SHS Three Year Technology Plan

Spaulding High School

School Library Three Year Technology Plan

Fall 2016- Spring 2019

In today’s educational mission statements, almost all academic institutions include something about 21st Century skills and technology.  There is a clear recognition that our students need tools and experiences in order to allow them to be successful in their adult lives.  Spaulding High School is no different.  According to our Mission Statement, our Core Values introduction states:

We value education and offer it in a variety of ways to meet the needs of all students, enabling them to become respectful, responsible, knowledgeable, confident, healthy, and ethical global citizens. We are committed that all students will receive the support necessary to achieve these goals and expectations.

Throughout our Mission Statement are examples of our commitment to ensuring our students have access to those resources needed for student growth.  For example, number 5 of our “beliefs about learning” segment articulates this responsibility by stating, we will provide “Up-to-date school resources (that) contribute to effective teaching and learning.”  The library needs to be at the heart of this support as we are responsible for providing equal access to resources for all our students and others in the educational community.  A well thought out School Library Technology Plan needs to clearly illustrate how the library will accomplish this goal and support the specific needs of the community.  

Economically, Barre struggles and as a Title 1 school, the needs of our students are many.  Thinking about my role in providing all our students with access is a daunting task, especially in this day and age where budgets are shrinking, yet, technology is expanding.  With that said, the below plan will include access to resources for all individuals in our school community from students, to supporting staff, educators and administration.  While some aspects of the technology will only be available in-house, others will be available to all through the website or through check out.  

Our basic inventory is well developed.  The previous librarians and the IT Department were very cognisant of their responsibilities in ensuring that the library had resources that were adaptable and available.  I also feel that they provide a strong foundation for expanding on these services and resources.  For example, a simple inventory of a few of these resources illustrate this foundation:

14 Computers on the main floor

20 Computers in the e-classroom

A Chromebook cart with 24 Chromebooks

5 iPads

10 New Kindle Fires

Multitude of older Kindles

Digital/Flip Cameras

MP3 players

New Headphones

Yeti Microphones

While I am in the process of creating a larger plan for the library itself, this simple  SLTP will fit nicely into that plan.  It includes utilizing what I currently have to expand services and adding new tools that will not only support the curriculum of our teachers but encourage students to engage with new ways of formative and summative activities and learning performances.  Specifically, I would like to create a Listening Center where students can access a variety of audio/visual experiences in order to actively engage in their learning and expand their global experiences .  As such, I will need the following to ensure all my students, including those who need assistive technology, will have the tools to experiment.

   

Listening Center Rational:

In this busy media filled world, I want to provide a space where students can be exposed to new ways of receiving information outside of Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram.  Not that these types of mediums aren’t relevant to my students, but they are limited in scope.  Students need a place to be exposed to new ways of consuming and creating media and a listening center can be a space for this purpose.  My goal is to create a center where students can have access to audio books, Ted-talks, Podcasts and other ventures to expand their horizons or meet the needs of the curriculum for teachers.  I will do this by:

1. Purchase 4 new iPads Pro with a multitude of space and other capacities to enable students to create/consume media.   Cost:  $ 3000.00
2. A variety of audio/digital editing software (both free and purchased) to provide audio/visual assistance such as Audacity or Garageband. Cost:  $ 200.00
3. Audible Subscription for access to audio books for students who need educational support as well as for those who just want to listen to poetry, short stories, or nonfiction materials.   Cost:  $ 300.00
4. Audio Books with Whispernet capabilities in order to support students who need educational support.  These books can be used in the library or in the classroom through installation on the Kindles or iPads.   Cost:  $ 300.00
5. 6 Headphones with microphones to allow students to not only consume media but use the microphones to create as well as communicate with others both close and far.  

Cost:  $ 200.00

Along with the listening center, one aspect of technology that I would really like to purchase this year is two Go-Pro Cameras.  This will not only provide educational support for teachers (such as gym teachers and assessing movement) but will also encourage students to support their learning through creativity and engagement.   

6. Go-Pro Cameras which will allow students to support their learning and illustrate their experiences through video.          Cost:  $ 600.00

Total Cost:  $ 4600

While the Listening Center will take almost half my equipment budget, it is money well spent and will support the learning expectations of our students.  According to number 3 of those Learning Expectations, “Students will have access to and learn to use technology effectively and appropriately.”  By creating the Listening Center, students will be able to not only have access to the technology to let them learn but have instruction on how to use them appropriately in order to produce a creative product.