Linns Valley Technology Plan
Linns Valley-Poso Flat UnionTechnology Plan Executive Summary/Introduction
2004 -2009
Revised March 2005
#1 Executive Summary
The Linns Valley-Poso Flat School District is placed in a rural setting with the closest town a one-hour drive away. The school is set on approximately 3 acres of property, with 2 softball/soccer fields and 2 basketball courts. The buildings include 5 classrooms, one Special Education building, a Library/Media Center, and the office. The Library Media Center began in August of 1996 and currently hosts 1400 books that are checked out by patrons using the Follett Software automated check out system. The books, periodicals, videos, computer programs and library cards are bar coded. Students use the Library/Media Center on a daily basis. The Center is open daily. Each classroom has scheduled times each week to use the Library/Media Center.
The school facilitates GATE, Special Education, Title I and General Education students. The school is small and serves around 46 lower to middle income students per year. Thirty percent of the population are of Hispanic, Black or Native American origin. Seventy percent of the population are Caucasian. The surrounding community supports the school, and at times the school is the focal point of the community.
The District has been working with the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office over the past four years to bring technology to the students, especially the Internet.
Plan Introduction
The plan will provide a description of the overall education strategy for how technology will be integrated to enhance teaching, training and student achievement.
In looking at the overall STAR results (State Standard Testing) the student's continue to show growth. The District has set a goal to achieve proficiency in math and language arts for all students. At this time, the data reveals the following:
Language Arts/Reading: 2003-%49 were proficient, 2004-%50 were proficient Math: 2003/%53 were proficient, 2004-%71 were proficient.
While we are not yet %100 proficient on either area our immediate concern is with Language Arts. Therefore, the School Board has approved the Technology Plan to integrate Technology into the Language Arts curriculum to improve our State Standard Testing.
Linns Valley School has created a Computer / Multimedia / Library for students as well as the parents and community member to use. It has one networked computer and one printer. There are computer stations in each of the classrooms.
The next step is establishing Internet connections within the classrooms. At this time we have dial-up only and it is on one computer in the library. There is no internet in the classroom. The internet is needed for student's to utilize for research projects.
Each student will have a technology portfolio. This portfolio will follow them throughout their education at Linns Valley School. It begins with very basic instruction in Kindergarten/1st grade and continues to build up to multimedia presentations in the upper grades. This portfolio is a tool to help the students perform at a high level of standards relating to technology. This portfolio will allow teachers to assess each student's progress and set appropriate technology goals. The portfolio will be based on the California Technology Standards.
The District will maintain a School Website where parents and community members can view the SARC, LEAP and other important information and statistics regarding Linns Valley School.
Technology will be integrated throughout the curriculum to help student's master the state standards. Students will be given the opportunity to use technology in their daily classwork.
Staff will use electronic mail to communicate between colleagues, parents, professionals and the world. Teachers and Staff will use a web site to post homework and other classroom information to communicate with the parents/guardians. Parents/guardians will be able to communicate via e-mail to their child's teacher.
The plan describes how ongoing sustained training will help teachers, principal and staff to ensure the use of technology.
Each year staff will be given at least two computer-training sessions at the school site and one outside enrichment training session. They will also go through an annual goals and objectives review.
Teachers will be required to create a technology portfolio, which will be reviewed and updated yearly to show professional growth in technology. Each teacher will be required to work toward certification in technology use. The CTAP technology Certification Proficiency Levels will be used as a base for teacher proficiency.
Teachers will go through a midyear Technology Evaluation. At this time teachers will be evaluated on the progress of student portfolios as well as their own technology portfolio, goals will be reviewed and adjustments made when necessary, and the second computer training session will be set up to meet the needs and goals of the staff to better meet the needs of each student.
The plan identifies ongoing technical support, training and assistance available to teachers, administration, staff and school media personnel.
Linns Valley School has a contract with Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS). KCSOS supplies technical support and training to the Linns Valley School District.
California Technology Assistance Project (CTAP) assists with grant information, provides assistance with training and current events pertaining to technology.
Teachers, Administrators and staff have classes available to them through Kern County Superintendent of Schools, University Extension classes, and CTAP.
The school will subscribe to periodicals to keep them abreast of the ever-changing arena of technology.
The school will also purchase self-paced programs to teach teachers, administrators and staff about various programs such as Word, Excel, and Power Point.
