Grand Rapids Christian Schools Technology Plan

Transcription

1 Grand Rapids Christian Schools Technology Plan Preparing students to be effective servants of Christ in contemporary society. Grand Rapids Christian Schools Superintendent: Tom DeJonge CFO: Jim Primus 1508 Alexander St SE Grand Rapids, MI Phone (616) Fax (616) District/School Code Numbers Technology Plan Information Grand Rapids Christian High: Current Plan Start Date: July 1, 2012 Grand Rapids Christian Middle School: Technology Plan End Date: June 30, 2015 Grand Rapids Christian Elementary School: Rockford Christian School: Technology Plan URL: Kent Intermediate School District Board Approved: July 25, 2012 Contacts Chief Education Officer: Holly Windram , Director of Technology: Sheila VanderWoude , 1

2 Table of Contents Description of District Section 1: Cover Page.Page 1 Section 2: Introductory Material..Page 3 Section 3: Vision and Goals..Page 5 Curriculum Section 4: Curriculum Integration...Page 6 Section 5: Student Achievement..Page 7 Section 6: Technology Delivery.Page 8 Section 7: Parental Communications and Community Relations.. Page 9 Section 8: Collaboration..Page 10 Professional Development Section 9: Professional Development Page 11 Section 10: Supporting Resources Page 12 Infrastructure, Hardware, Technical Support and Software Section 11: Infrastructure Needs/Technical Specification and Design...Page 13 Section 12: Increase Access..Page 15 Technology Funding and Budget Section 13: Budget and Timetable...Page 16 Section 14: Coordination of Resources. Page 17 Monitoring and Evaluation Section 15: Evaluation..Page 18 Section 16: Acceptable Use Policy...Page 19 Appendices Appendix A: Educational Technology Standards...Page 20 Appendix B: Network Diagram...Page 25 Appendix C: Responsible Use Policy...Page 26 2

3 Section 2: Introductory Material An introductory section is needed to provide reviewers and other readers with background information and plan context. District Mission Statement Preparing students to be effective servants of Christ in contemporary society. Introduction Grand Rapids Christian Schools (GRCS) is a private, non-profit organization, governed by a parent elected Board of Trustees. As the largest private school association in Michigan, Grand Rapids Christian Schools is committed to providing a quality, faith-based education to students in preschool through 12th grade. GRCS nurtures the lives of a spiritually, culturally and economically diverse student body, preparing them to be effective servants of Christ in contemporary society. We hold ourselves to the highest standards as we strive for excellence in education, based on a foundation of faith, a tradition of excellence, and a legacy of success. Background Since its last technology plan was adopted in 2009, GRCS were faced with the realities of changing enrollments and a growing awareness of the changing society into which its students were graduating. Four elementary buildings in the city were closed and one new large elementary building was built. Fifth grade students in the city joined the middle school building. Middle school and high school students were each given a school-issued laptop to use both at school and at home to help implement our mission and to meet the needs of a changing teaching style and demand. Fiber was installed between the city schools to accommodate the increased need for bandwidth as more demands were put on the infrastructure. Demographics and Staff Grand Rapids Christian Schools serve over 2200 preschool through high school students in the metropolitan Grand Rapids area. Our campuses extend throughout the city and north into Rockford. GRCS has a teaching staff of 165 teachers. Approximately 18.2% of our student population is identified as qualifying for free/reduced lunch according to the federal government guidelines. Our student population represents 21.8% cultural diversity. Our student population represents over 220 churches and 33 denominations (37.9% are non Christian Reformed). Further facts and information can be found on our website. Buildings Grand Rapids Christian Elementary School - Iroquois Campus 1050 Iroquois Drive SE Grand Rapids, MI (616) Grades PK - 4 Grand Rapids Christian Elementary School - Evergreen Program 1812 Sylvan SE Grand Rapids, MI (616) Grades PK - 5 3

4 Rockford Christian Elementary and Middle School 6060 Belding Rd Rockford, MI Grades PK - 8 Grand Rapids Christian Middle School 1875 Rosewood SE Grand Rapids, MI Grades 5-8 Grand Rapids Christian High School 2300 Plymouth Ave SE Grand Rapids, MI Grades

