The document outlines the steps for developing a technology use plan for Whittier Elementary School. It discusses establishing a team to develop the plan, researching other schools' technology use, training staff and students, and creating a vision statement. The plan aims to provide students equitable access to technology to improve academic achievement through integrating technology into the curriculum, staff training, maintenance/support, and evaluating outcomes over three years.

1. Why develop a technology use plan? An effective technology use plan will assist administrators, teachers, and parents as they use technology in school and at home as an educational tool to improve student academic achievement .

2. Who should be a part of the team and planning process? School Administrators School Secretary Paraprofessionals Teachers Parent group School Volunteers Older Students (6 th grade)

3. What are the steps in developing a technology use plan? 1. Identify areas of need where technology could help the school/students improve. 2.Find out how administrators, teachers, parents, auxiliary staff, and students feel about using technology. Would technology be used if it was available? 3. Research what technologies other schools are currently using to solve similar problems. 4. Train the staff, students, and parents to use technology. 5. Resolve Concerns.

4. Vision Statement To provide all students at Whittier Elementary equitable access to educational technology at school and in their homes that will improve their chances of academic success now and in the future.

5. Technology Standards On the Boise School District Website the elementary technology standards are expressed this way: “Information in our world is increasing at an astonishing rate. Technological discoveries and their subsequent applications have major influences on our lives. As a community of learners in an ever-changing society, it is essential to become proficient in locating, accessing, and organizing information. In the school setting, students and teachers utilize technology as a tool to support the curriculum and individual learning needs. Students will learn to use technology skills for study, work, and community participation in an ethical manner. Students will be challenged to realize the impact of information resources on the world around them.”

6. Curriculum Integration The students at Whittier Elementary are an at risk population. Whittier's Academic Report Card By integrating technology into the school’s curriculum more effectively academic achievement is likely to improve . Lap tops for all students at Whittier Elementary. Add computer classes into the curriculum.

7. Staff Development All certified and classified employees at Whittier Elementary play an important role in the tech use plan. Each staff member has an individual comfort level for using new technology in the classroom. Staff members possess individual learning styles that help them learn about new technologies at the school. To make the transition to using the new technology as smooth as possible the following options will be available to help staff learn the new technology: A. Technology classes for parents and staff. B. TeacherTech website www.techteacher.org and DVD’s for home use. C. School technology expert, Ima Technerd available for support.

8. Maintenance/Support “ An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” Computer Pro’s LLC will come into your classroom on a regularly scheduled basis (after school hours) and make all preventive maintenance on the computers and Smart Board systems suggested by the manufacture. If you have any problems with your computers before the regularly scheduled maintenance check up just call 1-800-COM-PROS and they will send a technician to your classroom that day.

9. Needs Assessment Technology areas addressed in a Needs Assessment given to Whittier Staff : 1.What technology programs are currently being used at Whittier Elementary to teach reading and math? 2. Are teachers providing adequate technologies for both traditional and ELL students in their classroom? 3.Are teachers using technology in their classroom to assess student learning and chart student progress? 4. If students at Whittier school were provided laptops for educational home use would academic test scores increase? 5. If Whittier School was provided with new, research-based, technologies that are proven to improve student reading and math abilities would student test scores increase? 6. Are administrators, teachers, and auxiliary staff at Whittier Elementary willing to implement new, research-based math and reading software that have been proven to improve math and reading abilities in elementary students? 7. Are teachers willing to get the training needed to implement new technology in the classroom? Whittier Elementary Technology and Math Survey Whittier Elementary Technology and Reading Survey Whittier Elementary Technology and the ELL Student

10. Evaluation/Research Each year students across the state of Idaho are given a series of academic tests depending on their grade level to track progress in reading and math. These tests include: IRI (Idaho Reading Indicator) for students K-3 rd ISATS (Idaho Standards Achievement Test) for students 3 rd -6 th CBM (Curriculum Based Measurement) 4 th -6 th IRI, ISAT, and CBM scores of Whittier Students would be tracked from fall 2009 – fall 2012 Teacher documentation of improved academics

11. Timeline Spring 2009 Summer 2009 Fall 2009 Spring 2010 Buy laptop computers Computer Maintenance Students use laptops daily @ school/home Students use laptops daily @ school/home Hire a computer teacher Computer lab is set up for teaching Students attend bi-weekly computer classes Students attend bi-weekly computer classes Students take standardized tests Students take standardized tests Whittier Staff/parents get educated about math/reading software Whittier Staff/parents get educated about math/reading software Whittier Staff tracks student academic progress Whittier Staff tracks student academic progress

12. Conclusion By providing students at Whittier Elementary with adequate access to technology and research based educational tools academic achievement will improve. These students will be prepared for academic success in the future.

13. Credits Thanks to all the wonderful artists at www.Flikr.com who helped make this PowerPoint presentation possible! Photo by Wanderlust Cat Photo by Rochelle