West Islip Union Free School District

NYS Approved Instructional Technology Plan - Education in the 21st Century

The Mission Statement of the Technology Review Committee establishes a goal that shall place West Islip School District at the forefront of computer-based education as we progress into the next millennium. The implementation of our plans and proposals shall require a total commitment by the community to establish a school climate which incorporates the use of technology in all its aspects, and into all spheres of the learning process. Worldwide resources will be available to anyone at any time, any where, any place. The learning community of tomorrow will grow to be a network of educators and learners, each contributing their own expertise to a topic. A learner directed environment would be created where both teacher and student will be active participants in directing learning. With the use of multimedia technology, students will learn at their own pace and in their own style, building on the knowledge they bring to the classroom. As a result, our schools will graduate students who are well-versed in the many uses of the computer and other media, and who are well-prepared to function successfully in the world they enter upon graduation, be it college, military or business.

As our plan evolves, West Islip technological advances can be expected to enhance learning in the following manner:

Restructure curriculum making it more interesting, exciting and motivating through the use of multi-media technology and applications.
Create an educational environment that empowers all constituents.
Provide tools and resources to enhance student learning.
Be a resource to help students organize and express thoughts and ideas.
Track and record student achievements. Portfolios of student work will be maintained on the computer network beginning in Kindergarten.
Create opportunities for communications and projects in cooperation with other students locally, nationally and internationally.
Provide for the use of technology in all learning activities by equipping classrooms, offices, labs and libraries with jacks where users may attach their own laptop to the network.
Support the existence of a West Islip Website, which will be the foundation of a district-wide communications network. Noteworthy projects and items of interest will be on-line for perusal by all members of the community and interested parties worldwide.
Provide students with an enhanced curriculum in solar and space sciences through the integration of state-of-the-art technologies in the planetarium.
Provide a gateway to the world through Internet access, distance learning and e-mail.

As our plan evolves, West Islip students can expect technological advances to enhance their learning in the following manner:

Become self-directed learners, empowered to pursue individual learning paths.
Enhance "people skills" and develop the students’ capacity to work as part of a team.
Acquire the communication, analytical and evaluative higher order thinking skills to function in an information intense society.
Possess a strong understanding of technology and its impact upon the world.
Exhibit competence in using the computer as a tool for word processing, numerical calculations, retrieving information, researching topics and generating reports.
Develop skills to use multimedia equipment and applications effectively and efficiently.
Recognize the potential of communications through the Internet.
Be proficient in using the Internet as a research tool.
Be able to select the appropriate media components and integrate those into projects and assignments which cross disciplines.
Evaluate their own work and progress by selecting projects, assignments and reports which will become part of their portfolio.
Have career exploration opportunities through enhanced work-experience programs and school-business partnerships.

As our plan evolves, West Islip educators can expect technological advances to affect their teaching in the following manner as they:

Evolve as facilitators, coaches and mentors in the learning process to their students, parents and colleagues.
Become competent users of technology, utilizing various learning modalities to create a positive classroom learning climate and to optimize student achievement.
Utilize the Internet for research and communication.
Facilitate the academic growth of their students through the use of all technology: computer, video, voice, etc.
Use the computer network to maintain student records, create portfolios of student work and exhibit examples of student success.
Have access to computer-stored materials and curriculum guides to be used in preparing classroom activities.
As our plan evolves, West Islip administrators can expect:
An environment where interdisciplinary approaches to learning are encouraged and supported.
To have access to all student work and projects.
To see the Library/Media Center as an integral part of the learning environment.
To foster a school environment which provides insight into art, music, religion and diverse cultures.
To provide the opportunity to explore diverse disciplines capable through Distance Learning.
To encourage student activities and projects that foster cross-district participation.

To interact with all members of the school community via electronic mail and video conferencing for:

Parent Conferences
Home Learning
Homework
Testing Schedules
College Planning

To support the use of electronic:

Testing of Students
Processing of Grades
Distribution of Grades and Student Records to Parents, Colleges, etc.
Recording Student Attendance
Generation of IEP’s

As our plan evolves, the West Islip community can expect technological advances to provide:

The opportunity to become computer literate and comfortable with technology by providing training on a continuing basis in state-of-the-art computer software applications, hardware, etc.
Access to computer facilities to view student used software, enabling parents to become more involved in their child’s learning.
College level instruction and GED courses through the use of Distance Learning.
Access to technology facilities through Adult Education.
Access to the District Website.
The development of a school-community-library network to enhance research capabilities and on-line communications.