West Islip School's Technology Plan - Education in the 21st Century
The Mission Statement of the Technology Review Committee establishes a
goal that shall place West Islip School District at the forefront of
computer-based education as we progress into the next millennium. The
implementation of our plans and proposals shall require a total
commitment by the community to establish a school climate which
incorporates the use of technology in all its aspects, and into all
spheres of the learning process. Worldwide resources will be available
to anyone at any time, any where, any place. The learning community of
tomorrow will grow to be a network of educators and learners, each
contributing their own expertise to a topic. A learner directed
environment would be created where both teacher and student will be
active participants in directing learning. With the use of multimedia
technology, students will learn at their own pace and in their own
style, building on the knowledge they bring to the classroom. As a
result, our schools will graduate students who are well-versed in the
many uses of the computer and other media, and who are well-prepared to
function successfully in the world they enter upon graduation, be it
college, military or business.
As our plan evolves, West Islip technological advances can be expected
to enhance learning in the following manner:
Restructure curriculum making it more interesting, exciting and
motivating through the use of multi-media technology and applications.
Create an educational environment that empowers all constituents.
Provide tools and resources to enhance student learning.
Be a resource to help students organize and express thoughts and ideas.
Track and record student achievements. Portfolios of student work will
be maintained on the computer network beginning in Kindergarten.
Create opportunities for communications and projects in cooperation with
other students locally, nationally and internationally.
Provide for the use of technology in all learning activities by
equipping classrooms, offices, labs and libraries with jacks where users
may attach their own laptop to the network.
Support the existence of a West Islip Website, which will be the
foundation of a district-wide communications network. Noteworthy
projects and items of interest will be on-line for perusal by all
members of the community and interested parties worldwide.
Provide students with an enhanced curriculum in solar and space sciences
through the integration of state-of-the-art technologies in the
planetarium.
Provide a gateway to the world through Internet access, distance
learning and e-mail.
As our plan evolves, West Islip students can expect technological
advances to enhance their learning in the following manner:Become self-directed learners, empowered to pursue individual learning
paths.
Enhance "people skills" and develop the students’ capacity to work as
part of a team.
Acquire the communication, analytical and evaluative higher order
thinking skills to function in an information intense society.
Possess a strong understanding of technology and its impact upon the
world.
Exhibit competence in using the computer as a tool for word processing,
numerical calculations, retrieving information, researching topics and
generating reports.
Develop skills to use multimedia equipment and applications effectively
and efficiently.
Recognize the potential of communications through the Internet.
Be proficient in using the Internet as a research tool.
Be able to select the appropriate media components and integrate those
into projects and assignments which cross disciplines.
Evaluate their own work and progress by selecting projects, assignments
and reports which will become part of their portfolio.
Have career exploration opportunities through enhanced work-experience
programs and school-business partnerships.
As our plan evolves, West Islip educators can expect technological
advances to affect their teaching in the following manner as they:Evolve as facilitators, coaches and mentors in the learning process to
their students, parents and colleagues.
Become competent users of technology, utilizing various learning
modalities to create a positive classroom learning climate and to
optimize student achievement.
Utilize the Internet for research and communication.
Facilitate the academic growth of their students through the use of all
technology: computer, video, voice, etc.
Use the computer network to maintain student records, create portfolios
of student work and exhibit examples of student success.
Have access to computer-stored materials and curriculum guides to be
used in preparing classroom activities.
As our plan evolves, West Islip administrators can expect:An environment where interdisciplinary approaches to learning are
encouraged and supported.
To have access to all student work and projects.
To see the Library/Media Center as an integral part of the learning
environment.
To foster a school environment which provides insight into art, music,
religion and diverse cultures.
To provide the opportunity to explore diverse disciplines capable
through Distance Learning.
To encourage student activities and projects that foster cross-district
participation.
To interact with all members of the school community via electronic mail
and video conferencing for:
-Parent Conferences
-Home Learning
-Homework
-Testing Schedules
-College Planning
To support the use of electronic:
-Testing of Students
-Processing of Grades
-Distribution of Grades and Student Records to Parents, Colleges, etc.
-Recording Student Attendance
-Generation of IEP’s
As our plan evolves, the West Islip community can expect technological
advances to provide:The opportunity to become computer literate and comfortable with
technology by providing training on a continuing basis in
state-of-the-art computer software applications, hardware, etc.
Access to computer facilities to view student used software, enabling
parents to become more involved in their child’s learning.
College level instruction and GED courses through the use of Distance
Learning.
Access to technology facilities through Adult Education.
Access to the District Website.
The development of a school-community-library network to enhance
research capabilities and on-line communications.
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