Lancaster City School District. Technology Plan July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2015

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Lancaster City School District

Technology Plan July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2015

Adopted on May 22, 2012

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SPECIAL THANKS

The following people collaborated on this transformative plan for educational technology in the Lancaster City School District:

Tom Shaffer, Member of the Board of Education

Kevin Snyder, Director of Educational Information and Technology Services Brian Lawson, Principal, Tallmadge Elementary School

Cheryl Todd, Secondary Curriculum Coordinator Mark McGee, Network Administrator

Jeani Allen, District Technician

Judi Dawson, Library Associate, Sanderson Elementary School

Megan Meyer, Media Specialist, General Sherman Junior High School Mary Gang, Library Associate, Lancaster High School

Angela Hoy, Teacher, General Sherman Junior High School Sherry Tracey, Teacher, Cedar Heights

Bridget Marcum, Teacher, Tallmadge Elementary Nikki Panchal, Parent from Tallmadge Elementary Hunter Allen, Student from Lancaster High School

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VISION STATEMENT

To train and instruct staff toeffectively implement up-to -date technology throughout the district while preparing our students for 21st Century careers.

MISSION STATEMENT

Technology shall be implemented to enhance, improve, and stimulate the learning environment to engageall students and advance their educational experience and skills in order to prepare them to live and work in a global community. The districtwill

prepare teachers and students to be engaged in learning activities thatchallenge them to think critically about problems. Students will be encouraged to communicate and to collaborate with peers, parents, teachers and experts about those problems and develop innovative and creative solutions.

Goal 1 – Engage students in learning activities thatpromote 21st Century Skills – Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Collaboration and Communication, Creativity, and Innovation

Strategy 1 - Establish a one-to-one student to computer (tablet) ratio at the high school

during the 2013-2014 school year.

Steps

1.1.1 Each teacher in grades 9-12 will be provided an iPad during the 2012-2013 school year to learn how to is it for instruction. Approximate cost is $58,000 and is funded by a combination of LHS Excellent funds, LHS funds, and district technology funds. LHS TTL Grant Team and Teachers will share best practices during the school year.

1.1.2 Apple will be contracted to provide in-depth training on the use of the iPads to the teachers during the summer of 2013 and throughout the 2013-14 school year. The cost of this will be included in the purchase of the iPads.

1.1.3 Every student in grades 9-12 at LHS will receive an iPad to be used for

instructional purposes for the 2013-2014 school year. This will likely cost up to $460,000 (based on three year lease, cost is approximate). District technology funds, high school funds, general fund, donations, student fees, redistributed textbook funds, and other sources will be investigated to purchase the devices. 1.1.4 Junior High teachers (grades 6-8) may be given iPads for the 2013-2014 school

year so they can learn how to use them instructionally and to foster vertical alignment of curriculum. The approximate cost will be $45,000 and JH building

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funds, Excellent funds, district technology funds, etc… will be investigated as the funding sources for this purchase.

1.1.5 Apple TV will be installed in the high school to foster technology integration during the 2012-2013 school year. The cost will be approximately $12,000 and district technology funds will be used as the funding source.

1.1.6 The junior high schools will have a robust wireless network installed during the summer of 2012. The cost will be approximately $30,000 funded by district technology funds.

1.1.7 A technical support position will be added to the high school by April of 2013 to support the ipads, apps, and users. This position will need to be full-time, 12 months. The cost of a full time technical support person, with benefits, may be close to $60,000.

Current Resources andNeeds Assessment

• The high school currently has a robust wireless network and a team of teachers who are using iPads in innovative ways with students.

• The district will need to allow students and staff to be mobile with technology since this is the waystudents will be expected to work upon graduation.

Professional Development

• Teachers will learn at their own pace during the 2012-2013 school year with the help of other teachers sharing best practices. Apple Education will be contracted for the summer of 2013 to provide more intense training to the teachers. The cost for this is included in the purchase of the iPads.

• Share best practices for implementing Project-Based Learning instruction. The Transforming Teaching and Learning Grant team will lead this process.

Evaluation Process

• A team of high school teachers, students, parents and administrators will meet quarterly to review progress and will survey students and teachers every fall and spring to gather feedback on items such as the following:

o Student use of technology o Student satisfaction

o Student perception of how the technology is affecting their learning o Problems or issues which need to be addressed

• Student discipline referrals will be tracked to find if the increased use of technology has resulted in a decrease in student discipline referrals. Other schools who have implemented 1-1 projects have noticed a reduction.

