VISION STATEMENT

The Governor Wentworth Regional School District will promote technology as a natural part of education through an integrated comprehensive framework. This framework will govern the acquisition, application, and evaluation of technological resources to ensure that all students have the opportunity to develop the life-long learning skills necessary to be productive citizens in an information-driven, democratic society as well as a dynamic global community.

Through the use of technology, students will be able to access information, manipulate data, synthesize concepts, and creatively express ideas to others.


We believe that:

• Technology is key to the learner's achievement of the Governor Wentworth Regional School District's Commencement Goals.

• Equitable access is key to effective use of technology.

• Technology is an effective and necessary tool, capable of enhancing both the communication ability and productive capacity of our students and staff.

• Our students and staff must be competitive in an ever-changing technological world.

• Technology supports the development of process skills such as fluency, flexibility, adaptability, critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration which are essential to success in our rapidly changing information age.

• Technology will be used to provide ready access to global information resources that are used to solve real-world problems and will generate excitement about learning.

• Technology, through its multimedia format, stimulates the imagination, serves a wide range of intelligences, and supports all learning styles.

• Interactive communication with other interested learners throughout the world will promote mutual acceptance, and consideration of multiple points of view.

• Technology is a valuable tool in the teaching and learning process for both accessing, disseminating, and managing information.

• The terms "teacher" and "learner" are not age-specific. Everyone, regardless of their chronological age, can be both a teacher and a learner.

GOALS

Based on our vision of the role of technology in the district, the goals of the Governor Wentworth Regional School District Technology Plan are:

1. COMMUNICATION - Members of the district will use technology to communicate effectively and creatively.

2. INFORMATION PROCESSING - Members of the district will use technology to access and retrieve, to interpret and evaluate visual and auditory information.

3. INFORMATION MANAGEMENT - Members of the district will use technology to manage information.

4. PRODUCTIVITY - Members of the district will use technology and its applications to maximize productivity and skill development. Part A: How these goals relate to the STUDENTS in the Governor Wentworth Regional School District.

Part A: How these goals relate to the STUDENTS in the Governor Wentworth Regional School District.

1. COMMUNICATION

• Students will communicate through applications software.
  • create well-written documents, spreadsheets and databases
  • use computer-assisted design tools

• Students will communicate visually, graphically and artistically through multi-media presentations.
  • use a variety of technology (computers, projection devices, camcorders, video-editing equipment, scanners, calculators, copiers, laser discs, video and audio equipment, film and digitized cameras)

• Students will communicate through networks and telecommunications.
  • use computer networks and telecommunications (electronic mail, voice mail, bulletin boards)
  • use telecommunications (satellite, modems)

2. INFORMATION PROCESSING

• Students will access and retrieve electronic information.
  • use search strategies to retrieve information
  • use on-site electronic resources (encyclopedias, catalogs, indexes, hand-held tools)
  • use networks to access information (on-line databases, libraries, electronic bulletin boards)
  • use telephones, modems, and fax machines to send and retrieve information

3. INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

• Students will use technology to manage information.
  • use appropriate technology (electronic diaries, calendars) and software systems to manage information

4. PRODUCTIVITY

• Students will use technology to enhance their productivity.
  • use technology to develop learning and workplace skills
  • use technology to support the development of process skills in all content areas
  • develop strategies for problem solving, critical and creative thinking
  • create high quality multi-media products
  • develop creativity and innovation through the use of technology

• Students will develop basic technology skills.
  • select and access technology appropriate to needs
  • use correct starting and exiting procedures
  • develop keyboarding skills
  • operate peripheral devices
  • use technology independently and cooperatively
  • use technology safely and ethically

Part B: How these goals relate to the STAFF in the Governor Wentworth Regional School District.

1. COMMUNICATION

• Staff will communicate through applications software.
  • create well-written documents (units and lesson plans), spreadsheets and databases (class lists, grade books)
  • use computer-assisted design tools

• Staff will communicate visually, graphically and artistically through multi-media presentations.
  • use a variety of technology (computers, projection devices, camcorders, video-editing equipment, scanners, calculators, copiers, laser discs, video and audio equipment, film and digitized cameras)

• Staff will communicate through networks and telecommunications
  • use computer networks and telecommunications (electronic mail, voice mail, bulletin boards)
  • use telecommunications (satellite, modems)

2. INFORMATION PROCESSING

• Staff will access and retrieve electronic information.
  • use search strategies to retrieve information
  • use on-site electronic resources (encyclopedias, catalogs, indexes, hand-held tools)
  • use networks to access information (on-line databases, libraries, electronic bulletin boards)
  • use telephones, modems, and fax machines to send and retrieve information

• Staff will interpret and evaluate information to support learning in all content areas.

3. INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

• Staff will use technology to manage information.
  • use appropriate technology (electronic diaries, calendars) and software systems to manage information
  • use technology to keep inventories

4. PRODUCTIVITY

• Staff will use technology to enhance their productivity.
  • use technology to develop R-BEM units and lesson plans
  • use technology to support the development of process skills in all content areas
  • develop strategies for problem solving, critical and creative thinking
  • create high quality multi-media products
  • develop creativity and innovation through the use of technology

• Staff will develop basic technology skills.
  • select and access technology appropriate to needs
  • use correct starting and exiting procedures
  • develop keyboarding skills
  • operate peripheral devices
  • use technology independently and cooperatively
  • use technology safely and ethically

Part C: How these goals relate to the ADMINISTRATION in the Governor Wentworth Regional School District.

1. COMMUNICATION

• Administrators will communicate through applications software.
  • create well-written documents (staff evaluations), spreadsheets (budgets) and databases (discipline reports)
  • use computer-assisted design tools

• Administrators will communicate visually, graphically and artistically through multi-media presentations.
  • use a variety of technology (computers, projection devices, camcorders, video-editing equipment, scanners, calculators, copiers, laser discs, video and audio equipment, film and digitized cameras)

• Administrators will communicate through networks and telecommunications.
  • use computer networks and telecommunications (electronic mail, voice mail, bulletin boards)
  • use telecommunications (satellite, modems)

2. INFORMATION PROCESSING

• Administrators will access and retrieve electronic information.
  • use search strategies to retrieve information
  • use on-site electronic resources (encyclopedias, catalogs, indexes, hand-held tools)
  • use networks to access information (on-line databases, libraries, electronic bulletin boards)
  • use telephones, modems, and fax machines to send and retrieve information

• Administrators will interpret and evaluate information to support learning in all content areas.

3. INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

• Administrators will use technology to manage information.
  • use appropriate technology (electronic diaries, calendars) and software systems to manage information

4. PRODUCTIVITY

• Administrators will use technology to enhance their productivity.
  • use technology to develop R-BEM units and lesson plans
  • use technology to support the development of process skills in all content areas
  • develop strategies for problem solving, critical and creative thinking
  • create high quality multi-media products
  • develop creativity and innovation through the use of technology

• Administrators will develop basic technology skills.
  • select and access technology appropriate to needs
  • use correct starting and exiting procedures
  • develop keyboarding skills
  • operate peripheral devices
  • use technology independently and cooperatively
  • use technology safely and ethically

PLAN OF ACTION

Part A: Statement of Need

In order to meet the goals, we must provide access to:

1. Technological tools

• Increase the availability of technology (equipment, software, networking) to staff and students
  • Create mini-labs in classrooms, teams, or departments. *See Appendix A
  • Create a technology center in each school. This center replaces the computer labs in the elementary schools and supplements the computer labs in the Middle and High Schools.

• Ensure that staff and students have access to instruction and inservice in regards to technology.

• As such, computer technology can be used in the classroom in three ways:
  1. as tools such as word processors, spreadsheets, programming languages, and electronic network systems; to access information, i.e. on-line resources, etc.
     • teacher network that allow teachers to communicate better, plan together, and manage data
     • multimedia labs with computers, videodiscs, CD-ROM players, video cameras, and other peripherals that enable students and teachers to create their own presentations and products
     • communication systems that can promote local and long-distance collaboration and communication among students and teachers and help both parties become part of the larger world of scholars and scientists
  2. as integrated learning systems that present exercises for students to work on individually and that keep records of student progress for reporting to the teacher; more classroom machines, so that the technology can become better integrated with students' ongoing work
  3. as simulations that engage students in computer-based activities designed to be motivating and educational and allow students to be engage in learning activities that would be impossible or prohibitive without technology.

2. Information

• Ensure that all students and staff will have equitable access to the Internet.
• There will be WAN in GWRSD in order for students and staff to access and share information.
• There will be LANs within buildings, so that information can be shared.
• To have access to the learning resources of the school, the district, the community, and the world before, during, and after the school day.

3. Training

• To provide opportunities for community members to learn how technology is used to enhance learning.

4. Integration of Technology with the Curriculum

• To develop knowledge skills, and attitudes that support life-long learning both in individual and cooperative environments.
• To learn critical thinking skills that support the ethical use of information, technology, and interpretation of information acquired through information technologies.
• To supplement course offerings through down link services.