5 Section 3: Vision and Goals List broad, general district goals in this section. A vision and goals section is required to provide clarity for the overall direction of the technology program. Detailed goals may appear as part of other required sections. Vision The overall goal of Christian education at Grand Rapids Christian Schools (GRCS) is to prepare students to be effective servants of Christ in contemporary society. GRCS is committed to the use of technology to meet this goal. This use of technology must be an integral part of the whole - not a piecemeal appendage grafted onto our current structure, environment, and programs. By teaming the power of technology with the power of skillful teachers, we will realize an optimal environment for learning. The widespread presence of technology will continue to redefine the concepts of "school", "student", "teacher", and "learning". Technology will assist us in providing an educational program which recognizes and values the uniqueness of each student as they research, design, analyze, compose and communicate while teachers serve as facilitators of instruction, mentors, and coaches. Technology District Goals: 1. Administration Continue to provide a student information management system that streamlines operations and all access of student information to parents to participate in their student s learning (Blackbaud) Support and facilitate the use of technology to analyze data to make school and district wide instructional decisions Provide technology support systems that offer secure and safe learning environments (internet filtering and security cameras where needed) 2. Professional Development Supply an ongoing, robust professional development model to increase staff technology literacy to support their use of skills and tools for 21 st century learning environments Continue the implementation and training of a data management warehouse system (IGOR) for all grade levels Technology Teacher Goals: 1. Curriculum integration Integrate current and emerging technologies in the classroom to deliver and to assess curriculum and instruction to all learners Develop strategies to improve instruction resulting in increased student achievement that allows and encourages them to utilize the power of technology in their learning 2. Management Use technology for classroom management, i.e. electronic gradebook, Moodle, classroom web page, communication with parents, etc. 5

6 Section 4: Curriculum Integration Goals and strategies, aligned with challenging state and national standards, for using telecommunications and technology to improve teaching and learning. Grand Rapids Christian Schools (GRCS) has adopted the educational standards and expectations from the Michigan Educational Technology Standards (METS). See Appendix A. The METS are aligned with the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS). Skills checklists and other information that assist in assessment and management of expectations are available at It is a goal of No Child Left Behind that schools will Assist every student in crossing the digital divide by ensuring that every student is technologically literate by the time the student finishes the eighth grade, regardless of the student s race, ethnicity, gender, family income, geographic location, or disability. These standards provide teachers with an outline of learning expectations that drive educational technology literacy. Strategies: 1. Curriculum Mapping - To help with the migration to the new Common Core State Standards while still focusing on our desire for faith integration, GRCS will begin to utilize Curriculum Trak in the school year. Curriculum Trak is a web based platform that facilitates electronic curriculum mapping. It will be used by all teaching, administrative, and curriculum staff. Curriculum Trak: Offers a way to see the big picture while keeping the mapping process simple Aligns curriculum with instructional standards Encourages a collaborative culture among staff while facilitating curriculum articulation across subjects and grades 2. Learning Commons Team - A key factor for successful use of technology is the willingness to integrate new ideas into the teaching of content areas. The building learning commons team (i.e., Librarians, Technology Integration Specialists, media centers aides and classroom teacher) is a collaborative team that exists to support and direct students in their learning and support teachers in their instruction and communication work. The learning commons team is available to assist classroom staff in helping students meet the goals listed below using available technologies. Provide opportunities for teachers to learn new and existing technology and technology integration techniques Provide resources to assist teachers in integrating technology into their curriculum on the district building level virtual learning common s web pages Require support meetings at least 2 times per year between teaching staff and the learning commons team to ensure technology integration in relationship to the Common Core Curriculum Standards 6

7 Section 5: Student Achievement Strategies that are based on research and that integrate technology into curricula and instruction for purposes of improving student academic achievement and a timeline for that integration. Learning Without Limits is Grand Rapids Christian Schools vision to deliver a relevant 21 st century education in a dynamic environment of faith for all students. Learning Without Limits is a set of five major initiatives that support our vision for the 21 st century. These initiatives are: Developing dynamic environments of faith to transform hearts Empowering teachers to inspire minds Transforming instruction to deepen learning Creating partnerships to maximize funding Removing barriers to faith, learning, community, and service Two of these initiatives directly relate to technology integration and student achievement: Empowering teachers to inspire minds and transforming instruction to deepen learning seeks to empower teachers with training, technology, and instructional environments that will enable them to put the best and most engaging teaching methods into practice with their students. It is vital that we encourage and empower students to be critical thinkers and problem solvers. We need to build an instructional framework that is data-based, research-driven, and employs a problem-solving approach across all areas of learning for all students, including those with special needs and those who are academically gifted. Our aim is to identify and offer the resources and tools, learning strategies, interdisciplinary connections, and flexible, collaborative learning environments necessary for all students to thrive. Strategies to Implement these Initiatives for Student Achievement: 1. The district will build teacher capacity through professional development, and energize instruction with engaging teaching practices. An ongoing professional development plan for will be written this year to support this goal. Professional learning communities will be developed to support productive discussions among teachers about student learning, curriculum and instructional strategies. 2. In , GRCS will begin to use Information Gather to Obtain Results (IGOR) as their data warehouse through Kent Intermediate School District (KISD) for the purpose of improving student achievement. 3. The district will continue to support the one-to-one laptop program through the Learning Without Limits initiative and provide students with opportunities to collaborate, communicate, and explore using these tools. 4. Instructional technology equipment will be purchased for the high school classrooms as part of a building remodel initiative in to allow for interactions between the teacher, the student, and the curriculum. The purchase of projectors, speakers, microphones, tablets, and document cameras will allow for a variety of learning opportunities. 5. In order to support middle and high school staff and students, we will encourage and support the use of the Moodle content management system for online learning opportunities and as a classroom organizer. 6. Fifth grade students will be introduced to the performance based assessment tool, 21 Things for Students in A computer teacher at the elementary schools will continue to provide computer skill based instruction following the METS and work with the classroom teacher to integrate this skill based instruction with the content area standards. 7

