East Penn School District Technology Integration Plan - EPSD

Office of Curriculum and InstructionBackgroundThe integration of technology into the East Penn School District began in 1993 when thegoal of increasing the availability and usage of technology throughout the district wasestablished. At that time the goal was to increase the availability of technology in thedistrict, as well as to provide teachers with professional development opportunities thatwould introduce them to the technology and help develop their skills in utilizing thetechnology.PresentToday, though, the goal of integrating technology into the curriculum is more complexand more reflective of “best teaching practices” that have been identified througheducational research. The work of such educational researchers as Howard Gardner(Multiple Intelligences), Robert Marzano (What Works in Schools), Eric Jensen(Teaching With the Brain in Mind), Carol Ann Tomlinson (The DifferentiatedClassroom: Responding to the Needs of All Learners), Charlotte Danielson (EnhancingProfessional Practice: A Framework for Teaching), and Jay McTigue and Grant Wiggins(Understanding By Design) has provided a better understanding of the latest research onlearning. Their work focuses on the reality that no two children are alike; no two childrenlearn in the identical way; an enriched environment for one student is not necessarilyenriched for another; and, in the classroom we should teach children to think forthemselves. This focus coincidently reflects the federal No Child Left Behind Act of2001 which emphasizes as one of its basic points that districts must utilize educationalprograms and practices that have been proven through reliable research to be highlyeffective in improving student learning.Through the East Penn Professional Development Institute (PDI) this past year, theDistrict teachers have had the opportunity to begin learning more about the educationresearch, theories, and strategies surrounding three focus areas – Understanding byDesign, Enhancing Professional Practice: A Framework for Teaching, and Teaching withthe Brain in Mind: Differentiated Instruction. The focus area workshops are designed toenable teachers to expand and refine varied teaching options that support their curriculumand that can be implemented in their classrooms to help ensure that the East Penneducational program meets each student where he or she is and to maximize studentprogress in attaining both district goals and State standards. This involves offeringstudents several different learning experiences within each class that reflect their variedneeds and creates what has been described as “a tapestry of curricular options and ideas”.In addition throughout the year, teachers have continued to take advantage of the PDItechnology workshops that have been offered to help teachers gain a better understandingof technology applications, such as WebQuests, Research on the Internet, PowerPoint,and Using the Interactive White Board, but these workshops have not necessarily beenaligned to the focus workshops or to the overall goals established for professionaldevelopment for the next three years.EPSD Technology Integration PlanPage 15