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• The district may need to employ a support technician who will be dedicated to servicing and maintaining the one-to-one initiative. This person would be hired in the spring of 2013 and will begin working on the implementation during the summer of 2013.

• The district may not have the funds needed to accomplish this strategy. In that case, this strategy may be delayed by the board of education.

Strategy 2: Assess teacher use of 21st Century Skills instruction. Steps

1.2.1 Each fall teachers will use a 21st Century Skills Assessment instrument to gauge

their progress toward teaching these skills. This data will be used by the teachers to improve their own learning and by the district to plan professional development. This data will not be used for evaluative purposes.

 It is vitally important that our students are leaving our schools with the technical skills necessary to compete in the new economy. In order to properly prepare our students for 21st Century Careers, our teachers must be actively engaging students in lessons which involve critical thinking and problem solving,

communication and collaboration, and creativity and innovation.

 The district had 163 teachers complete the Atomic Learning 21st Century Skills Assessment in the fall of 2011. The data from that survey showed that 64.5% of teachers were familiar with facilitating student creativity and innovation in their instruction.

 Atomic Learning has an assessment tool in place which the teachers can use easily. Atomic Learning is provided to the district for no cost currently by eTech Ohio. If Atomic Learning is not provided for no cost in the future, a similar tool will be researched to use.

 Survey results will drive district professional development for the next year and will enable the teachers to use Atomic Learning to personalize their own

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 The survey results will be compiled by the Director of Educational Information and Technology Services and shared with the staff annually. The data will be used to plan district or building-wide technology professional development opportunities. The annual results of the Atomic Learning 21st Century Skills Assessment will demonstrate a 5% gain in teacher knowledge and use of instructional strategies which facilitate student creativity and innovation.

Strategy 3 – The school district will remain current in technologies. Steps

1.3.1 All technologies, computers, tablets, mobile devices, networking, display

systems, andinteractive systems will be maintained, replaced, and upgraded as needed to ensure that all students are learning the Ohio Academic Contents Standards for Technology as well as the new Common Core Standards. 1.3.2 The district will replace desktop computers on a regular, 5 year cycle. It is

recommended that the district purchase computers will full 5 year warranties to save of repair costs.

1.3.3 The district will continue to use Windows operating system for administrative and teacher computers as well as Windows networking systems.

1.3.4 The district will begin phasing in mobile technologies in the elementary and junior high schools during the 2012-2013 school year. Desktop computers for student use in classrooms will be replaced with mobile technologies such as iPads. Some classrooms will have iPads in the classroom while others will have access to iPad carts.

1.3.5 The software the schools use currently on the older Windows computers will be phased out over the three year period of this technology plan. By June 30, 2015 most software used by students should be either web-based, cloud-based, or app based.

1.3.6 Computer labs in buildings for student use will continue to use Windows for its operating system.

1.3.7 The shift in computing needs from desktop computers to mobile technologies may result in changing technology support structures. Data from work orders and customer feedback will drive technology support changes throughout this transition. The shift in computer software from computer-based to cloud, web, or app based and the resulting technical demands are unknown at this time.

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1.3.8 The district will install a wireless network in the elementary schools during the 2012-2013 school year. This wireless network will be configured to support the current need for wireless technologies and be expandable to handle future demand through June 2015.

1.3.9 The district will seek the purchase or installation of dedicated fiber-optics for connectivity of the district Wide Area Network (WAN) at a speed of at least 1GB and up to 100Gb, if feasible. The cost of this project may be upwards of

$200,000 and should coincide with the construction of new elementary schools. The firs new elementary schools will be nearing completion in January of 2015 and will be occupied soon thereafter. Therefore, it is important for the Director of Educational Information and Technology Services to seek proposals for the construction and/or lease of the fiber connectivity for the district WAN.

1.3.10 Google Apps for Education will be piloted during the 2012-2013 school year with key staff in the fall. If successful, it will be implemented with all staff for the second semester. Students will begin using Google Apps for Education during the 2013-2014 school year. This could replace Gaggle and provide for more integration of software for no cost.

• The school district currently owns over 2,200 computers and 400 tablet devices. Most classrooms have interactive display systems and access to student response systems.

