Cold Spring School
TECHNOLOGY USE PLAN
2015-16
Cold Spring School District
2243 Sycamore Canyon Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
(805) 969-2678
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Bryan Goligoski
Michael Wasserman
Jennifer Miller
Kim Ferrarin
Gregg Peterson
SUPERINTENDENT/PRINCIPAL
Dr. Tricia T. Price
Cold Spring School District
Technology Plan
2015-16
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Vision / 3Mission Statement / 4-5
Current State of Technology at Cold Spring School
- Software Used
- Online Subscriptions
- Hardware Inventory
- 1 to 1 Laptop Program
Annual Budget
- Hardware Replacement Schedule
Computer Curriculum at Cold Spring School
- Program Overview
- Student Competencies
- Grade Level Project Based Learning
- Student Computer Skills
Professional Development / 21-22
Parent/Community Outreach
- Program Showcase
- Parent Education
Program Evaluation
- Laptop Program Evaluation, April 2007
- Future Evaluation Model
Ethical Use Policy / 25
Appendices
- Appendix A – Student Skill Matrix
Cold Spring School District
Technology Plan
2015-16
Vision
The students of Cold Spring Elementary School live in the twenty-first century. The rapid changes in society and the impact of future technology advances will dictate their constantly changing educational and personal needs. Schools today must take the responsibility to prepare our students to live and work in the world that will be theirs.
Today’s students look at technology as part of their everyday environment. Visual and interactive media have altered how we access information, organize and process data, and communicate our thoughts and ideas. Over the past twenty to thirty years, several themes have persisted in education and challenged teachers and administrators to develop a more student-centered and activity based curriculum. These themes include:
- Providing multi-sensory instruction;
- Increasing time on task and instructional minutes;
- Differentiating learning to respond to the student’s skill level, interests, and learning styles;
- Assessing student understanding and progress continually in order to redirect instruction at the “teachable moment;”
- Shifting the responsibility for learning from the teacher to the student with the teacher’s role becoming more of a facilitator than lecturer;
- Increasing student engagement and achievement by providing activity-based learning and increased student inquiry in a more creative and problem solving environment.
This document presents the technology plan for Cold Spring School. It details the plan for the implementation of computers and related technology into the curriculum of the school. The focus of this integration will be the acquisition of appropriate hardware and software and staff development. Researchers agree that the success of any school district’s technology plan depends on providing appropriate time, resources, and support for staff development. Our overall vision is for technology to become an integral instructional tool used by teachers across the curriculum to enhance the learning of our students, and additionally, to enable Cold Spring School to better meet the needs of our entire school community.
Mission Statement
We believe that our emerging challenge as educators is to prepare students to use basic skills and computer technology as tools for thinking and problem solving.
Teaching our children how to use technology means developing computer literacy. Applying computer technology means integrating computers into the educational process.
Computer literacy will be developed through familiarity and use, not merely through isolated skill instruction. This will be based upon the integrated and meaningful use of technology into daily classroom activities, which will be designed to provide both individualized and group instruction. Through age-appropriate applications, students at every level will use computer in their work to:
• expand their thinking and problem solving skills
• search out information
• gather and present information
• exchange communication in a safe and ethical manner
• gain new perspectives
• reach new conclusions
In addition, as we move into full implementation of the California Common Core Standards and the Smarter Balance summative assessments in 2014-15, our technology infrastructure and literacy will be critical to a successful transition and implementation.
Technology resources will be provided at all grade levels and for all areas of academic instruction with the overall goal of preparing our students to compete effectively in the global economy of the future where such skills will be a necessity.
The Goals
From this vision and belief system, the following goals were developed for the program:
To improve student learning by:
- Increasing student engagement in learning activities,
- Increasing student motivation and interest in learning,
- Increasing opportunities to engage students in learning activities that promote student critical thinking and creativity,
- Increasing the differentiation of instruction to address students’ varied interests, learning styles/modalities, and grade level content areas,
- Improved student achievement in grade level content areas,
- Improved computer literacy skills, including the use of computers for productivity, to locate and critically evaluation information, and to communicate knowledge and ideas more effectively.
To develop and sustain a viable program by:
- Enabling students to use technology in their daily lives to communicate, learn, and manage information.
- Utilizing available technology in the classroom to increase the efficacy of instruction and assessment.
- Attaining funding for implementation and ongoing operation of current and newly acquired technology.
- Utilizing electronic networking and telecommunications to support information management in classrooms and throughout school.
- Developing the internal expertise to sustain the technology program, including staff development and system maintenance.
Current State of Technology at Cold Spring School
Cold Spring School has an Ethernet local area network (LAN) with a Category 5 coaxial cable connection to all classrooms and the office. CSS has a 50mb connection between the school and its ISP, Cox Communications, for Internet Access. The main file server is a Mac Mini Server running OS 10.8.
In 2006-07, the school implemented a one-to-one laptop program (see description below) that replaced the school computer lab. 75 iBooks were purchased the first year and 60 MacBooks the following year for a two-year implementation in grades 3-6.
