Now is the time to envision the future of our children. Sebring Middle School is committed to the implementation of instructional technology in all facets of education: to make educational programs more relevant to contemporary society and enhance the effectiveness of the learning process.
At SMS, instructional technology is defined as the application of electronic media to the learning processes. The includes, but is not limited to the following types of electronic media: computer hardware/software; televisions; monitors; projection devices; VCR's/video tape; telecommunications equipment; assistive/adaptive devices; alternative input devices including bar code readers, scanners, and voice generated items, video discs, CD-ROMs and other such devices; and systems that provide simulated learning environments.
The managerial and operational assumtions underlying and informing the SMS Instructional Technology Plan are as follows:
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Teachers are actively involved in school-based decision making.
- Teachers and administrators are given maximum authority and responsibility for the instructional program and for implementing change in the classroom.
- The role of the district office is to support, guide, and the implementation of advanced technological systems in the school.
- Alternative sources of funds will be necessary for the implementation of advanced technological systems in the school.
- Technology is a powerful tool that can be used to improve education by changing the way teachers teach and students learn, but it is not viewed as an end unto itself.
- Over 85% of the workplace will require some technological skill by the year 2000.
- Teachers will require appropriate technological training in order to transform from the role of lecturer to facilitators of student learning.
- Instll a desire for life-long learning.
- Broaden students' global awareness.
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The use of technology at Sebring Middle School is intended to enhance learning throughout the curriculum and emphasize learning with technology rather than about technology.
The goals and objectives regarding the use of technology are as follows:
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Increase student access to technology by creating a school that is a community of learning.
- Provide students with opportunities through technology to practice the skills and knowledge learned throughout the curriculum.
- Utilize technology in the areas of curriculum, instruction, media services, information, and administration.
- Provide students with hands-on experiences to develop skills in utilizing technology as a learning tool and provide them with access to the tools of the modern workplace.
- Focus students' school work on the use of their minds and develop independence and responsibility for future learning.
- Provide an environment with incentives for administrators, teachers, and students to utilize technology in their new roles and to welcome change with confidence.
- Seek a network of support for SMS with businesses, parents, and other organizations that support the effective use of technology.
- Integrate the use of information technology into professional-development programs and five teachers greater access to technology both at home and school.
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A comprehensive technology plan will result in the development of both student and teacher competencies. Below is a summary of the technology knowledge and skills students should bring to the middle level and gain at the middle level before moving to the high school level and beyond.
STUDENTS
Student should arrive at the middle school with:
- The ability to defind and identify computer hardware and software.
- Basic skills of being able to turn on a computer, access software, and enter/respond to prompts/cues.
- Basic knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of using a variety of technology tools.
- Basic knowledge and skills to use a CD-ROM.
- The ability to print a file/document.
- Some minimal experience in video production.
Students will use technology resources at the middle level to:
- Use appropriate keyboarding skills.
- Generate multimedia presentations.
- Telecommunicate with access through F.I.R.N.; develop, send, and receive e-mail; and access and use Internet resources.
- Know and follow the School Board's policy on the use of the Internet.
- Develop and practice video production skills.
- Develop, practice and enhance communication, language arts, and global awareness through telecommunication.
- Use CD-ROM to retrieve and organize information for use in analyzing, summarizing, and preparing curricular activities or projects.
- Use technology tools across the curriculum.
- Use an electronic card catelog.
TEACHERS
Teachers will be able to assist students in developing the above competencies because teachers will be expected to:
- Offer and use alternative ways of teaching by using technology to revise the organization and practices in the classroom.
- Meld audio, visual, and textual material.
- Use technology as a way to manage information, such as information retrieval systems and record-keeping.
- Use technology to plan, organize, teach, and evaluate.
- Use technologically experienced staff members to train others.
- Have the means to access various means of technology and develop interdisciplinary multimedia lessons.
- Analyze curriculum objectives. Match curriculum with technology tools for enhanced instruction. Identify appropriate technological hardware and software which correlates with curriculum objectives.
- Improve communication with one another, students, parents, and community via telecommunication tools.
- Use the closed-circuit TV lab to develop classroom presentations.
- Teach and use computer applications, such as word processing, database, desktop publishing, spreadsheets, and multimedia applications.
- Improve students' basic academic and technological competencies.
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The Three-Year Plan is currently under revision.
Technology Committee
The Technology Committee consists of (a) 5 classroom teachers (b) a district MIS representative; and (c) the School Principal. The committee is responsible for the development, revision, and implementation of Sebring Middle School's technology plan.
Peer Support
Experienced users are encouraged to share ideas, provide support, assistance, and training with new participants using the buddy system.
At this time, the School District is seekint to employ a technology coordinator. In the past, this individual provided training for school-based individuals to perform routine maintenance, install new software, exchange ideas, and keep informed of recent innovations. As schools are networked within Highlands County, a network specialist and related training will be provided by the district.
Technology Resource Teacher (School Based)
As is noted in the five year plan, a school-based technology resource teacher will be needed to coordinate, organize, and facilitate the effective utilization of instructional technology within the school setting. Duties will include but not limited to: incorporating the district technology plan with the development of Sebring Middle School's technology plan; coordinate, develop, and implement campus level plan, provide staff development opportunities; participate in district level inservice; establish an environment which encourages creative and independent use of instructional technology; assist educators in the planning for the use and integration of concepts; provide technical assistance to facilitate the implementaiton of existing and future media technologies; interpret school's technology program for staff, parents, and community; selection and evaluation of materials and equipment to support instructional objectives; manage the up-to-date collection of technology materials and equipment to meet identified needs of the technology plan; organize resources for easy assess ability for students and educators; and be responsible for inventory and local maintenance.
Repairs/Maintenance
The district provides for the timely repair and maintenance of all equipment.
- Trained staff within the district will be responsible for the maintenance of most of the district's equipment. These identified staff members will receive at the district's expense, adequate training.
- Outside contracts are maintained for specialized equipment or major repairs.
- Staff at the school is/will be trained on the fundamentals of preventative maintenance.
- A preventative maintenance schedule is conducted by MIS technicians.
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Assessment Instrument
An assessment instrument is used by the Technology Committee to assess the technological background of all administrators, faculty, and staff. An updated form is being developed.
Training
TYPE: The technology specialist and the technology committee will be resposible for the implementation of speciality inservice session by certified personnel on the staff, peer support, district technology resource, DOE personnel, or private consultants in the area of: (a) basic computer literacy, concepts, and skills, (b) care and use of computer hardware/software, (c) teacher productivity software such as grade books, word processing, database, E-mail, mail merge, spreadsheet, and desktop publishing. Training will also be provided in curriculum areas, telecommunications, networking, security, multimedia/hypermedia.
TIME: The school calendar incorporates early release days and inservice days to provide flexible time for scheduling staff development training. Members of the technology committee and other experienced users have participated in extensive training throughout the year as well as after school and summer programs to become faculitative trainers for staff.
FUNDS: Funding from School Improvement, TEC, Eisenhower Grant, school and district technology funds are used as well as grant sources, and funds from business sponsorships to support technological training.
EVALUATION: Training effectiveness will be based upon measurement of knowledge and attitudes gained through initial assessment instrument (pretest), post-training inventory, surveys, teacher use in classroom, projects prepared by students, use of technology throughout the school in such areas as SAC, PTO, Open House, Orientation, etc., and documentation of published work and productions.
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