MaturityModelBenchmarks

BigFootCountySchools KarrieY.Cox,ITTech/Librarian BigFootCountySchools1rangetopridge,WarnerMountainRange,California T:5302330646DD:530233713E:karriecox@frontiernet.net

MaturityBenchmarkEvaluation

Pseudonym:BigFootCountySchools Name:KarrieY.Cox BigFootCountySchoolsislocatedinthePacificNorthwestregiononaremote rangeinNorthernCalifornia:412659.619N120153.807W.Studentsservedare locatedatthefollowingsites:412638N1205213W ,415715N1212833W , 413145N1201024W ,and412914N1203233W .Thegeographicareais3,994 squaremilesandborderstheBermudaTriangleandArea51.Severalfederalagencies managealargeportionofthelandincludingtheUnitedStatesFishandWildlifeService, UnitedStatesForestService,BureauofLandManagement,andNationalParkService. BigFootCountySchoolshas39studentsand21staffmembersandarelocatedwithina 120mileradius. AftermyevaluationofBigFootCountySchools,basedontheMaturity BenchmarksSurveySheet,Ihaveidentifiedanddiscussedthefollowingcategories: AdministrativeFilter 1. PolicyBehavioral:IntelligentResource/Infrastructure:Intelligent a. BigFootCountySchoolsratedintheintelligentbehavioralcategorybecause therearecomputersavailableforeveryone. b. TheTechnologyPlanincorporatesallsitesthatstaffandstudentsarelocated, includestechnologyintegrationupdates,replacementpolicyforobsolete equipment,andhasatechnologytaskforcethatincludesrepresentativesfrom allstakeholders.Inaddition,staffandteacherscouldnotworkwithout technologyintegration.Allsiteshavesmartboardsceilmountprojectors,and videoconferencingavailable. 2. PlanningBehavioral:IntelligentResource/Infrastructure:Intelligent a. BigFootCountySchoolsfellintotheintelligentcategoryratingforboth behavioralandresource/infrastructure.Reasoningforthisisbecausethe technologyadministrativeplanninghasaformalplanandconnectstoother planningeffortsinalldepartments.Thecurrenttechnologyplanisupfor renewalin2013whereallstakeholdersinvolvedinthetechnologytaskforce willupdatetheplantoreflectfurtherevolvingtechnologytoolsandhardware. Inaddition,theplanincorporatesallstaffandstudentseducationalneeds. Lastly,aCaliforniaTechnologyAssistantProject,akaCTAP,Liaison participatesin12techplanningmeetings.Thisisimportantastheyprovide welltrainedassistancetoidentifyanyareasofweakness. b. Reviewofthecurrenttechnologyplanhappensquarterlyforreviewing purchasesandbudgetITstaffmanagementreviewisongoingOveralltech planreviewhappensannually.AllofthishelpstheTechnologyPlantokeepon

