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The five-year plan for technology in the Tewksbury Public Schools, developed by the Tewksbury Technology Committee, will address the six recommended benchmarks identified by the Massachusetts Department of Education. These six benchmarks include: Vision and Mission Statement, Technology Integration, Technology Professional Development, Accessibility of Technology, Infrastructure for Connectivity, and Access to the Internet outside the School Day.
The committee envisioned scenarios representing significant, five-year technological improvements and recorded these in this report. Their composite vision led to the creation of a Mission Statement for the group:
Modern technology will be used to challenge, prepare, and raise expectations for the students of the Tewksbury Public Schools to insure that each student will become a productive member of society with a commitment to life-long learning.
This vision, developed during the first submission of the Tewksbury Technology Plan in 1997, was shared with a wide range of interested parties, from the school system, parent body, and community at large. Various school department personnel continue to conduct research into the current status of hardware, software, teacher and student attitudes, and technology funding. Based on the shared vision and an awareness of the present resources, the group developed the components of our new five-year Technology Plan. Significant aspects of this plan include, in priority order, an increase in the number of Type A/B computers for student use; significant professional development for all staff members; technology/curriculum integration; increased accessibility for all students; and an expansion to our communication system (i.e., email system).
The Committee determined that the significant first step would be to procure funds which will ensure that we meet the minimum requirement now established by the Department of Education. The cost of this first step is approximately $428,410, (See Chart 2) and is the subject of a warrant article at the May, 2005 Town Meeting.
The Tewksbury Technology Committee will evaluate this plan on a regular basis.
The evaluation will consist of two components: review of present progress and
revision of long-range goals.
I. Introduction
The Tewksbury Public Schools are located in Tewksbury, Massachusetts; a small
suburban community located approximately 30 miles from Boston. Approximately
forty-seven hundred students attend our five elementary schools, one middle
school and one high school. In 1972, the school system witnessed the formation
of the first Tewksbury Technology Curriculum Committee. This committee was
responsible for developing a system-wide technology curriculum.
Our Technology Committee still exists, although the members have changed over the years. The committee has representatives from each of Tewksbury schools, including teachers, librarians, and parents. The committee also has school administrators, the business manager, the assistant superintendent and representatives from data processing.
In the beginning stages of developing the new five-year Technology Plan,
members were given the existing plan to review and discuss. It was clear
that the task(s)
for the upcoming meetings must focus on revision and/or creation of new
components. The committee agreed to separate into six groups – each group
focusing on
one of the six recommended benchmarks identified by the State. From this
work the
following goals were created:
| Benchmark 1a: Commitment to Clear Vision and Mission Statement |
Modern technology will be used to challenge, prepare, and raise expectations for the students of the Tewksbury Public Schools to insure that each student will become a productive member of society with a commitment to life-long learning. |
| Benchmark 1b: Tewksbury Technology Teams |
Tewksbury Technology SARC An advisory committee consisting of PreK – 12 staff members whose sole responsibility is to review, revise, and develop grade level curriculum. All grade level curricula must align with the MA Recommended PreK – 12 Instructional Technology Standards. Tewksbury Technology Committee An advisory committee made up of administrators, data processing personnel, instructional technology specialists, business manager, teachers and parents. This committee’s sole purpose is to develop the vision, mission, budgetary resources, professional development, and evaluation process of the technology program for the Tewksbury Public Schools. Tewksbury Professional Development Technology Team This advisory team consists of TPS Instructional Technology staff members. Their primary goal is to gather information from staff, through the use of surveys and both formal and informal conversation. This information will be used to develop and prepare an annual listing of professional development offerings. These workshops/seminars can range in instructional time from one-hour to 35 hours per offering. |
| Benchmark 1c: Budget (Operational budget, staffing, federal, state, and private resources) |
TPS continues to commit monies for the purchasing, maintenance, and expansion of our technology resources. When viewing our mandated Technology Plan data, submitted to the MA DOE annually, the data emphasizes the importance placed on the use of technology in our schools. |
| Benchmark 1d: Evaluation The district evaluates the effectiveness of technology resources / monitoring of progress towards the stated goals |
The Tewksbury Technology Teams will evaluate all aspects of our Technology Plan annually. Staff and administrator surveys, expended budgetary resource information, and year-to-year comparisons (i.e., increase/decrease in professional development offerings) will be monitored for progress. |
| Benchmark 2: Technology Integration |
As outlined in our new five-year strategic plan, we believe that technology is
an integrated tool to promote and extend student learning on a daily basis.
