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The innovative Technology Modernization Program (Tech Mod) is designed to
refresh over 40,000 computers on a four-year cycle. Originally called The
Global Access Project, the program was established to implement the vision
of the Board of Education’s Policy on Educational Technology (1993),
which mandates that all students and staff have equitable access to technology
resources.
Designed as a multi-year plan, to be implemented between
1994 and 2000, Global Access served as a blueprint
to install building wide-area
networks in all
schools, connect the schools to a district wide-area network, and place
the latest technology equipment in all media centers
and classrooms.
By 2000
the Global Access Project evolved to the Tech Mod Program to refresh out-of-date
infrastructure, equipment, and software throughout the school
system. Tech Mod provides schools with upgraded networks, a lower student
to computer ratio, enhanced file servers, technology support for all
schools, and on-site staff development in curriculum
integration and management
applications. Software and online resources are seamlessly integrated into
classroom instruction.
Teachers
and students develop a variety of skills – from writing with
word processing software to researching with the Web and other electronic
resources to creating multimedia projects and using instructional software
for reading and math. In the 21st century, the technology focus for all students
is on learning how to access, analyze, apply, and synthesize information
sources in today’s communication world to develop a lifetime of learning
skills.
The increased access to up-to-date computers and network
technologies provided through the Tech Mod program
has yield the following results:
- The rate of reaching the state standard for student
to computer ratio has been accelerated.
- The refreshment cycle, that begins in Summer 2003,
will assure continued progress toward reaching
and/or exceeding state standards.
- The percentage
of students that use technology to gather information has increased
from FY01 to FY02 by 8%. FY03 data answer a different
question
than in previous years making comparison invalid. These data form the
baseline for future measurement.
- The user support specialist to computer ratio
has improved resulting in improved response time
to service
calls.
- The percentage of uptime of the wide area
network, which provides access to Internet resources, has improved.
- Between FY00 and FY02 the percentage
of staff that use technology to maintain student data has risen by
10% to reach 98%. (FY03 data has been
collected,
however, in a different format. FY03 data in this area forms the baseline
for future measurement).
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