Walden School

Technology Plan

The mission of technology use at Walden School is to integrate instructional and administrative applications of technology to enhance and support the school’s curriculum goals.

Goal I

Technology will be used as a tool to help all students enrich and reinforce the life-long learning experience.

Strategy 1

Use technology standards and benchmarks to support each grade level and subject area, encouraging interdisciplinary and thematic instruction where appropriate.

Strategy 2

Provide students with formal instruction in a lab environment that will support the technology standards and benchmarks:

K – 4 Computer Class: 1 day a week (Instructional)

Lab Time: 1 day a week (Research/Enrichment/Drill)

5 – 8 Computer Class: 1 day a week (Instructional)

Lab Time: 1 day a week (Research/Enrichment/Drill)

9 – 12 A required semester class with electives in web design,

computer applications, and desktop publishing

Lab Time: Optional (Research/Enrichment/Drill)

Goal II

Appropriate technology will be readily available to students, staff, and administrators.

Strategy 1

Maintain a networked environment with the following configurations:

a) 19 workstations and appropriate peripherals to serve grades K-8 in a lab setting.

b) 10 workstations and appropriate peripherals to serve grades 9-12 in a lab setting.

c) A minimum of 1 workstation and printer for all subject areas K-12 in each

classroom.

d) 2 workstations and printer in the library.

f) Computers will be replaced on an established replacement cycle of 4 years.

Strategy 2

Provide sufficient software for all instructional and administrative settings. Software will be acquired through a centralized selection process of needs prioritizing and previewing by technology coordinator and end users.

Goal III

Faculty and staff will learn to use technology tools to enhance their roles.

Strategy 1

Instruct faculty in grades K-12 in the use of the grading software.

Strategy 2

Instruct faculty and staff in the use of e-mail to communicate with constituents of the school.

Strategy 3

Develop an on-going systematic professional development program to support faculty, with a first-year emphasis on the use of the Internet in their curriculum.

Strategy 4

Insure that technological competence is considered as part of the performance review system of faculty.

Goal IV

The partnership of school, family, and community will be enhanced through the use of technology.

Strategy 1

Investigate ways to use the school web site to include more members of the school community (i.e. faculty web pages to post homework and newsletters; e-mail addresses)

Strategy 2

Use e-mail as an avenue of communication among the various members of the school community.

Strategy 3

Hold a technology fair to showcase technology use in the school; include the use of technology not currently available in the school to demonstrate potential acquisitions.

Strategy 4

Offer adult computer classes as a means to provide community outreach and to generate funding for technology expenses.