Educational Applications
This element includes issues that relate to the instructional and administrative educational applications that will make use of the infrastructure "highway," which is referenced in the "Connectivity" section.
Note: All Goals and Targets below are from the 2003-2009 Educational Technology Plan for Virginia.
Goal 1 • Improve teaching and learning through the appropriate use of network-accessible educational applications.
Targets
1. Teaching and learning resources that effectively support the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) have been identified, communicated, and developed.
Current Status of this Target in RCPS
- RCPS purchased licenses for each school for Skills Tutor, an online intervention tool which students in grades 3-6 use to improve SOL skills.
- RCPS purchased Read 180 setups for all middle and high schools including server, workstations, software, and comprehensive remedial reading program. This program has proven to be very effective in working with remedial reading students at middle and high school.
- RCPS purchased subscriptions for high school math classes for ExploreLearning.com and Geometer's Sketchpad.
- Individual elementary schools have purchased software, such as Computer Classroom, for their K-2 students, which support the SOLs in those grades.
- RCPS has installed various technology tools, such as ePat, for students to help prepare for SOL tests.
- RCPS has created a website with over 15,000 sample SOL questions, all homemade by teachers and college students. Students access this website to practice SOL skills.
- The entire RCPS K-12 Mathematics Curriculum and the Language Arts Curriculum are available on the RCPS website. This website contains many, many resources and links.
- RCPS conducts online evaluations of resources for teachers through our website.
RCPS Action Plan for this Target
- RCPS will annually evaluate its subscription to SkillsTutor and/or other online services.
- RCPS will regularly update the Read 180 setups including server, workstations, software, and comprehensive remedial reading program.
- RCPS will continue to purchase subscriptions for high school math classes for ExploreLearning.com.
- RCPS will continue to evaluate and purchase software for SOL remediation.
- RCPS will evaluate software appropriate for SOL skills, especially in Language Arts and Math, for a district-wide purchase for K-2 students.
- RCPS will continue to build the 15,000 item database of sample SOL questions, all homemade by teachers and college students and will refine the site to make it easier for teachers to post their own sample questions.
- Besides Math and Language Arts, other RCPS K-12 curriculums will be posted on the RCPS website.
- All textbook adoption committees will investigate curriculum materials that can be delivered electronically to students.
- RCPS teachers will continue to evaluate SOL resources using a convenient, online format.
Goal 2 • Promote and develop Web-based applications, services, and resources.
Targets
1. All schools are participating successfully in the Virginia Web-based SOL Technology Initiative.
Current Status of this Target in RCPS
- All schools have completed Stage 2 certification for the Web-based SOL Technology Initiative.
- RCPS has tested over 20,000 middle and high school students online.
- RCPS has created a website with over 15,000 sample SOL questions, all homemade by teachers and college students. Students access this website to practice SOL skills.
- School test coordinators and teachers have been trained in their role in the Web-based SOL Technology Initiative.
RCPS Action Plan for this Target
- RCPS will continue to test all EOC tests online.
- RCPS will test all middle school SOL tests online.
- Beginning in 2009, RCPS will test elementary school students using online SOL tests.
- County-wide committees will evaluate technology resources used to prepare students for the Standards of Learning assessments and recommend products for division purchase.
- RCPS will continue to build the 15,000 item database of sample SOL questions, all homemade by teachers and college students and will refine the site to make it easier for teachers to post their own sample questions.
- Additional staff members and teachers will be trained to further implement the Web-based SOL Technology Initiative.
2. School divisions use Web-based applications for state data collection, warehousing, and reporting.
Current Status of this Target in RCPS
- RCPS has staff members expertly knowledgeable in SASIxp which is used for data collection and reporting, division-wise.
- RCPS staff members have developed numerous queries for SASIxp in order to efficiently extract data for reports and decision making.
- Administrators are trained in SASIxp-specific skills including sessions at the annual RCPS Administrative Inservice and local inservices.
- Teachers are trained in CLASSxp and Integrade specific skills including sessions at the RCPS Summer Technology Academy and local inservices.
RCPS Action Plan for this Target
- RCPS will replace SASIxp with a newer, more efficient online student information system (SIS)
- RCPS will actively participate in the EIMS project sponsored by the state Department of Education for statewide data collection, warehousing, and reporting.