8 Section 6: Technology Delivery Strategies for the delivery of specialized or rigorous courses and curricula through the use of technology, including distance learning technologies. In 2011, Grand Rapids Christian Schools invested in updating the network infrastructure in order to provide more bandwidth as well as higher quality wireless access. Fiber now runs between the city schools and a dedicated T1 data line supports Rockford Christian. Voice and data drops are provided in every classroom and office. Coax cabling and broadcast access vary from building to building depending on the age of the building and its infrastructure. Grand Rapids Christian Schools provides a variety of technologies for students and teachers to access distant resources for academic achievement. These technologies include web-based programs such as MEL, Follett Destiny, World Book Encyclopedia online, Career Cruising, Opposing Viewpoints, Aleks, Lexia, Fast For Ward, and Civil War Database. Teachers and the learning commons team work together to supplement learning experiences with pertinent websites. Many of these websites are hosted on the building level s virtual learning commons webpage in their technology toolbox. Some teachers also include these web links on their own supplemental webpages such as Moodle, Schoolworld, Google Sites, or a wiki. Some of the Grand Rapids Christian High School staff are beginning to develop a blended learning classroom while others are beginning to flip their classrooms. The resources are accessed by students on the teacher s classroom Moodle page. Grand Rapids Christian Middle School is exploring teaching a distance learning geometry class to students at Rockford Christian School using Adobe Connect in If things do not fall into place quickly enough, they will instead utilize Success Link for the course and continue to evaluate if that is the best option for providing a geometry course to about 6 students at Rockford Christian. 8

9 Section 7: Parent Communications and Community Relations Strategies to promote parental involvement and to increase communication with parents and community, including a description of how parents and community will be informed of the technology to be used with students. Grand Rapids Christian Schools each have Principal-Parent Cabinets. The cabinets work with the principal, superintendent, and Board of Trustees to implement school goals by actively engaging parents in the life of the school their children attend. Each Principal-Parent Cabinet is supported by parent/staff advisory teams. At Grand Rapids Christian Schools our teams include: academic advisory, athletic advisory, facilities improvement, fine arts, parent volunteer, principal advisory and technology support teams. The goals of the technology support team are to assist in the implementation of technology, develop and review policies regarding technology, and strategic planning for the future. Grand Rapids Christian Middle School and Rockford Christian School host laptop orientation parent nights for those parents who are new to the laptop program. This evening is a great opportunity to discuss the use of the laptop at school and home, but it is also a great time to address parental concerns with technology and to share tips about internet safety and online activity. Grand Rapids Christian Middle School also host internet safety and cyber bullying small group discussions led by technology staff at KISD. The district has a general information website that is available to the general public. There are also secure areas of the website which can only be accessed through password by staff, parents, and students. This technology plan as well as other technology policies and procedures, are available on the Grand Rapids Christian School instructional technology website. In , Grand Rapids Christian School s began to use Blackbaud as their student information management system. The goals of implementation were to eliminate duplication of building efforts, streamline operations, and improve record keeping and a parent portal to access information. Parents and students are now able to access attendance, class schedule, class assignments, class grades, and report cards through the web portal created that is real-time and is interfaced directly with the teachers attendance and gradebook. This has increased communication between staff and parents as well as between parent and child. Implementation of Blackbaud also allows for utilizing blasts as a form of communication between staff and parents or students and between school administration and parents. Many s are now sent out including weekly newsletters to the elementary and middle school parents. During the school year, social networking sites began to play a role in parent and community communications. The district office began to use a Facebook page as did each of the district buildings to share upcoming events, stories in the news, and cool happenings in and out of the classrooms. YouTube channels were created to showcase student products and to share special events. One of the additional communication tools being explored for parent communication over the next three years is a telephone broadcast messaging system so that parent can be notified quickly and efficiently. 9

10 Section 8: Collaboration Strategies for developing the program, where applicable, with adult literacy providers. The Grand Rapids Christian Schools are a member of the Kent Intermediate School District (KISD), participating with directors of curriculum, technology, and administrators from the county region. The Grand Rapids Christian Schools are also a member of Christian Coalition for Educational Innovation (CCEI). The CCEI was formed in 2009 with the purpose of schools partnering to explore educational innovations and to share best practices. This past year, two of our schools sent staff to participate in a trip with the CCEI group to learn more about the ipad program at Monte Vista Christian School in northern California. At this time, Grand Rapids Christian Schools does not provide adult education or GED certification since services are available through Kent County. 10

