Board of Education Policy

615.1a

Technology is an important part of our society. It is essential that the St. James School offer a program that will equip our students with those skills necessary to be successful in a technology-oriented world.

Since July 1, 1989, the Iowa legislature has set a standard requiring each school district to adopt a technology plan. The technology plan for St. James School will include the following components:

  • Understanding and use of technology by staff
  • Understanding and use of technology by students
  • A procedure to review the district’s utilization of technology as a teaching and learning tool.

The administration and staff of St. James School shall implement the plan. The provision

of necessary resources shall be the responsibility of the St. James Board of Education.

With the rapid advancement of technology, it is important that this plan be subject to annual evaluation and revision to determine future direction.

Legal Reference: 670-12.5(10)

Reviewed – First Reading – November 4, 2015

Second ReadingNovember 25, 2015

ApprovedJanuary 6, 2016

Technology: A Working Definition

Technology refers to a wide variety of resources. Technology can also refer to a combination or system of resources which combine the benefits of several types of tools or equipment such as multimedia environments or interactive video.

Statement of Philosophy

The St. James School Board will assure that students are able to use current educational technologies as tools to extend the learning process.

Students will:

  • Appreciate the historical development and importance of technology in our global economy.
  • Recognize the ethical issues relating to the use of technology.
  • Use technology in the processing and accessing information.
  • Students will understand the technological skills necessary to function as educated consumers and productive members of society.
  • Cultivate mutual respect and equal treatment of others while using technology regardless of sex, age, race, disability, or national origin.
  • Gain an awareness of electronic communications in the world today as well as in the society of the future.
  • Develop an understanding of technology and its relationship with other areas of learning.
  • Be able to apply mathematical and scientific principles to solve practical problems thru the use of technology.

Goal: Increase staff awareness of the potential of technology for educational applications.

Objectives:

  1. Facility staff attendance at workshops dealing with various types of technology.
  2. Provide information about current and future technology.

Activities:

  1. Secure and disseminate information from Kirkwood Community College, areas computer vendors, AEA, etc., regarding available workshops related to technology use.
  2. Secure resource materials through local and regional libraries, vendors or educational agencies about educational technology.

Timeline: 1)Bi-annually 2) Quarterly 3) On-going

Goal: Develop basic competence among staff members in the use of the computer.

Objectives:

  1. Train Staff members in basic computer skills, audiovisual aids, and other instructional technology skills.
  2. Provide adequate time and resources for staff members to develop and maintain skills in current and future technology.

Activities:

  1. Identify staff requiring training through survey and/or review of previous training. Identify staff expertise in particular technology areas to aide in training process.
  2. Provide formal and informal training utilizing internal/external resources. Coordinate with Media Specialist time for individualized hands-on training.

Timeline:1) At least annually2) On-going

Goal: Expand staff usage of technology in teaching presentations and classroom management.

Objectives:

  1. Integrate theoretical and practical potentials of technology in the educational process.
  2. Maximize staff talents and school resources.
  3. Transfer knowledge of technology from teachers to students through interactive teaching methods[KM1].
  4. Transfer knowledge of technology from students to teachers through interactive teaching methods.

Activities:

  1. Provide workshops on utility and application software, instructional aids which teach basic and innovative approaches, multimedia classroom projects, etc., appropriate to St. James School.
  2. Share creative teaching methods and project ideas gained at workshops with other staff during regular in-services.
  3. Identify and catalog technology available through interactive tasks grade and subject area appropriate.
  4. Demonstrate and model areas of technology through interactive tasks grade and subject area appropriate.

Timeline: 1) Ongoing 2) Ongoing3) Annually4) Ongoing

Goal: Develop student proficiency in the operation and use of computers.

Objectives:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of proper use and care of hardware, software and computer accessories.
  2. Explore comprehensive problem solving capabilities of computer technology.
  3. Understand word-processing capabilities of computer.
  4. Provide adequate time and resources for students to develop and maintain computer skills.

Activities:

  1. Identifycomputer skills to be taught at various levels, , such as machine operation, keyboarding techniques, proper care of software and hardware, printer operation, etc., to reflect progressive difficulty/proficiency.
  2. Demonstrate analytical processes through the use of grade-specific software applications in math, science and specific software in the aforementioned areas.
  3. Practice keyboarding skills through grade-appropriate tasks such as book reports, letter writing, newsletter composition, etc., to reflect progressive difficulty/proficiency[KM2].
  4. Provide adequate time and resources for students to develop and maintain skills. Coordinate with Media Specialist individual and class use of computer.

Timeline: 1-4) Ongoing.

GOAL: Increase student use of technology as a learning tool across curricular areas.

Objectives:

  1. Acknowledge technology encompasses more than computers.
  2. Infuse activities employing different types of technology into subject curricula.
  3. Provide adequate time and resources for student use of equipment for their learning tasks.

Activities:

  1. Post list of age/grade appropriate technology available for student use and procedures for its use in classrooms and Media Center.
  2. Introduce multimedia resources, eg. Tape recorder, audiovisual equipment, camcorder, calculator, copy machine, etc., to students through classroom enrichment activities.
  3. Coordinate with Media Specialist time for individualized hands-on training.

Timeline: 1) At least Annually 2-3) Ongoing

GOAL: Provide adequate technological resources to meet school needs.

Objectives: Develop adequate technological committee to assess and review school technology needs.

Activities:

  1. Assess current inventory.
  2. Survey current use of technology.
  3. Compile results of survey to be included in St. James School technology plan.
  4. Assess future needs.

Timeline: 1-3) Annually 4) On-going

[KM1]What about transfer of information from students to teachers?

[KM2]Need less dated language