SAN ANGELO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ... - San Angelo ISD

SAN ANGELO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
TECHNOLOGY AND LEARNING STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
January 9, 2002
The Technology and Learning Steering Committee met on January 9, 2002
at 4:00 PM in the Board Room at the Administration Building.
Present:
Karan Henson, Anne Mills, Mary Teutsch, Laura Howard, Tia
Agan, Chris Steele, Jon Marvel, Tim Archer, Robert Price,
Prasanth Chilukuri, Dan Patridge, Cindy Lee, Lauren
Matthews, Robert Killgore, Jana Anderson, Jean Sonntag, Zack
Allen, Lupe Baughman, Toni Daniel, Joanne Rice, Michelle
Castro, Lynn Schniers, Sue Taylor, Paula Oaks and Cameron
Evans
Cameron Evans began the meeting by introducing himself, recognizing
Board Member Tim Archer, Principals, Supervisors and Directors, ESC XV
representative, students and new members.
Purpose and Mission of the group is to discuss vision building for the
Technology Roadmap. The vision needs to be compelling and meaningful
yet also measurable and attainable. The focus is on the next three to five
years.
Trends – Corporations moving to E-learning as the model for professional
development. This impacts K-12 education in the way that it is a different
learning approach and students need the ability to learn without a classroom.
Chinese is expected to become the next major world language by the year
2007. How can we use information technology to expand our linguistic
skills to accommodate the changing world? The need to think global is
important in our roadmap planning. Our students are now and will continue
to compete for jobs with people from outside the United States.
Emerging Technologies – While the district is spending money to wire
schools for connectivity, wireless technologies are being adopted very
quickly to allow ready access for anywhere, anytime learning.

Computing devices are also getting smaller and more portable. There is
continuing convergence of voice communications and personal computing.
These new device form factors allow schools to move away from fixed
computing systems, desks and limited floor space.
Other entertainment devices such as televisions, play stations, Xbox, digital
satellite, cable, multimedia projectors and incorporating computer
technology to create smart devices. As a result, the very definition of
computing has changed. Also, now more devices than ever before provide
access to the Internet. This will support closing the Digital Divide and
allowing schools new alternatives for accessing the web.
Mr. Evans also posed several questions to the committee to begin the vision
process:
• What can we do in all of the curricular areas to enhance learning?
• How can we prepare students for life outside of K-12 education?
• Describe what learning looks like in the classroom with robust
technology
Several areas of concern regarding the current state of technology in San
Angelo ISD were also discussed. These included the lack of technology in
schools, wiring of campuses, electricity, physical facilities, access to
equipment, internet access and Staff Development.
Cindy Lee – Talked about connectivity in the elementary campuses. She
stressed that her campus needed to be on-line.
Jon Marvel – Stated his feeling is in the last 3-5 years we have been getting
to a certain level. Somewhere in the statement, we need to put in 1-2 years,
we are going to get everything fixed we said we were going to do in the last
3 years that never got done.
Sue Taylor – Introduced the need for continuous staff development for
teachers and principals. Her concern was how she would be able to help
anyone on her campus without staff development?
Joanne Rice – The #1 thing is electricity. (electrical needs). Is there going
to be physical room when you get there? She continued that her visions is, 3

years from now, she wants every teacher to have a computer, internet access
and networked with some form of presenting it to the classroom.
The group defined a computing device as being network ready with internet
access and rich multimedia.
Cameron Evans - Curriculum and Learning with technology needed to have
continuity throughout all grade levels with an emphasis on early preparation
in elementary grades based on the current TEKS requirements.
Sue Taylor – Her vision is have the ability – have the teachers prepared so
that in elementary we can do this so that secondary can “move on down the
road.”
Karen Henson – Introduce the need for who would be responsible for buying
the technology for these students.
Lynn Schniers – Would like the principals to be told in advance what they
need to take out of the budget and how they need to arrange the budget for
technology.
Cameron Evans suggested not arranging for technology but for learning.
Cameron Evans – Would it be wise or even safe to say that in order for us to
be successful with technology in San Angelo Independent School District, is
that our culture as a learning institution has to dramatically change from the
way we do business today in order to embrace using technology effectively
in this school district.
Joanne Rice – That should be the vision statement.
Robert Price – The first word to put on the board is access. You need to get
the teachers access so they can teach and we need more people in IT support.
Karen Henson – Her vision is that all kids are reached. They don’t have it at
home, they don’t have it in elementary and they don’t even have the
opportunity.

Lauren Matthews – You need to have teachers who want to teach a class
digitally. You need to make technology attractive and convenient so they
will want to use it.
Group discussion – Technology implementation strategies have not been
written into the curriculum. Moreover, the curriculum needed to be updated
to include the core discipline. English, Math, Science and Social Studies to
reinforce critical think, problem solving and skills assessment.
Students of the 21 st century are growing up with technology. In order to be
successful in the integration of technology into the classroom, the District
must change the way it views the importance of technology in education.
The next scheduled meeting for the Technology Steering Committee will be
Wednesday, January 23, 2002 at 4:00 PM.