Frederica Academy Technology Plan

I. Vision for Technology Use Technology Mission Statement

The technology mission of Frederica Academy is to provide access to technological experiences which will positively impact the future of our faculty, staff and students. Frederica Academy is committed to preparing students to be life-long learners in todays dynamic and ever-changing world. Students must be challenged to become effective problem-solvers, communicators of their ideas, and responsible collaborators in their world. We view technology as an effective and essential tool to achieving these goals and offer a technology curriculum that enhances the teaching and learning process with a wide variety of media by integrating technology throughout the curriculum and extending the boundaries of the learning environment. Our faculty, staff and students will be provided with access to modern technology and the Internet in all work areas and classrooms. The faculty and staff will be provided with professional learning opportunities that enable them to better help students learn through the use of technology. Appropriate software and online resources for each subject area discipline will be provided for all students. Student achievement will be positively impacted by the use of a variety of technological materials.

Technology Vision Statements

Lower school class rooms will be provided with at least 1 networked, Internet capable computer for student use. Available software must include: word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, desktop publishing, database, grade keeping, library catalog, accelerated reader, AdobeCS3, as well as a variety of educational software titles. Professional learning opportunities will be made available to teachers and staff in a variety of formats in order to meet the diverse needs and schedules of faculty and staff. At least one Instructional Coach/Administrator will attend trainings and conferences to remain current on the latest technology. Technology integration will be discussed at leadership meetings in an effort to plan and review technology initiatives.

II. Assessment of Current Services Technology Program

The technology program at Frederica Academy is an integral part of our academic program. We are using Windows computers in the photo lab, in classroom learning stations, in the media center, and in the academic learning center. In addition, the use of netbooks, Chromebooks, tablets, and iPads are integrated into the curriculum. Currently, there are 250 computers in use campus-wide for a student body of 400 students Pre K-12. More than 150 of these computers are for instructional purposes. The school has a substantial software collection and LCD projectors are in every classroom. There are 4 ActivBoards, 13 SmartBoards, and 34 document cameras in classrooms on campus.

Frederica Academy Technology Plan

Students in the lower school use a reading comprehension program that is accessible in all classrooms and the Media Center. The use of word processing contributes substantially to the success of creative writing classes. Keyboarding is addressed using an online typing program. Web 2.0 tools are used extensively. Students in the upper school use technology to aid learning in many areas. In physics and in chemistry, simulation programs allow students to explore interactions and situations impossible to duplicate in a laboratory. Laboratory tool kits and probes in conjunction with computers are being used in the lab. We offer optional classes and independent studies in advanced areas including Photoshop, Journalism, and a variety of online courses. Middle school and upper school students also use instructional programs in language arts, science, Spanish, and mathematics. Math and science classrooms use Texas Instrument wireless Navigator technology. The school newspaper is published using Windows computers and desktop publishing software. Creative writing and writing workshop classes are held in the classroom with laptop carts. Foreign language classes regularly use tablets and recording software as a language lab. Our campus-wide network has been expanded through the use of wireless technology. We are investigating the use of student laptop computers using tablets and iPads.

Program Goals
Technology is a necessary life skill that students need to use efficiently and effectively. Included in the list of technology skills is the use of digital media, the Internet, and Web 2.0 tools. Technology should support the curriculum. Technology should serve as a resource for teachers and improve classroom instruction. Technology should make record keeping effective and efficient for teachers, staff, and school administration.

Infrastructure
The Frederica Academy campus consists of eight buildings on 17 acres. The campus has 1 G connection to most buildings and 100 MB network connections to desktops. The buildings are wireless with 802.11 G. The Server room is a secure location with limited access located in the technology center. The network administrator reviews each servers status on a daily basis. Routine maintenance is performed bimonthly and major upgrades are performed in the summer.

Frederica Academy Technology Plan

III. Recommendations for Future Growth
We recognize that Frederica Academy is already doing many things well. Our focus has shifted from building an infrastructure, to maintaining it and using it to its fullest potential. To continue to improve our technology program, we will focus on these critical areas: Current instructional uses of technology need to be reviewed and new opportunities need to continue to be explored. The 5th grade laptop pilot project is one example of investigating new technology. The use of quality Internet resources and web 2.0 tools needs to continue to expand. A more systematic plan is being developed for working with classes and subject areas. Staff development opportunities for faculty and staff need to continue at least at the current level. The network hardware and computers need to continue to be replaced and upgraded on a regular basis. Our infrastructure including servers, switches, hubs and wireless points needs to be evaluated and reassessed.

IV. Professional Development

Professional learning opportunities are provided in-school. The classes are focused on a range of curricular, instructional, and technology topics. Technology topics include, but are not limited to, the following: using the ACTIVboard/SMARTboard and Interactive whiteboard software, using ACTIVotes/Clickers for formation and summative assessment, using the various software programs that develop instructional resources to aid in student achievement, and cloud computing.