Staff will use electronic mail to communicate between colleagues, parents, professionals and technical support.
Ongoing Maintenance
Our current contracts include upgrading and maintenance. KCSOS will continue to support our system with upgrades and repairs at least every six months. The Local Area Network will be repaired and upgraded as needed by Data Com and Kern County Superintendent Schools.
Availability of Finances and Staff Resources
Funding for implementation and financial support will be derived from a combination of funding sources. Title I Funds as well as general funds will be spent on technology support, offering specialized training of students. Staff development, technology classes for staff updates, and CTAP meetings will be funded by approved budget for general account, and categorical funding (i.e. GATE). Upgrades in equipment, Internet connectivity and communication will be assisted financially by any future Technology Grant money.
Ongoing Review and Assessment Components
Each student will have a technology portfolio. This portfolio will follow the student throughout his/her stay at Linns Valley School. It will begin in Kindergarten/1st grade with very basic instruction and end in 8th grade with complex programs and hardware instruction. Mid year the Principal/Superintendent and classroom teacher will review portfolios and make suggestions and recommendations. New students will be assessed and spend time in the lab to catch up with their grade level if needed.
Teachers will go through annual goal and objective review with the Principal/Superintendent. Each year the teacher will integrate technology into one subject area until all subjects are incorporated into classroom instruction. By the year 2009 every teacher will be integrating at least four subject areas into technology.
Teachers will be participating in CTAPís Technology Certification Proficiency Level Program. By the year 2009 100% of the teachers will have completed level 2. By the year 2009 the principal and any other designated technology person will have completed instructional level 3.
Technical and Infrastructure Standards
Computers are hooked up to a Cisco Hub using Novell Border Manager (see Appendix 3). The Network system is run on Category 5 wires with a Fiber Optic Backbone.
The Internet System is comprised of a server
The network computers at Linns Valley School are on two different levels. The Media Center Computers and the classroom computers combine to make up these two levels.
In the Media Center there are a total of 4 computers. Two of these are 200 MHz; they have 32 Megs DRAM, and 3.2 GB of hard drive and 10/100 Ethernet workstations. The Librarianís workstation is networked along with these and is a 100 MHz that has 32 Megs of RAM.
There will be a web server set up in the media center to serve as an extra proxy server. This system is a 166 MHz Pentium with a 3.2 GB hard drive.
A separate server will eventually be used for web pages.
1a.† Plan Duration
07/01/2004 - 07/01/2009
Component 2: Stakeholders
2a.† Planning Team
Carol Williams, Board Member Kevin Silberberg, Superintendent Linns Valley Poso Flat School, School Site Council Ramona Shawver, Teacher Tammy Rhoades-Pritchard, Principal/Teacher
2a.† Stakeholders Narrative
In order to implement the goals as determined by the District Technology Committee, or the Stakeholders, the following steps will take place.
1. The committee will review the goals adopted by the governing board in order to target support in identifying appropriate goals for the District Technology Plan.
2. An analysis of multiple measures of student data will be used to assess how the goals of the Technology Plan can support student achievement.
3. Goals will be determined by the District Technology Committee.
4. Goals will be prioritized by the District Technology Committee.
Component 3: Curriculum
3a.† Availability of Appropriate Technology
Technology is available to and used by all students; students that are below grade level, on grade level, above grade level, GATE, have special needs, at risk or have an IEP. There are computer labs in each of the classrooms as well as in the library. Students are able to use the computers during class, at break time and during lunch break. Computers are also available for after school use upon request. For upper grade students (5th - 8th) there are 19 lap tops that are accesible to them throughout the day and can be checked out by those who do not have computers at home.
At this time the internet is only available on one computer, which is in the library. We have set a goal to bring in a professional to check our wiring and to tell us what needs to be done to insure that we attain the internet in each classroom.
3b.† District's Current Use of Hardware and Software
To address each individual student, Technology is used to meet a variety of needs.
READING There are reading centers, which address those who are beginning readers and those who have special needs or are at risk. These centers are in small groups (3 or less). Students use computer software to reinforce their learning of phonics, chunking, decoding, sentence structure and other reading skills.