Software
Currently, the following software is used as part of the instructional program:
iWorks (Pages, Numbers, and Keynote) / KidspirationiPhoto / Comic Life
Garage Band / KidPix
iMovie / iCal
iDVD / Photobooth
Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) / Wikis and blogs
Code.org / Photoshop
On-line Subscriptions
Vendor / Description / Annual CostBrainPOP and BrainPOPJr / Animated movies in key concepts in language arts, mathematics, science, health, social studies, art and music with quizzes, activity pages, and homework. / $2,295
Renaissance Learning / Accelerated Reader Program (quizzes that accompany thousands of primary books titles) and STAR assessment program that provides teachers with diagnostic data on student achievement / $2,485
Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress / Skills support for primary reading (Grades Kindergarten through Third grade / $1,096
Study Island / Lessons, quizzes, and learning games that support California content standards in language arts and mathematics / $776
Tumblebooks Library / Online collection of quality children’s fiction and non-fiction / $499
DreamBox / DreamBox Learning is an online software provider that focuses on mathematics education at the elementary and middle school level. / $2,875
Web-based Programs
Santa Barbara County Education Office Portal provides free access for registered schools and students to a variety of on-line resources including videos, reference materials, and lesson plans.
Several on-line free keyboarding programs are used for typing skills.
Hardware Inventory
The current school computer inventory is:
Laptops (MacBooks and Macbook Airs used in 2-6 classrooms for 1-to1 Program) / 112Laptops in library for K-2 lab / 21
Laptops used by staff and Aids
iPads / 26
36
Laptops (Macbook Pro for teachers, Specialists, Superintendent/Principal) / 19
Total / 214
The library has four computers, one all-in-one iMac desktop computer, and 2 older iMacs. The circulation station is run from the all-in-one desktop computer, the MacBook Prois for instructional use by the librarian and the remaining computers are designated as student computers. The library has a new Sony 60 inch Television with AppleTV, as well as four iPad Minis for student use for library-related lessons and reading.
Each classroom has an HP laser printer and the upper grade classrooms have both a black and white laser printer and a color laser printer. Room K has a new Sony 60 inch Television purchased in the Spring of 2013 with Measure C Bond funds.Most recently, a new Color Copier/ Printer was added to the upper campus and is being leased through Coastal Copy. Cold Spring School is hoping the new addition of the copier/printer will help reduce the costs of buying replacement toner cartridges for each classroom. By the end of the 2015/2106 school year, Cold Spring School will no longer support printers in the classroom.
Additional instructional support is provided for each classroom through document cameras purchased by the Parent Club and ceiling mounted projectors, which were installed in the Summer 2010 with Measure C Bond funds.
1-to-1 Laptop Program and iPads in the Classroom
During the 2006-07 school year, the Cold Spring School District initiated an expanded use of computers to support teacher instruction and student learning. Through a lease/purchase agreement with Apple Computers, the District acquired 75 MacBook laptop computers to implement a 1 to 1 program in the fifth and sixth grades. The following year, a second lease of 60 computers was used to expand the 1 to 1 program to the third and fourth grades. In 2010-2011, the Cold Spring School District purchased an additional 30 MacBook laptop computers expanding the 1 to 1 program into second grade. In 2011-12, the District was able to purchase 35 additional laptops to replace the oldest laptops, and the program expanded to include kindergarten and first grade.
The students use the laptops to support their learning in the core content areas. The laptops are used most frequently for word processing, on-line research, and presentations to classmates. Teachers have also provided links to educational websites on their own websites that students have access to. Podcasts are used to assist with reading fluency and to create learning projects. Students are becoming proficient in integrating iLife programs with Garage Band and other applications to create learning productions. Some grades are using Moodle to create learning forums to support student learning and interaction outside of the classroom.
In 2011-12, the Cold Spring Foundation raised money to support the implementation of an iPad program in the primary grades. Twenty iPads were purchased as a classroom set to be shared between grades kindergarten and first. This program was fully implemented in 2012-13. Educational applications were installed on the iPads to support math and language arts instruction. In 2013-14, the twenty iPads were made available to other grades, to be checked out from their cart that was centrally located on campus. In addition, iPads were purchased for every teacher to use in the classroom as an instructional tool, along with Apple TV. Teachers also received new MacBook Pros in 2013-14. Funding was made possible by Parent Club for these purchases.
In 2014-2015, Cold Spring School updated the wireless network across campus by replacing older Apple Airports with new Aerohive Wireless devices, which has increased the reliability and connectivity of the network. Funds were made available through the Cold Spring Foundation. Cold Spring School will continue to implement the iPad program. iPads continue to be available for checkout by students and teachers.
In 2015-2016, Cold Spring School purchased 20 Macbook Air’s, which are currently being used in 5th and 6Th grades. The new purchase was paid for from the Technology budget.
