RCISD Technology Plan

RCISD Technology Plan

RCISD Technology Plan2011-2014

Melanie StarnesEDLD 5362/ET8038

Technology is only a wise investment if it changes something about the way students learn, opens new doors and possibilities, and/or helps engage them in their learning experiences. (Tschirgi, nd, p. 1)

Why We need a PlanThere are five goals presented by the National Technology Plan, with recommendations for states, districts, the federal government, and other stakeholders. These goals include: Learning, Assessment, Teaching, Infrastructure, and Productivity. (U.S. Department of Education, 2010)

In addition, each school district is required by the U.S. Department of Education to have a National Technology Plan.

Royse City ISD District ProfileNumber of campuses9Total Student Enrollment4,509District Size3,000-4,999Percent Econ. Disadvantaged34.20%Computer/Student Ratio2/1Computer/Teacher Ratio1/1

The Royse City Independent School District is comprised of 9 campuses. This includes 1 High School, 1 Middle School, 2 Intermediate Schools, 4 Elementary Schools, and 1 ALC. Our total student enrollment is 4,509, and our district size falls between 3,000-4,999. Our percentage of Economically Disadvantaged is 34.20%. Our current student to computer ratio is 2-1, 2 students per 1 computer and our computer/teacher ratio is 1-1.

4Were Planning for the futureThe RCISD plan focuses on integrating technology with curriculum and operations to maximize student and staff performance and increase productivity.

We believe in order for technology to have a positive impact on our learning organization, it must receive support and resources from our district administration and community.

In planning for the future, the RCISD created a plan designed to progress with a technology vision that capitalizes on our previous technology investments, and take the district forward through the next three years. Our plan focuses on the integration of technology with the curriculum and operations in order to maximize student and staff performance and also increase productivity. In order for technology to have a positive impact on our district, we believe it must receive support and resources from both our district administration and the Royse City Community. 5Through the use of technology, our students are provided enhanced modes of learning, while developing the skills that will be necessary to compete in their future society.

The use of technology will result in an overall increase in productivity, accuracy and efficiency by district staff.

By using technology, our students will be provided with enhanced modes of learning, while they are developing the skills they will need to be competitive in their future society. In addition, the use of technology by district staff will result in an overall increase in productivity, accuracy and efficiency.6Technology Team membersDistrict Technology Improvement Committee: Technology, Curriculum and Campus Administration, general education teachers, technology teachers.

Created a plan to cover hardware, applications, support, student assessment tools, staff development, and online curriculum.

Royse City ISD put together a District Technology Improvement Committee in order to assess our district needs and conditions, and to prepare to meet future goals. This committee was made up of Technology, Curriculum and Campus Administration, as well as many general education and technology teachers. The committee worked together to create a plan that covered hardware, applications, support, student assessment tools, staff development, and online curriculum. 7RCISD technology NeedsSTaR chart data indicates the following needs:Teachers and Campuses are in the developing stages of technology integrationDistrict must provide more opportunities for technology professional development.Continue to promote Online Learning opportunities.Add more peripheral and Web 2.0 technology integrationImprove intra-district and community/parent communication

Based on the data from the STaR chart, RCISD listed the top 5 needs. The data shows that both our teachers and campuses are in the developing stages of technology integration, although we did show growth from previous years. In order for our district to continue its growth, the district must provide more opportunities for technology professional development. These trainings should specifically address Technology Integration and Technology TEKS, as well as establish Teacher Technology Competencies. Online learning opportunities will continue to be promoted, as the district provides trainings for teachers. There is also a need for more peripheral and Web 2.0 technology integration throughout the district. This includes an increase in the distribution of computer projection devices on all 9 campuses, and an increase of document cameras, interactive boards, student response systems, etc. Royse City will continue to develop a VoIP network to improve intra district and community/parent communication.8How we can Address the needsThe Royse City ISD Technology Plan as dictated by the Texas Long Range Plan includes the following four components:Teaching and LearningEducator PreparednessAdministration and SupportInfrastructure

As dictated by the Texas Long Range Plan, the Royse city ISD Technology Plan includes the four following components: Teaching and Learning, Educator Preparedness, Administration and Support, and Infrastructure.9RCISD: Teaching & learning1. Increase the amount of technologies in each classroom to enhance student instruction with emerging technologies and to promote problem solving and higher-level thinking skills.2. Increase technology integration annually by students, teachers, and administrators.3. Review, revise, and administer Technology Applications assessments to students K-8.4. Prepare students and teachers for the challenges of the 21st Century.5. Ensure the development of higher order thinking skills through effective communication and problem solving.

