| A ICT in Boissevain School
Technology is used extensively in Boissevain School, some of the current and past uses and achievements;
- Boissevain School was chosen as one of Canada's top 30 high schools in MacLean's magazine August 22 issue under the technology section of its "Great Canadian Schools' issue.
- In 2002 Boissevain School was featured on the Apple Canada web site as an "Apple Success Story". The article was then published in the Nov/Dec '02 issue of TEACH magazine and in the Manace journal.
- Innovative ICT projects in Boissevain School;
- History of Canada in stop motion
- class newsletter in grade 4
- expansion of the middle school/early years mentoring program for ICT skills
- several entries into the film contests
- cooperative video project between Senior French and the Grade 5 French class
- grade 11 and 12 English news programs and grad videos.
- a student created movie on the influences on teens (this video was shown at the Provincial AFM conference and subsequently at 2 other High Schools in Manitoba!)
- The grade 12 English and DVC classe "Major Movie" project earned an "Honourable Mention" in the "Excellence in Technology Contest" sponsored by Thomas Nelson Publishers.
- Funding & Grants
- Boissevain School has successfully applied for funding from the Boissevain & Morton Foundation. $3 000 has been granted to date. Purchases include microphones, software for use in video production, and coax cable, and wireless routers.
- The ICT committee under the direction of Mr. Nantais applied for membership in Industry Canada's Network of Innovative Schools. The membership also included grants totaling $30,000.00.
- Boissevain School and Killarney School's joint grant proposal is successful and they are awarded a $50,000 ICT grant from MB Education (2001).
B Student Learning & Curriculum
Technology is a tool to enhance motivation and learning, research, communicate, evaluate and analyze information. Technology should be infused across the curriculum into all subject areas and at all grade levels.
Goals
i) Acquire basic computer literacy & keyboarding skills by the end of grade 8.
- Utilize the Literacy with ICT continuum.
- Continue keyboarding in grades 4-8.
ii) Continue to offer a variety of Senior Years ICT Courses
- ICT courses will continue to be offered as separate credits.
- Infuse ICT courses into existing courses as an extra half credit. i.e. Spreadsheets 25S into Applied Math 20S.
- Offer modular courses.
iii) Teach basic Media Literacy and the ethical and responsible use of the internet to all grade levels.
- Staff will be encouraged to teach basic media literacy and the ethical and responsible use of the internet.
- Web sites about media literacy will be maintained as part of the school web site.
iv) Use ICT to provide opportunities for collaboration with students in the school, province, country and around the world.
- Student mentoring.
- Continue to enter contests such as the River Valley Video Contest.
- E-mail pals.
- Collaborative projects with other schools/classes.
C Teachers & Professional Development
Goal
Teachers will feel comfortable using technology as a personal and teaching tool. Teachers will seek appropriate training, develop resources, and their own technology skills to implement the use of technology across the curriculum.
• Use e-mail, report card programs, the internet as a research tool, presentation software, etc.
• Make use of the CITI project for integration and resources.
• Staff should be aware of and be actively searching for resources and information about infusing ICT into their curricula.
• Teachers will be encouraged to develop an on-line presence (class or personal web-sites)
• High school teachers will maintain a web page with the dates of tests and major assignments.
• All staff are encouraged to make suggestions for useful resources and software packages for K- GRADE 12.
• All staff will be encouraged to submit items for the ICT library.
• Staff will be encouraged to attend training and workshops outside of the school. i.e. ManACE
D Administration
Goal
The administration will provide support for ICT training and resources by providing funding, encouragement and guidance.
- Lobby the school board and senior administration for increased ICT funds for infrastructure, Professional Development and increased ICT leader time. (Lobbying to be done through the division ICT committee, presentations and letter writing.)
- Investigate sources of technology grants, when available, and apply as appropriate.
- Provide representation at the school and division ICT meetings.
- All office memos and agendas will be sent to staff through email.
E ICT Leader
The ICT leader, in consultation with the administration & ICT committee will provide resources and training to help staff implement the Literacy with ICT continuum and use of technology across the curriculum.
- Utilize surveys to assess PD needs.
- Identify and implement useful resources and software for K- grade 12.
- Assist teachers with locating resources. i.e. activities, software, web sites, books, etc.
- Encourage the sharing of resources and expertise by all staff.
- Provide in-servicing for staff as needed / requested on the use of software, peripherals, internet, etc. (could be one on one, small groups, pull-out, full morning or afternoon workshops ).
- Continue to offer the "Geek Gathering" on an "as needed" basis.
- Encourage staff to seek additional training outside of the school. i.e. ManACE.
- Maintain a library of useful ICT resources and make it available to staff. Resources can include print, software or web resources.
- Distribute information on appropriate ICT resources that come to the ICT leaders attention.
The Boissevain School ICT leader will also have the following duties (these duties may be shared with other staff as deemed appropriate);
- Coordinate the review and revision of the ICT plan on a yearly basis.
- Prepare a list of recommended ICT needs/purchases for the following year.
- Review lab equipment and efficiency of programs offered each year (spring) and reported to the ICT Committee.
- Review Computer Use Policies annually and refer to the administration.
- Chair the school ICT committee and sit on the division ICT committee.
- Screen technology assistance forms and communicate needs /plans with the division technician.
- Administer (scheduling) and assist the division technician in maintaining the three computer labs, the office network and the server(s).
- Advising the school administration on technological matters in Boissevain School.
- Direct the creation & maintenance of a school web site.
- Assist the administration & secretaries with administrative software.
- Direct and assist the ICT Committee in conducting an assessment of ICT integration and impact on learning in Boissevain School.