- RCPS will integrate its information systems into a SIF schema including the student information system, the library system, the school lunch system, and the transportation system.
- RCPS will continue to train administrators and staff in SIS skills including sessions at the annual RCPS Administrative Inservice and local inservices.
- Teachers will be trained in SIS specific skills including sessions at the RCPS Summer Technology Academy, New Teacher Orientation, and local inservices.
3. Use of a common set of data definitions allows standard communication and interpretation of student information.
Current Status of this Target in RCPS
- RCPS has staff members expertly knowledgeable in SASIxp which is used for communication and interpretation of student information.
- SASIxp has been set up throughout RCPS with a common set of data definitions.
- RCPS staff members have developed numerous queries for SASIxp in order to efficiently extract data for communication and interpretation of student information.
RCPS Action Plan for this Target
- RCPS will replace SASIxp with a newer, more efficient online student information system (SIS)
- RCPS will integrate its information systems into a SIF schema including the student information system, the library system, the school lunch system, and the transportation system.
- RCPS will continue to train administrators in SIS skills for communication and interpretation of student information using a common set of data definitions.
- The existing set of data definitions used in RCPS will continually be reviewed and redefined as necessary.
- RCPS staff members will continue to develop queries for its SIS in order to efficiently extract data for communication and interpretation of student information.
4. Every school has an efficient, automated library media center connected to the Internet and networked to appropriate learning areas.
Current Status of this Target in RCPS
- All RCPS schools have an efficient, automated library media center connected to the Internet. In 2007 RCPS updated the hardware, software, and networking within each school's media center.
- The school's library catalog is available online
- Other internet-based resources, such as Gale Databases, are available throughout the school and linked from the RCPS website.
- Media retrieval systems in RCPS media centers are not state-of-the-art.
RCPS Action Plan for this Target
- The library system, recently updated, will continue to be maintained as hardware and networking requirements increase.
- Other internet-based resources will be evaluated for their appropriateness and feasibility and purchased when possible.
- Media retrieval systems will be evaluated and purchased when feasible.
5. School divisions have strategies for providing community access to school-based technology and applications.
Current Status of this Target in RCPS
- High school computer labs are open in the evenings for student and public use. The reality is that few members of the public peruse these labs.
- The high school Lecture Rooms are regularly used by community groups. These Lecture Rooms are multimedia equipped including ceiling mounted projection system, sound system, networked desktop computer, etc.
- Some schools offer Open House nights where parents can visit and use technology resources found at these schools.
- For privacy protection reasons, RCPS has elected to not pursue providing parents access to our student information system via the web.
RCPS Action Plan for this Target
- At each school, the schools' administrators and its Technology Committee will investigate the feasibility of making at least one of its computer labs available in the evening to the public.
- High schools will continue to offer their Lecture Room to community groups.
- RCPS will continually evaluate the privacy protection issue of providing parents access to our student information system via the web, especially with SASIxp being replaced with an online SIS.
Goal 3 • Offer digital learning opportunities at state and local levels.
Targets
1. Web-based courses and staff development activities are provided.
Current Status of this Target in RCPS
- RCPS has two-way audio/video conferencing equipment at each high school and the Central Office.
- To date, the conferencing equipment has seen limited use; no video conferencing courses and only very limited staff development has taken place with this equipment.
- Two video conferencing equipment systems are currently available for school use
- RCPS has cooperated with Blue Ridge Community College in offering web-based courses in business education. Students at each of the high schools have successfully taken BRCC courses online using the RCPS network.
RCPS Action Plan for this Target
- Existing video conferencing equipment will be used in instructional settings so that instructional resources and/or personnel at one site can be shared with the others.
- Additional video conferencing equipment will be purchased so this opportunity is more widely available.
- RCPS will explore, procure, and/or develop a wide range of e-learning opportunities for students and staff development.
2. Schools are able to receive digital television broadcast signals and effectively utilize the enhanced capabilities.
Current Status of this Target in RCPS
- Middle and high schools have Channel One television networks and can receive digital television broadcast signals.
- Elementary schools can receive digital television broadcast signals and can connect classroom televisions to this signal.
- RCPS is an active user of WVPT-provided educational resources.
RCPS Action Plan for this Target
- RCPS will upgrade all media centers so that digital television signals can be broadcast throughout the school.
- RCPS will continue to be an active user of WVPT-provided educational resources.