Planning for Technology - school renovation and construction

Journal of Instructional Psychology, March, 2002 by Camilia Anne Czubaj

Components                  4                             3

Planning      Staff, community, & students    A technology plan
              Are informed about &            exists & efforts are
              implementing components of      being made to build
              the tech plan.                  staff, student, &
                                              broader community
                                              awareness.

Components                  2                             1

Planning      A technology plan               No technology plan
              being developed with            exists.
              staff & community
              input.

(Jukes & McCain, 1998)

The Rockland Central School District in Garnerville, New York, developed a long-range technology plan they consider a "work-in-progress." This document is revised regularly and is kept brief. This allows for flexibility. The document is designed as a grid. As each year's technology plans are recorded, the grid then slides to the left for the next year. The district's technology committee revises it yearly and considers it to be a "draft" (Fries & Monahan, 1998). Across the top of the document are the school years in sequential order. Down the left side of the document are the five categories 0f technology planning that the committee considers: infrastructure, hardware, communication, staff development, and administration. An example of their entries for the category of infrastructure is as follows:

                 September 1997-             September 1998-
                 June 1998                   June 1999

Infrastructure   Expand wiring to one        Continue expansion of
                 additional grade.           wiring Of elementary
                                             buildings

                 Begin expansion of middle   Expand wiring so access is
                 School (MS) wiring to       provided to all teams.
                 bring classroom.

                 Develop high school (HS)    Carry on with HS wiring
                 wiring plan. Begin          plan.
                 implementation of plan.
                 Involves HS Tech. Comm.
                 Correct existing network
                 problems.

                 September 1999-
                 June 2002

Infrastructure   Complete wiring for all
                 elementary classroom.

                 Complete MS wiring so all
                 classroom have access.

                 Complete implem. of HS
                 wiring.

(Fries & Monahan, 1998)

Centers of Communities

Current research suggests that classroom configurations need to be varied for optimum learning with collaborative problem solving, personalization, and technology. Students achieve best when the community values lifelong learning. For lifelong learning, schools need to be centers for the community. They need to be accessible during school hours, nights, and weekends. Community-based learning environments are being developed through educator-architect collaborations. One innovative approach extends the stand-alone school so that the entire community is serviced. Senior citizens will be able to utilize the gym and health facilities while immigrants will be able to attend evening English classes. The same holds true for technology. Community members can use the technology at the school and enhance or update their skills with lifelong learning programs and classes.