Visitation School Technology Plan

VISITATION SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY PLAN

July1, 2013-June 30, 2016

VISION

We at Visitation School believe that all students have the right and need to have access to state of the art technology. Students not only need to acquire the necessary skills to use technology but they also need to be guided in the proper use of technology. Students also must be exposed to the rich opportunities afforded them through the use of technology and the inter-global communication offered them in today’s world.

ACQUISITION OF HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

Presently we have a lab with 30 computers, three printers and two servers. Everything is connected wirelessly. We have three computers in each classroom that are connected to the servers. All computers have access to the Internet. We have a projector and smart board in each classroom. We have 60 notebooks for classroom use. Our administration and staff use OptionC for record keeping and grades and financial records. Each teacher has a web page that is accessible through OptionC.

We will continue to update our hardware and software as needed through fundraisers and grants. Our LAN was updated in 2009. We hope to continue to provide the teachers with programs and education in order to make use of the valuable resources offered through technology. It is important for us to maintain the equipment we have, purchase necessary replacement parts, and continue to provide programs for our teachers such as Option C.

INTERNET AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

The computers in each classroom, the computers in the lab, and the administrative computers are connected to the Internet. It is a line item in our school budget to provide the Internet as well as content filtering and virus protection. All students/parents sign an acceptable usage policy. The students and parents are educated on Internet safety regularly.

We will continue to provide the Internet through our LAN and Comcast. We intend to use video conferencing to connect with other parts of the world.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

We will continue to provide in-service to the faculty around effective ways to integrate technology in their classrooms as well as communication. Workshops are given regularly to keep the faculty aware of new technologies and our new software and hardware that we have purchased. Each teacher attends computer class with their students. More experienced teachers plan the classes. Newer teachers work with the computer teacher to create integrated lessons.

We will continue to offer workshops on a local level as well as making it possible for teachers to attend outside workshops. We will continue to have teachers present good practices to one another. We are hoping to use webinars more effectively in the next few years.

CORRELATION WITH THE CURRICULUM

Our faculty works directly with our technology teacher to correlate technology and the curriculum. We will continue to offer workshops to the faculty around correlating technology and the curriculum. The projectors, Smart Boards, and various educational programs have been very valuable.

We plan to continue to integrate technology through the use of websites and teacher education.

CORRELATION WITH EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

The computer lab is open from 7:30 am until 5:30 every day school day and during summer sessions. The middle school aftercare uses the notebooks while working on their projects. The elementary OST program uses the technology to reinforce skills. Both OST programs use the technology in their PBL projects. Also occasionally clubs also use the technology.

COMMUNICATION: Our faculty uses OptionC to communicate with families at home. The school website includes information. A mailing list so that important messages can be delivered through email to all parents with working email addresses is provided through School Reach/Option C. Students and faculty use Moodle to communicate internally. Parents can monitor their children’s grades through Option C. Teachers and administration send memos and other information to one another through our internal email.

MAINTENANCE: Maintaining our present equipment is a large part of our yearly expense. Our technology coordinator maintain the equipment in the lab, Erate provides maintenance for the LAN through an outside company.

We plan to continue to maintain our equipment. This is included in our budgets.

BUDGET: Technology is a line item on the school’s budget as well as the after school budget. We apply yearly for ERATE. Our development committee pitches the technology needs to our alumni and grants are written to further our technology program. When replacing computers our technology teacher fixes them so that students can take them home and use them in their homes.

TIME LINE FOR ACQUIRING ITEMS

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