This Educational Technology Plan looks broadly at the role of technology in learning, teaching and administration and sets parameters for how we gather information, make decisions, support growth, evaluate successes and challenges and support those efforts. This plan intentionally starts with the broader District Mission and Goals and moves toward how technology can be integrated within those broader statements. In this plan, technology is conceived as an integrated component of the district’s learning and teaching system, a system dedicated to ensuring that every student achieves the highest possible educational standards so that he or she will become a responsible citizen, able to meet the demands of a diverse and ever-changing society.

DISTRICT MISSION

The Mission of the Central Berkshire Regional School District is to educate every student to achieve the highest possible educational standards so that he or she will become a responsible citizen, able to meet the demands of a diverse and ever-changing society.

The District’s Vision for 2015:

· All students are motivated to learn at a high level to meet or exceed their potential

· All students are provided with educational opportunities to meet their unique needs

· All students are provided with the tools required to educate them with rigor and relevance for the 21st century

· Central Berkshire has the schools of choice for both District and other students

· Central Berkshire has highly motivated, supportive, well trained and professional teachers, administrators and support staff dedicated to student achievement

· Central Berkshire has modern, well-maintained and energy efficient physical plants

Our Vision will be achieved by pursuing these six Strategic Goals:

1. To provide rigorous, relevant and data-driven curriculum and instruction as well as comprehensive extra-curricular opportunities in a secure environment;

2. To stabilize and increase revenue while maintaining efficient use of resources;

3. To have a student enrollment greater than the number of school age students in the district by retaining in-district students and attracting out-of-district students;

4. To attract and retain qualified and dedicated teachers, administrators and support staff through applied professional development and by maintaining an exciting collegial atmosphere;

5. To maintain modern and energy efficient schools and offices;

6. To increase community involvement and support through communications and educational and social opportunities.

EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY VISION

The District Mission and the Educational Technology Vision are inextricably linked. The Educational Technology Vision is for the district to provide students opportunities and tools “to achieve the highest possible educational standards so that he or she will become a responsible citizen, able to meet the demands of a diverse and ever-changing society.”

The Educational Technology Vision: CBRSD delivers digital learning opportunities that foster academic excellence leading to global collaboration, digital citizenship, and a love for learning.

Technology supports learning and student growth as well as teaching and administrative services through tools, applications and devices. Technology affords opportunities for engagement, differentiated instruction and innovation. Through technology, access to data, information and communication is enhanced. Learning and technology are ever-evolving, so this plan, as well as the practical approach must be fluid.

There are three basic categories of technology in the District’s PreK-12 educational environments: Educational Technology, Administrative Technology and Building Technology. This plan focuses on educational technology and administrative technology as the most important categories for realizing our vision.

Educational Technology includes the intersection of learning, work, devices and related tools that provide teachers and students with the ability to improve learning and teaching. “Technology” in this sense is not a stand-alone concept, but rather one that should be thought of in relation to, and integrated with, all other learning and teaching strategies. Technology is one of many tools to accomplish our educational goals. Educational technologies are the main focus of this technology plan.

Administrative Technology refers to enterprise-wide systems This includes student and teacher information management systems such as Edline, Rediker/AdminPlus and SNAP, accounting tools, internet access and wireless connections, and administrative support technologies that enable scanning, copying and printing of documents - including hardware and software. These tools collectively support various functions that then support learning and teaching.

Building Technology is the smart technology that controls lighting, heating, cooling and security. While this technology affects the educational environment it will not be discussed in this document.

The CBRSD Strategic Technology Plan is guided by a set of core values and non-negotiables that will help maintain our focus over the life of the plan.

Core Values

All students and educators can learn and should have access to current and relevant technology and support resources.
Provide technology learning resources and tools to empower staff and students to participate in global collaborative environments.
Provide quality support and maintenance of technology services.
Research current technology best practices and provide on-going professional development.
Encourage and promote digital learning skills and digital citizenship.

Non-Negotiables

All students can achieve technology proficiency using computers on a regular scheduled basis.
There will be a staff technology core level proficiency framework. It is expected that all staff fill out the EdTech Profile provided by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts The technology department will facilitate professional development on core level competencies.
All students and staff will adhere to high standards of digital citizenship.

EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY GOALS

The Central Berkshire Regional School District is committed to achieving goals in the area of educational technology during the 2012 - 2016 school years. These goals represent a district vision that strives to provide teachers with the best training and tools available along with providing students with the skills required to succeed in our schools, in college, and the work place.