• Computer network servers and switches will be maintained regularly, and the district will push more and more services to cloud-based solutions to ease management and to provide for consolidation of services.

• According to data from the Biennial Education Technology Assessment (BETA) from 2011 conducted by eTech Ohio, many of our staff report delays in technology support requests. Technical support staffing must be monitored and increased if the district wants to reduce wait times. To further help with this, software should be purchased after consultation with district technology staff to ensure compatibility and to maintain support levels.

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• Teachers will need professional development on the current technologies and new technologies as they are introduced.

• Atomic Learning will be used by teachers to do an annual self-assessment of 21st Century Skills so they can monitor their own professional development and for the district to identify professional development needs. The Atomic Learning assessment will not be used as an evaluative tool. It is for self-reflection and district/building professional development planning.

• District Technicians and Library Media staff need to be kept up-to-date on new and emerging technologies. In many cases, they will get the

technologies first before they are implemented in large scale.

• BETA data from 2013 eTech Ohio Assessment will be reviewed. • The district technology work order system will be reviewed.

Goal 2: The district will effectively communicate with the community.

Strategy 1: Use all available media outlets such as social media, TV, YouTube,

web-site, ProgressBook, e-mail, and newsletters to communicate with the community.

Steps

2.1.1 Continue to make use of current communication vehicles such as LSN, website, YouTube, and newsletters.

2.1.2 Every school building will be encouraged to develop a Facebook page to engage and communicate with the community during the 2012-13 school year. The facebook pages will be maintained by the building principal.

2.1.3 Teachers will keep Progress Book grade books updated for parent and student feedback. Professional development will be provided regularly by the Licking Area Computer Association.

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Current Resources andNeeds Assessment:

 Communication is a two-way street. It is important for the district to send

information to the community using traditional methods. However, using modern tools such as social media allow community members to engage in

communication with the district.

 Currently the district has 2,675 followers on Facebook, over 5,000 parent emails on listservs and distributes a quarterly newsletter via the Advertiser to 30,000 households.

 Teachers in grades 1-12 are now required to post grades and assignments to Progressbook. According to eTech Ohio BETA data, our district is lagging behind other districts in communicating with our parents and students.

 The district operates a TV Station, LSN thatis shown on cable TV via Time Warner in most of Fairfield County.

 Teachers are just beginning to use social media to engage students. Teachers need continued professional development on using social media appropriately.

 The district Communications Committee meets monthly and reviews

communication strategies. The committee has members from the community, staff, and administration.

 Teachers and staff may want to learn how to engage parents and students in social media. Teachers and staff will be given the opportunity to learn how to effectively utilize social media in a safe and secure manner. Atomic Learning has modules teachers can complete to better understand the use of social media.

 The Director of Educational Information and Technology Services will create a video on using social media in a safe and secure manner by staff members for professional purposes. The video will also include the potential negative

consequences of social media. The video will be uploaded to YouTube and may be watched by staff members who are considering using these communicative tools for professional purposes.

 Teachers will be provided training on how to further use Progress Book to keep students and parents updated about student progress. The Licking Area

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 LACA will keep a record of all trainings and staff members who receive training. LACA and the building principals will work together to identify future training needs. The record of trainings will not be used for teacher evaluation purposes.

 Every school building will have its own Facebook presence by the end of the 2012-2013 school year.

Strategy 2: Assess student satisfaction and use of technology. Steps

2.2.1 The Director of Educational Information and Technology Services and building

principals will conduct a district-wide survey of students (at the end of the school year) to gauge satisfaction with current technologies, to identify technologies they would like to use, and to gauge how well they have been prepared for 21st

Century Skills. (This could be for specific grades, such as 5th, 8th, and 12th). Needs Assessment

 It is vitally important that our students are leaving our schools with the technical skills necessary to compete in the new economy. This survey will help us to gauge how effectively our students are using technologies to master 21st Century Skills. This data may be used to make purchasing and professional development decisions.

 We will administer the survey electronically so students will need access to computer labs in order to complete the survey.

 Media Specialists, Library Associates, and building principals will ensure the completion of the surveys.

 Survey results will drive professional development for the next year.

 The survey results will be compiled by the Director of Educational Information and Technology Services and shared with the staff annually.