11 Section 9: Professional Development Strategies for providing ongoing, sustained professional development for teachers, principals, administrators, and school library media personnel to ensure that staff know how to use the new technologies to improve education or library services. Professional development is an essential component of the Grand Rapids Christian Schools (GRCS) plan to integrate technology into the curriculum along with integrating the use of technology into lesson design to support teaching and learning. Professional development for teachers, administrators, and school library media personnel will include awareness of ongoing state and national standards addressing technology competencies as well as development of technology skills and strategies necessary to integrate technology into practice. GRCS recognizes that just as technology is continually evolving, changing, and growing; so will the strategies for meeting its professional goals. Because technology enhances the productivity and professional practices of GRCS staff, new staff will receive orientation by the GRCS Director of Technology on , attendance, grading software, voice mail, etc. New staff are assigned a mentor teacher who will assist them in becoming familiar with the software resources and hardware tools available in their building to enhance teaching and learning. Each of the Grand Rapids Christian Schools has a part to full time Technology Integration Specialist (TIS). The TIS works with the librarian as part of the learning commons team to integrate technology into the curriculum. The TIS also provides daily support and ongoing trainings for technology. As part of our one-to-one laptop program in the secondary grades, staff completed a survey which addressed their usage, professional development requests, and the effects they were seeing on the development of 21 st century skills in students as a result of the laptop in their hands. The results of this survey are laying the groundwork for professional development plans in and include such things as more training on course management tools (Moodle), classroom management tools (LanSchool) and Google docs. Staff also requested time to explore content area resources and tools and time to search, plan, practice, and collaborate with their team members about technology resources. Technology professional development plans for the next 3 years are being focused around the following topics: Basics to be more productive and efficient Face of your classroom on the web Collaboration tools to use with your students (Google Apps for Education) Communication tools Productivity and presentation tools Digital citizenship including copyright and the creative commons Screencasting flipping the classroom Content area resources and tools Classroom management tools (Moodle and LanSchool) Professional development opportunities will be coordinated by the Instruction Office and may be offered at different times and in different formats to maximize the opportunities for teacher participation. GRCS will work to provide a balanced approach of formal professional development opportunities and informal support and training experiences. Trainings for all staff are provided at inservice days and in required staff meetings. Training opportunities are also available through the Kent Intermediate School District with funding for these provided by GRCS as well as through Title funds. 11

12 Section 10: Supporting Resources Strategies and supporting resources such as services, software, other electronically-delivered learning materials, and print resources that will be acquired to ensure successful and effective uses of technology. District policies and guidelines have been implemented to ensure proper and effective use of technology. Technology policies and guidelines are posted on our Instructional Technology link on the Grand Rapids Christian School webpage. These include such items as a technology permission slip, laptop contract and consent form, responsible use policy, laptop handbook, Google apps for education use, and frequently asked questions. Staff receives a great level of support through the building level Technology Integration Specialist (TIS) and the librarian. The TIS posts up to date web resources on our school s Virtual Learning Commons web pages as well as their own tech toolboxes of suggested resources for staff, students and parents. The Virtual Learning Commons webpage includes common curriculum resources used at each grade level as well as links to subscription based resources such as the World Book Encyclopedia and Civil War Database. There are additional resources available in the secure area of our website for staff support such as IGOR, Curriculum Trak, Curriculum Crafter, Discovery Education, SchoolWorld and Moodle. Staff also has access to check out materials through our local REMC which are delivered to the building. Calvin College provides a free after school technology club for Grand Rapids Christian Middle School and Grand Rapids Christian High School students. This club meets one day per week at both of these buildings. Calvin College professors teach students programming from Alice to Scratch to using Calico to program Scribbler robots. 12

13 Section 11: Infrastructure Needs/Technical Specification and Design Strategies to identify the need for telecommunication services, hardware, software, and other services to improve education or library services, and strategies to determine interoperability among the components of the technologies to be acquired. Effective educational use of technology requires up-to-date technological tools and the technical support which allows for consistent, planned use by staff, students, administrators, and parents. As resources become available, each school will be provided with the necessary hardware and software to implement the vision of this plan. The goal of Grand Rapids Christian Schools is to continue to improve on our technology infrastructure facilitating the use of wired and wireless computing devices in each of our school buildings while supporting technology integration in the classroom. Currently, GRCS s infrastructure includes single mode fiber linking Grand Rapids Christian Elementary Schools, Grand Rapids Christian Middle School and Grand Rapids Christian High School. A leased T1 and cable line is used to provide connectivity for Rockford Christian School (See Appendix B). All buildings have wired and wireless ( g standard) network access. We have seventeen networked fileservers: Server OS: Windows Server 2008 Firewall: Cisco ASA 5510 and 5520 Internet filtering software and virus protection: Lightspeed SPAM filtering device: Barracuda Other: Stoneware and RECTRAC Technology Staff: 1 full time district network specialist 1 full time district technology support services specialist 1 full time, school year director of technology 4 technology integration specialists (ranging from.4fte at the elementary to.6 FTE at the middle school to 1.0 FTE at the high school) Technology aides with various hours to support the technology integration specialist and to provide help desk coverage at the schools with a one-to-one program All hardware and software purchases must meet district standards. The review, evaluation, and purchase of hardware and software is a collaborative process between the building Technology Integration Specialists, District Network and Technology Support Specialists, and the Director of Technology. We operate on a five year PC replacement and a four year laptop replacement cycle for all district computers. A web-based HelpDesk system provides quick reporting and resolution of technology issues. Our phone system is a Northern Telecom Option 11 phone system with a networked PBX in each building. Voic is provided to district employees. Our phone system is outdated and needs to be updated to a system that includes Voice Over IP (VoIP). Key staff members are equipped with cell phones providing greater accessibility in case of emergency and routine communications needs. There are also 2-way radios in each building. 13

