Technology @ GHPS

TECHNOLOGY @ G.H.P.S.

The only real measure of the effectiveness of Tech­nologies and technology-enhanced educational pro­grams is the extent to which they promote and sup­port students' engaged learning and collaboration. Providing teachers and staff with technologies to support planning, assessment, and monitoring of stu­dents will add to the district's goals of high student achievement, equity and diversity, and collabora­tion.
The proliferation and availability of technol­ogy among members of an organization does not necessarily make that organiza­tion more productive. Important ground­work must be laid. People must be prepared, proper­ly trained, and continuous technical support must be provided. It is not true that if we just spread technology around, people will eventually learn how to use them. They will learn if we provide the support and opportunity for training. With a network, the computers are connected, and they allow for the true collabo­rative power of networked computers which can make for a more productive staff. This connectivity to resources and collaboration is what’s best for a district our size, and it’s crucial to our suc­cess.

Besides having a powerful computer network, we have built a knowledgeable network of people in our organization. Three district Technicians, support our users and equipment, & are charged with working with teachers and students to further the effective use of technology. Problem solv­ing skills, teamwork and collaboration skills, technical expertise, and effective communication are the target outcomes.

Some of the things we have accomplished in the past 9 years:

• upgraded 10mb hubs to 100mb switches;
  
• connected 1st teacher computers and then student computer to the Internet;
  
• upgraded servers to improve network file storage and performance;
  
• added a T-1 line to improve access to the Internet;
  
• upgraded our e-mail system;
  
• converted our print services for improved performance;
  
• moved our basic ftp website to a content managed website and expanded individual school building websites, which are now managed by each building;
  
• working with curriculum personnel we implemented the Accelerated Reading program (from Renaissance Learning) in 1999 at North Godwin Elementary. In 2000 we upgraded from a stand alone DOS based version to a windows networked version and in 2001 we expanded our Accelerated Reading program to South and West Elementary schools as well as Godwin Middle School. We added Star Reading, Accelerated Math, Star Math and Star Early Literacy applications as well. In 2004-2005 we moved our 4 databases into one central web based database, this allows some of our applications to run right from the web browser. This also allowed us to maintain all our data in one location. In the summer of 2005 we will be moving all of our Renaissance Learning applications to web based.
  
• continued emphasizing integrating technology into the curriculum;
  
• we implemented the Teacher Technology Initiative and provided various forms of technology through this program that reached all levels of instruction k-12 and at our Learning Center;
  
• maintained a mixed environment of approximatly 1000 Windows based computers, as well as Novell, Windows and Linux servers.
  
• improved our internet filtering and overall network security.
  
• working with Kent ISD we are connecting our data to the ISD data warehouse which will provide reports and analysis of the data to our teachers and administrators.
  
• we have also added in the past 9 years smartboards, digital, digital camera, scanners, projectors and other multimedia equipment that assist teachers in delivering curriculum and integrating technology into the classroom.
  
  Teachers, students, and staff in our school district have joined the net­worked world. Internet access to each desktop in the district empowers everyone to be more productive, in more creative ways. Networked collaboration and communication opportuni­ties are re-shaping the way we work and learn. IT Services continue to play an important role by providing network and PC support to the buildings. The district is continuously assessing its technology landscape and looking for different ways to do things. Improving how technology works in our district is made even more difficult with increasing budget constraints. However, designing, implementing, and maintaining improvements to our data infrastructure are essen­tial. These improvements play a role in how students, teachers, administrators, and support staff interact with one another, and learn from each other.

Where do we go from here?

Technology is constantly changing and we will change with it as necessary to deliever a high quality education to the students of Godwin Heights Public Schools.

We first need to add technology standards for teachers and for students at all levels. We may find that our curriculum will lead us to the use of Mobile wireless labs, so that any classroom can become a computer lab.
We are currently working on this with the Michigan K-12 Technology Standards.

Maybe we will find our curriculum will lead us to handheld pocket pc's where students and staff might use them for homwork, storage devices, assessment tools, and more.

Another possibility is adding Portable Video Conferencing between our buildings so with a web camera classrooms in all our buildings can interact with each other via the technology.

Wherever the curriculum needs lead us, one thing is sure, we will provide a high level of professional, support to our staff and students as we maintain and advance the technology at GHPS.