Beaumont Independent School District has assembled a diverse technology planning committee to prepare a three -year plan that meets the requirements for applying for E-rate discounts. BISD currently has a 100% rate of direct connection to the Internet. It is the committee’s charge to find innovative uses for the wide area network in order to be in compliance with No Child Left Behind, as well as the Texas Long- Range Plan for Technology. According to the BISD plan, the district is eligible for an 80% discount. The plan has been designed to be flexible as the future of technology evolves. The plan is designed around three broad goals; each with several specific objectives. The goals are as follows:
Goal 1: Incorporate technology as an integral part of education.
Goal 2. Provide staff development for all in the use of appropriate emerging technologies and their integration as a natural part of education.
Goal 3: Include technology-based systems when making district or campus instructional and management decisions.
Goal 4: The district will secure adequate funding for maintaining state-of-the art technology resources for all BISD facilities.
District administrators use the STAR chart to assess the skill levels of teachers and areas for improvement. Professional development days in technology are planned based on the results of the STAR chart, even the superintendent. Nearly 1.2 million is spent on educator preparation and development. Time for professional development is an area for concern. BISD is considering an online training model so that teachers may work as they have time.
The Director of Information Services meets daily with technicians to make sure hardware and software issues are addressed. Also, a campus technology liaison is in place in each campus as a first contact to help troubleshoot problems. BISD has 3.43 million dollars budgeted towards infrastructure.
The plan states the need for technical and instructional technology personnel to support the use of technology in the classrooms. BISD is proposing to implement new positions in instructional technology. This validates the point made that our students (and possibly teachers obtaining masters in EDTECH) may work in careers not yet invented yet.
No comments:
Post a Comment