The goal is to continue to find new ways to use technology -- and to help
students use it – that doesn’t take time away from core subjects. The changing role in educational technology is a continuing discussion. Technology is no longer a separate curriculum area but rather a tool to be used in all curricula areas which follow the guidelines of Massachusetts Educational Reform and the Curriculum Frameworks. Computers are a central component of the classroom environment, linking classrooms to other classrooms, home, and community. |
| Benchmark 3: Technology Professional Development |
In order to ascertain the levels of “technological comfort,” a survey will be
distributed to all members of the Tewksbury Public School community. Based
on the results, our Tewksbury Professional Development Technology Team
continues to develop and coordinate a comprehensive training program to
address the needs of our staff. Mentoring programs, where teachers help other teachers, will be organized, and students will be engaged as trainers for teachers and other students. |
| Benchmark 4: Accessibility of Technology |
All students will have equal access to appropriate technology tools. Access will be available before, during, and after school hours. |
| Benchmark 5: Infrastructure of Connectivity |
Infrastructure includes: maintenance, hardware, and the network. Maintenance
is system support. It is crucial that there be sufficient system maintenance
and timely upgrades as part of this plan. Hardware includes student, teacher,
administrator, and multipurpose workstations. The network links all computers
in Tewksbury to software file servers, other workstations throughout the
district, and to the Intranet and World Wide Web, enabling local and global
communications. Sufficient resources will be identified to maintain and expand the district infrastructure. Appropriate support for school-based infrastructures will be established and a level of service that will ensure the regular maintenance of all equipment will be determined. |
| Benchmark 6 a: Access to the Internet outside of the School Day |
Access is available through extended day, after school, challenge programs, extra-help, clubs, and other extra-curricula programs in accordance with the Acceptable Use Policy. |
| Benchmark 6 b: Access By the year 2003, every district will have achieved at least a 5:1 student to computer ratio of modern, fully functioning, Internet enabled computers and devices. |
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II. Vision Statement:
Our staff will be asked to integrate technology into their instruction on a
daily basis. Teachers and students will draw on electronic and print resources
around the world to locate and retrieve relevant data and information to
support their activities.
The Internet enables students to access, evaluate, synthesize, and integrate a vast range of data, and to communicate with others all over the world. An interactive learning environment will be created through ongoing technological growth, access and training. Through this medium, students can join the global classroom. They can go beyond finding information. Students can demonstrate the validity of their data and present their findings in new and creative ways.
Our role as an educational institution is to support and guide students and teachers as they learn these new technological applications and skills.
A major obstacle to technology/curriculum integration is an insufficient supply of equipment as indicated by the MA DOE. Our present level of equipment continues to hinder technology integration across grade levels. With the expansion of our Email system, teachers will enhance their ability to communicate and share information with students and other teachers. Through this communication, teachers will make effective use of technology and, in the process, substantially change their roles and pedagogical strategies.
In addition, we envision that technology integration throughout the Tewksbury
Public Schools will help students and staff become active, self-directed, life-long
learners. Viewed as a productivity tool, not an end in itself, we believe that
technology will be an integral part of the way students, teachers and administrators
work, teach and learn. Actively and ethically approaching these innovations
will enable members of our school community to become responsible contributors
in the global community.
III. Tewksbury Professional Development:
Staff development requires ongoing teacher support and technical assistance.
