Traci NissenFall 2009

Pipestone County and Pipestone Area Schools

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The Critical Issue

A demographic study to show areas critical to successful integration of technology at Pipestone Area

Schools.

General Demographic Information

Race - Pipestone County

White - 94.4%African American - .2%American Indian - 1.9%Asian - .5%Hispanic / Latino - 2%2+ Races - 1.2%

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General Demographic Information

Germ

an

Dutch

Norweg

ian

Irish

Engl

ish -

Dutch

Swed

ish

Fren

ch -

Amer

ican

Indi

an -

Belgi

an

Siou

x - P

olish

- Sc

otch

-Irish

- Sc

ottis

h

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%33%

21%

15%

5%4%

3%2%

1%

Ancestry Group

4

General Demographic Information

Evangelical Protestant Mainline Protestant Catholic0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

Religions

Religions

5

General Demographic Information

Urban-Urbanized Clusters

Rural - Farm

Rural - Nonfarm

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500

4149

1633

4113

Population Type

Population

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General Demographic Information

Aggra

vate

d Ass

ault

Burgl

ary

Larc

eny-

Thef

t

Other

Ass

ault

Stol

en P

rope

rty

Vanda

lism

Sex

Offense

s

Drug

Viola

tions DUI

Liquo

r Law

Vio

latio

ns

Disord

erly

Con

duct

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

4 110

23

2 3 29

65

90

9

Arrests in Pipestone County

7

General Demographic Information

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 K0

20

40

60

80

100

120

# of Students by Grade

# of Students

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General Demographic Information

Teacher Years of Service

< 3 Years Expe-rience> 10 Years Expe-rienceOthers

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PAS Technology Survey

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Each time a new technology plan is approved, the district assesses technology use by teachers via a survey.

The following two slides describe teacher responses which scored 3 or less (on a scale of 0-5).

Because of the low responses, these are the areas on which the district should focus for the upcoming technology plan.

The last technology plan approved was for the years 2008-2010.

PAS Technology Survey Responses

TrainingTeacher Software Student

Software

0

1

2

3

4

5

2.92 2.89 2.88

Technology Needs

Average Re...

0 = Needs much improvement5 = Almost perfect

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PAS Technology Survey Results

Inte

rnet

Class

Pro

ject

s

Libra

ry R

esou

rce

Mat

erial

Drill a

nd Pra

ctice

Inst

ruct

ional

Deliver

y

Assig

nmen

ts

Mot

ivat

ion fo

r Stu

dents

Teac

her W

eb P

age

Pare

nt Con

tact

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

44.5

5

1.84 2.18 2.111.75 1.83 2.18

1.55

2.88

Technology Use

Average Re...

0 = Never5 = Daily or Almost Daily

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Stillwater Laptop Program

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Stillwater Public Schools has participated in a laptop program for the past several years.

The following 3 slides give details of a survey given to teachers, students and parents.

The survey is conducted by an outside agency, not the school district.

The Stillwater Laptop Program was continued for this school year (2009-2010) after much thought. The future of the program is uncertain.

Stillwater Laptop Program-Teachers 84% of teachers said access to a computer contributed to

students demonstrating more higher-order thinking 94% of teachers said they were better able to access

diverse teaching materials / resources 90% of teachers said that use of computers enables

students to explore topics in greater depth 90% of teachers agreed that having computers in the

classroom helped them create classroom materials to meet district goals

84% of teachers agreed they are better able to meet curriculum goals with student use of computers

Instruction has become more student-centered Students have more opportunity to actively explore

information Instructional content is more up-to-date and interesting for

students14

Stillwater Laptop Program-Students 55-60% of students said they use laptops to

learn additional information not assigned in class 92% of students said they are more likely to

revise/edit their work on a laptop 90% of students agreed that access to

computers allows them to be more organized 1/3 of students indicated they communicated

more with teachers 76% of students say they would like to use

laptops in school more often; 78% of students say they would like to use laptops more for homework

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Stillwater Laptop Program-Parents 85% of parents said it was very important

to have access to student assignments, calendars, and grades

75% of parents reported they worked on schoolwork with students using the computer

61% of parents said they spend more time talking with their child about school work now compared to before they had access to online information

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Graduation Requirements – Pipestone Area SchoolsSubject # of Required Credits

English / Language Arts 8

Social Studies 8

Mathematics 6

Science 6

Physical Education 2

Health 1

Fine Arts 2

Electives 11 (minimum)

• Students must have 44 credits in grades 9-12 for graduation.

• Students must have six classes per semester.

• To be eligible for graduation ceremonies, students must have 37 credits by the end of first semester of senior year.