Increase the amount of technologies in each classroom to enhance student instruction with emerging technologies and to promote problem solving and higher-level thinking skills. To meet this objective, we will use data from district data management system to access student academic needs and to develop appropriate student learning plans, assess the use of technology in the classrooms using the Texas Campus and Teacher STaR Chart, provide online access to curriculum, clarifications, and resources for students and staff, utilize virtual and distance learning offerings and courses for student to continue their learning opps 24/7, determine areas of critical instructional needs, provide ready access to appropriate assistive and emerging technologies, utilize offering from the Texas Virtual School Network.Increase technology integration annually by students, teachers, and administrators. To do this we will create a media fair to display exemplary student work, provide video conference content for students, administrators, teachers and community, instructional staff will facilitate lessons using higher levels of technology integration through the use of peripherals and web 2.0 tools, district will identify and develop several instructional technology specialists on each campus to provide resources and training, identify new sources and systems for delivery of online courses (ex: Texas Virtual School Network, Project Share, Thinkfinity)3. Review, revise, and administer Technology Applications assessments to students K-8. Embed the Technology Applications TEKS into the curriculum for K-12, Follow and subscribe to the state adopted online K-8 Technology Applications Curriculum and SBEC guidelines.Prepare students and teachers for the challenges of the 21st century. Develop and support Cyber Safety skills lessons with a locally developed curriculum, promote and emphasize the use of the k12 databaseEnsure the development of higher order thinking skills through effective communication and problem solving. Increase the use of current interactive technologies including student response systems, interactive boards, and other peripherals as technology evolves, District develop guidelines that ensure emerging technologies are safe to use, seamless in integration, and driven by curricular needs, district will educate students and teachers in the proper use and etiquette of Web 2.0 collaborative technology tools and information literacy.

10RCISD: Educator preparedness1. Provide RCISD staff with incentive and means to assess, by increasing and documenting their level of technology proficiency and integration of 21st Century teaching.2. Implement processes that continue to expand staff capabilities as training needs change with technology3. Maintain district level technology and support positions for each campus4. Ensure qualifications of technical staff are updated to keep pace with changing technologies.

1. Provide RCISD staff with incentive and means to assess, by increasing and documenting their level of technology proficiency and integration of 21st Century teaching. To meet this objective, we will investigate and set up a Staff Technology for Educational Proficiency program utilizing SBC guidelines for teacher proficiency. Maintain and upgrade a professional development tracking system.2. Implement processes that continue to expand staff capabilities as training needs change with technology. District will utilize technology resources (web 2.0 tools, teacher websites, data analysis, peripherals) in curriculum training and standard classroom operations, identify proficiencies for all RCISD staff as defined by SBEC, develop and implement monthly/quarterly technology proficiency training and assessment for all RCISD staff to participate in that is based on the results of the annual online technology competencies self assessment and the Teacher STaR chart, promote video conferencing capabilities and offerings, encourage Master Technology Teacher Certification, Intel Teach program, Level of Technology Integration training, Technology Specialist Training and other technology degrees and certifications.3. Maintain district level technology and support positions for each campus. Maintain a skilled staff of technicians in sufficient numbers to support district needs, develop and maintain adequate professional staff to manage the following operations: audio/visual, communication, network, security, website, workstations; add qualified staff in sufficient numbers to support district instructional and training needs.4. Ensure qualifications of technical staff are updated to keep pace with changing technologies. Provide ongoing professional development to technology staff in their area of expertise.

