We wish to thank Sun Associates for the original assessment upon which this year’s assessment was based. They provided a solid baseline for comparison and good framework from which to continue conducting technology assessments each year. They also provided helpful recommendations for future research.
Fayette County Schools
have improved in nearly all areas of this assessment. The student achievement data are particularly encouraging.
A clearer relationship is emerging between student performance and the
use of effective technology practices. The
assessment also provides a clearer vision about activities that should be
pursued in order to further advance student achievement.
For example, there is evidence that we can make a greater impact on
student writing by placing additional emphasis on keyboarding at an early age. We continue to show improvement in teacher fluency and
teacher use with students. Administrator
support has risen dramatically over the past two years, allaying fears in the
99/00 assessment that our principals were not adequately supportive of
technology. There are signs of
improvement in the infrastructure mostly due to creative new ways of using
hardware. However, there is still a
critical need for increasing technical support, especially at the middle school
level.
Recommendations
These recommendations
are based upon specific results from the 01/02 DTA. Some are continuations of recommendations from the original
DTA that was conducted by Sun Associates. Those
continuations are in areas that would be expected to take several years to
accomplish. Some other
recommendations are new, based on more current data.
1.
Explore ways to make classroom
computers more accessible to students (e.g., more computers and AlphaSmarts,
position current computers in more accessible locations, projection devices,
capture systems such as Mimio)
2.
High schools – Integrate technology into ALL classes, and not just
selected classes.
3.
Middle schools – Increase technical support.
4. Elementary schools – Increase keyboarding – both initial instruction and follow-up.
5.
Increase student use of email,
especially in grades 4-12. (State
BOE goal by 2003)
6.
Increase teacher classroom websites for parent communication, homework,
class assignments, etc.
7.
Use online resources such as Lexile.com, Follett, and
KYVL to match
reading materials to students, based on their Lexile scores.
8. Avoid use of drill and practice software and increase use of productivity tools such as FrontPage, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Inspiration, and HyperStudio for authentic classroom activities or projects.
9.
When selecting software and other
technology-based instructional materials, use materials that have been
researched and proven to be effective. (or,
may do own research)
10.
Provide teachers with a variety of methods of PD.
11.
Monitor student progress on FCPS standards
12.
Provide Middle School LAN technicians and meet CP goal for TRTs.
13.
Use software and online resources that accompany textbooks.
14.
Increase home communication via WWW & email.
15.
Do not drop students off in the lab.
16.
Increase network bandwidth and speed to improve streaming video, distance
learning, and other applications that contribute to increased network traffic.
17. Increase the use of distance learning, such as Kentucky Virtual High School and video-linked classrooms, to better provide equitable access to instructional content across the district.
For
more information about the Fayette County Schools District Technology
Assessment, contact Amy Johns
,
Coordinator of Instructional Technology.