Planning, installing, administering and maintaining a Local Area Network is a complex venture that involves a coordinated effort of all stakeholders. The network plan is considered within the context of Nuuanu School's educational and technology plans and support's Nuuanu School's SID (School Implementation Design):
Philosophy
Our philosophy is that all children can learn and must be helped to develop their skills, knowledge and attitudes and be provided the experiences that will prepare them to live as contributing citizens in a world of rapid technological changes.
Mission
To develop and nurture the knowledge, skills and capabilities of all so that we are able to use information wisely, adapt to change and pursue lifelong learning.
A Learner for Life ...
* Has a positive attitude: an "it can be done!" attitude. Is willing to try and believes in self and others. Doesn't discourage others; shows respect to self and others.
* Is open-minded: has a mind open to ideas, opinions, or arguments and speaks up.
* Is enthusiastic: displays interest, eagerness, passion, the joy of learning, and makes learning fun.
* Is a risk-taker: exposes oneself to new ideas in unfamiliar ground; willing to take chances and seize new opportunities, recognizing the possibility of making sacrifices.
* Is a problem-solver: applies the knowledge gained to situations encountered requiring decisions or solutions to solve problems.
* Is inquisitive: asks questions, explores, and poses questions about his/her environment.
* Is persevering: steadfast, tenacious, diligent, relentlessly persistent and demonstrates "stick-to-itness."
* Is interdependent: has awareness of mutual connectedness and support among all students, community and the world; being there for others and knows how to work together.
* Is empowered: is a "do-er" who sets out to accomplish things. Has the following attitudes and attributes: self-confidence, decision-maker, risk-taker, and is able to make decisions for his/her own learning. Likes to accomplish things; knows how to delegate as a leader.
* Is imaginative/creative: is open-minded, a risk-taker, inquisitive, curious, problem-solver, inventor, flexible.
* Is a decision-maker: makes choices after looking at all the alternatives. Is not afraid to make a choice.
* Is flexible: adapts easily to new ideas and situations and is accommodating.
* Is an effective communicator: transmits or receives information or feelings so that the message is clearly and satisfactorily understood.
* Is responsible: is reliable, trustworthy, able to commit and to fulfill obligations and duties, accepting consequences of decisions or actions.
* Possesses life skills: demonstrates practical application of basic skills. Continually reads and learns for knowledge, self-improvement, enjoyment and appreciation of life.
GOAL 1:
Design new learning environments that enhance the teaching and learning process through access to a variety of technology tools.
Teachers will:
* Show competencies in basic operation standards.
* Execute software successfully.
* Access, generate, and manipulate data using productivity tools.
* Utilize various resources available for problem solving.
* Create and maintain programs that challenge learners of all abilities.
* Create programs that meet individual student's needs.
* Increase awareness and use of computer in classroom.
* Promote and model ethical use of technology resources.
Students will:
Nuuanu School Technology Standards
Acceptable User's Policy (AUP)
* Develop basic operations skills.
* Use technology to enhance productivity.
* Access and retrieve electronic information.
* Utilize software, networks and telecommunications to communicate effectively and creatively.
* Care for technology equipment and use it safely and ethically.
Curriculum Integration
We believe that technology will become an integral component of
* the curriculum in all grades and subject areas.
GOAL 2:
Integrate technology to facilitate the implementation of interdisciplinary curriculum, enhancing and expanding the teaching and learning environment.
Teachers will:
* Engage in exploration, evaluation, and application of technological resources in each content area.
* Modify lesson plans to include appropriate technology resources.
* Develop specific classroom activities that enhance curricular objectives.
* Acquire strategies to move toward engaged learning.
* Create learning activities that promote collaboration of technology and students' strengths.
* Promote the use of technology to develop effective reading, writing and communication skills.
Students will:
* Use technology to communicate visually, graphically, and artistically in all curriculum areas.
* Interpret, evaluate and synthesize information to support learning in all content areas.
Technical Infrastructure
* We believe that learning and teaching are processes of connecting people in order to communicate and share information. This network will extend the boundaries of learning and cultural environment to make global resources available to students and staff. This access by teachers, students and community will enhance writing, communication, research, collaborative learning, and interdisciplinary skills. The realization of this technical infrastructure will assure equitable accesses for all stakeholders in the educational community.
GOAL 3:
* Establish a network interconnecting all offices and classrooms in the district. Students and district staff will have local and worldwide access for communication and access of information to expand curriculum and management resources.
