Deann ThompsonFebruary 10, 2010
ET8014
Arlington ISD Technology Plan
The National Education Technology Plan (NETP) urges schools to strengthen leadership for technology, to
consider innovative budgeting, to support e-learning and virtual schools, to encourage broadband access, to move toward digital content, and to integrate data
systems.
-Patricia Hinchey
The Arlington Independent School District serves over 63,000 students. AISD currently has 50
elementaries, 12 junior highs, six high schools, a pre-kindergarten campus, an immigrant education
facility, and four alternative schools.
District Background
Partner with the University of Texas at Arlington
Provide a Summer Leadership Institute for Administrative staff
Technology Leadership
Teaching and Learning Budget: $6,154,966.35
Educator Preparation and Development Budget: $2,039,087.26
Leadership, Administration and Support Budget: $1,557,315.75
Infrastructure for Technology Budget: $38,187,505.58
Technology Expenditures
Computer to Student Ratio: 3 students for every computer
Computer to Teacher Ratio: 1 teacher for every computer
Computer Ratios
All classrooms, libraries, and office spaces are connected to local area, wide area and Internet networks
All classrooms and libraries have networked teacher and student stations
All classrooms and offices have access to management software such as grade book, attendance reporting, and student records
All employees have access to email
Current Technology Implementation
Current Technology Implementation Continued
All elementary campuses have two 30-station computer labs
In addition to numerous computer labs dedicated to specific courses, all secondary campuses have laptop labs for student use
All secondary campuses have a distance learning classroom that allows students and staff to participate in video conferencing activities
Instructional software and/or access to fee-based online resources must go through a district wide preview committee before district purchases are approved
Increase student use of technology
Increase the number of AISD teachers who have successfully completed the Texas Teacher Technology Competencies Certification (TTCC) program
Move to a five-year replacement program for classroom workstations
Add to an online database of student assessment data with links to online lessons to help teachers where needed
Evaluate and expand existing video conferencing systems
Technology Projects
Technology Projects Continued
Continue the use of E-Rate supported networks for internet connections
Implementation of new business systems, including Grade Book, Attendance, Human Resource, Finance, and Payroll systems, to support next generation solutions for the district
Evaluate new technologies that can streamline administrative functions, provide better availability of data for decision making, and improve learning in Arlington ISD
“Teachers have more resources available through technology than
ever before, but some have not received sufficient training in the
effective use of technology to enhance learning.”
-National Education Technology Plan
Train 3-4 certified teachers at each campus to serve as campus based technology trainers
Require trainers to attend update trainings each semester
Assist the training team at each school to create an annual campus technology staff development plan
Require campus technology trainers, junior high and high school Technology Application teachers to complete the Texas Teacher Technology Competencies Certification (TTCC) program or obtain TA certification
Require teachers to attend at least 6 hours of technology staff development each year
Require new AISD teachers to attend a technology session at New Teacher Academy
Provide ongoing professional development and support to K-12 teachers and all district staff regarding district guidelines, content providers, equipment, scheduling, and funding of videoconferencing events
Professional Development
Currently have students from 4 high schools enrolled
Will be adding students from 4 junior highs this summer
TxVSN
Number of Campuses with Direct Connection to Internet: 76
Percentage of Campuses with Direct Connection to Internet: 100.00%
Number of Classrooms with Direct Connection to Internet: 3724
Percentage of Classrooms with Direct Connection to Internet: 100.00%
Internet Access
Move district from an eight-year to a five-year replacement cycle for most equipment
Tweak adjustment cycle to meet usage of equipment
Provide high speed data access and upgrade network infrastructure components on a rotating basis through all campuses and locations in the district
Use an on-line database to submit and track help requests for all systems in the district
Technology Infrastructure
Continue to evaluate Technology Plan on a yearly basis
Provide more opportunities for teachers to participate in online learning
Begin to expose teachers and students to online content
Work with community partners to create computer access for lower income families
Develop partnerships between networks
Involve students in planning process
Recommendations
Arlington ISD. (2009, December 18). Arlington isd e-plan. Retrieved from https://www.sedl.org/cgi-bin/mysql/eplan/eplan.cgi
Hinchey, P. (2006, August). An Analysis of the 2005 national technology plan: better for business than for children. Retrieved from http://epicpolicy.org/files/Brief-Hinchey.pdf
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology, Toward A New Golden Age in American Education: How the Internet, the Law and Today’s Students Are Revolutionizing Expectations, Washington, D.C., 2004.
References