14 Administrative software used throughout the district: Microsoft Exchange Follett Destiny Microsoft Office 2007 Blackbaud products for student management, development, registrar, admissions, and accounting (Education Edge, Financial Edge, Raiser s Edge, NetCommunity, NetClassroom, Faculty Access for the Web) Grand Rapids Christian Elementary Schools and Rockford Christian School are equipped with teacher workstations, mounted data projectors, document cameras, DVD/VCR combo players, cable TV (broadcast system at Rockford) and SMART Boards. Some classrooms also have additional classroom workstations. A computer lab is used for computer instruction as well as for integrated classroom activities. Classroom sets of student netbooks (at Grand Rapids Christian Elementary Schools only) as well as digital and video cameras are available for checkout. Educational support classrooms have teacher and student workstations available as well as some ipads. Software includes, but is not limited to: KidPix, Microsoft Office, Kidspiration, MovieMaker, PhotoStory, and TuxPaint. Grand Rapids Christian Middle School, Rockford Christian School (in grades 5 8), and Grand Rapids Christian High School have a one-to-one laptop program. All classrooms are equipped with a portable or mounted data projector. Some classrooms have document cameras and/or a DVD/VCR combo player. Some classrooms have an interactivity option with their data projector or white board. All of the schools have a computer lab which is used for high end production such as graphic arts design, video production, yearbook, and applied tech. Educational support classrooms have teacher workstations and some ipads. Software includes, but is not limited to: Microsoft Office, Inspiration, MovieMaker, PhotoStory, Audacity, PhotoShop Elements, Solidworks, TI Math software, and other curriculum specific software. Both of these building are in need of updating switches, wireless, projector mounting, interactive whiteboard capabilities, security cameras and system, and the equipment necessary to broadcast information across the network. Our future tech needs include updating our phone system, updating the old switches in our middle and high school buildings, updating a couple of older servers, adding remote access to the network capabilities for the staff and students (Stoneware), purchasing and implementing ipads with our educational support students and staff to utilize interactive functionality, and developing a crisis management plan to be prepared for unseen circumstances that might arise. 14

15 Section 12: Increase Access Strategies to increase access to technology for all students and all teachers Grand Rapids Christian Schools (GRCS) provide computers for every teacher and administrator in the district. Most of the support staff has easy access to a computer. Each school has a computer lab, computers in the libraries, and computers in resource rooms. Some elementary classrooms have computers in the classrooms while others have the availability of netbooks in a cart (COW). The middle and high school students are all currently provided with a laptop to use at school and at home. One question we had on a laptop survey given to parents, staff and students asked about the availability of internet access at home or the ease of accessibility to internet access if it was not available at home. According to the GRCS parents that responded to the online survey, less than one percent of our GRCS homes do not have internet access readily available to them. Because this was an online survey, that may not be an accurate representation. According to the student surveys which were completed at school, between seven and eleven percent of our students do not have Internet access at home. Three to four percent of these students do not have easy internet access from another location. Due to some lack of understanding about the wireless environment, some of our students may have answered this based on having wireless internet access available on their school laptop rather than simply the availability of internet access on a home computer. It is probably safe to say that ninety percent or greater of our population does have internet access at home. Some of our families may not have internet access due to affordability concerns while others may not have it because of the rural location they live in. For those families who receive free or reduced lunch, Grand Rapids Christian Schools sends out a mailing to make them aware of Comcast s Internet Essentials program which may be available to them for a cost of $9.95/month. Grand Rapids Christian Schools seeks to support and celebrate the gifts and abilities of each student. To ensure success for all our students, GRCS offers Educational Support Services (ESS) for those who may need assistance beyond the traditional classroom. ESS serves over 350 children among all GRCS with a wide variety of individualized services, including short term tutoring, testing, academic support, and inclusion services for special needs students. The growth of this program has increased the need for assistive technologies and software. One of our current goals with this program is to purchase ipads and apps such as Proloquo2go and Grace that can benefit these students. 15

