Week 4 Assignment, Part 3: Evaluation of Action Plan

BCS envisions classrooms to be a place where students can obtain the information they want, when they want it, and have the equipment and guidance to use that information in ingenious and distinctive ways. In order to create a visionary curriculum that includes multiple presentation and organization methods for assignments, production of desktop videos, and produce students that are skilled in the use of the Internet and other high-tech devices, a campus technology team needs to be established. Our communication system must continuously allow our students to be able to network with libraries, museums, and classrooms all around the world. Our teachers, students, and parents must have online access to assignments, records, and school information.

BCS is blessed to have been given the opportunity to acquire a state-of-the-art Infrastructure for Technology. Our classrooms are 100% connected to the Internet. We have over 150 laptops; two wireless laptop carts; and two fully equipped multimedia labs with PC's, iMacs, laptop computers, video production, printers, scanners, and editing equipment. These interactive multimedia and telecommunications technologies can be powerful tools to enhance teaching and learning for our students -- but they're only tools. Like any machinery, technologically advanced hardware and software would only be valuable when utilized for clearly defined purposes and manned with capable individuals. This is the reason why BCS have a strong focus on professional development for all its staff, faculty, and even parents.

In collaboration with Fred Slone, our CET, we have outlined the following short term goals for BCS that we wish to fully implement in the spring:

Short Term Goals for Immediate Application

• Provide a Campus Curriculum Integration Technologist to design presentations, conduct onsite workshops, and demonstrate lessons to students and staff concurrently.
• Have a website that serves not only the staff and students of Briarmeadow but also the entire learning community and that is updated on a daily basis.
• Update software and "Deep-Freeze" all student and teacher laptops and desk tops.
• Form a STAT (student technical assistance team) to help with troubleshooting and computer upgrades.
• Get E-mail accounts for all students in grades 6-8.
• Create Podcasts of school events to be posted on our Podcast Web Site and on iTunes.
• Start a morning "Internet Cafe" for early arrivals.
• Provide monthly technology opportunities for Teachers to maintain skills.
• Create and maintain electronic portfolios on the school server for all students in grades 3-8.
• Upgrade technology in Middle School classrooms.
• Deliver online content to students via Middle School Class Web Sites.
• Have all Middle School Teachers complete an online course in digital media integration.

Monitoring of Implementation:
All Middle School teachers will complete an online weekly log that lists the date(s), the number of times the strategy they learned from the online sessions was used, and describes how the strategy was used. Teachers will also document that they are using digital media integration on their daily lesson plans. Student work samples will be posted on each class website.

Administrators will conduct regular walkthroughs to get a sense of the fidelity of the implementation of the technology standards. The CET will also provide reports to the administrators to determine the needed follow-up sessions.
Evaluation: Formative: Walkthrough data will be compared and analyzed every month. Teachers will be given feedback and follow-up sessions will be provided as needed. Summative: 2010-2011 STaR Chart Summary; Speak-Up Survey; AEIS Data