V. Budget
Funding for technology will need to continue to grow at the current levels to support these initiatives. As the use of technology and the number of machines increase, funding from the general school budget will be increased to ensure that we can replace computers on a four year rotation, fund the salaries of the technology staff, provide network upgrades, ensure continued staff development, and purchase software.

VI. Communication/Marketing
The school leadership team and the technology committee will discuss progress toward the strategies and initiatives in the technology plan during scheduled meetings. This information will be shared at the school level through procedures established by the Head of School through its leadership team. Input from parents and community members will be sought during public forums and parent council meetings. In addition, student created multimedia projects will be accessible through a web server hosted by the school. Student success will be shared through the local newspaper, radio and at school meetings.

Frederica Academy Technology Plan

VI. Policy on Internet Access
Internet access is available to all employees and students. The goal in providing this service to employees and students is to promote educational opportunities by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication. Internet users are expected to use the Internet as an educational resource. The following rules and guidelines have been established to help ensure appropriate use of the Internet within the school.

Privileges
The use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use may result in cancellation of this privilege. Based upon the acceptable use guidelines outlined in this document, the school administrator will deem what is inappropriate use and the decisions of the system administrator will be final. Also, the system administrator may close an account at any time, as necessary. The administration, faculty, and staff of Frederica Academy may request the system administrator to deny, revoke, or suspend specific employee and/or student user rights and privileges.

Student Expectations in Use of the Internet

Students shall not write or send abusive messages to others or use inappropriate language. Students shall not access material that is obscene, pornographic, harmful to minors, or otherwise inappropriate for educational uses. Students will not respond to unsolicited online contact. Students shall not use school resources to engage in hacking or in attempts to otherwise compromise system security. Students shall be respectful of copyrighted material. Plagiarism is a serious offense and is a violation of this acceptable use policy. Students shall not engage in any illegal activities on the Internet. Students shall only use electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications for school-related purposes. Students shall not disclose their personal information, such as name, school, address, and/or telephone number or that of other students or school employees. In addition, the following conduct is prohibited: accessing, sending, creating, or posting materials or communications that are damaging to another persons reputation, abusive, obscene, sexually oriented, threatening or demeaning to another persons gender, race, or ethnicity, contrary to the schools policy on harassment, harassing, or illegal. Any violation of school policy and rules may result in loss of school-provided access to the Internet. Additional disciplinary action may be determined in keeping with existing procedures and practices regarding inappropriate language or behavior. When and where applicable, law enforcement agencies may be involved.

Frederica Academy Technology Plan

Employee Expectations in Use of the Internet
Employees shall not access material that is obscene or is pornographic. Employees shall not write or send abusive messages to others or use inappropriate language. Student names and/or photographs are not to be published on the Internet without parental permission. In addition, the following conduct is prohibited: accessing, sending, creating, or posting materials or communications that are damaging to another persons reputation, abusive, obscene, sexually oriented, threatening or demeaning to another persons gender, race, or ethnicity, contrary to the schools policy on harassment, harassing, or illegal. Any violation of school policy may result in loss of school provided access to the Internet. Additional disciplinary action may be determined in keeping with existing procedures and practices. When and where applicable, law enforcement agencies may be involved.

Enforcement of Policy
Frederica Academy uses software as a technology protection measures to block or filter access to Internet sites that violate the terms of this acceptable use policy. The technology protection measure that blocks or filters Internet access may be disabled by the school system technology director for bona fide research purposes by the Media Specialist or Network Administrator. The schools technology administrator may also override the technology protection measure that blocks and filters Internet access for a student to access a site with legitimate educational value that is wrongly blocked by the technology protection measure that blocks or filters Internet access. We will monitor students use of the Internet, through either direct supervision, or by monitoring Internet use history, to ensure enforcement of the policy.

Terms and Conditions

All terms and conditions as stated in this document are subject to the policies of Frederica Academy. These terms and conditions reflect the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior oral or written agreements and understandings of the parties. These terms and conditions shall be governed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of Frederica Academy.

Liability
The school will not be held liable for: Information stored on school corporation external drives, hard drives, or servers Information retrieved through the school computers, networks, or online resources Personal property used to access school computers, networks, or online resources Unauthorized financial obligations resulting from the use of school resources and accounts to access the Internet

Frederica Academy Technology Plan

VII. In Conclusion
Technology is a powerful instructional medium and todays students must be educated to use these tools. At Frederica Academy, students use technology to supplement instruction from teachers and to explore new areas of information. By encouraging independent use, we help develop the attitude that technology is a tool for learning available to all students and under their control. As students learn to use technology, they gain confidence in their ability to think and to learn, a primary goal of education.