16 Section 13: Budget and Timetable Timetable and budget covering the acquisition, implementation, interoperability provisions, maintenance, and professional development related to the use of technology to improve student academic achievement. 3 Year Technology Plan Budget Expenditures Computer Refreshment $135,000 $200,000 $110,000* 1:1 Laptop Program $90,000 $400,000* $275,000* Instructional Technology $25,000 $25,000 $25,000 Network Infrastructure $60,000 $60,000 $60,000 Software $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 Supplies $55,000 $55,000 $55,000 Repairs $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 Maintenance and Service Costs $25,000 $26,000 $27,000 Phone Maintenance/Service including T1 Lines $75,000 $75,000 $75,000 Equipment Rentals $106,000 $106,000 $106,000 Blackbaud $45,000 $45,000 $45,000 Salaries and Benefits $390,000 $400,000 $410,000 Professional Development $5000 $5000 $5000 Total $1,131,000 $1,517,000 $1,313,000 *Amount is based on Windows platform and will increase if we switch to the Apple platform; amounts also vary by year based on the size of the student body entering a grade level 16

17 Section 14: Coordination of Resources Strategies that will be employed to coordinate state and local resources to implement activities and acquisitions prescribed in the technology plan. An estimated cost is updated yearly to reflect the changes in the Grand Rapids Christian Schools (GRCS) educational programs and in the technology-related components to be purchased through the GRCS budget. Projects such as updating the wireless, adding or refreshing equipment and the one-to-one laptop program are typically funded through capital sources rather than through the operating budget. These capital expenditures are funded through donor gifts, grants, parent teacher organization efforts and capital fund drives. Other sources of funding include the Universal Service Fund (USF) E-Rate Program, Title I, II, and IIA federal grants for technology purchases as well as professional development activities, and grants schools and teachers receive through such places as MACUL or the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, and specific donor gifts. 17

18 Section 15: Monitoring and Evaluation Strategies that the district will use to evaluate the extent to which activities are effective in integrating technology into curricula and instruction, increasing the ability of teachers to teach, and enabling students to reach challenging state and national academic standards. Grand Rapids Christian Schools (GRCS) will yearly evaluate the impact of integrated technology in the schools and the one-to-one laptop program. These evaluations will be conducted by the Chief Education Officer, the Director of Technology, the Technology Integration Specialists, and other appropriate staff through a variety of techniques including face-to-face interviews, checklists, surveys, and formal and informal observations. In , GRCS will complete a technology report. This report will include the results of the research and surveys done on changing our program to a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program, keeping our laptop program but changing to the Apple platform rather than the Windows platform, or maintaining our program as it is today. The report will also include the results of the needs assessment of technology at GRCS which is currently being conducted by an independent consultant through observations and face-to-face interviews. The learning commons team consists of the school s librarian, the school s technology integration specialist, and the classroom teacher. As a team, these 3 staff members plan lessons and projects following the core curriculum standards that integrate the resources available in the library and through technology. Some classroom teachers embrace this concept and realize the value of the added support and resources provided as a result of working as a team and in fact, have been doing this for years. Other classroom teachers tend to remain within their classroom and try to do everything on their own. Beginning in , all teaching staff will be required to meet two times per year as a learning commons team to develop and implement a lesson or project. The Chief Education Officer, Director of Technology and the district Curriculum and Instruction Specialist will monitor and support this goal. The building Administrator will include this goal as a part of each teacher s evaluation and therefore, will also be observing and monitoring the success of this team approach to learning. An electronic survey will be used to evaluate the one-to-one laptop program. The evaluation will include questions related to usage, academic achievement, 21 st century skills, and ways to improve and build the program. The survey will be distributed yearly to parents, staff, and/or students. The results of the survey will be used to see if we are continuing to meet our technology goals and if not, what actions need to be taken to be successful. Professional development opportunities will be offered to staff members, teams, or full building staff when results show a disconnect between education and technology. Grand Rapids Christian Schools also uses a variety of methods and assessment tools for evaluation student performance such as the MEAP and the NWEA MAP test. These assessments are aligned with the standards and benchmarks to measure student progress and are examined to provide comparison data by school, classroom, and/or objective. 18

19 Section 16: Acceptable Use Policy Strategies are in place to monitor the district s Acceptable Use Plan for staff and student use of the technologies. Grand Rapids Christian Schools (GRCS) recognizes the Federal requirements for privacy and internet safety as reflected in the Children s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). In February of 2011, GRCS updated their Acceptable Use Policy and renamed it as a Responsible Use Policy. Staff and students sign this document agreeing to use the school s technology equipment ethically and appropriately. In June of 2012, an attorney reviewed the Responsible Use Policy and suggested minor changes. It was then approved by the Board of Trustees. GRCS uses Lightspeed and teacher supervision to monitor students on the internet. Lightspeed is also active on student laptops off campus, but the filtering is less restrictive allowing students access to social networks and sites after school hours. Reports are run on students showing suspicious behaviors. See a copy of our Responsible Use Policy in Appendix C. 19

