To:      John J. Hopton, MPE Principal

Cc:     

From:  Dave D’Addozio, Acting Technology Facilitator

Date:   March 23, 2005

Re:       Tech Plan to Meet CCCS

 

            The following is a technology plan for Mount Pleasant Elementary School, a K-5 school of 400 students in Livingston, N.J.  Our school and community have many resources available to them in the area of technology.  Each classroom is equipped with at least 3 computers with internet access, and most students have home computers with internet access.  It is important that we create a plan that takes advantage of the tools we have available.  The following proposal will highlight the staff’s experience and confidence with technology, resources available, staff development, and an outline of assessments for measuring student progress.

            I surveyed the staff to find out there level of experience and confidence with technology.  Most indicated that they are comfortable with technology and use it often to create lesson plans, graphic organizers and worksheets, research information for lessons, as a tool for student research, presentations and projects, as well as for drill and practice.   With the recent addition of eChalk as our web-based communication service, the staff is extremely pleased with the easy of communication between staff, administrators, students and parents.  I suggest that we use the experience and expertise of those on staff to help the few teachers lacking confidence and skill with technology.  At future staff meetings teachers could share lessons that they have created which integrate technology.  They could also set up workshops or tutoring sessions to help teachers lacking computer skills acquire them in an efficient and effective manner.  Professional development courses are and will continue to be available to those staff members that want to explore further with the technology tools available to them.  I also recommend that subject supervisors investigate ways to integrate technology into their specific curriculum area.   

            Many teachers have indicated a need for materials to use in areas of science and social studies. The Internet should be used to help supplement materials like textbooks, books, and magazines.  Teachers will create curriculum pages that help students introduce themselves to finding appropriate websites for research.  In the upper grades students will begin to use search engines on their own to research information in various areas.  Filtering software is available on all school computers, but teacher guidance and supervision is imperative to be sure students are accessing appropriate sites. 

            We have a few word processing programs available for our use including; Word, Claris Works for Kids, Kid Pix and AppleWorks.   Presentation software such as PowerPoint and Graphic Organizer programs such as Kidspiration and Inspiration are available for use, which will help us meet the Technology Standards outlined in the Core Curriculum Content Standards. The following is a list of projects/assessments that can be used with the subject areas without the use of computer lab time.

 

Grade	Project/Assessment	Software/Programs	Standards
K	a. Drawing/Stories b. Home Address Map	a. KidPix b. My Street Map Machine	a. A.1,2,3,4,7 b. A.1,3,4,5,7,9
1	a. Fall Scene Journals b. Frog Slide Show   c. Graphing Favorites	a. KidPix (Drawing and Text) b. KidPix (Drawing and Text)   c. Graph Club	a. A.1,2,3,4,7,9 b. A.1,2,3,4,6,7       B. 5   c. A.1,2,3,5,7,9
2	a. Community Map b. Dinosaur Research and Presentation c. Family Stories with Pics.	a. My Street Map Machine   b. Kidspiration & Internet   c. ClarisWorks for Kids or Word	a. A.1,2,3,5,7,8,     9 b. A.1,2,3,5,7,8,     9     B.2,3,4,5,6 c. A.1,2,3,4,7,9
3	a. Graphing Class Cultures b. Vertebrate Presentations   c. Planet Comparisons   d. Poetry Book	a. Graph Club   b. Power Point & Internet Sites     c. Inspiration   d. Word	a. A.1,2,3,5,7,9 b. A.1,2,3,5,7,8,9     B.2,3,4,5,6,8,9 c. A.1,2,3,8,9     B.2,3,4,5,6,8,9 d. A.1,2,3,4,7,9     B.4
4	a. Invertebrate Inspirations     b. Colonial Times Presentations c. State Data Research   d. Class Photo Journal   e. Weather Reporting	a. Inspiration & Internet       b. Power & Internet   c. AppleWorks Database   d. iPhoto(digital camera) & Word   e. Excel	a. A.1,2,3,5,7,8,     9     B.1-10   b. A.1,2,3,6,7,9     B.1-10 c. A.1,2,3,5,8     B.1,7,9 d. A.1,2,3,4,7,9     B.9,10 e. A.1,2,3,5,7     B.1,3,5,9,10
5	a. Space Technology Research Paper b. American Revolution Brochure c. Science Match Game   d. Graphing Mock Trial	a. Word & Internet   b. Word & Internet   c. Inspiration   d. Graph Club	a. A.1,2,3,4,7,8,9     B.1-10 b. A.1,2,3,4,7,8,9     B.1-10 c. A.1,2,3,5,6     B.1,2,3,5,6 d. A.1,2,3,5,7,8,9     B.1,3,5,9,10

 

            Through the use of these projects teachers will be able to asses the students’ skill in the areas indicated in the State Standards.  Technology rubrics, grade-level specific could be created for each of the key areas mentioned in the Stands and Cumulative Progress Indicators; Basic Skills and Tools, Social Aspects, Information Access and Research, and Problem Solving and Decision Making.  School-wide rubrics would help keep the assessment process consistent between the different classes, specials, and grade levels.

            The computer technician and the consultants on staff would be available to assist in the classrooms rather than work in isolation in the computer lab.  This would help make technology a key tool for learning, not an add on.

            This is a necessary step that will help all students and staff to utilize the technology available to them.  I look forward to speaking to you further about this exciting proposal so as to implement it in a timely fashion.

 

Sincerely,

Dave D’Addozio