District Technology Plan

The district plan I will summarize is Calcasieu Parish…

 Calcasieu parish is one of the pioneers in integrating technology in the state. They are currently in the process of addressing the four steps which are Strengthen Leadership, Improve Teacher Training, Support E-Learning and Virtual Schools, and Provide Improved Access and Technology Usage to integrate technology in the classroom. Instep one, leadership category, the plan states that all leaders must support and monitor effective use of instructional technology. In step two, improve teacher training, the plan states that teachers should attend professional development to ensure effective use of technology in the classroom. CPSS offers professional development either face to face or online learning. Step three, support E-Learning and virtual schools, the plan states that for five years the district has grown in online instruction.  CPSS has one full-time E-learning facilitator. They also provide after hours access to technology resources. The last step, Provide Improved Access and Technology Usage to integrate technology in the classroom, states that most of the campuses have access to high-speed, high capacity hardware, software, and broadband communications.

The district and E-Rate provides funds to provide high-speed broadband connections to every classroom. The current ratio in the district student to internet computer is 3.5:1. Now, tech support is able to remotely control most of the computers in the district. The district plan also states that 50 percent of teachers use blackboard to support classroom instruction at home. There were thirteen schools in the district that reported that technology integration is at “Advanced Tech” or higher. At the end of the school year, teachers and students are given a survey to complete on the use of technological skills. The survey reveals that 26.1% of teachers are proficient in all the NETS Standards, 47.4% of the administrators are proficient in all the NETS Standards, 3.3% of 4th grade students are proficient in all the NETS Standards, and 15.10% of 8th graders are proficient in all the NETS Standards.

I believe that most teachers would like to integrate the curriculum, but they have a lack of support from other teachers and administrators. They are tired of trying new ways of incorporating technology in their lessons and failing. This is when the district should step up and provide the right professional development opportunities. After reading the district’s technology plan I do believe that they are on the right path for a brighter future in technology for our children. 

 Calcasieu Parish Technology Plan. (2007). Retrieved from    

            http://www.cpsb.org/system/policies/techplan.pdf.