trackwithcurrentandfutureimplementation. 3. BudgetBehavioral:IntelligentResource/Infrastructure:Intelligent a. BigFootCountySchoolsbudgetdrivesalldecisions.Budgetfor2012/13 schoolyearis$365,000,whichispartoftheestimatedannualimplementation costsfortheterm. b. BigFootCountySchoolshasbeeninvolvedwithongoingEETTformulafunds newFederal,State,andprivategrantsdonationsblockgrantscategorical fundsfundraisersanddonations.TheGeneralFundprovidesbudgetfortheIT departmenttocontinueeffortsonimplementationandtraining.Multiple budgetsfromTitleI,II,helptofundtechnology. 4. AdministrativeInformation:Behavioral:IntelligentResource/Infrastructure: Intelligent a. TheBigFootCountySchoolstechnologyplanprovidesasummaryof teachersandadministrativecurrenttechnologyskills.Approachesfor professionaldevelopmentincludewebinars,podcasts,forums,blogs, videoconferencing,CDtraining,directclassroominstruction,computerlab instruction,conferences,andinservices. b. AllclassroomsareconnectedtotheInternetandallteachersuseemailfor schoolcommunicationswhichisGoogleBased.AdministrationuseEscape forthebusinessdepartmentandSEIS(SpecialEducationInformation System)forIEPs. CurricularFilter 1. ElectronicInformation:Behavioral:IntelligentResource/Infrastructure:Intelligent a. Electronicinformationaccessesprovideequitableaccesstechnologyin schoolsthroughoutthecountybyhavinginstalledandmaintaintechnology configurations,whichsupportstudentachievementofgradelevelcontent standards.Technologyconfigurationsdesignedtomeettheneedsof studentsregulareducation,alternativeeducation,andspecialeducation. b. Studentsandstaffareheavilydependentoninformationresourcesanduse themdaily.Teachershavedevelopedtheirownclassroomwebsitesand studentsusewebbasedresourcesfortheirclassroomwork.Forinstance, theyusepodcastingprograms,VoiceThread,Blogger/wikis,Prezi,Slide Share,andavarietyofotherresources.Resourcesarecomprehensiveand include:eTextbooks,Platoslearningsystem,AcceleratedReader,Edmark Reading,MicrosoftOfficeSuite,videostreamingvendorresourcesand eEncyclopedias.ThereisInternetaccessforwebsiteresourcesforstudents andstaff,butarerestrictedbyafirewallprogramoncertainphrases, keywords,andwebsites. 2. Assessment:Behavioral:IntelligentResource/Infrastructure:Intelligent a. Instructorsandadministrationusetechnologyatallgradelevelsforlearning assessment. b. Technologyincudes:studentInformationSystem(SIS)Aeries,

PowerSchool,TopsProorPROMIStotrackattendance,assignments, gradesandassessmentdata.AssessmenttoolsincludeWoodcock JohnsonII,PLATOlearningsystem,RenaissanceLearning,Accelerated Reader,StarMath,SpellVoQuiz,andUSATestPrep. 3. CurricularIntegration:Behavioral:IntelligentResource/Infrastructure:Intelligent a. Technologyisusedtohelpstudentspracticecurriculumskillsinall curriculumareas.Theprimariesfocusinonimprovingstudentachievement inrading,writing,andmathematicstoassisttheminbecomingproductive citizensandsuccessfulintheirchosencareerfields. b. Studentinformationresourcesinclude:RenaissanceLearningDiscovery Learningvideostreaming,MicrosoftOfficeSuites,WebstersCollegiate Dictionary,WordQ,EdmarkReadingProgram,Microtype,ReadNaturally, MavisBeaconTeachesTyping,MathSuccess,Mycommunity,FileMaker Pro,ClassAction,RosettaStone. 4. TeacherUse:Behavioral:IntelligentResource/Infrastructure:Intelligent a. Teachersworkisnotpossiblewithouttheuseoftechnologyonadaily basis,thecomputers,Internet,andthePrometheansmartboards. b. AllteachershavePrometheanBoards(smartboard),ceilingmount projector,teachercomputer,andstudentcomputers.Eachclassroomhas adigitalcamera,digitalvideocamera,andthreeiPads. 5. StudentUse:Behavioral:IntelligentResource/Infrastructure:Intelligent a. Studentsrelyheavilyonusingtechnologyforresearch,assignments,and assessment.Thoughtherearecomputerbasedsoftwareavailable, studentsusewebbasedpresentationtoolsforassignmentscreatively. SupportFilter 1. StakeholderInvolvement:Behavioral:IntelligentResource/Infrastructure: Intelligent a. Stakeholderrolesarefocusedonimprovingstudentachievementinreading, writing,andmathematicstoassisttheminbecomingproductivecitizensand successfulinthefuture. b. Educationalservicesstaffareresponsibleforcurriculum,instruction,and assessmentofstudentprograms.ITstaffcoordinatetheimplementationof hardware,software,anddatatransmission.Teachersrepresenttheinterests ofregular,alternative,andspecialeducation.Parentsareadvocatesforthe childrenforincreasedcommunication.Studentsprovideinsightsintocurrent technologytrendsofyoungpeople. 2. AdministrativeSupport:Behavioral:IntelligentResource/Infrastructure:Intelligent a. Businessstaffisresponsibleforidentifyingfundingsystems,grantsand awards,andassureproperuseofthetechnologyfundandstayingwithinthe budget.Administrationoverseesoverallimplementationandinputofhow