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Strategy 3: Assess the community perception of the Lancaster City School District. Steps

2.3.1 The district Communications Committee will conduct a survey of Lancaster residents to determine the progress of the school district as it relates to student learning, community perceptions, programs, and other data. The committee will create the survey in the fall and winter of 2012/13 and will conduct the survey in the spring of 2013. The survey will be repeated annually. The cost is unknown at this point and may reach $20,000 for the production and distribution.

Needs Assessment

 The district does not currently conduct this type of a survey.

 The survey is needed to gather input and feedback from the community on a variety of topics.

Professional Development  To be determined

 The survey results will be compiled by the Communications Committee and shared with the staff and community annually.

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Goal 3: The district willpromote new uses of technology to foster student creativity and

innovation.

Strategy 1: Creativity and Innovation Technology Grants Steps

3.1.1 The district will establish a district grant program from district technology funds to foster instructional innovation and student creativity through the use of

technology for the 2012/13 school year and be repeated on an annual basis. 3.1.2 The district will establish a Creativity and Innovation Technology Grant

Committee to begin in September of 2012. The committee will be comprised of three teachers, three administrators, and a board of education member.

Teachers serving on the committee will be compensated at the board approved Curriculum Rate.

3.1.3 Teachers may submit grant proposals for new technologies thatwill transform teaching and learning in the classroom through innovative technologies. The grants will be scored by the committee based on a rubric.

3.1.4 The Director of Educational Information and Technology Services will gather the grant proposals, assign a code so the teachers name is not on the proposal when read, and will be responsible for assuring the compatibility of the proposed technologies before the grants are approved. The Director of Educational

Information and Technology will not be included in the grant award decision, however, he or she may be consulted by the committee.

3.1.5 The district will provide up to $100,000 each year for the grants from district technology funds. The maximum grant award will be $10,000. The timelines for grant submissions and approvals will be determined by the grant committee.

Current Resources andNeeds Assessment:

 According to data from our Atomic Learning teacher survey, 64% of our teachers are using technology to foster student creativity and innovation.

 Equipment needed depends upon the teacher and his/her needs as identified through the grant application process.

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Professional Development:

 Teachers who receive the grant can use grant funds to pursue professional development opportunities that foster the integration of technology in their classrooms. Each grant application will include specific professional

development activities that will enable the teacher to effectively implement the goals of the grant proposal.

 Professional development will aid the instructor in completing his/her goals as outlined in the grant application.

 Each grant recipient must provide at least one, 40 minute workshop to his/her building staff demonstrating grant’simpact on student learning.

 Each grant recipient must provide at least one, two-hour workshop at a district-wide event during the following summer or school year.

 The grant recipients may be encouraged to present at regional, state, and national conferences.

Evaluation Process:

 Each grant recipient will submit a status report to the committee after three months. Failure to submit the status report may result in a reallocation of the grant award to another staff member.

 Each grant recipient will submit a summary report after 6 months which reflects evidence of increased student learning. Failure to submit the summary report may result in a reallocation of the grant award to another staff member.

 The technology plan team will meet annually to evaluate the success of Goal 4 and make any necessary changes.

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Strategy 2: Innovative Technology Teacher of the Year Award Steps

3.2.1 Two teachers (PK-5, 6-12) will be awarded the Innovative Technology Teacher of the Year for Lancaster City Schools. The award winners will each receive $1,000 classroom technology grants. Either district technology funds will be used for this or a corporate sponsor will support this award.

3.2.2 The same committee that awards the Creativity and Innovation Grants will be charged with selecting these two awardees. The committee could collaborate with a corporate sponsor.

3.2.3 The nomination process will be developed by the committee no later than November, 2012. The nominations may be made by a colleague, student, parent, or principal, but not the teacher himself/ herself. The nomination will be due by the first Monday in April each year. The awardees will be recognized at a board of education meeting in May each year.

3.2.4 LSN will produce a video highlight which will air on TV and on the Internet. The awardees may be nominated for other regional or national teacher of the year awards.

Needs Assessment

 Recognition of great teaching and celebrating success is instrumental in fostering creativity and innovation.

 The awardees will work with district administration toplan professional

development thatwill foster student creativity and innovation for the next school year.

 The awardees will speak at the district opening year meeting each August.

 The Creativity and Innovation Grant Committee will be in charge of making any changes to the process as needed.