ams 2012-2015 three year technology plan
DESCRIPTION
Includes information about technology plans for AshworthMiddle School for July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2015.TRANSCRIPT
Ashworth Middle School
Calhoun, Georgia
Three Year Technology Plan
July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2015
Marc Feuerbach – Principal
Leigh-Ann Hunt – Media Specialist
I. Vision for Technology Use
A. Mission Statement
Our mission is to make technology available to every student and teacher in every
classroom in a manner that enhances learning and promotes effective classroom presentation.
Technology will address the needs of all students, support the curriculum, reinforce higher order
thinking skills, improve student administration, and increase productivity.
B. Vision
It is the vision of Ashworth Middle School that computers and other technologies become a
normal part of every classroom and that a wide variety of multimedia presentations will be used
to add life and vigor to classroom presentations. We visualize that technology will energize the
learning process to make students willing and lifelong learners.
In our vision:
Technology will be incorporated so students will acquire basic technological skills
including word processing, desktop publishing, databases, spreadsheets, electronic
communications and other specialized technology in all academic areas.
Special needs students will have access to hardware and software through assistive
technology. Special devices as required by their Individual Education Plans (IEP)
will allow the students to communicate with their peers and teachers. Assistive
technology will be considered in the preparation of student IEPs.
A student information system will be maintained so parents can access grades and
other information about their student from their home.
Equitable access to information will help prepare the students for the 21st
century.
Technology will be infused and integrated into all aspects of the educational program.
Curriculum standards will drive the technology that will be placed in the school.
Students will be prepared effectively to access, analyze, apply and communicate
information so they will become successful citizens in the information-based global
society.
Teachers, students, administrators and staff will utilize up-to-date multimedia and
telecommunications to enhance learning
E-mail will replace paper communication within the school and eliminate paper
instruction.
II. Current Reality
Every regular classroom is connected to the system-wide network. The majority of
these classrooms have five or more network connections. The school network is connected to
the central office with gigabit fiber and uses a MetroE line to connect to the Internet. There is a
system-wide content filter (M86) that blocks access to inappropriate sites.
Most of Ashworth’s teachers have taken InTech training or have had technology
training. Other training activities have helped familiarize teachers with the technology available
at Ashworth. Training is an ongoing activity, and technology training in some form is conducted
on a daily basis.
Support for the technology program is provided through E-Rate and Title I funds
from the federal government, Special Purpose Local Sales Tax (SPLOST) initiatives, regular
school and media allotments and locally raised funds. The central office provides for a
technology director, network administrator and three computer technicians.
A. Access to Technology/Data Sources
1. Data
The source of data for this report is the annual school technology inventory. This is a room by
room inventory of all items of technology that is then compiled and submitted in the form of the
Annual School Technology Inventory Survey to the State of Georgia Department of Education.
The following is a summary of technology resources available to the faculty of Ashworth Middle
School:
Item Number
Modern computers 422
Laptops 106
Wireless carts 3
Video/Data projectors 55
Digital cameras 6
Digital video cameras 8
Interactive white boards 31
Wireless slates 53
Student response devices (sets) 27
Televisions 64
Video conferencing points 2
Document cameras 16
Flat bed scanners 2
2. Student and Faculty Technology Surveys
a. Recently 36 faculty members of Ashworth completed a locally generated
technology survey. The survey looked at which technology tools and resources
teachers were using, how frequently they use them, and how important they feel
the resources are to their instruction. They were also asked to describe any
additional technology resources that could strengthen their instruction. (see
Appendix A)
3. Access to technology
All classrooms and Gymnasium are connected to a system-wide computer network.
All of the networked computers have access to the Internet. Technology is used daily for general
school administration and student management. The school cafeteria staff uses computer
technology to track and record lunchroom funds. There is a separate computer classroom used
primarily for the instruction of keyboarding. A WAN (Wide Area Network) exists to connect all
administrators to the central office for the passing of attendance, purchasing and other data to the
central office. Parents have the ability to access and track both school attendance and academic
progress of their children through I-parent.
