State+of+the+Discipline+Report

State of the Discipline Report Draft
Questions we were given to consider:
 * //**What do you consider to be the most successful aspects of your program?**//
 * Basic forms of technology are integrated into every curriculum by all teachers.
 * Willingness to experiment by trying the 6th grade one-to-one tablet PC pilot.
 * Faculty and students have access to Tablet PCs in all three divisions.
 * Technology is abundantly available for students and classroom teachers.
 * Professional development offerings in summer and throughout the year.
 * Many aspects of our IT operations are cutting edge: VOIP, virtual servers, wireless network, etc.


 * //**What distinguishes your program from others locally and nationally?**//
 * Integration of technology, libraries, and IT into one department that serves the entire school.
 * 6th grade one-to-one tablet PC pilot.
 * The availability of technology in classrooms, including faculty laptops, SmartBoards in every classroom, networked projectors, etc.
 * Many aspects of our IT operations are cutting edge: VOIP, virtual servers, networked projectors, robust wireless network, etc.


 * //**What do you perceive to be significant challenges facing your department regarding personnel, facilities, materials, and equipment?**//
 * One concern we are watching closely is our bandwidth. After expanding our bandwidth two years ago, we are now beginning to see a strain on our capacity as we put more computers on to our network and as internet usage becomes more saturated with video, audio, and graphic files that our users want to use. Increasing our bandwidth will be an expensive endeavor.
 * Otherwise, we are well served in the areas of personnel, facilities, materials, and equipment. The larger issue is finding ways to move faculty thinking forward when it comes to the integration of newer technologies into the curriculum. This is partly a problem of finding time for teachers to attend workshops to become skillful at new technologies and finding time and money to send teachers out to observe how other schools integrate technology.


 * //**Is your department engaged in interdisciplinary endeavors with other departments in the school?**//
 * Aside from some pull-out classes in lower and middle school, all the learning in our department, whether it is for libraries or technology, is dependent on full integration into the classrooms by the classroom teachers with the support of the technology and library faculty and staff.
 * Technology Directors work with faculty in each division to facilitate the integration of technology in all subject areas.
 * Computer Science - robotics taught in the fifth grade science classes.


 * //**What are the policies and criteria regarding student placement in your department?**//
 * US Computer Science courses are offered to 10-12th graders only.


 * //**What is the department's position on AP courses?**//
 * Last spring the College Board announced that it will cancel the Computer Science AB test after spring 2009.


 * //**How do you assist students who are in need of additional support in meeting the demands of our curriculum?**//
 * Individualized programs, including keyboarding and math enrichment, are provided through the school website and so can be accessed from home or school.
 * Access to computers in the divisional Technology Labs and to laptops when needed to support student learning.
 * Opportunity given for students to do technology-based projects, such as multi-media projects to fulfill classroom assignments.


 * //**How do you challenge students who are ready to exceed the requirements or demands of your curriculum?**//
 * Individualized programs, including keyboarding and math enrichment, are provided through the school website and so can be accessed from home or school.
 * Access to computers in the divisional Technology Labs and to laptops when needed support student learning.
 * Courses are offered in the US that appeal to students with strong interest in computer science.
 * After school robotics and programming classes are offered to students with a strong interest in these areas.
 * Opportunity given for students to do technology-based projects, such as multi-media projects to fulfill classroom assignments and independent study projects.


 * **//How is the department addressing issues raised in the last Self-Study?//**
 * We have been steadily working on our action plan. You can see our progress by reading this file: [|Libraries and Technology Action Plan updates.doc]
 * Because our department holds monthly meetings, we are able to work on our action plan items throughout the year.


 * **//What methods of student assessment are used in your department?//**
 * Since technology skills are integrated into classroom work, assessments of student progress in technology are done as part of the individual's class work assessment by the teacher of the class.


 * //**What methods of faculty assessment are used in your department?**//
 * Each divisional technology director and librarian are evaluated jointly by the principal and the Director of Information Services. The evaluation process used is the same as that used for any other faculty member in that division.


 * //**In what ways does the department teach substantive disciplinary thinking?**//
 * Students are taught to choose appropriate technology for the task at hand.
 * Programming classes teach algorithmic thinking and logical problem-solving
 * Students are taught to use emerging technologies in their daily work which prepares them for the constant change in the field of technology.
 * Students challenged to think critically as they evaluate print and online research materials.


 * //**What are your goals for the current school year? For the next 2-3 years?**//
 * **Specific to this year**
 *  Successful 1:1 tablet PC program in 6th grade. Determine future course of action.
 *  Smooth transition to Office 2007 for students, faculty and staff.
 *  Smooth transition for local profiles and admin rights for teachers.
 *  Smooth transition for Networked projectors in US classrooms.
 *  Create Technology Help pages– one of our Self Study Action Plan Goals
 *   New software to try out and learn: Moodle, DyKnow, wikis, blogs, Educator components, Google Earth maps, ArtRage, Paint.net
 *   **Ongoing now and for next 2-3 Years**
 *   <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">   <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Undertake a comprehensive curriculum review – one of our Self Study Action Plan Goals.      <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
 * ======<span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> Library Research Process - expansion to more teachers and student  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">    ======
 * ======<span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> Promote Atomic Learning as a tool for staff and students– one of our Self Study Action Plan Goals  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">    ======
 * ======<span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> Promote use of tablets as tablets and as mobile devices using wireless network <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">   ======
 * ====== <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Curb pull out classes– one of our Self Study Action Plan Goals- integrate the teaching of technology tools and software in classes, taught in the context of the lesson by the teacher with the aid of the Technology Director.    ======