Accelerated Reader Program is used so that each student can be challenged at their own ability level. This program is used in grades 1st - 8th to monitor student progress in reading. It is a software program which provides reading incentives to students as they progress through a structured reading comprehension program giving the teachers another tool to monitor student progress in both vocabulary development and reading comprehension.
WRITING Primary grades learn home-row keyboarding skills as early as 2nd grade. Students also practice grade level standards in writing. Students are given daily writing assignments, which gives them the opportunity to utilize the computers and advance their skills and computer knowledge. Students are given library time daily, to utilize the library computers for research as a class.
Students in 4th-8th grades are scheduled weekly writing assignments to supplement classroom instructional benchmarks in support of the mastery of writing and language standards. Students (5th-8th) have access to wireless laptops in the classroom, which are used toward the writing goals. Students are given library time to do research in the library; using both books and the internet.
MATH We have a small variety of software to address the needs in developing math skills. Students are able to work on math facts through interactive games. Software is available for all grade levels (K - 8th).
SPECIAL NEED STUDENTS: Students who have difficulty reading can listen to questions in math and can work with numbers and not let words hender their performance. They are able to be successful by using this software. Students work at their ability level and at their pace working towards the goal of meeting the California State Standards.
Levels of Proficiencies: Students work with computers and software as early as Kindergarten. Students begin typing classes in 3rd grade teaching them the home-row keys and typing for speed and accuracy. Typing is taught from 3rd - 5th grade. Students begin typing letters, words and sentences in Kindergarten. Students type words, sentences and paragraphs in 1st - 3rd. Students in 3rd 4th and 5th type 5 paragraph essays. Students 5th - 8th type 2-6 page reports on given subjects pertaining to their curriculum.
Research on the internet is limited due to the fact that there is no internet within the classrooms. During library time students are able to do research on 1 of 2 computers along with the guidance of the library staff. Library skills and research skills are taught in the library.
Teachers use technology in several ways. Accelerated Reader is useful for Administration and teachers to assess the student's abilities and needs. Administration and Teachers are able to see where the student's zone of proximal development is and where their reading level is. The growth of each student can be seen by looking at the data on each individual student record.
Edusoft is another program that Administration and Teachers use to benchmark each student's progress. This program is new to the District in the 2004-2005 school year. Staff will be able to look at data that is California Standard based and see where each student is and where they need to be. This program breaks down the standards and allows the student, teachers and Administration to know which standards have been mastered and which need to be learned.
A new grading software has been purchased and will be implemented by the 2005 - 2006 school year. This grading program will allow teachers to access the individual students overall grades, a grade in a particular assignment, missing assignments, standards met and not met and printouts for parents to view their child's progress.
A Linns Valley Web Page is accessible to all and can view the SARC, LEAP and other vital information regarding the school. Our goal is to update this web page and put more useful information on it useful to our parents.
Schoolnotes.com is accessible to all teachers and staff to use to communicate to their parents. Homework, notes to parents, emails and websites for parents to download worksheets and other useful educational materials are on this web page.
Attendance is managed through technology. Individual students, classrooms or the entire student body attendance date can be transfered electronically or downloaded as a hard copy.
Each year at Back-To-School night we discuss with the parents the web sites available to them to check homework or communication. How to use the web site and what to click on is discussed.
3c.† District's Curricular Goals
The Linns Valley Poso Flat School Board has adopted the following goals as developed by the Technology Committee.
1. Create a learning community, which provides opportunities through tecnology for students and teacher to become lifelong learners by providing technology in each classroom.
2. Integrate instructional technology to meet students' needs to access and process information, communicate knowledge, develop and enhance problem solving and critical thinking skills.
3. Improve student achievement by restructuring teaching and learning through use of technology.
4. Provide students the opportunity to explore and experience events, which could not take place within the confines to the classroom through appropriate existing and emerging technologies and software.
5. Ensure equal access to technology regardless of learning styles, differences, or capabilities.
6. Expand the vision of connectivity through Internet access in every classroom.
7. Monitor and evaluate the effective use of technology as a tool for learning.
The education of our students is the goal for our involvement in the use of technology. Technology is forever changing and advancing on a daily basis and therefore the District establishes goals and strategies that are sound academically and will sustain the changes that tomorrow brings.
3d.† Using Technology to Improve Teaching and Learning
Goal: Language Arts standardized test scores will be improved through the following use of technology.
Student's will enhance oral and written language skills by creating electronic portfolios and presentations using presentation software.