B. Technology Use
1. Instructional Uses of Technology
Instructional use of technology is a daily occurrence at Ashworth Middle School. Teachers
use a variety of technologies in their classroom including streaming videos. There are daily
Power Point, Prezi, MovieMaker presentations, internet searches, and other computer-based
instructions. A library of almost 800 instructional videos is also available. Currently all of our
classrooms are equipped with mounted televisions except for the mobile classrooms which have
access to TV on a cart. Each classroom has a VCR mounted next to the television. Each of the
teacher computers is equipped with WinTV, a television tuner which allows TV programming to
be viewed on the computer or on a large projections screen via video/data projection. Each
teacher computer also has the ability to play DVDs. There is a video/data projector mounted in
every classroom along with a screen and sound system. All classrooms have four or more
computers. Ashworth has its own website with daily homework assignments, school calendar,
and many instructional links for both teachers and students. Teachers also maintain individual
websites.
Teachers also use the internet for instruction, skills practice, and internet field trips. The
internet is also used to access practice for the CRCT, Professional Standards and other
instructional links. Document cameras are also available for specialized instruction such as
scientific experiments and art projects. There is a permanent computer lab with 29 computers
available for teachers to reserve and use for classroom instruction. There is also a permanent
remedial computer lab with 16 computers that allows at-risk students to improve their reading
and math skills. The media center has a total of 25 computers for student use, 10 desktops and 15
laptops.
2. Administrative uses of technology
Administrative uses of technology include SchoolMax which manages the student
population, class scheduling, grading, and student database. Business operations and purchase
order requests are done through a computer network linked to the central office. Special
Education uses Tienet to prepare Individual Education Plans and manage the special education
population of the school. Technology is also used in the school cafeteria to monitor, track and
record lunch and breakfast meal payments. E-mail is used extensively for school and system-
wide communication. Daily announcements are broadcast live to the whole school on a daily
basis via television and via Power Point in the school cafeteria during the lunch periods. Daily
announcements are posted each day on the school web site as is a calendar of current events.
3. Parent/Community Uses of technology
Ashworth Middle School maintains a school website (http://www.gcbe.org/ashworth) that is
available to all students, parents, and members of the community. It is updated daily to keep the
community abreast of current school events such as lunch menu, sports, PTSA, and student
homework. The iParent program allows parents to check their child’s grades and monitor their
attendance. The Gordon County School System also maintains an active website that provides
current information and news concerning the school system.
C. Gap Analysis
Every classroom has at least five or more computers. A wide range of computer software
is available through CITRIX on the system-wide network. Inspiration (for creating graphic
organizers), PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher, Access, and Safari, the media
center’s card catalog, are examples of some of the software available.
There are currently 55 mounted video/data projectors that allow computer images to be
projected on a screen or interactive white board. Every classroom is equipped with at least five
networked computers and the technology to present computer material on a screen or television
set. A video/data projector is mounted in the ceiling of every classroom. There are currently 31
interactive white boards mounted in classrooms and an additional 53 wireless slates are available
for checkout. Ideally, white boards need to be mounted in 4 additional classrooms. There are
currently 27 sets of student response devices available for check out. Another 16 sets would
make one available to all the primary classrooms. There are 16 document cameras available for
checkout which appears to be an adequate amount at this time.
Two wireless carts (30 laptops each) were added in the 2008-2009 school year. Battery life
is now severely diminished affecting the reliability of the two wireless carts. Due to a lack of
funds to replenish the batteries, the laptops from these carts are being used solely with power
adaptors and power strips. A third set of laptops (21) has been added to Ashworth’s inventory
this year. These were moved from Sonoraville High School when they purchased new units.
These also depend on power adaptors. It is our desire to add two to four new netbook wireless
carts in the next year.
Our system is blessed with a wide variety of technologies. Our technology staff is very
prompt in attending to any technical support issues that may arise. Ideally, it would be nice to
have one technology technician for every school. Another possibility would be maintaining a
technician for half a day, or every other day at each school.