** NOTE: this position is NOT a technician, it is an ICT leader whose main task is assisting staff and administration in using technology effectively & efficiently for learning .
F ICT Committee (Resource Team)
The ICT Committee (Resource Team) consists of interested staff members from the early, middle and senior years. Ideally there will be equal representation from each area of the school. The committee (resource team) will be assisted and directed by the school ICT leader.
Goal
The committee (resource team) will provide support, encouragement and guidance to the staff, ICT Leader, and Administration.
- Assist staff with software, basic troubleshooting, and integration of ICT into the curricula.
- Contribute items to the ICT resource library.
- Assess and recommend PD needs.
- Identify useful resources and software packages for K- grade 12.
- Make suggestions for software and hardware purchases.
The Boissevain School ICT Resource Team will also have the following duties. These duties may be shared with other staff as deemed appropriate. (*note: duties should not be a burden to resource team members, excessive time commitments are not required);
- Review ICT equipment and efficiency of programs offered each year (spring)
- Assess ICT integration and impact on learning in Boissevain School.
- Review the ICT plan, making recommendations for revisions on a yearly basis.
- Guide the implementation process of the school ICT plan.
- Review Computer Use Policies and make recommendations for changes.
- Provide inservice opportunities to staff on an individual or group basis as determined in conjunction with the school ICT leader.
- Provide representation on the school division ICT committee.
- Attend meetings of the school ICT committee (resource team).
- Other responsibilities as agreed upon with the ICT leader and school administration.
G Infrastructure and Equipment
The following is a brief summary of the existing hardware & software in Boissevain School. Complete lists of hardware are maintained by the DBO.
• Two Mobile Labs (10 MacBooks in each lab.)
• Three computer labs:
• HIGH SCHOOL MAC LAB : 25 eMacs, 3 scanners, Xerox Phaser printer, projector
• PC LAB; 25 Athlon Juggernaut Computers (Windows XP Pro) 1 scanner, and a Xerox Phaser printer, projector
• MIDDLE / EARLY YEARS LAB; 24 iMacs, Xerox colour Laser printer, projector
• Video Studio: 8 eMacs and 1 G4 tower, scanner. Studio has a green screen area.
• Ethernet (100 baseT) network & internet access throughout the school. Networking is supported by a Windows NT server & Apple OSX server (Appleshare IP/Mac Manager).
• High speed (DSL) internet access is available via 3 modems/routers to all parts of the school.
• Library has 14 working internet / workstations. Computerized search and database using Library World.
• Resource (grades 6 - 12) has 2 Mac and 3 PC stations for student use. Early years resource has 3 PCs & school counselor has a PC computer.
• Main Office includes 1 eMac, 1 Dell computer, iBook , MacBook an HP laser printer and Xerox laser printer.
• Each classroom has at least 1 eMac or iMac computer.
• Early Years classrooms each have 2 MacMinis.
• Other equipment includes: 14 digital cameras and 8 digital camcorders (1 prosumer model), DVD burner, 5 iBooks, keyboard interface in Band room. Vinyl Cutter & G4 in IA shop, several external firewire hard drives.
- Software used is varied and includes numerous titles. Major software titles include;
- MS Office 97, 98 & 2000 & Office 2004 for OSX
- Apple Works
- Adobe Photoshop CS & 5.5
- Macromedia Studio MX 2004
- Hyperstudio
- Macromedia Extreme 3D
- Apple's Final Cut Pro 3
- Ezedia MX
- Apple's iLife
- Cross Country Canada
- The Learning Equation (CGL)
- MS Internet Explorer / Safari
- Kid Pix
- Type to Learn & Type to Learn Jr.
- Etc. ....
The ICT leader, in consultation with the administration & ICT committee will maintain and enhance the ICT infrastructure and equipment at Boissevain School.
Goals
School wide Wi-Fi network. Estimate 6 wireless hubs placed in strategic locations would cover the school.
Install a colour laser printer in the office.
Enhance and maintain the network and server for storing & sharing of student/teacher files and sharing of resources. (Increase the speed and efficiency of the network and server.)
Establish QuickTime Broadcasting within the school. To allow broadcasting of announcements, news and student work throughout the school.
Mobile LCD projectors available for each 2-3 classrooms. The ultimate goal would be to have a projector and interactive whiteboard (SMART boards) available in each classroom.
Establish pods of 2-3 computers, preferably laptops, in each K- 12 classroom for ICT resource.
Provide one laptop for each teacher to use.
Replace aging equipment:
Digital Video Cameras. (Including batteries, tripods, cables, etc.)
Digital Still Cameras. (Including batteries, cables, etc.)
Laser printer - middle school lab.
- Maintain & upgrade the 3 Computer Labs & Video Studio.
- The upgrading of computers & peripherals will be determined by the programs offered.
- Encourage the School Board to provide extra funding for a complete upgrade of the school labs. This would allow upgrading of classroom computers and allow obsolete computers to be culled.
- Move the eMacs from the Early Years classrooms into the High School classrooms. (One eMac in each of the High School classrooms.)
- Establish pods of 2-3 computers in the Middle School classroom as learning centres & upgrade these computers as labs are upgraded.
- Enhance and maintain the network for storing & sharing of student/teacher files and sharing of resources.
- The division computer technician, will set up & maintain the xserve and NT server.
- Expand the number of MacBooks from 10 to 20 in each of the "pods".
- The ICT leader will administer the pod and the librarian will look after booking and monitoring of the pods.
- The "pods" will be available to K - 12 teachers.
- Update the computers in the library for more efficient access to the internet as computers become available.
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