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Electives OfferedLanguage Arts Communication Skills AP Language & Composition AP Literature & Composition Journalism

World Language French I – IV Spanish I – IV

Social Studies Psychology Sociology

Science Physics AP Chemistry Anatomy and Physiology Environmental Science Introduction to BioChem

Agriculture Exploring Ag & Natural

Resources I and II Animal and Plant Science Intro to Pre-Veterinarian /

Animal Science Introduction to

Landscape Design Floriculture Wildlife and Fisheries

Math Integrated Math IV AP Calculus

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Electives OfferedPhysical Education Lifetime Food and Fitness I and

II Fitness / Wellness & Weight

Training I and IIFACS Comprehensive FACS Foods I Foods 4 Guys and Gals Senior Survival Child Development Meal Management

Fine Arts Art I – III Advanced Art Working with Clay I and II Senior Band Senior High Concert Choir

Business / Comp Science Computer Applications Database / PowerPoint /

Desktop Publishing Web Page Design Accounting Personal Law I and IIWork Program / Industrial Tech Work Program Arc Welding Advanced Arc Welding Light Power Mechanics Woodworking Construction Skills

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CHALLENGES AND FACTS

ChallengeGrowing classes

Many teachers nearing retirement age

LACK OF DESIRE TO IMPLEMENT NEW TECHNOLOGY21

FactsFACT: The district has recently hired a Smart

Board consultant to create interactive lessons and train teachers

FACT: The district has Smart Boards in every classroom

FACT: The district has recently updated and redesigned their web page making updates more user-friendly.

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ChallengePoverty Rate 11.5%

Unemployment Rate 4.4%

Mass layoffs / plant closings in Pipestone

LACK OF COMPUTERS FOR STUDENT USE AT HOME

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FactsFACT: Voters in the Pipestone Area School

District recently passed an extra levy to provide for technology over the next ten years

FACT: The district has already purchased Smart Boards for every classroom as well as new computers for computer labs and classroom

FACT: The district has wireless internet capability.

FACT: Classroom computers and computer labs cannot accommodate the needs of the district.

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ChallengeDeclining enrollment in many area districts

DISTRICTS UNABLE TO OFFER ADEQUATE ELECTIVES FOR GRADUATES

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FactsFACT: The district currently has a

Speech/Language Pathologist performing teletherapy services for the BOLD school district

FACT: The district has the technology to offer ITV classes to other districts in the area

FACT: The district is currently using the ITV room for one French class per day

FACT: The district is one of the largest districts in the area, thus it is one of the most likely to be able to offer electives.

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Proposal: First Things First Pipestone Area Schools has a technology

plan that will be effective until 2011. This current plan was approved in 2008, prior to the technology levy being passed.

The very first thing to be done is to update the district technology plan so that the district and members of the community understand where the money will be used.

One step of developing the new technology plan is to have district staff complete a new survey in regard to their current technology access, classroom use and ability level. I have constructed a survey on Survey Monkey to assist with this data collection:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=_2bUbCzSs3HwD_2fILQ25f7ezg_3d_3d27

Proposal: A 2-Pronged Approach

The remainder of my plan is a 2-pronged approach for making Pipestone Area Schools a technology-savvy district.

Step 1 is training and knowledge for teachers.

Step 2 is providing technology to students for both home and school use.

Step 1

Step 2

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Step 1Before we give hardware to students, teachers must be willing and able to use new technology and Web 2.0 applications. They must be properly trained in their use. Technology Committee SMART Boards Web 2.0 Applications Classroom Websites ITV Room Uses

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Step 1 – Technology Committee

The first step will be to create a Technology Committee for the district. This committee should be comprised of one staff

member from each building (Brown Elementary, Hill Elementary, Middle School, and High School), up to two community members, student representatives, as well as one administrator.

The committee will be charged with testing new technology / Web 2.0 applications in their classrooms.

After testing, the committee will decide if the district should provide further training on that application.

The Technology Committee can also serve as mentors for teachers with lower comfort levels with technology in the classroom.

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Step 1 – Technology Committee

The main cost involved with creating this committee would be payroll costs associated with after school meetings / trainings.

Another possibility for cost would be any costs associated with purchase of programs or other items for use in classrooms.

These costs would be paid for with money from the technology levy.

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Step 1 – SMART BoardsAnother early step will be in relation to SMART Boards. The district has purchased SMART Boards for every

classroom. The interactive white boards are an asset to

classrooms, but they are not being used to their full potential.

Teachers have not received enough training on their use in the classroom.

The SMART Boards are mainly being used as overpriced white boards.

Our students have grown up in a digital world. By using the SMART Boards to their full extent, we offer them a chance to learn in a way that fits their background better.

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Step 1 – SMART Boards Extended training for all teachers in the district

should take place this summer (2010). The SW/WC Service Cooperative offers on-site

training for districts. The SW/WC Service Cooperative offers

extensive training at their office in Marshall. The Pipestone Area school district has hired

Judy Hansen to serve as a consultant to help teachers integrate the SMART Boards into their lessons. The district should use in-service time to allow her to present ideas to all teachers. The first of these in-service times would be during the President’s Day in-service.