There has been tremendous progress made toward achieving 21st Century Classrooms,
but additional student response devices and interactive white boards are required. 81 laptop
batteries are needed to replenish the two existing mobile labs. Additional items of technology
would serve to enhance the learning environments of the classrooms.
The PE department is also in need of computers to enable them to conduct their lessons.
They are now required to report students’ fitness levels to parents and the state by using the
Fitness Gram program to report the results. It is difficult to record data without a computer in
the gym or weight room. One solution is to provide iPads to use during the testing times. Some
other schools have pursued this avenue for their PE teachers and are reportedly having much
success.
In PE there are many opportunities to use computers for students to gather fitness data,
track fitness levels and research fitness information. The weight room currently has a projector, a
computer jack and wireless access. Unfortunately, there are no computers to use in the room. It
would be great to have access to several computers for student and teacher use. Another use for
these computers would be to present educational materials via DVDs that are received from
various resources such as American Heart Association.
The PE department would like to use the same program the high school uses, Bigger,
Faster, Stronger. Without a computer in the weight room it would waste so much paper to print
out the info that they could simply look on the computer screen and see. This program could be
used as a PE resource as well as a resource for coaches during off seasons to work with their
students. The computer in the weight room would also allow a place for student athletes and
coaching staff to review game film.
D. Goals
Goal 1 All classrooms will become 21st Century classrooms
Strategies Benchmark Evaluation
Method, Timeline
Funding
Source/Amount
Person
Responsible
A interactive white
board for every
classroom
Install in 4
classrooms.
Annual
Technology
Inventory
Install 4
SmartBoards in
the next 3 years
SPLOST, GCBE,
Instructional, Title
VI, Title I, PTO
and Fundraisers,
Equip Replacement
$2000 per board
TOTAL $8,000
Principal
Media Specialist
Technology
Director
Purchase 4
additional student
response sets
(CPS)
Replace existing
sets that do not
work.
Annual
Technology
Inventory
2 sets in each of
next two years.
SPLOST, GCBE,
Instructional, Title
VI, Title I, PTO
and Fundraisers,
Equip Replacement
$2000 per set
TOTAL $8,000
Principal
Media Specialist
Technology
Director
Goal 2 Provide a one-on-one computing solution for instruction Strategies Benchmark Evaluation
Method, Timeline
Funding
Source/Amount
Person
Responsible
Obtain 4 wireless
netbook carts.
2012-13 school
year
Annual
Technology
Inventory
SPLOST, GCBE,
Instructional, Title
VI, Title I, PTO
and Fundraisers,
Equip Replacement
Carts $3,200
Computers $30,000
TOTAL $33,200
Principal
Media Specialist
Technology
Director
Goal 3
All staff should be trained on skills and integration of technology in
the classroom
Strategies Benchmark Evaluation
Method, Timeline
Funding
Source/Amount
Person
Responsible
Determine needed
skills:
SmartBoards,
CPS, etc.
Instruction
provided as
technology
becomes available
Number of
teachers trained.
classes presented,
ongoing.
SPLOST, GCBE,
Instructional,
Professional
Development
Principal, System
Technology
Director,
Instructional
Coordinator
Goal 4 Increase parent and community communication, involvement
access and awareness in student learning by technology
Strategies Benchmark Evaluation
Method, Timeline
Funding
Source/Amount
Person
Responsible
Maintain a current
up-to-date web site
Make grades and
attendance
available through
I-Parent
Periodically
publish a school
newsletter
Provide web based
study resources
School
Governance
Council
Increase parental
usage of available
resources by 10%
each year.
Hit counter, usage
reports, student
progress reports.
Meeting minutes.
Ongoing.
