The technology goals instituted in the 2004 technology plan are steadfast in

nature. While the objectives may vary, the goals remain constant. All

accomplishments toward those goals in the last three years are described under the

appropriate goal. All implementations were successful and are ongoing, except

where mentioned otherwise.

During the course of the 2004-2007 plan, the district has made great

strides in infusing technology into all areas of the curriculum. The

revamping of the technology curriculum to align to the NJCCCS has

been accomplished by vertical articulation. The students are now assured

understanding of the acceptable use policy.

Additionally, the district has provided the students with a variety of

unique technological experiences to enhance their learning. Over the last

three years the district has assessed student knowledge in mathematics

with online benchmark testing through Global Institute in grades 3-6.

Scholastic Reading Inventory was implemented in the 2005-2006 school

year to assess reading benchmarks. However, this program was

unsuccessful and has been discontinued, largely because parents had

trouble understanding the scoring generated by the system. The district

has used the Everyday Math Online Games (K-6) for the past two years.

During the 2006-2007 school year the district has piloted the online

program Study Island in grades 3-6. This program is designed to assist

students in preparation for the NJASK. Finally, the newly adopted

Prentice Hall Social Studies Series allows the students to access an

online textbook.

During the course of the 2004-2007 plan the district has provided a vast

array of opportunities for staff members of all ability levels to improve

their knowledge of technology. The administration has begun to focus

on the integration of technology into daily instruction. Teachers are now

being required to use email as one of the primary vehicles of

communication. Student attendance is currently being kept online

through the Realtime Friday student information system. Teachers are

required to enter their classroom attendance through Realtime. Also,

progress reports and report cards are entered into and printed from the

same system. Some buildings are approaching the idea of going

“paperless.” Staff and students have a good understanding of the

acceptable use policy. Teachers have been given access to specific

programs such as the Everyday Math Assessment CD. This program

allows them to create their own assessments aligned directly to the

Everyday Mathematics Program. Many of the teachers have developed

lessons integrating technology into core subjects. Such lessons include

PowerPoint presentations, webquests, and research via internet search

engines. The building-based technicians are readily available to assist

teachers in a timely manner on technical questions as well as

program/application use.

By decreasing the student to computer ratio, the students have been

given greater and more frequent access to technology, mainly due to

obtaining the STAR-W grant. Through the grant, the district was able to

outfit classrooms in grades 3-5 with laptop computers, plasma screens,

video cameras, and scanners.

A leasing program/schedule has been implemented for the purchasing of

classroom instructional computers. Antiquated hardware was upgraded

to Media Center PCs with large flat screen displays on mobile carts, and

will be replaced every five years.

Additionally, we have added new technology in conjunction with two

major construction projects. With the addition of the Connector, an

extension built between two of our schools, we added the standard

instructional computer setup and Cisco VoIP phones into all of the new

classrooms. Also, with this new building came two new labs: a second

distance learning lab, with 32 computers, a SmartBoard, and an ISDN

video conferencing camera, and a synergistics lab, with two student

computers and a teacher computer connected to a projector. The

McKinley school’s computer lab was moved into the Connector and

more computers were added to make a total of 32, with a teacher laptop

connected to a projector.

Another section of this addition, named the Stafford Township Arts

Center, demanded the addition of a different type of technology.

Specialized lighting, video recording/monitoring, and presenting

capabilities were instituted in the theater within the STAC. Also an ecommerce

solution for ticket sales was implemented in-house.

The Primary Learning Center, a new school which just opened in

September 2006, has been outfitted with four computers in each

classroom, a shared office computer for teachers between every two

classrooms, and Cisco VoIP phones in the offices for each teacher.

Lastly, all five schools have been outfitted with sophisticated point-ofsale

systems for use in the cafeterias. These consist of touch screens and

cash drawers connected to computers running specialized software

which integrates with the district’s student information system.

Infrastructure has been expanded and revamped in leaps and bounds

during the last three years. Our wide area network was upgraded from

1.54Mbps T1 service between schools to a 100Mbps licensed

microwave radio wireless system.

Along with the WAN upgrade, we implemented our Cisco Voice over IP

solution which was mentioned earlier.

Also, the McKinley campus, now consisting of the McKinley school, the

Intermediate school, the STAC, and the Primary Learning Center,

received a network overhaul in conjunction with the construction

projects. We implemented a 10Gbps WAN link from the

McKinley/STAC/Intermediate complex to the Primary Learning Center,

since the PLC will soon house the district’s new data center. All

backbone links within the buildings were upgraded to 2Gbps fiber.

Additionally, the entire campus was outfitted with full-coverage

enterprise-level wireless connectivity for client computers.

Due to the addition of client computers needing internet access and

expanded services, we have upgraded our internet bandwidth from a

1.54Mbps T1 service to a 3Mbps 2 x T1 service.

One last infrastructure addition was made to incorporate better internetbased

remote access for staff. Virtual Private Networking was

implemented for use by those with mobile computers managed by the

district. This allows users to work at home just as if they were on the

district’s network. For those using a home computer, a technology

called Remote Desktop Web Connection has been made available. This

allows users to access a desktop through a web-browser. This desktop

environment allows for an in-district network experience from the

outside, without opening up access to the network for malware that may

be present on the user’s computer.

