Educational Technology Vision

Louisiana must ensure that every learner within its educational system is literate and possesses the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in a global economy and to exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. The concept of literacy in this context must include not only reading, writing, and mathematical skills, but also sophistication with technology that opens the door to access and exchange of information, manipulation of technologies in the workplace and means for analyzing and solving problems. The vision at D.C. Reeves, a small school in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, must be consistent with that of the state in order to promote students as successful and life-long learners. Teachers must offer access to state-of-the-art technology-enriched classrooms which provide benefits to both teachers and students.

Process to Identify Needs

In May, 1996, the faculty and staff of D.C. Reeves inventoried the computer hardware and software. Teachers were also asked to submit a list of computer training each had previously had. These inventories were analyzed at The Management of Technology for School Administrators conducted at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, Kennedy Space Center, Orlando, Florida. It was determined that a minimum of technology can be found at the school site. Teacher technology competencies are at the beginning level for the majority of the faculty and staff. Student computer literacy is mostly addressed in the computer lab via software that promotes reinforcement of reading and math skills.

School Level Committee:

The following persons have been selected as members of the school technology committee:
Pat Williams, Principal
Joan Guzzardo, Administrative Assistant
Vicki Blackwell, Fourth Grade Teacher
Janet Haydel, Third Grade Teacher
Jackie Mitchell, Fourth Grade Teacher
Tina Head, Third Grade Teacher
Vickie Welch, Third Grade Teacher
Patti Steib, Speech Therapist
Kathy Ahrends, School Secretary
Two parent representatives

Partners in Technology

The following persons have agreed to serve as partners in the school's technological development:
Consortium of Tangipahoa Parish Public Schools, St. Thomas Aquinas Regional High School, Holy Ghost Catholic School, Dioceses of Baton Rouge, Southeastern Louisiana University, Tangipahoa Internet Services;
Dr. Willie Ennis, Southeastern Louisiana University, Title 1 Consultant
Tangipahoa Internet Services
North Oaks Medical Center
P.C. Warehouse, Robbie Miller, Owner
Kay Zimmerman, Director of Astronauts Memorial Foundation, Kennedy Space Center

Description of Action Plan

The Louisiana State Plan for Educational Technology benchmarks and strategies include technology integration in curriculum and instructional management, professional development, technology planning and accountability and essential infrastructure for supporting technology use in education. To implement this plan in conjunction with the Tangipahoa Parish School System, D.C. Reeves Elementary School will embrace an action plan that will allow for expansion of purchasing of equipment, provide training for its teachers, institute networking within the school and the parish and add new technology as it is developed. The school will also comply with the Tangipahoa Parish School System Standardization Policy and its Internet Policy.

Strategies

1. A new computer system, including CD-ROM, colored printer and scanner will be purchased for the school office during the summer of 1996.

2. Computer generated report cards will be used during the 1996-97 school term.

3. Internet access will be provided to one building, Viener Hall, during NetDay, August 3, 1996.

4. A challenge grant, written by the consortium, will be used to provide additional equipment, supplies and training during the 1996-97 school term. Two selected teachers and the school administrator will enroll in Education 675, Special Problems in Education, at Southeastern Louisiana University during the 1996-97 school year. The course participants will serve as trainers of other administrators and teachers at the individual school site upon completion of the course. Competencies listed in the attachment will be addressed in the course. Emphasis will be place on tailoring the course to the stated needs of the participants. Guest speakers who have a strong technological knowledge base in the critical need areas will be invited to come to the class to share their expertise. In addition, the class will visit the office of the community partner, Tangipahoa Parish Internet Services, and several school sites. On site support for teacher participants will be provided via video tapes, the Internet and the services of the project coordinator.

5. A computerized library circulation system will be instituted during the 1996-97 school year.

6. The large computer lab will continue to provide reinforcement in reading and math skills.

7. The Title 1 computer lab will provide remediation and reinforcement as part of the schoolwide project for all students at D.C. Reeves during the 1996-97 school year.

8. Title 1 computers previously utilized in a tutorial program will be relocated in several classrooms during the 1996-97 school year.

9. A Title 1 file server, recently replaced, will be used for Internet services.

10. A classroom, funded through the Title 1 Schoolwide Project, will be provided with multimedia such as laser disc, four computers with SVGA monitors, CD-ROM, data presenter interface, ink jet printer, VCR, 32" television screen, cart, video camera, tripod, sound system and a laptop computer. A dedicated telephone line will be installed at the school and Internet services will be provided to this classroom. Microsoft Office Professional software will be purchased with Title 1 funds for integration into the curriculum. This teacher will also enroll in the Education 675 course at Southeastern Louisiana University. She will demonstrate lessons for the entire staff as well as work with a partner teacher to develop lesson plans that integrate multimedia into the curriculum. She and the partner teacher will develop technology lesson plans that will be made available to the faculty for the next school year as a result of this activity.

11. A software review committee will be established during the 1996-97 school year at the school. This committee will review various software and compile a software resource guide for the school by the end of the school year.

12. Computers to assist in writing and printing Individual Education Plans for Special Education students were put in place during the 1995-96 school year. One additional computer per Special Education classroom for student use will be provided through Special Education funding for the 1996-97 school year.

13. Sound equipment will be purchased with Title 1 Schoolwide Project funds for the outdoor theater during the 1996-97 school year.

14. An electronic personal message board will be purchased with fundraiser money during the 1996-97 school year.

15. Cordless headphones will be purchased for individual classrooms during the next five years.

16. Teachers new to the school will be trained each year by the Computer Lab Paraprofessional on the use of the reading and math skills software and hardware.

17. The school will write an 8(g) grant to provide for the salary of the Computer Lab Paraprofessional each school year. An evaluation of grant activities must be completed at the end of each funding period.

18. The school will be wired for closed circuit television during the 1996-97 school year.

19. A small television studio will be established at the school so that student production may be videotaped and shown throughout the school to include plays, daily opening activities, educational programming, etc. during the 1996-97 school year.

20. Classroom televisions and wall mounts will be purchased and installed in each classroom.

21. The remaining classroom buildings, Williams Hall, Reeves Hall, Carter Hall, and the school library will be provided with Internet access during the 1997-98 school year.

22. Teachers will be trained regarding Internet, Word Perfect 6.1 and Print Shop during the 1996-97 school session.

23. If additional Title 1 Schoolwide Project funds are made available each school year, additional classrooms will be provided with training and multimedia equipment.

24. Parents will be invited to participate in training sessions during the next five years.

25. Teachers will utilize the Scantron and D.C. Heath Reading Management System to better analyze student reading scores during the 1996-97 school year.

26. Pat Williams, school administrator, and Vicki Blackwell, fourth grade teacher, will continue to serve on the Tangipahoa Parish School System Technology Committee during the 1996-97 school year.

27. D.C. Reeves Elementary School will continue to write grants seeking funding to further educational technology in the next five years.

28. Fundraising activities will be ear-marked for educational technology in the next five years.

29. D.C. Reeves Elementary School will seek additional business partners to assist with funding, donation of equipment and supplies and technology expertise during the next five years.

30. Computerized billing will be implemented in the school cafeteria during the next five years.

31. E-mail services will be made available through networking within the school and parish during the 1997-98 school year.

32. Each classroom teacher will be provided with a networked computer during the next five years.

33. D.C. Reeves Elementary School will utilize long-distance learning provided through cable television.

34. Staff development for technology will be continued during the next five years.

35. Software grading programs will be adopted during the next five years.

36. Homework programs will be made available via telephones and computer networking during the next five years.