Waynesville Middle School
Building Technology Plan 2007-2010

Mission Statement

Waynesville Middle School educators believe that the integration of technology and the curriculum will provide a resource of tools and skills that will enable teachers and students to meet the academic goals and challenges set forth by the school’s learning community.

Data analyzed:

Nets Day survey
Building Media/Tech survey
Building PLC survey
District Technology Plan

Student Learning

Strengths:

•    availability of hardware, software and online resources is readily available
•    motivation
•    purpose of technology in relation to learning is understood

Weaknesses
•    distinguishing between valid and invalid information
•    using online resources and software more applicably for integrated activities
•    lack of hardware in the science area

Goal:  Skills of accessing information, using available online resources, and software usage will improve through increased integration of technology resources with the curriculum.

Objective 1:  The students will be taught skills through research experiences to evaluate online information and compare with reference books in the library to discern its validity.

Objective 2:  The students will have increased opportunities to use online resources and software through integrated classroom activities and technology.

Objective 3:  The students will use software to create original projects.

Action Plan:  Integrating the classroom curriculum and online resources and software currently available will be expanded so students have more opportunities to use the learning tools. The students will have the guidance of trained educators to use the software and collaboration/integration techniques.  The students will have opportunities to create original works by using a variety of software.


Teacher Preparation and Delivery of Instruction

Strengths:
•    technology usage for record keeping and communication
•    utilization of online teaching materials
•    willingness to become technologically proficient


Weaknesses:
•    lack best practices of integrating technology with curriculum
•    lack full time building tech for planning, availability and consistent tech information
•    no plan of action for engaging the few reluctant technology users


Goal:  Professional development and models will be provided showing teachers effective ways to integrate technology with the curriculum.

Objective 1:  Teachers will become more confident with integrating technology through the technology confidence program.

Objective 2:  Teachers will learn effective ways to integrate technology and the curriculum.

Action Plan:  The technology confidence program will continue.  Workshops will be provided for teachers to see how technology can be integrated with the curriculum for successful learning experiences with students. Time will be provided at various times through release time and during delayed start days for teachers to receive training with software and hardware.  Teachers will work collaboratively to share integrated units with peers.



Administration, Management, and Communication


Strengths:
•    Power School
•    e-mail

Weaknesses:
•    Lack of telephone access to classrooms.
•    Tech department is understaffed to meet the growing needs of management

Goal: Enhance technology and communication devices in classroom by managing technology resources.

Objective 1:  The staff will utilize technology to mange and communicate information.

Objective 2:  The building will provide phone service in classrooms as the district provides the funds and building renovations for these services.

Action Plan:  Teachers will continue to be provided with inservices to better implement reporting systems in PowerSchool.  The need for additional tech support staff will be requested to the district so that equipment can be effectively maintained and used.



Resource Distribution and Use

Strength:

•    students have access to software, online resources, and hardware in classrooms and labs

Weakness: 
•    teachers not aware of the software, online resources and hardware available even though opportunities through newsletters, workshops, and meetings and presented information about the resources
•    access to labs is limited because of high demand
•    limited access to PC platform for specialized software

Goal:  Continue to provide ample software, online resources, and hardware in classrooms and lab. Provide space for additional labs to meet the increasing demands. Teachers will be made aware of these resources through a variety of methods.

Objective 1:  Software, online resources, and hardware will continue to be provided, upgraded and replaced.

Objective 2:  Workshops and information will be frequently provided to make teachers aware of what is available for their use.

Action Plan:  Funding will be provided to purchase needed software, online resource subscriptions, and purchase or increase hardware to meet the growing needs of the building.  Information will be disseminated through many means to make staff aware of what is available for their use.

Technical Support

Strength:
•    tech staff is knowledgeable and experienced
•    tech staff has low turnover rate

Weaknesses:

•    tech support staff is not adequate to service growing needs
•    two half-time building tech sharing responsibilities with other buildings
•    techs shared between buildings can’t focus on the software, curriculum, and needs of WMDS since they are responsible for a wide range of grades, curriculum, and software creating less effective knowledge and services

Goal:  The building will have one full time technology specialist.

Objective 1: A full time tech will be at WMDS to assist staff and students with the integration of technology and the curriculum.

Objective 2:  The building tech will provide inservice and training to teachers so they can successfully integrate the bulding software and hardware.

Action Plan: One full time tech will be assigned to the building. Training will be scheduled in advance and available at convenient times for optimum teacher attendance.


Monitoring, Evaluation and Dissemination

The media/tech and building principal will monitor the online tech database, record staff trainings, administer/evaluate surveys, and prepare written summaries and reports. The Vanguard team will meet each quarter to review assessment of progress toward the plan’s goals and objective in each target area and discuss strategies to meet goals and objectives not yet attained.