Challenger Charter School

 

Technology Plan

January – April 2003

 

I. Background

In February 2003, the Challenger Charter School Technology Committee met to assess the technology needs of the Challenger Charter School Network. It reported to the Los Angeles Board of Education in January 2003 who then gave the Technology Committee the responsibility to develop a three-year plan for the use of technology and become a part of the Los Angeles School District Network. The committee was to review the current use of technology, programs, staffing, and budgets. The committee met at California State University San Bernardino to formulate this draft plan.

II. Introduction

The Goals and Criteria of Challenger Charter School is to commit to a philosophy of education that encourages cooperative learning that reaches beyond the limits of its community while simultaneously bridging cultural gaps.  The Internet and online tools can break down traditional barriers and bridge cultural and social gaps lending to equal access of educational tools to all students.

 

Technology is making it possible to envision exciting new forms of collaboration within the realm of education. The Los Angeles School District Network, Challenger Charter School will provide a round-table for ongoing collaboration and shared learning.

The use of technology and the Internet at the elementary level grades 1 through 5 should be a progressive and innovative effort. While the Internet opens a vast array of information to students and teachers, proper tools are needed to work collaboratively to publish work while concurrently encouraging HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills) and the constructivist approach to learning. Building knowledge through cooperative learning such research tools as WebQuests and other innovative lesson plans that utilizes technology and the Internet, produces students who are engaged in the learning process.

 
III. Challenger Charter School is committed to the following goals:

• To promote communication and collaboration within the Los Angeles School District Network: i.e., among and between schools, between the Los Angeles School District’s Network Office and the schools, among and between administrators, teachers, students, trustees, and parents.

• To provide programs and resources for administrators, teachers, students, trustees, and parents.

• To promote collaboration between the Los Angeles School District Network, Challenger Charter School and other schools and organizations.

 

In order to achieve these goals, two areas of activity are included in this plan:

 

• The development of pertinent programs, including the ongoing education of Challenger Charter School faculty and staff to encourage the proficient use of technology.

• The development, and research of technologies most innovative and appropriate for an elementary school and its students.

 

Programs

• Administrator, teacher, student and parental workshops, will be provided on a regular basis.
• Necessary training that will enable educators to integrate technology into the curriculum effectively will be provided regularly.
   

 

IV   Challenger Charter School is committed to the following program goals:

 

·        To work with Los Angeles School District Network groups and to encourage the use of online technology in the planning, implementation through follow-up meetings and workshops.

·        To hire one full-time technology staff member to work with the school to develop collaborative Internet research programs and to assist faculty’s efforts to incorporate technology into the curriculum

·        To encourage the interaction of our technology coordinators via frequent meetings, both on a national and a regional basis.

·        To hire one full-time technology staff member to work with the school to develop collaborative Internet research programs and to assist faculty’s efforts to incorporate technology into the curriculum.

·        To develop a series of program development workshops, based on the

      needs identified by the district and our community.

 

Technology

It is imperative that Challenger Charter School is technologically up to date.  To accomplish this goal it is imperative that the school be equipped with the latest in hardware, software, Internet connectivity and to employ a technologically literate faculty and staff. 

 

Challenger Charter School and its committee members believe that the responsibility for developing and maintaining its technological foundation is the responsibility of Challenger Charter School as an independent entity.  However, it is important that members of other schools within the Los Angeles School District support this charter school with information and tools this charter school may need to achieve these goals.  This charter school will encourage schools with more advanced technological know-how to work with us in a creative fashion.

 

The Challenger Charter School is committed to the following technology goals:

 

• To build a more than adequate technology infrastructure.
• To establish a technology foundation that interfaces with the Los Angeles School District Network and for all administrators, faculty, and students to be online via an Internet connection that allows a group of users to have access simultaneously.
• To implement Tapped-in and Blackboard conferencing (with audio, video, and white board capabilities) for use by members of the technology committee and faculty members.
• To implement video conferencing capabilities.

 

V. Conclusion

Technology continues to develop very rapidly making any plan as such continually in need of revision. In presenting this plan for consideration, the committee views it as a set of guidelines to be evaluated and assessed regularly.
 

Technology Committee Members:

Network Administrator, Patti FitzSimmons
Technology Coordinator/Faculty, Diana Squillace

Educator/Community Involvement, Denise Keiningham
Board Member/Cultural Diversity, Luis Martinez