We provide our staff with ready access to facilities, directed training sessions
and collaborative support. Our staff development sessions will continue to
emphasize available equipment, will begin as new equipment is installed, will
address professional as well as student learning needs, and will be evaluated
to regularly ensure that it is effectively supporting our curriculum.
A system-wide professional development technology team will coordinate training and support. A schedule of after-school workshops, in-service training sessions, and summer training sessions will be developed stressing newly acquired hardware, software, and current trends in curriculum integration. Other technological training and educational opportunities available on-line or in the surrounding area should also be included on the calendar.
Each elementary school (5) has a part-time computer aide who handles the daily computer concerns, trouble-shooting, and basic computer needs of each school. In addition, we have two full-time Technology/Library Research Aides and a system-wide K-4 Instructional Technology Specialist. Each Technology/Library Research Aide services two elementary schools.
Our upper elementary school has two full-time Instructional Technology teachers responsible for the implementation of our Grade 5/6 technology curriculum. These two individuals service the whole school population. Over the course of two (2) years, all upper elementary school students receive an integrated technology curriculum.
Our middle school has two (2) full time computer teachers responsible for the implementation of our Grade 7/8 technology curriculum. These two individuals service the whole school population. Over the course of two (2) years, all middle school students receive an enhanced technology curriculum.
The high school has five (5) staff members that provide computer instruction. The high school curriculum presently consists of Desktop Publishing, Research and Report Prep, Web Design & e-Commerce, Visual Basic Programming, C++ Programming, Computer Applications 1 & 2, Exploring Tech Systems, Construction & Design Tech 1 & 2, Manufacturing & Design, Communication & Design Tech 1, 2, & 3, Engineering & Design Tech 1, 2, & 3, Energy, Power & Design Tech, and Transportation & Design Tech.
The level of technology infusion in the curriculum could be classified as moderate to low. We have begun to witness the staff using computer technology which moves beyond the simplicity of word processing. Appropriate software applications are now being used for instructional purposes, rather than enrichment activities. Additionally, numerous teachers are using computers to generate classroom materials, classroom webpages, webquests, and PowerPoint presentations. However, the challenge still remains - to increase the level of technology infusion in the curriculum.
IV. TEWKSBURY FIVE-YEAR TECHNOLOGY GOALS
Goal #1 To monitor and implement our newly adopted Tewksbury PreK – 12 Technology curriculum based on the MA Recommended PreK – 12 Instructional Technology Standards
Goal #2 Continue the establishment of a research component, based on the ELA Curriculum Framework, through professional development opportunities and SARC (subject area review committees) curriculum alignment work
Goal #3 Provide significant professional development to all instructional, administrative, and secretarial personnel
Goal #4 To increase communication within the school district and the school community
Goal #5 To maintain administrative efficiency and to increase access to information through the upgrading of data processing applications
The administrative/management goal (#5) has been prioritized in the Tewksbury Technology Plan. This major goal in management communication is simply to maintain administrative efficiency and to increase access to information through the upgrading of data processing applications. E-mail will be included on the system network allowing administrators and teachers to communicate within the district, the town and globally with other administrators.
Goals # 1, 3, & 4 are intended to increase each student’s basic knowledge base in technology. As he/she moves through our school system, they will become more proficient in the use of their technological skills.
According to Goal # 2, multi-computer research stations will be provided
to each high school department, each middle school grade level, and to all
school libraries. These stations will have ready access to the Internet and
to a current CD ROM reference library. This will allow as well as encourage
students and teachers to seek out current databases and relevant information
in research projects.
V. TECHNOLOGY DESIGN
In order to accomplish the educational goals of the Tewksbury Technology Plan, significant expenditures will be needed for hardware, networking, software, maintenance, professional development and staffing. The complete five-year plan will include the technological components needed to provide equable student access throughout the system, to research data and collected data, and to communicate this data effectively. Teachers will be trained to use computers wisely and extensively.
