The "vision" of Springfield School District 186 can be seen through their established five-year technology plan. The plan calls for a continuing increase in the amount of technology available for use in the classrooms. Additional technology and training to support the influx of computers is to be focused and expanded on in a logical sequence. The plan prioritizes the grade level needs in the following order: middle school (5-8), high school, K-4. The rationale for this order is based on the fact that instructors at the 5-8 level have received the most in service training and are the furthest along with their technology skills and implementation. At the K-4 level the emphasis is on basic skills and core curriculum. The use of technology in the classroom, while beneficial, is less critical to the learning process at the K-4 level.
My kindergarten classroom does not really reflex this "vision", nor does the techonogy that is on going at Ridgely school. We are at the bottom so to speak on the districts' plan because we are a K-4 building. But at Ridgely technology has been one of its main priorities. Eventhough Ridgley Elementary School has no formal technology plan - it does have a"vision" of its own! The school has had a technology committee in place for three years. Through their hard work and positive leadership technology at Ridgely has made significant advances. This year's informal plan was developed by our building technology trainer and was a series of workshops that she led throughout the year. Topics of the workshops included, "Netscape", "Quick Cam", and "Slide Shows".
Technology is constantly changing. `The hardware that is in place today will be out of date in a few years. This technology plan adds hardware to the classroom in regular increments, rather that a single purchase. This allows current technology to be added to the classroom. To continue to stay a leader in instructional technology funding for hardware and support will need to be provided on a consistent, regular basis.
Springfield School District 186 has many resources in technology available to its teachers the Instructional Resource Center list of media materials and lets the person know what is available to them. A complete listing can be located on the Web - (IRC Media Catalog of Resources for District 186) http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/LassoLite
The following is suggested software and CD-Roms for Grades K-12. http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/software.html
Ridgely School also has its own resources available to its teachers. Ridgely Software
The district's technology plan just as Ridgely's plan is actually an ongoing process and its evolution over time is being documented.
Kindergarten's use of technology