Provide effective technology training and support for teachers and administrators such that they can model effective technology integration and literacy
Provide excellent hardware and applications for instruction, learning, and management
Provide a safe online learning environment for activities on our school network
Provide collaborative opportunities for staff and students to share ideas and creations
Ensure that all students meet grade level expectations as described in the Massachusetts Technology Literacy Standards and Expectations http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/standards/itstand.pdf
Improve district technology integration, district websites, and access to online district resources
Maximization of the REDIKER/GradeQuick/Edline software
Robust use of internet and cloud based applications

TECHNOLOGY PLANNING COMMITTEE

The Technology Planning Committee is comprised of representatives from each school, school committee members, and administrators. The committee includes:

· Leslie Blake-Davis, Becket Washington Principal

· Melinda Finnerty, Grade 4 Teacher and Technology Integrator for Kittredge School

· Andrew Garcia, 6-8 Music Teacher and Nessacus Middle School and Web 2:0 instructor

· Dave Lennon, 6-8 Technology Teacher and Technology Integrator for Nessacus Middle School

· Kaitlyn Manns, Craneville Grade 3 Teacher

· Kelly Markland, Wahconah High School Librarian, Wahconah VHS Site Coordinator, and Technology Integrator

· Sean Nyhan, School Committee

· Robert Putnam, Assistant Superintendent

· Jared Shannon, Wahconah High School History Teacher

· Gary Stergis, School Committee

· Hal Westwood, Grade 5 teacher and Technology Integrator for Berkshire Trail School

· Rick White, CBRSD Technology Coordinator

NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION

The District is engaged in an on-going cycle of reflection to assess ways to improve learning and teaching supported through technology products and services. The assessments include a range of measures such as focus groups, surveys, inventory management, analysis of user data and an evaluation of the services and products currently being used as well as those that the District plans to acquire.

Critical to the successful implementation of any plan is an ongoing evaluation of actions taken in accordance with the plan that determine whether or not the District is meeting its goals. Collecting the following data is important in how and when it influences decision making and action. Sharing it widely will support conversations and additional growth. If necessary, adjustments will be made to ensure the successful implementation of the plan. To that end, the District is committed to the following:

During the spring of 2013, a staff survey will be conducted to ascertain the student, parent, and teacher use of services and products currently owned by the district. The survey for teachers staff and students will focus on technology integration and technology literacy. The survey will provide benchmark data on utilization of existing resources that can be used to assess this technology plan.
The Building Technology Integrators will conduct focus group meetings to determine products and services that will be needed to improve teaching and learning. These data will be used by the technology committee to make budget recommendations to administrators.
Students in grades 3, 5, 8 will be evaluated based on Massachusetts Technology Standards http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/standards/itstand.pdf. The evaluation will be conducted using observation of student’s use of technology during his/her regular assigned work as well as through questionnaires provided to staff.
The Massachusetts Technology Self-Assessment Tool (TSAT) will be administered in the spring of 2013 and bi-annually thereafter.
Annually Technology Committee will complete a survey to assess the impact of the goals of this plan on teaching methodologies and student learning.
Regular review of Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs ) for appropriate information.
Regular review of all policies relating to technology use and updates as necessary.
Yearly review of support through the analysis of the information recorded in the Help Desk system.
Yearly review of funding sources.
Yearly evaluation of infrastructure goals.

BUDGET

The Central Berkshire Regional School District recognizes the critical role that technology plays in achieving the district’s strategic goals. In accordance with that recognition the district is committed to ensuring a budget that supports the long-range technology plan. The budget line items include staffing, infrastructure, hardware, software applications, professional development, support and contracted services. The district is also committed to seeking and securing outside funding to support technology. The Technology Planning Committee intentionally includes School Committee members and building administration with the understanding that these members will be able to communicate the aspirations of the Technology Committee during budget deliberations.

BENCHMARK 2: Technology Integration and Literacy

TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION

The Central Berkshire Regional School District is committed to increasing technology integration by teachers and administrators. The district provides software to facilitate research, lesson planning, assessment, analysis of student assessment data, organization, administrative tasks, communications, and collaboration. The district will continue to invest in hardware and software designed to support research, multimedia, simulations, data analysis, communications, and collaboration.