The Technology Committee has identified five stages to phase in this ambitious
plan. In the first phase, Year One, our intention is to submit, through our
School Committee, a warrant article to appropriate funding for the purchase
of additional computers. The acceptance of this article will allow us to purchase
and install additional computers in SY 05-06. Monies will be used to purchase
the following:
In addition, 62 computers will be upgraded from Class C to B. The budget for this first year is described below.
Year One Budget - FY 04 - 05
Capital Funds for capital expenses, Year One, are included
in our proposed Warrant Article – Submission date May, 05
CHART 2
| Hardware, Furniture | |
|
320,000 |
|
90,000 |
|
6,200 |
| Category Total | 416,200 |
| Wide Area Network | |
|
100,000 |
|
Category Total |
100,000 |
| Software | |
|
10,000 |
|
Category Total |
10,000 |
| Personnel | |
|
15,000 |
|
40,000 |
| Maintenance, Upgrades | |
|
25,000 |
| Total Budgeted for Year One – Part A | 606,200 |
Operating - (Annual) - Funds to support these programs are
included in the FY 05-06 Proposed School Budget
| Professional Development | |
|
|
| Internet Connection | |
|
13,200 |
| Annual Operating Total – Part B | 43,200 |
| Total Budget – Parts A & B | 649,400 |
Year One Budget - Narrative Explanation
Software
In order to fully meet the Technology Plan initiatives, appropriate software
decisions must be made at several levels. For example, additional instructional
and communication software must be procured. This would include, for instance,
software that would allow our staff to produce personalized classroom webpages.
Upgrades to software may also be needed (i.e., multi-media software for our
elementary students and research based software for our upper grades). Funds
for basic instructional software procurement are factored into the cost of
each new computer purchased in accordance with this plan.
Maintenance / Upgrades
Our plan includes a proposed replacement procedure. This plan will allow us
to procure the funding to replace approximately one-fourth (1/4) of our inventory
every year. The procurement of funds will ensure that we meet the minimum
requirement now established by the Department of Education.
Professional Development
The success of our plan is tied to the success of our training program. As
mentioned earlier, teacher surveys will clearly define the needs of our staff.
We have allotted approximately $100 per staff member over the first phase
of this plan. With this money, teachers will be supported in three crucial
areas of training: 1) establish the vision or the potential power of technology,
2) provide training relevant to teacher needs and wants, and 3) individual
mentoring and electronic support.
VI: MONITORING, EVALUATING, AND REVISING THE PLAN
Evaluation will be built into the planning cycle and not be an after thought. Evaluations will be performed at varying points in the planning cycle. The duration, detail and type of evaluation will depend on the benchmark being evaluated and the subsequent decisions that will be made which interact with that step.
Because education and technology continue to redefine themselves and each other, our Technology Plan must stay flexible, adjust to change and allow multiple options for action. Regular inspection of system functions and users' levels of satisfaction is necessary in order to determine developing problems or weakness. Periodic investigation of new technology will provide material for upgrade decisions.
The Tewksbury Technology Teams will use surveys, interviews, and observations to semi-annually evaluate the Five Year Technology Plan. Based on the semi-annual evaluation, the Tewksbury Technology Teams will make recommendations for change and inform all stakeholder groups of those changes. This will allow us to keep the plan current and the technological growth in the Tewksbury Public School System focused on appropriate use. This will also allow for the flexibility and adaptation in an ever-changing technological field.
Results of the survey and all other technology information that is pertinent to the evaluation process will be disseminated to the stakeholders for questions, review, and recommendations. The Tewksbury Technology Teams will prepare a formal detailed list of recommendations including necessary changes to be implemented and the associated cost on an annual basis.
The Tewksbury Technology Teams’ process and timeline for ongoing, long-term planning will be through quarterly committee meetings. Sub-committee reports and input from stakeholders will be the focus of these meetings. The information and recommendations that are gathered at these meetings will be used as the basis for ongoing, continuous improvement, and long-term planning.
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