Strategies+and+Activities

CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
Strategy #1 Students will use integrated technology to increase achievement and enhance learning.

Activities #1 •	Support collaboration between departments to support, test, and implement technology associated with curriculum adoptions •	Provide student access to their files off-site •	Review the expectations and instruction of keyboarding •	Include specific strategies for accessing, recording, evaluating, and synthesizing information into the curriculum mapping process •	Address NETS-S standards through technology-enhanced learning activities in each curriculum area as described by Illinois Learning Standards and Applications of Learning •	Promote the concept of technology integration as a shared responsibility among the classroom teacher, LMC/CLC staff, and technology staff

Strategy #2 Students will develop authentic, engaging, multidisciplinary learning projects that use instructional resources and information literacy skills.

Activities #2 •	Provide students opportunities for global connections, distance learning, and online skill acquisition •	Support opportunities for LMC/CLC staff to co-plan with instructional team •	Support the development of our Library Media Centers into the information hub of the school •	Maintain and enhance online resource subscriptions •	Facilitate teacher collaboration in the area of technology by providing time and resources •	Maintain and update Middle School Industrial Tech modules and curriculum •	Develop and implement online units of study and Websites that incorporate engaged learning strategies

Strategy #3 Students will receive differentiated instruction and be assessed through technology-enhanced methods to attain District 25 technology learning standards.

Activities #3 •	Explore the inclusion of technology assessment information on student progress reports •	Explore and adopt emerging technologies to enhance student learning •	Coordinate with Assistive Technology Facilitator to review and support assistive technology for students with special needs •	Advance student acquisition of 21st century learning skills •	Instruct students in District 25 Appropriate Use Guidelines, Internet safety, copyright issues, and the ethical use of technology •	Develop a continuum of technology skills and/or curriculum map of district technology standards and skills •	Sustain and improve technology-based assessment activities in the district •	Enhance efforts to collect, analyze, and report student assessment data through the use of technology •	Provide appropriate software to support special education students

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Strategy #1 Staff and administrators will participate in various professional development opportunities in technology that align with National Staff Development Council (NSDC) standards, NETS•A and NETS•T.

Activities #1 •	Continue providing a Technology Academy prior to the start of school to immerse staff in technology learning •   Continue providing a Technology Support Academy for District 25 technology staff •	Continue offering a SIP day focused on technology as a tool for teaching and learning •	Provide professional development resources and opportunities at a variety of times throughout the year with a variety of methods •	Develop district technology standards for teachers and administrators and support its implementation and accountability •	Structure professional development opportunities around strands to provide organized and sequential sessions •	Support professional development opportunities with resources, space, time, and compensation as needed •	Develop a district technology certification program linked to rigorous professional development and implementation tools •	Provide training for staff in information literacy •	Explore feasibility of a district technology-training lab

Strategy #2 Staff and administrators will participate in various professional development opportunities about the ethical uses of technology, assessing student technology products and district technology standards.

Activities #2 •	Develop strategies and methods for assessing technology standards and skills for staff and students •	Provide opportunities and support for district staff to attend and present at technology conferences •	Provide explicit professional development on district technology learning standards and skills •	Continue paying for technology conference registrations and/or substitutes, release time, etc. for all staff •	Provide information to staff regarding copyright information, site licensing, video-taping television programs, and publishing on the Web •	Review with staff the Appropriate Use Guidelines and complete the required signature form •	Regularly review district policies and procedures related to student and staff technology use •	Provide building level training on available software, hardware, and identified skill needs

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Strategy #1 Enhance communication with staff, community members, and parents regarding district information, student safety and student achievement.

Activities #1 •	Continue to acquire equipment for filming and editing cable and Web programs •	Provide additional support and methods for enhancing the cable channel/video-on-demand productions including videotaping after-school presentations •	Develop methods or procedures to maintain accurate and current Web pages •	Provide parents with additional access to student, district and school information on the Web •	Increase the amount of videos on demand available on the district Website so that content is more accessible •	Investigate options with cable companies to provide a digital signal for the cable channel

Strategy #2 Develop new partnerships and enhancing existing collaborations with community organizations/members to support the integration of technology and learning beyond the school.