The district is also committed to increasing the use of technology for teaching and learning and recognizes the need for timely, easily-accessible, and targeted professional development. The district currently supports Building Technology Integrators in every building, after school professional development opportunities, and full-day classes with outside providers. The district is exploring ways of providing more professional development opportunities such as the Generation YES model where students work alongside teachers as technology leaders and online tutorials modeled after Khan Academy. The yearly needs assessment will enable the Technology Team to identify teachers currently using technologies to enhance student interest, inquiry, analysis, collaboration, and creativity and determine ways to extend those practices to a greater number of classrooms.

TECHNOLOGY LITERACY

While a formal technology curriculum is in place in grades 6-8, there is not currently a technology curriculum in grades K-5. In order to ensure that 90% of eighth grade students show proficiency in all the Massachusetts Technology Literacy Standards and Expectations for grade eight, a curriculum will have to be developed and implemented in the elementary grades. The Technology Committee will ensure the development of a curriculum and materials that can be distributed to classroom teachers.

Technology literacy for CBRSD teachers and administrators is an on-going process. The district is committed to increasing the number of staff who have mastered 90% of the skills in the Massachusetts Technology Self-Assessment Tool (TSAT). The district will continue to offer professional development activities that enable staff to increase their technology skills.

STAFFING

While the Central Berkshire Regional School District has employed a District Technology Coordinator for many years and has recently added 1.4 FTE of support personnel, it is understood that this staffing pattern is insufficient to the task of realizing the vision and goals. The district recognizes the need for additional personnel including one FTE instructional technology specialist per 60-120 instructional staff to coach and model and a data management specialist. The district technology integrator would model lessons, do professional development and assist teachers in integrating technology into their classrooms. A data management specialist would manage the various databases located within the district and the integration of those databases with state mandated data upload requirements as well as various data flows that are required throughout the district.

BENCHMARK 3: Technology Professional Development

Technology Professional Development Survey

In June of 2012 the Technology Committee conducted a survey of professional development needs as they relate to technology. The results of the survey clearly showed that there was a need for training for software packages currently owned by the district including Edline (parent communication), GradeQuick (grading), TestWiz (assessment), Rubicon Atlas (curriculum mapping), and EXCEL. The survey also showed a need for training in the use of hardware currently owned by the district including document cameras, interactive whiteboards, and iPads.

The survey also brought to light some more general needs including:

Creating technology-enhanced lessons that address content standards and student technology literacy standards, while addressing a variety of learning styles.
Using multimedia presentations, Web Quests, and other technology-rich lessons in the classroom.
Using electronic communication tools (e.g., message boards, email, virtual classrooms) to enhance teaching and learning.
Using the Internet to network with other teachers and learn about effective use of technology in teaching your subject(s).
Using online tools (e.g., blogs, wikis, message boards) to gather and share information collaboratively.
Access to laptops or iPad carts &/or BYOD enabled wireless network availability.

Professional Development Priorities

The district is committed to providing high-quality, ongoing professional development that includes emerging technology issues, technology skills, specific training on district hardware and software, universal design, and research-based models of technology integration. The current model is two-pronged; a) providing after-school professional development opportunities and; b) Building Technology Integrators who model best practices. This plan will provide a phased-in plan for increasing professional development to ensure that an increasing number of district staff will have participated in high-quality, ongoing professional development that includes emerging technology issues, technology skills, universal design, and research-based models of technology integration.

BENCHMARK 4: Accessibility of Technology

The Central Berkshire Regional School District is committed to providing students and staff with access to technology. The geography and lack of broadband access in several of our member towns poses challenges both to the school access and to student and parent access to the internet. Broadband access will be coming to all of our communities within the next four years and this plan is designed to prepare the district to take advantage of that eventuality. The district is working to establish a solid technology infrastructure built on a foundation of excellent network and wireless capability in all schools that will one day be scaled up to take advantage of the broadband internet access that will be available. This foundation will allow the continuous growth of accessible technology to our students and staff.

Hardware Accessibility

Each of the district’s teachers and administrators are assigned a computer. In addition, the district currently has approximately 750 computers available for student use. Given the student population of 1,780, the district has a 2.4:1 student to computer ratio. The student-to-computer ratio at the secondary level is slightly below 2:1. Successive years of level funded budgets have slowed realization of 1:1 ratio. The PARCC initiative will require an increased number of computer platforms that have a keyboard and a track pad. The district is exploring the purchase of devices that meet the PARCC requirements.