SPLOST, GCBE,
Instructional, Title
VI, Title I
Principal
Media Specialist
Instructional
Coordinator
Goal 5
Continue to establish, maintain and support the network
infrastructure, hardware, and software to assure access for all
employees and students
Strategies Benchmark Evaluation
Method, Timeline
Funding
Source/Amount
Person
Responsible
Update wireless
network to 155K
Technology
Director report
Summer 2012 State and Local
Funding
Superintendent,
Technology
Director, Tech
staff
Increase
bandwidth to
250MB
Technology
Director report
Summer 2012 State and Local
Funding
Superintendent,
Technology
Director, Tech
staff
Update content
filter
Technology
Director report
Spring 2012 State and Local
Funding
Superintendent,
Technology
Director, Tech
staff
Install new
switches
Technology
Director report
Summer 2012 State and Local
Funding
Superintendent,
Technology
Director, Tech
staff
1. Goal 1 - All classrooms will become 21st Century classrooms.
The vision of a 21at Century classroom would be one where there is a teaching station
equipped with controls that enable the operation of all the technology in the classroom. There
should be state-of-the-art presentation technology that enables large screen presentation of
information and materials delivered from the teaching station. There should be an electronic
“white board” or “slate” that employs SMART technology for the presentation of computer-
based programs, materials and information resources including information and resources from
the Internet. There should be access to live and taped video programming delivered to the
classroom both locally and through school delivered materials.
To achieve the vision of a 21st Century classroom some or all of the following equipment
must be present in the classroom:
1 Windows 7 teacher workstation with CD-ROM/DVD Player
1 Laser printer connected to all computers
1 Color flatbed scanner
1 VCR/DVD player/recorder
1 Document Camera
1 Data-video projector with remote control, preferably mounted in the ceiling
1 Interactive whiteboard
1 Student Response Device
2. Goal 2 – Provide a one-on-one computing solution for instruction
A one-on-one computing solution provides a computer to each student in the class. It
would not be practical or financially feasible to put 30 computers in each classroom in the
school, but it would be very practical to provide four additional mobile computer labs of 30
netbooks each with wireless access. The labs could be checked out and moved to the classrooms
to allow the students to work on computer based projects. The availability of mobile computer
labs would in effect, reduce the number of computer workstations needed in each classroom. A
teacher workstation and four student workstations would probably be adequate for each
classroom if the mobile labs were available.
3. Goal 3 – All staff should be trained on skills and integration of technology in the
classroom.
Essential to the addition of new software and technologies in the classroom is the ability to
use it properly and productively. Teachers are reluctant to use new technology when they do not
have confidence in their own ability to make it work for them. A systematic program of ongoing
technology instruction should be an inherent part of the professional development process.
Many times technology classes present so much information at one time that it is difficult for the
teacher to grasp and retain, even with notes and handouts. It is important that technology
training is conducted at the time the technology is needed to make it relevant to the situation at
hand. Teachers learn technology when they use it and apply it to a specific situation. It is
important that there are personnel available to assist teachers as they continue to use technology
in their classroom. This could be done by designated technology teachers or coaches who could
instruct, assist and model instruction using classroom technology.
4. Goal 4 – Increase parent and community communication, involvement access
and awareness in student learning by technology.
Studies have shown that the more a parent is involved with the education of their child the
better they do in school. A continuing effort should be made to involve parents in school
activities and events that improve student achievement and to give them the tools to monitor
homework, attendance, and grades making them feel that they are a part of the educational
process for their child.
5. Goal 5 – Continue to establish, maintain and support the network
infrastructure, hardware, and software to assure access for all employees and
students.
Technology is useless if the network does not support it. As teachers and students continue
to use wireless devices and increase the amount of instruction that is technology-based, it is
needful to upgrade the wireless network, switches, content filter, and bandwidth.
E. Evaluation Plan The effectiveness of this plan will be determined not only by how
successfully and timely the desired equipment was obtained but also by the
effectiveness of classroom instruction as measured by student achievement gains on
standardized testing, the technological growth of the staff and faculty as measured by
the faculty technology survey and acceptance of new technologies, and the successful
integration of technology into the curriculum. Evaluation tools will include testing
results, surveys, observation, annual teacher evaluations, and self evaluation.