* The district will be wired and connected together through Cat-5 wire.
* Industry standard network hardware complete with back-up system will ensure network operations.
* All classrooms will contain a sufficient number of computer drops for connecting them to network.
* All classrooms will have computers containing CD ROMS, up dated software, hard drives, sound cards, and network cards.
* Technological facilities with be accessible for those with disabilities.
* Human Infrastructure
* We believe that staff technology competence will increase staff confidence in using technology as a tool to enhance the curriculum and their productivity. Training will focus on the identification of new roles for district staff to maintain a technological environment.
GOAL 4:
Create staff development programs to assist staff in becoming competent users of technology applications and creative designers of technology-infused learning activities.
Training will expose teachers to:
* The effective use of hardware and software;
* The effective use of the established network for communication and productivity;
* Current models for teaching and learning;
* The use of technology in the delivery of curriculum, instructional and classroom management, and record keeping;
* Curriculum innovations and technology-related classroom learning experiences.
Community Involvement
* We believe that the active involvement of the community within the educational process is critical to the development of life-long learners who are adeptly equipped to become leaders in changing world. An informed and involved community provides the structural support to build a progressive educational system. The design of a Community Learning Center will provide exposure, encouragement and opportunities in an open, comfortable environment for education of all ages.
GOAL 5:
Establish a community-wide education program.
Community members will:
* Become familiar with technology opportunities available.
* Develop basic operation skills.
* Use technology to enhance productivity.
* Access and retrieve electronic information.
* Utilize software, networks and telecommunications to communicate effectively and creatively.
* Care for technology equipment and use it safely and ethically.
Evaluation
* We believe that to meet priorities for technology and to ensure lasting improvement in students' learning, an annual review of the Technology Action Plan needs to be accomplished.
GOAL 6:
Establish a Technology Leadership Team to guide the district in the implementation, revision, expansion and evaluation of the vision, goals, and recommendations outlined in the current Technology Plan.
Tech Team members will:
* Be responsible for annual review.
* Assess and evaluate achievement of existing goals and objectives.
* Generate and compile information needed to make adjustments to the plan.
* Ensure quality and viability of the Technology Plan.
* Ensure the alignment and allocation of resources that will strengthen technology in the curriculum and support meaningful, engaged learning for all students.
Technology/Library Schedule: A Week / B Week
Hardware:
2001-2002
-apply for switch technology
-acquire more Norstar telsets for classrooms
-begin planning for school-wide alarm system (funding, configuration)
-acquire additional Macintosh workstations for classrooms
2002-2003
-funding permitting-install school-wide alarm system
-acquire additional Macintosh workstations for classrooms
Maintenance:
1. Simple troubleshooting done by tech coordinator
2. Major problems not covered by Applecare done by vendors
3. Yearly cleaning of all computers done by teachers and tech coordinator (physical as well as Norton Utilities)
4. Contracted vendor for yearly cleaning of high use laser printers (Office)
National Technology Standards
To prepare students for a productive livelihood in the 21st Century, essential, basic skills are needed to function in an infor mation rich, global society that changes rapidly with technology.
The world continues to be changed by technology, and especially computer technology. With these changes come new tools, an abundance of readily accessible information, new methods of communication, and different types of work. Growing up in this environment has changed the way our children learn and think. Working and learning in a technology rich environment requires the development of skills that enable our children to access, process, manage, and communicate information locally as well as globally.
National leaders, the U.S. Department of Education, other federal agencies, and schools throughout the nation recognize the essential role of the school in integrating technology into 21st Century education. In addition to preparing students to be good citizens and productive members of society, schools also have the responsibility to graduate students who are honest, reliable, literate, able to reason, communicate, make decisions, learn, and work collaboratively in an increasingly technological and informationbased world.
National Standard developed:
National Center for Education & Statistics
The primary goal of the ISTE National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) project is to enable stakeholders in PreK-12 education to develop national standards for the educational uses of technology that will facilitate school improvement in the United States. The NETS Project will develop standards to guide educational leaders in recognizing and addressing the essential conditions for effective use of technology to support PreK-12 education. Over the next three years the following sets of standards will be developed or refined.
Tech Plan
Examples:
http://bristol.k12.sd.us/TechPlan/TechPlan.html
http://www.k12.hi.us/~keaukaha/techplan.html
http://www.hhs.homewood.k12.al.us/edgewood/plan.html
Paradigms: Traditional vs. Current