In FY12 the district began introducing iPads into the hardware inventory. Based on research and discussions with technology consultants the district decided to choose iPads in the belief that the iPad currently provides students and teachers with the highest quality educational applications and an ease of use, qualities that will facilitate teacher adoption. The district plans to have 120 iPads in use in FY13. The implementation will be monitored by the Technology Committee to determine the effects on teaching and learning and, if there is a positive effect, the implementation will be expanded.

The district recognizes that students and staff may own computing devices that could be used to enhance instruction and learning. The district is in the process of creating an infrastructure that will make possible the implementation of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiative. The district has created CIPA compliant Guest Internet access and will explore avenues to facilitate the use of student and staff computing devices. The district will look for teachers interested in piloting BYOD initiatives in FY14 and FY14 with the goal enabling a more widespread implementation in FY15 and FY16.

The CBRSD has invested in interactive whiteboards, LCD projectors, audio systems, and iPads and distributed them across the district. While not present in every classroom the district will continue to work to make emerging technology available to all students. Teachers will be supported with the use of all technology and be encouraged to seek ways to engage students with new applications. CBRSD Educational Technology will continue to provide necessary licensed software and online subscriptions but will seek the implementation of more web-based applications such as Google Docs, Dropbox, and Evernote. It is important to note that web-based applications change and new applications often serve as a more productive replacement for older ones. This constant evolution requires that CBRSD teachers continue to seek the best way to engage students and look for the best tool for the project or lesson being taught.

The CBRSD currently has an 8 year replacement cycle. The district will work within the fiscal constraints to bring the time frame in line with the goal of a 5 year replacement cycle recommended by the state.

Internet Access

The district provides connectivity to the Internet for all computers in all classrooms in all schools, including wireless connectivity. The district currently provides an external Internet connection to the Internet Service Provider (ISP) of 17 Mbps per 1,000 students/staff. The figure below illustrates the internet access to each of the seven buildings in the district. All internet access is channeled through Nessacus school to enable centralized content filters and a unified firewall. Access to the internet will be increased from 30 to 50Mbps during the 2012-13 school year with incremental increases in the following years. These increases will be in anticipation of the extension of broadband access to our outlying towns. With the advent of broadband access the target access levels for 2016 will be 100Mbps at Wahconah, Nessacus, and Craneville, 50Mbps at Kittredge, and 30Mbps at Becket Washington and Berkshire Trail.

The district currently provides bandwidth of 10/100/1 Gb to each classroom. The bandwidth at each computer is at least 100 Mbps. The network card for each computer is at least 10/100/1 Gb. The district currently provides internal wide area network (WAN) connections from the district to each school between schools of at least 1 Gbps per 1,000 students/staff. In addition, the district provides access to servers for secure file sharing, backups, scheduling, email, and web publishing, either internally or through contracted services. The district also provides access to its computer labs before and after school to ensure that students and staff have adequate access to the Internet outside of the school day.

The CBRSD will continue to employ a Technology Coordinator who ensures network functionality. The district also uses a Helpdesk system to resolve technical problems within 24 hours, so that they do not cause major disruptions to curriculum delivery. The district provides clear information about how to access technical support, which can be provided in person or remotely. The district employs 1.8 FTE for 950 computers. The district plans to add a 1.0 FTE by 2016.

BENCHMARK 5: Virtual Learning and Communications

The Central Berkshire Regional School district has supported a Virtual High School (VHS) program at Wahconah High School for the past five years. Each year 40-70 high school students enroll in online courses through VHS. In 2012 the program was extended to the middle school where 15 students enrolled in online courses. The district will continue to support the program at both levels as a way of delivering high-quality courses through the use of technology.

The emergence of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) at the college level is going to affect high school education over the next few years; every college is going to move toward online course so high schools will have to prepare students to work and learn online. Over the course of this strategic plan the district will provide hardware and training to facilitate teacher use of internet resources including but not limited to video, Google docs, Google apps, audio, and, online assignments, and online assessment to enhance instruction and to prepare students to be successful in an online learning environment.

The district currently uses Edline for the district and school websites. The district and school sites maintain up-to-date information for parents and community members. This service also provides a password-protected parent portal which enables parents and students to communicate with teachers, monitor student grades, and review class schedules and assignments on the internet. The district recognizes the need to provide professional development to both families and teachers in order to maximize the use of the parent portal system and to realize the potential of the software.

