Technology Committee

Technology Plan

section 12

MSAD 49 will provide ongoing training and professional development for teachers and administrators in developing their knowledge, and skills for using technology as a tool for student learning. To improve the capacity of teachers to integrate technology into curricula and instruction, the technology department will provide staff with training in operation of equipment and software and supports teachers in their efforts to integrate technology into the classroom. Educators in the district will continue to be expected to demonstrate progress through levels of technological proficiency with the highest level being the integration of technology into instruction.

(PFT- Professional development in technology will continue to be offered to teachers and administrators in a variety of formats and time frames. Delivery formats may include workshops, conferences, online learning and peer to peer coaching. Training  may be provided on inservice days both prior to and at the end of the school year and  during inservice and early release days throughout the school year. The technology department will also demonstrate and provide training in emerging technologies such as Moodle and Smartboards during after school workshops and staff meetings.

( I think that the next paragraph contains more specifics about the technology levels than is necessary and could be omitted. You don't want to promise something you can't deliver, as in the last line.)

As part of their overall professional development, teachers in the district have as a goal to move up a level each year in the minimum teacher technology staff development program. This program currently has four levels that a teacher can move through. Teachers move through the levels by attending training and staff development opportunities provided through the technology department, by completing projects, by completing training from other sources, or by providing training on technology issues to other staff members. The technology department maintains records of staff technology levels and provides this information to teachers and administrators on a yearly basis. The district technology team reviews the level requirements and will be revising these levels to add a level indicating advanced integration skills.

It is time to move from teacher developing a knowledge base of the applications of computers to integration of the applications within their classroom activities K-12.  (PFT Now that teachers have a solid foundation in computer applications, professional development will shift to the integration of technology into teaching.) To initiate the integration, requirement of a professional goal expecting staff to develop lessons including computer applications...word processing with research papers, stories and otherforms of reports, use of spreadsheets in Science labs and Math classes as a means to display data.  Professional development opportunities will be developed based on needs of the staff using identified "experts" to present.

TH 1 or more professional days will be devoted to technology training.