Spaulding High School and Barre Technical Center Campus

(Full Campus)Technology Committee

 

Minutes from Meeting on Monday, September 26, 2005

8:45 – 9:30 AM

Room 124

 

Present: Scott Griggs (Facilitator), Linda McSweeney, Marc Sinclair, John Howell, Karen Baron, Steven Grindle, John Pandolfo, Jeff Maher

 

Next meeting will be Thursday, October 27 at 3:00PM in Room 124.

Regular meeting times after that will be the 3rd Thursday of every month at 3:00 PM in Room 124.

 

1.      Committee Definition

  • The Mission of the committee was discussed.  Ideas put forth included “To make technology better for the school.”  and also “To make students masters of technology.”  Some felt it is important to emphasize not just students to underscore the importance of providing training and time for staff to become competent users and teachers of technology.  A mission of “Making students masters of technology by developing and maintaining a staff which follows best methods and practices with regards to technology.” was the outcome of this discussion, but may be revisited.
  • Membership was discussed.  In particular it was a concern that no member of the tech team was present.  A goal of including the tech team on the committee was agreed upon.

 

2.   General Discussion

  • State Technology Standards were discussed.  There are separate standards for academic and tech curricula.  The goal would be to have students meet these standards.  Linda McSweeney to give a presentation on this at the end of the meeting.
  • How we deliver technology to students was discussed.  The “embedded” philosophy has not necessarily worked (where teachers teach technology and students learn it in the context of other content courses; i.e. students learn to use spreadsheets in their math course).  The need was expressed to have a mandatory course (for all students), possibly in the Freshman Academy.

 

3.   Priorities

  • Recommendations for Freshman Academy
  • Recommendations for distribution of Technology $$
  • Continuation of Education of Staff - $$ and TIME
  • Policy Issues

1.      Student and Faculty Accounts

2.      Student and Faculty Web Pages

3.      Removable Media and email access

4.      Student Laptops and Wireless Hubs

 

In discussing the above points it was agreed that the current Computer Use Policy is obsolete and needs revamping based on the development of technology over the last several years.  The need to balance SECURITY and STABILITY with EASE OF USE was recognized.

 

4.   Linda McSweeney presented a PowerPoint Slide Show on the Vermont Grade 9-12 Technology Expectations (attached)