BENCHMARK 6: Safety, Security, and Data Retention

The Central Berkshire Regional School District maintains a CIPA compliant firewall and content filter. The district will continue to work with the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office and other providers to provide workshops for staff, students, and families on cyber-bullying and the risks related to online activity. The district begins each school year reviewing policies and procedures related to bullying and

The district is committed protecting the security and confidentiality of personal information. The district also complies with federal and state law for archiving electronic communications.

CBRSD Technology Implementation FY13

Benchmark 2-Literacy and Integration

Research on Generation YES model
Development on online resources

Benchmark 3-Professional Development

Pedagogical training in approaches to online learning (integration of video, audio, Google docs, Google apps, online projects i.e. challenge-based, and online assessment)
Software Training: Edline, TestWiz, Aimsweb, Google Apps
Hardware Training: Whiteboards, Document Cameras, video cameras, digital cameras,

Benchmark 4-Accessibility

Increase district bandwidth from 30 to 50Mbps
iPad initiative
BYOD initiative

Benchmark 5- Virtual Learning

Support Virtual High School in grades 6-12
Moodle Pilot for professional development offerings

Benchmark 6-Safety

Review and revise AUP as needed
Ensure cyber-bullying is addressed in the Bullying Prevention curricula in grades 6-12

CBRSD Technology Implementation FY14-16

Benchmark 2-Literacy and Integration

Implementation of technology classes in K-5
Addition of 1.0 FTE to the technology staff
Addition of a Technology Integrator position

Benchmark 3-Professional Development

Training in pedagogical approaches to online learning (integration of video, audio,Google docs, Google apps, online projects, and online assessment)
Software Training: Edline, TestWiz, Aimsweb, Google Apps
Hardware Training: Whiteboards, Document Cameras,

Benchmark 4-Accessibility

Increase district bandwidth from 50 to 200Mbps
Establishment of a BYOD program at the hisgh school

Benchmark 5- Virtual Learning

Support Virtual High School in grades 6-12
Offer some CBRSD student courses online
Online professional development courses produced for and by CBRSD staff

Benchmark 6-Safety

Ensure cyber-bullying is addressed in the Bullying Prevention curricula in grades K-12

Strategic Plan Resources

Educational Technology Advisory Council http://www.doe.mass.edu/boe/sac/edtech/?section=star

Massachusetts School Technology and Readiness Chart http://www.doe.mass.edu/boe/sac/edtech/STaR.pdf

Educational Technology Advisory Council http://www.doe.mass.edu/boe/sac/edtech/

Technology Plan Guidelines http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/techplan/10-15guidelines.pdf

National Education Technology Plan http://www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010

Massachusetts Technology Literacy Standards http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/standards/itstand.pdf

International Society for Technology in Education – NETS for Students http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-students.aspx

Technology Tools Available to Students and Staff in FY13

Instructional Tools	Wahconah High School	Nessacus Middle School	Elementary Schools
Laptops/desktop computers for all instructional staff	X	X	X
Smart Boards and White Boards	X	X	X
LCD Projectors	X	X	X
Assistive Technology Devices	X	X	X
iPads	X	X	X
Classroom Response Systems		X
Digital Camcorders	X	X	X
Digital Cameras	X	X	X
Scanners	X	X	X
Laser Printers	X	X	X
DVD, VHS, and Audio Players	X	X	X
Interactive Tablet Devices		X	X

Applications and Software	Wahconah High School	Nessacus Middle School	Elementary Schools
Windows XP, 7, and 10	X	X	X
Microsoft Office Suite	X	X	X
Google Apps for CBRSD	X	X	X
REDIKER Student Information System	X	X	X
GradeQuick Grading Software	X	X	X
Edline Parent Portal	X	X	X
Virtual High School	X	X
Certica TestWiz for Analysis and Local Assessments	X	X	X
AIMS Web Assessment Software		X	X
Read Naturally		X
ALEKS Math Software		X
IXL Software		X	X
Plato	X
Lexia	X	X	X
Symphony Math	X	X	X
Music Ace, Sony Acid	X	X
AutoCAD	X	X
Solid Works	X	X
Trimble - Sketchup	X	X
SEMS Tracker	X	X	X
Adobe CS5	X	X
Boardmaker	X	X	X

CBRSD Technology Committee

Pages

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Thursday, January 31, 2013

2012-2016 Strategic Technology Plan Pending Approval

BENCHMARK 1: Commitment to a Clear Vision and Implementation Strategies

CENTRAL BERKSHIRE REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT MISSION