscribe to one professional journal relating to technology for staff use.

Maintain all computers by having a regular cleaning schedule each year.

Equipment Needs:

· 3 computer and 3 printers for Kindergarten

· One laptop computer for teachers to borrow for home or presentations

· 2 computers and 3 printers for special ed.

· One Network line to Special Ed room that is not wired

· Network connections to two trailers

· memory and processor upgrades in classrooms and lab workstations (working toward minimum standard for our equipment of 66mhz and 8mb ram).

· one zip drive and some disks for use on graphic work

· begin replacing printers-4 new printers a year for 3 years

· Purchase new networked keyboarding software, upgrade encyclopedia

· new computer for assistant principal

· TVs and VCRs in all classrooms

Funding Sources:

· PTA funds for kdg and special ed computers and upgrade of printers

· Grant opportunity pursued for TV/VCR production implementation

· Media Center budget for software needs

· Partner in Ed-hand me down equip to upgrade Vice Principalís computer and maybe even media center

· District funding for wiring

· Links to Learning/CPS Foundation Grants for upgrading assistance, zip drive and disks

· Work with Special Ed. to look for grants to provide alternative input devices appropriate for our population.

· Explore University connection for zip drive and disks

· Professional Development funds for in school inservice and conference attendance

1999-2000

Objectives:

Students will continue to have opportunities to provide leadership in technology by sharing projects that they have done, by peer mentoring, and by working as webmasters on the Russell School Web page.

All equipment will be in place and teachers will receive inservice for using TV and VCR instructionally.

90% of teachers will use e-mail regularly and be competent users of the Internet for finding information.

40% of teachers will use the WWW and e-mail for curriculum based projects.

The Russell School Web Page will continue to develop and to be useful as an interactive resource for students in the school as well as the community.

Work with district on getting the technology coordinator position to be a certified teaching position.

Hold Technology Study Group lead by Technology Clerk and Media Specialist that will give teachers credit on their Professional Growth Plan.

Train technology leaders among staff to work with other staff members. Provide incentives for them.

Review Acceptable Use of Technology Plan with students at the beginning of each school year.

Plan inservice opportunities and incentives for teachers to participate based on a survey of need done early in the school year.

Continue to update the technology curriculum as practical and useful applications for technology are discovered.

Keep enhancing the collaboration with local colleges and Universities for technical support and inservice.

Send two teacher representatives to a National Technology Conference.

Subscribe to one professional journal relating to technology for staff use.

Maintain all computers by having a regular cleaning schedule each year.

Equipment Needs:

· laptop (s) that can be checked out by teachers

· new circulation computer

· 4 new printers for classrooms to replace Dot Matrix printers

· alternative input devices (touch window, track balls, etc...)

· video camera

· continue purchasing software

· 4 external CD roms, speakers and other needed enhancements for older classroom equipment (3SX-25s, 1SX-33)

· 2-3 fast workstations for the Media Center

· Begin to purchase multimedia computers to replace the oldest ones in the lab

Funding Sources:

· PTA funding for new replacement printers, Media Center Workstations, upgrades for classroom computers

· Media Center budget for software

· Partner in Ed hand me downs What can we do for them?

· Links to Learning/CPS Foundation-video camera, upgrades

· Look for outside grant to fund Laptops

2000-2001

Objectives:

Students will continue to have opportunities to provide leadership in technology by sharing projects that they have done, by peer mentoring, and by working as webmasters on the Russell School Web page.

The Russell School Web page will continue to grow and possibly incorporate some interactivity for Global Projects.

In school broadcasting for instructional purposes will become routine.

90% of teachers will use technology integration in more than two subjects including use of e-mail and the www when appropriate. Many of those will have integrated technology seamlessly into their regular plan of teaching.

Depending on outcome of technology coordinator position continue these efforts.

Hold Technology Study Group lead by Technology Clerk and Media Specialist that will give teachers credit on their Professional Growth Plan.

Continue to develop and support technology leaders on the staff.

Review Acceptable Use of Technology Plan with students at the beginning of each school year.

Plan inservice opportunities and incentives for teachers to participate based on a survey of need done early in the school year.

Continue to update the technology curriculum as practical and useful applications for technology are discovered.

Keep enhancing the collaboration with local colleges and Universities for technical support and inservice.

Send two teacher representatives to a National Conference and encourage teachers to present their experiences at State or National Conferences.

Subscribe to one professional journal relating to technology for staff use.

Maintain all computers by having a regular cleaning schedule each year.

Equipment Needs:

· replace the last 4 dot matrix printers

· purchase software as needed

· new digital camera

· Begin to replace workstations in lab and put the older computers into classrooms as additional workstations (or into a word processing lab?). In this way the lab will become multimedia capable.

· Continue to upgrade classroom equipment (which all seems new right now, but will be hopelessly behind the times by the time we get to the third year of this plan.)

· Workstations for Art, Science, Music???????

Funding Sources:

· PTA funding for final printer replacements, upgraded workstations for lab

· Links to Learning, CPS foundation-digital camera

· Professional Development funds

· Find an outside grant to apply to.....(just because we should be always looking for ideas and writing grants!)

· Media Center budget for networked software

BEYOND 2001

Objectives:

Upgrade and replacement of equipment will continue as needed

On-site and ongoing training and support at the building level will be established.

Equipment Needs:

More than one workstation per classroom?

more laptops to send home with students or teachers?

CU see me?

Video editing equip?

new scanner

another digital camera

Funding Sources:

Have an established list of grants that will support these types of goals.

Keep list of ideas for future technology projects.

EVALUATION

A survey will be given to the teachers in the fall of each year to decide the timing, focus and incentives for the technology training each year.

An annual survey will be developed and given to staff by the technology committee in April of each year. The results will be tabulated and shared with the staff before the year end. Each spring the technology committee will meet and use the results of the survey, recent research, input from people who attended conferences, and observation of the use of technology in the school to update this technology plan for the coming year.

The survey will contain sections pertaining to hardware, training, student use of technology, and teacher use of technology. The results will be appended to this document annually.