Students will use computer programs and video resources to prepare for standardized testing.
Benchmarks Year 1 By June 2005, the staff will evaluate presentation software and develop related curriculum in language arts.
By June 2005, will develop individual portfolio plans for all students not proficient in language art standardized testing.
Year 2 By June 2006, %25 of all students will create portfolios using presentation software.
By June 2006, %55 of all students will be proficient in language art standardized testing.
Year 3 By June 2007, %50 of all students will create portfolios using presentation software.
By June 2007, %60 of all students will be proficient in language art standardized testing.
Year 4 By June 2008, %75 of all students will create portfolios using presentation software.
By June 2008, %65 of all students will be proficient in language art standardized testing.
Year 5 By June 2009, %100 of all students will create portfolios using presentation software.
By June 2009, %70 of all students will be proficient in language art standardized testing.
3e.† Students Acquiring Technology and Information Literacy Skills
Goal: Students will develop the following Information Literacy skills, as defined by ISTE.
Students will use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.
Students will use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.
Benchmarks Year 1 By June 2005, the technology curriculum goals will be finalized and approved.
Year 2 By June 2006, %25 of the students will meet adopted information literacy goals.
Year 3 By June 2007, %50 of the students will meet adopted information literacy goals.
Year 4 By June 2008, %75 of the students will meet adopted information literacy goals.
Year 5 By June 2009, %100 of the students will meet adopted information literacy goals.
3f.† Ensuring Appropriate Technology Access to All Students
Goal: All students will have access to the internet for research.
Benchmarks Year 1 By June 2005, %10 of all students will have weekly access to the internet for research.
Year 2 By June 2006, %25 of all students will have weekly access to the internet for research.
Year 3 By June 2007, %50 of all students will have weekly access to the internet for research.
Year 4 By June 2008, %75 of all students will have weekly access to the internet for research.
Year 5 By June 2009, %100 of all students will have weekly access to the internet for research.
3g.† Making Student Record Keeping and Assessment More Efficient
Goal: By June 2009, our district will implement the use of computerized EduSoft.
Benchmarks Year 1 By June 2005, %20 of the student's language arts data will be analyzed using EduSoft for data-driven curriculum decision making.
Year 2 By June 2006, %40 of the student's language arts data will be analyzed using EduSoft for data-driven curriculum decision making.
Year 3 By June 2007, %60 of the student's language arts data will be analyzed using EduSoft for data-driven curriculum decision making.
Year 4 By June 2008, %80 of the student's language arts data will be analyzed using EduSoft for data-driven curriculum decision making.
Year 5 By June 2009, %100 of the student's language arts data will be analyzed using EduSoft for data-driven curriculum decision making.
3h.† Making Teachers and Administrators More Accessible to Parents
Goal: By August 2009, Parents will have access to information on classroom activities, Emergency Plan Information, and leave messages for the principal or their child's classroom teachers using technology.
Benchmarks Year 1 By August 2005, all staff e-mail addresses will be posted to the school web site.
Year 2 By August 2006, all teachers will post classroom web pages with current information.
Year 3 By August 2007, all parents will have access the Library computers to access the district web page.
Year 4 By August 2008, all teachers will post classroom activities and homework assignments on the District Web Page.
Year 5 By August 2009, all parents will have access to the school-wide attendance and testing data through the District Website.
3i.† Summary of Implementation Steps and Timelines Section 3d:
Goal: Language Arts standardized test scores will be improved through the following use of technology.
Student's will enhance oral and written language skills by creating electronic portfolios and presentations using presentation software.
Students will use computer programs and video resources to prepare for standardized testing.
Start Date- End Date Implementation Step Target Audience Person/Team Responsible
08/12/2004- 06/30/2009 Enhance the learning process with a variety of technology. Students, Teachers, Administrators/Staff Tammy Rhoades-Pritchard
Section 3e:
Goal: Students will develop the following Information Literacy skills, as defined by ISTE.
Students will use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.
Students will use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.
Section 3f:
Goal: All students will have access to the internet for research.
Section 3g:
Goal: By June 2009, our district will implement the use of computerized EduSoft.
Section 3h:
Goal: By August 2009, Parents will have access to information on classroom activities, Emergency Plan Information, and leave messages for the principal or their child's classroom teachers using technology.