Currently, there are several older computers being used primarily in grades K-4. The district has budgeted additional money for new hardware. Upon board approval, the purchase of an additional 25 Macbook Air’s is planned for January to February of 2016. The new computers will be used in 4th grade and will replace the existing older Macbooks.
Annual Budget
2015-16 District Budget for Technology
Personnel
Certificated Staff
Technology Specialist$116,000 (includes benefits)
Services/Contracts
BrainPOP license$2295
Site license for Renaissance Learning$2485
Sonic Wall Content Filter$2,100
SRI Hosting for web site and email$750
Site license for Study Island$776
Reading Eggs$1,096
Dreambox Learning$2,875
(Reading Program for K-3)
(Study Island reading program for K-1)
Pebble Go Library$499
Tumblebooks Library$499
Tech Support for network issues$4,000
BitVision$6,000
Total Technology Budget $139,375
Computer Curriculum at Cold Spring School
Program Overview
Primary Grades (K-2) Overview
Classes in the primary grades use computers weekly and gain familiarity with various software programs, practice fundamentals of computer network operation, and gather information on the World Wide Web. Technology learning activities support core subjects and ongoing curricular projects in the classroom. The Technology Coordinator works in conjunction with primary teachers to design appropriate projects.
Upper Grades (3-6) Overview
Cold Spring School has implemented a 1 to 1 laptop program in grades three through six. Each student in these grades has a personal MacBook. Laptops are used, for the most part, on a daily basis in language arts, social studies, and science instruction.
The technology specialist visits the 3-6 classes weekly to instruct the students in various software programs, practice fundamentals of computer network operation, and gather information on the World Wide Web. Students can bring laptops to the library for information literacy skills.
Grades K and 1
Early Primary Grades Educational Technology (Grades K and 1)
These young students enter our program and immediately learn that there is an important distinction between using computers for school and "playing" with computers as a recreational pastime. Non-instructional games are not played on school computers during instructional time.
The following objectives guide computer use at this level:
- To have an understanding of the basic parts of a computer and how they are used
- To have an understanding of the computer's desktop icons and upper menubar functions To have received an introduction to technologies peripheral to the computer such as, printers, video cameras, and external storage drives
- To have the dexterity and coordination to use the trackpad to navigate the computer by pointing, clicking, and dragging within applications or on the desktop
- To have received an introduction and practice with the concept of the clipboard and the skills of selecting, copying, cutting, and pasting
- To know how to open an application, save a file, and quit an application
- To have been introduced to a wide variety of software applications including MicroSoft Word, KidPix, Garage Band, and other programs.
- To become familiar with basic keyboarding skills
- To know how to log in and log out
Grade 2 Educational Technology
These students have sufficient reading skills to enable them to have a more in- depth understanding of computers and information on the World Wide Web than early primary grade students. Their fine motor skills using the trackpad and keyboard are typically stronger than those of the younger students. The middle primary grade students continue to understand that computers are used and not "played with" at school.
Our program sets these ongoing goals for children at this level:
- To have an introduction to multimedia programs and have a beginner's ability to incorporate different files into a simple presentation (PowerPoint, Keynote, Pages, Adobe PhotoShop, and Comic Life)
- To have an understanding of the computer's desktop and the upper menubar commands
- To have an introduction to the Internet and a beginning understanding of web browser software (Safari, Firefox)
- To have an introduction to beginning word processing software with practice using basic commands (Microsoft Word and Pages)
- To have an introduction to basic keyboarding skills including a word per minute (WPM) goal
- To have continued practice using an iPad and its applications
Grades 3-6
By the time most students are at this level they have been learning with computers for 4-5 years, have an understanding of the resources on the school's network, have satisfactory keyboarding skills, and can find diverse resources and information on the Internet.
Our program sets these ongoing goals for children at this level:
- To have an understanding of icons, upper menubar commands, control panel applications, open application window, the chooser, and operating system
- To have an understanding of the importance of backing-up personal files on school storage devices
- To have an understanding of web browsers and the ability to fashion searches, bookmark URL's, and save text or other resource files
- To have received proper touch-type keyboarding skills and to establish a beginning level word per minute (WPM) and accuracy rate.
- To use word processing programs with an introduction to some advanced features
- To have an understanding of the numerous functions of a spreadsheet with an introduction to sorting, simple math formulas, and graphing
- To have an understanding of multimedia programs and have the ability to import a wide variety of photo, video, text, graph, sound, and line art files into a presentation or report
- To have an understanding of the basics of safe use of the internet
- To have an understanding of ethical behavior in online interactions
- To have an understanding of basic copyright issues and legal behavior in information use
Student Competencies
Technology use at Cold Spring School should help students to develop the skills of problem solving, evaluation, synthesis, analysis, application, decision-making, and communication. Through multi-media technologies, students can assimilate, create, and share information in ways that use many learning modalities. Another indicator of a technologically literate school is proficiency in basic computer skills and objectives. Thus, student competencies with technology is divided into two general areas: (1) project based learning skills and (2) student skills