technologycanbettersupportteachingandlearning. 3. Training:Behavioral:IntelligentResource/Infrastructure:Intelligent a. Trainingisavailabletoallstaffasrequested,quarterly,andannuallyatthe beginningoftheschoolyear.Inaddition,staffandteachersdoinformal trainingonanasneedbasis. b. Expertsinavarietyoflevelsofknowledgesupporttraining.TheLibrarian providesjustintimetraining,andselfstudytrainingresourcesontheschools website.Staffhavetheopportunytoattendconferencesforadditionaltraining whenneeded. 4. Technical/InfrastructureSupport:Behavioral:IntelligentResource/Infrastructure: Intelligent a. Allstaffutilizesformalandinformalsupport,whetheritisforsimplefixesor moreindepthhelpwhenneeded. b. ThereistwohalftimeITstaffavailable,whichcoversafulldaybetweenthe twoofthem.Inaddition,theLibrarianprovidesjustintimetraining,and selfstudytrainingresourcesontheschoolswebsite.Staffalsohave opportunitiestoattendconferencesforadditionaltraining.

ConnectivityFilter 1. LocalAreaNetworking(LAN):Behavioral:IntelligentResource/Infrastructure: Intelligent a. Allstaffusesthelocalareanetworkdailyandhasaccessinformationwhen needed.Studentshavecomputersavailableinclassrooms.Bothstaffand studentshaveaccesstotheinternetwithfilteredaccessincompliancewith theCIPAact. b. Thelocalareanetworkvariesateachschool.Theconfigurationsare3meg multilinkbundle,10meg,100meg,andaDS1(T1). 2. DistrictAreaNetworking(WAN):Behavioral:IntelligentResource/Infrastructure: Intelligent a. Throughthewideareanetworkstaff,teachers,andstudentsusethe systemdailyandareabletoaccessinformationneeded,suchas research,email,etc. b. Theinfrastructure:HSNCentricwhichcomprisestwoDS3(T3)/1000 meg/WAN40meg.100meg/WAN40meg100meg/WAN3meg, 100meg/Wan1.5meg.Wirelessconnectionsarsecureandonly availableinthemainofficesite. 3. InternetAccess:Behavioral:IntelligentResource/Infrastructure:Intelligent a. AllstaffandstudentsusetheInternetextensivelyforvideo,voiceand curriculumintegration. b. DirectInternetaccessisavailableatalllocationsthroughthehighspeed network.

4. CommunicationSystems:Behavioral:IntelligentResource/Infrastructure: Intelligent a. Emailisanintegralpartoftheschoollearningandsupport communications. b. Emailisthemaincommunicationsystemusedtointeractwithstaffaswell asmembersofthecommunity.Emailisavailableforallstaff. InnovationFilter 1. NewTechnologies:Behavioral:IntelligentResource/Infrastructure:Intelligent a. Staffmembersaccepttheintroductionofnewtechnologies,suchasour smartboards,buthavehadverylittletimetolearnhowtoincorporatethem priortousage.

2. ComprehensiveTechnologies:Behavioral:IntelligentResource/Infrastructure: Intelligent. a. Readilyavailablecomprehensivetechnologyispresentatallschoolsitesthat providetwowayvideoconferencing,voicerecognition,etc. b. Staffandstudentsinregularpracticeareusingtechnologyavailable. Inconclusion,IplacedtheBigFootCountySchoolsintothecategoryofIntelligent. Thetechnologyplanissolid,andprovidesroomforgrowthasnewtechnologiescome ontothehorizon.However,Iwonderhowmuchthestateoftheeconomywillaffecthow harditwillbetoacquiregrantsforincreasingbudgetsforthetechnologyplan.Theone thingthatwouldimprovethisplanistoprovidewirelessaccessatallschoolsitesandfor studentstobeableusetheirpersonaldevicesforclassroomwork.