Technology
Mission:
Technology is integral to many parts of MCCPS. From student-built websites to our online CUE reporting system, technology can be found everywhere. The goal of technology department is to support our school’s mission of helping students reach their highest potential and enhance our innovative program. The technology department necessarily dedicates its efforts to increasing access to technology as well as seeking avenues to integrate technology as a productive tool in the classroom.
Technology Plan Progress:
Thanks to the efforts of the community, we have accomplished the first two phases of our technology plan. With our improved network and additional hardware, we are breaking ground on our final step of the plan. Our final phase will turn our classrooms and campus into a laboratory of learning. The end goal is have an environment where our students and staff to be participants and contributors in a 21st century community. This 21st century community will support the talents and needs of our community as well as giving students and staff access to the networks that promote their learning.
Acceptable Use:
We want to ensure every student experience using technology is safe and constructive. To that end we have created an Acceptable Use Policy (pdf 76kb) that outlines our expectations for the students when they are using technology.
Online Documents:
MCCPS offers use an online document editor. This service, provided by Google Docs, allows users to access and edit documents online. If they choose, each student will have their own account to store and edit documents. There are several advantages to this service:
- Students can access to the same documents at home and at school.
- Students can collaborate on the same document with other users.
- Students can share the document and get teacher and peer feedback.
- Students can upload existing Word, Powerpoint, and Excel documents.
- Students can export documents to Word, PDF, or text files.
With any service like this there are several factors be aware of:
- It requires an internet connection.
- The computer needs a recent browser to access Google Docs like: IE 6.0+ for Windows (except IE 6.0.26), Firefox 1.07, 1.5.0.6+ (Mac & Windows -- except for 1.0.8 on Windows and Mac, and 1.5b1 on Mac) Mozilla 1.7.12+, Netscape 7.2, 8.0, Camino 1.5+
- Just like any of the students' computer work at school, this account falls under our Acceptable Use Policy. This means MCCPS intends for students to use this account for school work. Inappropriate documents (ex. a document that causes offense or harm towards another person) may result in the account being disabled and possibly additional disciplinary measures. We expect that students will use this account appropriately and responsibly.
Technology Plan:
Phase One- Infrastructure: As we entered the 21st century, MCCPS suffered from an outdated network. During the expansion of the school, the new wing was wired for computer networking, but the older section has not been upgraded since its installation in the late 1990's. This existing network did not take into consideration some basic networking practices and was not dependable. The use of technology was hindered by a slow, unreliable infrastructure.
In order to provide the faculty and students access that they need, we need to upgrade our network infrastructure. Any increase in access and capability needs to rest soundly on a stable infrastructure. These infrastructure improvements include the rewiring of the old section of the building, the creation of a dedicated server room, and upgrading the network switches. With these improvements, MCCPS will give its students and staff the opportunity to work in a 21st century school.
Phase One Expenditures:
Rewiring materials (Cat5e cable, faceplates, etc): $3200
Rewiring labor: $2395
(3) Netgear switches (FS750T2NA- $330 each): $990
Dell Server Rack with UPS: $650
Total: $7,235
Phase Two- Improved Access: MCCPS's hardware acquisitions over the last three years were minimal. This was due to the laptop loan that consumed almost three quarters of the technology budget. In this situation, students and staff used computers that were increasingly slow given the modern demands we placed upon them.
It is necessary to upgrade the computer lab and the server that houses their accounts. With new desktops in the computer labs, the iBook laptops will be repurposed for use in the classroom. This situation will allow for increased access and reliability that our organization requires.
Phase Two Expenditures:
Apple Xserve Server: $4865
(25) Apple MacMini Desktop Computers (1.66Ghz 1Gig RAM $647 each): $16,175
(25) 17" LCD Monitors: ($160 each): $4,000
(25) USB keyboards and mice ($40 each): $1,000
Total: $ 26,040
Phase Three- Increased Functionality: With the improvements to our network and hardware, we have the opportunity to start innovating our program to enhance the learning that goes on within the school. Working with the faculty, students, and parents, the technology department will identify areas where new technology can support the needs of the students. The goal is to make each classroom a laboratory of learning, where the tools for learning are accessible. The technology department proposes integration of wireless access, LCD projectors, and additional laptops into pilot classrooms. Since this phase relies heavily on faculty and student input, the specific technology that we integrate depends upon the individual needs of the classroom.
Phase Three Expenditures:
TBD