11Rcisd : administration and support1. Provide district wide video conferencing capability2. Provide all workstations with high speed Internet access3. Provide phone connectivity to essential offices and classrooms in district.4. Enhance communication through use of district Intranet systems.5. Improve communication through enhanced use of the RCISD website.6. Provide opportunities for face-to-face communication between all stake holders.7. Maintain focus on technology financial issues.

1. Provide district wide video conferencing capability. Maintain district video conferencing lab, investigate mobile video conferencing stations at each campus, utilize School Messenger software system to effectively communicate to parents and staff.2. Provide all workstations with high speed Internet access. Increase and maintain district Internet access bandwidth to meet needs, ensue age of workstations maintained at 3-5 years.3. Provide phone connectivity to essential offices and classrooms in district. Provide network access ports in classrooms & offices to allow connection to telephone system as needed, provide local and long distance phone service to all faculty and staff. 4. Enhance communication through use of district Intranet systems. Provide access to shared information about common subject areas and grade levels using intranet, outlook and c-scope, every teacher will have their own website utilizing School World, utilize web based communication vehicles to distribute staff technology surveys.Improve communication through enhanced use of the RCISD website. Ensure current news items and current information are available weekly on the district and campus web pages, Provide online community surveys to get current feedback from community, provide parental access to online student information, transfer data and implement web hosting in order to improve performance and features of website.Provide opportunities for face to face communication between all stake holders. Continue the practice of participating in District Committee meetings in order to discuss technology plans, continue practice of holding monthly technology meetings. Maintain focus on technology financial issues. Continue regular review of technology budget and spending. Continue to pursue applicable grants to augment state and local funding.

12Rcisd: infrastructure1. Maintain viability of network infrastructure.2. Provide the district with advanced tools to efficiently manage and support district technology requirements.3. Maintain a comprehensive data security plan.4. Implement and review a comprehensive safety plan.5. Maintain and publish formal documentation of technology procedures, practices, and plans.

1. Maintain viability of network infrastructure. Install and maintain full wireless network coverage on all campuses, upgrade file server hardware and operating systems to meet requirements of software, 2. Provide the district with advanced tools to efficiently manage and support district technology requirements. Use of remote desktop management software to troubleshoot, repair, re-image, and push software to workstations, Implement advanced central management of wireless network, Upgrade workstation operating system technology. Implement and maintain network traffic analysis tools in order to efficiently deliver robust Internet as demanded, Maintain management of technology inventory through online tracking systems.3. Maintain a comprehensive data security plan. Review and revise disaster recover and business continuity plans on yearly basis, Maintain effective virus, spyware and spam filtering systems, maintain and review network intrusion detection systems.4. Implement and review a comprehensive safety plan. Maintain an effective internet content filtering system, continue to provide internet safety instruction for staff, students, and community5. Maintain and publish formal documentation of technology procedures, practices, and plans. Maintain and publish formal documentation of technology procedures, practices and plans, continue the regular review of all IS policies, procedures, and practices.

13Rcisd: budget

14RCISD: evaluationTechnology needs & assessment of progress are discussed monthly.Plan will be evaluated and updated on a yearly basis.District Technology Committee will provide annual report.

Challenges we face.New building and expansions.Strains on the technology infrastructure and personnel.Economically Disadvantaged 34.20%

The challenge for our education system is to leverage the learning sciences and modern technology to create engaging, relevant, and personalized learning experiences for all learners that mirror students daily lives and the reality of their futures. (Transforming American Education, 2010)

references(2010, November). Transforming American Education: Learning powered by technology. Retrieved on May 6, 2012 from http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/netp2010-execsumm.pdfCampbell, C. (2010). Royse City ISD Technology Plan. Retrieved on May 6, 2012 from http://www.rcisd.org/files/filesystem/ROYSE%20CITY%20ISD%20Technology%20Plan.pdfTschirgi, D. (nd). What is the Sustainable Classroom? Educational Technology Support Center. Retrieved on May 6, 2012 from http://www.esd112.org/edtech/sustainableclass.cfmU.S. Department of Education. (2012). National education technology plan 2010. Retrieved from http://www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010

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