1. Data collection strategies to monitor progress
2. Responsibilities
3. Evaluation methods
a. Student Achievement
b. Student technology literacy
III. Communication and Marketing
A. Communication/Marketing
1. Two-way communication between all areas of the educational community is
essential. To this end, e-mail has become the primary source of communication between the
administration and members of the Ashworth faculty. This is also a primary source of
communication between teachers and with the central office.
2. Also essential is the ability of communication with the student’s parents. To this
end, I-Parent has been acquired to allow parents to view their student’s performance and
attendance via the internet. Ongoing efforts will be used to make parents aware of this resource
and to encourage their participation. In conjunction with this effort, Ashworth maintains a
current and active website that parents can access to check on homework assignments, check
daily announcements, check the school calendar, share documents from teachers, and
communicate via e-mail with their student’s teachers. Each teacher also maintains an individual
website. Parent Link, a phone-based system, is also used to inform parents of news and other
important information.
3. Communication with the community is also essential to good public relations.
Communication is accomplished with the school web site which provides detailed information
about the school including its mission and vision. Significant events are publicized through the
web site and publication in the local newspaper. Additionally, the community, both parents and
business associates, are represented on the school council. The minutes of the school council are
posted on the school web site.
4. Publication of a school newsletter also provides a communication avenue to
parents and the community. The newsletter allows for recognition of significant events and
school and individual achievements and the dissemination of information pertinent to students
and parents. The newsletter is sent home with students and also posted on the school web site.
B. Integration/coordination with long-range planning initiatives:
1. The administration uses technology on a daily basis for communication with
members of the faculty and other offices throughout the school system. They are active in
acquiring new technology that will enhance the instructional capabilities of the teachers and staff
and seek ways to place new technology in the classrooms.
2. Teacher and student management is done through School Max and other software.
Purchase requisitions, technology support and maintenance requests are completed via
technology.
3. The administration promotes the active use of technology and seeks to set the
example in technological use.
4. The school system has actively pursued the acquisition to enhance the instructional
capabilities of each classroom. It has been active in seeking funding for technology through
local funding, SPLOSTs, E-Rate, and other grants. The Gordon County School System is
moving rapidly toward the 21st Century classroom throughout the entire system.
IV. Professional Development:
Professional learning will be an ongoing process. As each new technology is
integrated into the school and academic process instruction is provided to both teachers and staff.
Much of this training is provided through the school system while other training is provided
internally. Each teacher has been provided with training in maintaining their websites, using
CRCT practice software, and using Study Island. Professional learning will continue to support
school improvement and academic achievement through a variety of sources.
Appendix A
AMS Technology Resources Survey Highlights
March 2012
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
100.0%
% o
f te
ach
ers
Technology Tools Used by AMS Teachers
for InstructionMarch 2012
80%
75%
33%
Data Projector
Smart/ActivBoard
Classroom computers
Daily Use of Technology by AMS Teachers March 2012
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
100.0%
no
t im
po
rtn
at
to v
ery i
mp
ort
an
t
Importance of Technology Tools to AMS
Teacher InstructionMarch 2012
4. List any additional technology (hardware/software) resources and/or tools that you
feel would strengthen YOUR instruction?
# of Respondents Response
20 people N/A
1 person Cameras/portable scanner
1 person More CPS Units in which the students can see their answers and
keep up with what number they are on.
1 person Training on SmartBoard
1 person Having a smartboard or activboard would help. Being able to
count on the CPS units to work in my room would enable me to
be able to use them.
1 person I think we have it all. A few more student computers would be
nice.
1 person Having in class student computers hooked to the network
printer. Allowing me to bring a printer from home to hook up to
my in class computer, because I cannot leave the room when
students need extra copies, etc.
1 person We already own this, but Finale music writing software is
essential for music educators.
1 person Possibly a free recording program like Audacity.
1 person Program resources that quickly enable activity based learning on
the SmartBoards