1. Students will attain the educational technology and information literacy skills

that will assist them in achieving the Core Curriculum Content Standards and

to succeed in the workplace of the 21st century.

1.1. Educational technology will be infused into curriculum and instructional

activities.

1.2. The district curriculum will include information literacy and educational

technology standards aligned with the Core Curriculum Content

Standards and accepted national standards.

1.3. All students will demonstrate proficiency in using educational technology

and information literacy skills to enhance learning, increase productivity

and promote creativity.

1.4. All students will have equitable and easy access to effective and engaging

software, CD ROMs and online resources for content delivery as an

integral part of every school curriculum. Content materials will meet

universal design standards to assure access for students with disabilities.

1.5. All students will have equitable and easy access to the internet and other

distance learning technology to obtain information and resources from

remote locations to collaborate, publish and interact with peers, experts

and other audiences.

1.6. All students will use technology tools and applications for solving

problems, making informed decisions, and participating in authentic,

project-based learning.

1.7. All students will act responsibly and ethically when obtaining and using

onsite and online information resources.

2. Educators will attain the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively use

educational technology to assist students to achieve the Core Curriculum

Content Standards.

2.1. All educators will participate in high-quality professional development

activities and attain, at a minimum, intermediate proficiency levels in

utilizing educational technology to enhance student achievement.

2.2. All supervision and evaluation practices will address the effective use of

educational technology for student achievement of the Core Curriculum

Content Standards.

2.3. All educators will use technology tools and applications that provide

opportunities for authentic, student-centered, project-based learning.

2.4. All educators will have access to e-mail and other interactive tools to

communicate with parents, students and other educators.

2.5. All educators will act responsibly and ethically when obtaining and using

onsite and online information resources.

2.6. All schools will have technology facilitators or technicians available

onsite to offer timely, onsite guidance and modeling to enhance teacher

and administrator proficiency in using and managing technology-based

resources.

3. Students, teachers and administrators will have access to educational

technology in all learning environments, including classrooms, media centers

and community centers.

3.1. All students and educators will have regular and equitable access to

technology equipment (both desktop and portable) when needed in all

learning environments. This includes access to technologies with

universal design features or other design modifications that assure access

for students with educational disabilities.

3.2. All schools will provide a ratio of five students or less to one multimedia

computer in all instructional classrooms, with each of these classroom

computers connected to the internet.

3.3. All classrooms will be connected to broadband, high-speed voice, video

and data networks in all learning environments.

3.4. All schools will have Local Area Networks.

3.5. The district will have a high quality, highly informative, user-friendly

web site.

3.6. All educators will have easy access to technical support via a technician

and/or electronic assistance that is necessary to maintain operating

technology equipment (e.g., help desks, hot lines, electronic monitoring,

and troubleshooters).

3.7. The district will establish and / or strengthen relationships with

appropriate partners, including, but not limited to, other public agencies

and entities, education institutions, community-based organizations and

private corporations to increase opportunities for sustained technology

access and broad, collaborative learning environments.

3.8. All schools will identify and support the needs of students who do not

have access to technology in their homes to enable them to continue their

learning through technology when school is not in session.

3.9. The district will continue to follow our Acceptable Use Policy to ensure

that all students, teachers and administrators are able to use technology

systems, online resources and software in a safe, ethical and secure

manner.

4. The school district will establish and maintain the technology infrastructure

necessary for students and educators to access electronic information and to

communicate freely via technology.

4.1. The district will enhance and maintain broadband, high-speed networks

and reliable internet access that enables students and educators to support

their curricula activities.

4.2. All school buildings will have the equipment necessary to provide

distance-learning opportunities when and where it is needed in the school.

4.3. All schools will maintain quality hardware/software with adequate

capacity and capability to support successful learning in classrooms,

media centers and throughout the learning environment.

 

Stafford Township School District recognizes that these goals and objectives are

ambitious, but believes that keeping the statewide goals and objectives in view will

help ensure that all important aspects of providing an effective technology

infrastructure and professional development will continue to be addressed over the

three-year life of this plan.

1.2 – The district plans to adapt classroom and computer lab instruction to ensure that

the state’s expectations for technology literacy by the end of Grade 4 are taken into

account in instruction in Grades K to 4. One important consequence will be the

implementation of classroom projects involving spreadsheets and database software

in grades 3 and 4. Currently, students are using PowerPoint, Word and the internet,

but do not encounter spreadsheets and databases until Grade 5. This will need to be

modified in order to address the new expectations on technology literacy by Grade 4.

Instruction in spreadsheets and databases will be in place by Year 1.

1.3 – The district plans to increase the focus on multimedia, streaming video and

digital video editing in grades 3 through 6. Project-based learning that encourages

student writing and publishing will be a focus, and appropriate technology purchases

are planned.

2.2 – Currently, the supervision and evaluation practices in the district have begun to

include an emphasis on technology integration. Continued discussions at the

administrative level will be held in Year 1 with the objective of including measures of

technology integration in the supervision and evaluation of teaching in Year 2.

4.2 – Currently the district has ISDN capability for distance learning at three of the

five schools. The district is investigating video-conferencing over IP options for the

other schools, with the plan for having this capability in place by Year 3.