EPSDtechintplan2004

I. High School Level Vision for Technology
A recent National Association of Secondary School Principals publication, Breaking Ranks:
Changing an American Institution (2004) synthesizes the change ahead for the American High
School:
There are many themes throughout this work, but if one theme could be extracted that is
overarching and paramount, it is the message that the high school of the 21 st century
must be much more student-centered and above all much more personalized in program,
support services, and intellectual rigor.
A technology-enhanced curriculum provides opportunities for differentiation to meet student
needs. Students will be afforded the opportunities to utilize the technology skills to:
Transfer learning from one application to another.
Use online databases and Internet sources to develop research skills.
Receive reinforcement of and extension of their skill development.
Develop and encourage higher order thinking skills.
Critically evaluate the reliability of online resources and use them in an ethical
manner.
In the report, Learning for the 21 st Century (2002) sponsored by the Partnership for 21 st Century
Skills, the future of our nation depends on the extension of the learning experience for all
students that goes beyond the classroom walls and the confines of a building, “More than ever,
the challenges that our young people face require that all students, not just an elite minority,
leave school with an informed point of view, knowledge of the world, a capacity to grapple with
complex problems, and a willingness and an ability to engage with people different from
themselves.”
The high school will foster a student-centered environment utilizing technology to
expand unique skills and talents:
Create authentic products for alternative assessment.
Increase the awareness of the student’s place in the global community.
II. Implementation and Evaluation of 2003-2004 Technology Development
A survey of the high school faculty indicated a high frequency of use in these areas:
• LCD projectors for large group instruction and demonstrations of software.
• A lab environment through the use of wireless carts.
• Home/school communication through the use of eBoard.
• Integration of the online resources through the use of whiteboards.
Teachers report that the portable wireless carts are helpful in having students prepare reports and
presentations. The availability of the Internet and content-specific software has allowed teachers
to deliver large group lessons using an LCD projector. The pilot programs in wireless and
interactive whiteboard technologies have helped in the decision to outfit the technologyenhanced
rooms in the new wing. The important home/school connection has been enhanced by
class use of eBoards, providing parents and students timely information regarding class and
school activities.
EPSD Technology Integration Plan
Page 27