20 Appendix A: 2009 Education Technology Standards Students PK - 2 Creativity and Innovation By the end of grade 2 each student will: 1. Use a variety of digital tools (e.g., word processors, drawing tools, simulations, presentation software, graphical organizers) to learn, create, and convey original ideas or illustrate concepts Communication and Collaboration By the end of grade 2 each student will: 1. Work together when using digital tools (e.g., word processor, drawing, presentation software) to convey ideas or illustrate simple concepts relating to a specified project 2. Use a variety of developmentally appropriate digital tools (e.g., word processors, paint programs) to communicate ideas to classmates, families, and others Research and Information Literacy By the end of grade 2 each student will: 1. Interact with Internet based resources 2. Use digital resources (e.g., dictionaries, encyclopedias, graphs, graphical organizers) to locate and interpret information relating to a specific curricular topic, with assistance from teachers, school library media specialists, parents, or student partners Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making By the end of grade 2 each student will: 1. Explain ways that technology can be used to solve problems (e.g., cell phones, traffic lights, GPS units 2. Use digital resources (e.g., dictionaries, encyclopedias, search engines, web sites) to solve developmentally appropriate problems, with assistance from teachers, parents, school media specialists, or student partners Digital Citizenship By the end of grade 2 each student will: 1. Describe appropriate and inappropriate uses of technology (e.g., computers, Internet, , cell phones) and describe consequences of inappropriate uses 2. Know the Michigan Cyber Safety Initiative s three rules (Keep Safe, Keep Away, Keep Telling) 3. Identify personal information that should not be shared on the Internet (e.g. name, address, phone) 4. Know to inform a trusted adult if he/she receives or views an online communication which makes him/her feel uncomfortable, or if someone whom he/she doesn t know is trying to communicate with him/her or asking for personal information Technology Operations and Concepts By the end of grade 2 each student will: 1. Discuss advantages and disadvantages of using technology 2. Be able to use basic menu commands to perform common operations (e.g., open, close, save, print) 3. Recognize and name the major hardware components in a computer system (e.g., computer, monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer) 4. Discuss the basic care for computer hardware and various media types (e.g., CDs, DVDs) 5. Use developmentally appropriate and accurate terminology when talking about technology 6. Understand that technology is a tool to help him/her complete a task, and is a source of information, learning, and entertainment 7. Demonstrate the ability to navigate in virtual environments (e.g., electronic books, games, simulation software, web sites) 20

21 2009 Education Technology Standards Students 3 5 Creativity and Innovation By the end of grade 5 each student will: 1. Produce a media-rich digital project aligned to state curriculum standards (e.g., fable, folk tale, mystery, tall tale, historical fiction) 2. Use a variety of technology tools and applications to demonstrate his/her creativity by creating or modifying works of art, music, movies, or presentations 3. Participate in discussions about technologies (past, present, and future) to understand these technologies are the result of human creativity Communication and Collaboration By the end of grade 5 each student will: 1. Use digital communication tools (e.g. , wikis, blogs, IM, chat rooms, videoconferencing, Moodle, Blackboard) and online resources for group learning projects 2. Identify how different software applications may be used to share similar information, based on the intended audience (e.g., presentations for classmates, newsletters for parents) 3. Use a variety of media and formats to create and edit products (e.g., presentations, newsletters, brochures, web pages) to communicate information and ideas to various audiences Research and Information Literacy By the end of grade 5 each student will: 1. Identify search strategies for locating information with support from teachers or library media specialists 2. Use digital tools to find, organize, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information 3. Understand and discuss that web sites and digital resources may contain inaccurate or biased information 4. Understand that using information from a single Internet source might result in the reporting of erroneous facts and that multiple sources should always be researched Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making By the end of grade 5 each student will: 1. Use digital resources to access information that can assist in making informed decisions about everyday matters (e.g., which movie to see, which product to purchase) 2. Use information and communication technology tools (e.g., calculators, probes, videos, DVDs, educational software) to collect, organize, and evaluate information to assist with solving problems 3. Use digital resources to identify and investigate a state, national, or global issue (e.g., global warming, economy, environment) Digital Citizenship By the end of grade 5 each student will: 1. Discuss scenarios involving acceptable and unacceptable uses of technology (e.g., file-sharing, social networking, text messaging, cyber bullying, plagiarism) 2. Recognize issues involving ethical use of information (e.g., copyright adherence, source citation) 3. Describe precautions surrounding personal safety that should be taken when online 4. Identify the types of personal information that should not be given out on the Internet (name, address, phone number, picture, school name) Technology Operations and Concepts By the end of grade 5 each student will: 1. Use basic input and output devices (e.g., printers, scanners, digital cameras, video recorders, projectors) 2. Describe ways technology has changed life at school and at home 3. Understand and discuss how assistive technologies can benefit all individuals 4. Demonstrate proper care in the use of computer hardware, software, peripherals, and storage media 5. Know how to exchange files with other students using technology (e.g., network file sharing, flash drives) 21