Activities #2 •	Acquire or develop electronic storage and delivery system for informational videos •	Develop collaboration opportunities outside the school community such as the Senior Center and Arlington Heights Memorial Library •	Designate district space for production of cable channel content •	Improve school presentation systems used for community programs including microphones, speakers, and projectors. •	Continue summer school computer/technology classes for children and communicate to all elementary students in the community •	Communicate regularly with community members regarding technology planning, implementation, effectiveness, and budgets via newsletters, Website and cable channel •	Expand Web presence to possibly include online registration, payment, and training videos •	Provide opportunities for parents to develop an understanding of student technology use such as school tech nights, informational videos, and online project galleries •	Explore methods to promote availability of resources and information

TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYMENT
Strategy #1 Provide equitable and reliable access to highly effective technologies that enhance achievement and productivity for students and staff members

Activities #1 •	Provide adequate hardware and equipment for engaging classroom instruction such as interactive whiteboards, projectors, student response systems, and audio amplification •	Assist with updating Industrial Technology classroom equipment •	Explore alternatives to existing classroom monitors •	Implement OS X 10.5 and OS X 10.5 Server •	Provide mounted video projectors for all middle school instructional classrooms •	Improve technology access by increasing number of computers available in the classroom for students •	Improve access by increasing number of computers for staff use •	Provide hardware and software for document management •	Provide adequate storage space for district and building servers •	Explore alternatives to desktops and laptops to improve access for staff and students •	Explore financing options including grants for future technology purchases •	Explore the financial implications of accelerating the current replacement cycle for computers •	Develop a plan to address software obsolescence •	Provide additional hardware such as a color copier and poster printer to produce community information •	Provide additional file servers to provide storage for student and staff files, data backup, and media •	Provide staff access to their files off-site •	Budget for maintenance agreements for operating systems, service, FileMaker, student management system and other software

Strategy #2 Provide a reliable and robust data and telecommunications network to facilitate communication, collaboration, productivity, and student achievement

Activities #2 •	Provide personnel, budget, and other resources to maintain business, phone, food services, facilities, and personnel systems •	Provide a robust and managed wireless solution to handle computer, camera, and IP phone traffic •	Evaluate existing infrastructure such as HVAC, electrical capacity, and temperature management to support future expansion •	Investigate the implications of pending high-definition video standards •	Budget for the ongoing services and equipment involved with the wired LAN/WAN •	Continue to sustain and increase bandwidth between buildings, within buildings and to the Internet in order to meet expansion and demand •	Maintain T1 lines as network backup until contracts expire •	Maintain budget for consulting services related to managing, securing and improving the LAN/WAN

Strategy #3 Provide ongoing technical support necessary to sustain functioning learning environments, curriculum integration, and professional development

Activities #3 •	Equip new classrooms and new staff with standard technology •	Purchase computers to replace aging computers as indicated by the replacement cycle. Placement of new computers must always consider the redeployment of computers that are being replaced and make use of "cascading" older computers to appropriate assignments either in the same building or other district locations. Computers that are determined to no longer be of use to the district must be salvaged for parts, donated to appropriate organizations, or disposed of properly with compliance with all local, state, and federal laws •	Replace end-of-life networked printers and other equipment when no longer economical to repair •	Centralize purchasing of software and hardware through the district office to improve management and accountability •	Update and maintain a centralized hardware and software inventory database •	Provide additional technology support personnel within the constraints of the personnel budget •	Review existing security and back-up equipment and procedures •	Evaluate existing student management system's ability to meet future needs •	Investigate key server to monitor licenses •	Assist with the implementation of district energy conservation measures