22 2009 Education Technology Standards Students 6 8 Creativity and Innovation By the end of grade 8 each student will: 1. Apply common software features (e.g., spellchecker, thesaurus, formulas, charts, graphics, sounds) to enhance communication with an audience and to support creativity 2. Create an original project (e.g., presentation, web page, newsletter, information brochure) using a variety of media (e.g., animations, graphs, charts, audio, graphics, video) to present content information to an audience 3. Illustrate a content-related concept using a model, simulation, or concept-mapping software Communication and Collaboration By the end of grade 8 each student will: 1. Use digital resources (e.g., discussion groups, blogs, podcasts, videoconferences, Moodle, Blackboard) to collaborate with peers, experts, and other audiences 2. Use collaborative digital tools to explore common curriculum content with learners from other cultures 3. Identify effective uses of technology to support communication with peers, family, or school personnel Research and Information Literacy By the end of grade 8 each student will: 1. Use a variety of digital resources to locate information 2. Evaluate information from online information resources for accuracy and bias 3. Understand that using information from a single Internet source might result in the reporting of erroneous facts and that multiple sources should always be researched 4. Identify types of web sites based on their domain names (e.g., edu, com, org, gov, net) 5. Employ data-collection technologies (e.g., probes, handheld devices, GPS units, geographic mapping systems) to gather, view, and analyze the results for a content-related problem Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making By the end of grade 8 each student will: 1. Use databases or spreadsheets to make predictions, develop strategies, and evaluate decisions to assist with solving a problem 2. Evaluate available digital resources and select the most appropriate application to accomplish a specific task (e, g., word processor, table, outline, spreadsheet, presentation program) 3. Gather data, examine patterns, and apply information for decision making using available digital resources 4. Describe strategies for solving routine hardware and software problems Digital Citizenship By the end of grade 8 each student will: 1. Provide accurate citations when referencing information sources 2. Discuss issues related to acceptable and responsible use of technology (e.g., privacy, security, copyright, plagiarism, viruses, file-sharing) 3. Discuss the consequences related to unethical use of information and communication technologies 4. Discuss possible societal impact of technology in the future and reflect on the importance of technology in the past 5. Create media-rich presentations on the appropriate and ethical use of digital tools and resources 6. Discuss the long term ramifications (digital footprint) of participating in questionable online activities (e.g., posting photos of risqué poses or underage drinking, making threats to others) 7. Describe the potential risks and dangers associated with online communications 22

23 Technology Operation and Concepts By the end of grade 8 each student will: 1. Identify file formats for a variety of applications (e.g., doc, xls, pdf, txt, jpg, mp3) 2. Use a variety of technology tools (e.g., dictionary, thesaurus, grammar-checker, calculator) to maximize the accuracy of technology-produced materials 3. Perform queries on existing database 4. Know how to create and use various functions available in a database (e.g., filtering, sorting, charts) 5. Identify a variety of information storage devices (e.g., CDs, DVDs, flash drives, SD cards) and provide rationales for using a certain device for a specific purpose 6. Use accurate technology terminology 7. Use technology to identify and explore various occupations or careers, especially those related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 8. Discuss possible uses of technology to support personal pursuits and lifelong learning 9. Understand and discuss how assistive technologies can benefit all individuals 10. Discuss security issues related to e-commerce 2009 Education Technology Standards Students 9 12 Creativity and Innovation By the end of grade 12 each student will: 1. Apply advanced software features (e.g. built-in thesaurus, templates, styles) to redesign the appearance of word processing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations 2. Create a web page (e.g., Dreamweaver, igoogle, Kompozer) 3. Use a variety of media and formats to design, develop, publish, and present projects (e.g., newsletters, websites, presentations, photo galleries) Communication and Collaboration By the end of grade 12 each student will: 1. Identify various collaboration technologies and describe their use (e.g., desktop conferencing, webinar, listserv, blog, wiki) 2. Use available technologies (e.g., desktop conferencing, , videoconferencing, instant messaging) to communicate with others on a class assignment or project 3. Collaborate in content-related projects that integrate a variety of media (e.g., print, audio, video, graphic, simulations, and models) 4. Plan and implement a collaborative project using telecommunications tools (e.g., epals, discussion boards, online groups, interactive web sites, videoconferencing) 5. Describe the potential risks and dangers associated with online communications 6. Use technology tools for managing and communicating personal information (e.g., finances, contact information, schedules, purchases, correspondence) Research and Information Literacy By the end of grade 12 each student will: 1. Develop a plan to gather information using various research strategies (e.g., interviews, questionnaires, experiments, online surveys) 2. Identify, evaluate, and select appropriate online sources to answer content related questions 3. Demonstrate the ability to use library and online databases for accessing information (e.g., MEL, Proquest, Infosource, United Streaming) 4. Distinguish between fact, opinion, point of view, and inference 5. Evaluate information found in selected online sources on the basis of accuracy and validity 6. Evaluate resources for stereotyping, prejudice, and misrepresentation 7. Understand that using information from a single internet source might result in the reporting of erroneous facts and that multiple sources must always be researched 23