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Step 1 – SMART Boards

On-site training from SW/WC Service Cooperative costs $65 / hour plus mileage at the federal mileage rate.

Level I training at the SW/WC Service Cooperative office costs $100 / person.

Level II training at the SW/WC Service Cooperative office costs $100 / person.

These costs would be paid for with money from the technology levy. 34

Training offered by SW/WC Service CooperativeMoodle 101Advanced MoodleSMART Board Level ISMART Board Level IIPodcasting/VodcastingDigital Story Telling

All of these sessions are offered multiple times during the school year

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Step 1 – Web 2.0We have wireless internet access at all schools. Teachers are not using all the Web 2.0 applications that are available. Teachers should be trained in the correct use of applications such

as: Voice Thread – see sample Wikis – see samples Diigo Google Docs Jing One True Media – see sample Survey Monkey

Our students, as digital natives, learn better when technology is used. They are immersed in technology. It is time we speak their language.

The Technology Committee will test these and other applications and offer training to teachers in their use. Training can be before / after school, during the summer, or during

in-service days.36

Step 1 – Sample Voice ThreadHere is an example of a simple Voice Thread that a district could use to gather information:

http://voicethread.com/share/698826/

TECHNOLOGY in the

CLASSROOM37

Step 1 – Sample WikiThis link provides access to two Wikis created by students in the DLiTE Program at Bemidji State University.

http://coolkidlit-4-socialstudies.pbworks.com/

http://wikisota.pbworks.com/

This link provides access to a Wiki that I have created for myself in my teacher education program.

http://tanissen.pbworks.com/FrontPage38

Step 1 – Sample One True Media

This link provides access to a One True Media video that I have created for myself in my teacher education program.

http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=8321baf14a6b4b86101eee&skin_id=601

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Step 1 - Diigo By installing Diigo on computers, students

will be able to bookmark, highlight on, and use sticky notes on web pages.

Each time a bookmark is created, it is saved on the Diigo account.

Each time information is highlighted, the web page is saved on the Diigo account.

Content can be marked to be read at a later time.

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Step 1 – Web 2.0

There may be minimal costs for some Web 2.0 applications.

These costs will vary depending upon which applications are selected for use.

These costs would be paid for with money from the technology levy.

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Step 1 – Classroom WebsitesClassroom websites should be a source of information for both students and parents. Right now, they are virtually nonexistent at Pipestone Area Schools. The district will employ one staff member

to set up classroom websites and train teachers in their upkeep.

A class will be developed in web design. Students who complete the class can volunteer to help teachers maintain their websites.

Teachers will also have the option of setting up a classroom Wiki rather than a traditional website.

This option will allow teachers more flexibility and options for student participation and collaboration.

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Step 1 – Classroom Websites

The main cost associated with this phase is for the staff member who will set up and maintain the web sites.

The web design class can be taught by current staff so there will not be any additional cost.

Student volunteers will not be paid for any work they provide teachers.

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Step 1 – ITV RoomPipestone Area Schools has a fully functional ITV room. According to Josh Stukel, technology coordinator, the room is used one period per day for a French class. With the advent of online learning, ITV has become obsolete. A student news show should be

developed, using the ITV room as a studio.

This allows the room and equipment to be used more efficiently.

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Step 1

The technology committee will meet monthly to discuss applications that have been tried in the classroom.

Once an application has been introduced to all classroom teachers, a survey will be conducted detailing the results of how teachers have integrated that application into their curriculum. Survey Monkey will be used.

The district can also use standardized test scores as a way to determine if these applications are assisting students in passing those tests.

Monitoring Progress

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Step 2 – Student Computers Step 2 involves providing hardware to students. Students will gradually be given a net book for their use, both at school and at home. Recommended product Support Project specifications Stillwater Schools

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Step 2 – Student ComputersRecommended Product

Dell Mini Netbooks Cost starting at $299 per computer Dimensions approximately 10 X 1 X 7 Memory up to 1 GB Hard drive up to 160 GB Keyboard 92% of standard keyboard

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Step 2 – Student ComputersSupport

Tech support for the computers may be a huge undertaking.

As a way to be proactive in this matter, one new position will be created for tech support of the laptop program.

Funds for this position will be deducted from the technology levy money.

As the program continues, student volunteers will also be trained to assist in supporting fellow students with laptop issues. These students will be given elective credits for each semester that they provide support.48

Step 2 – Student ComputersProject Specifications

Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, 7th grade students will receive a new Dell netbook.

Students will receive training approximately two weeks before school starts. They will receive the actual computers on the first day of school.

Students and parents will sign an acceptable use contract. Failure to comply with the contract will result in loss of the computer.

The program will continue as long as the technology levy is in place. At that time, the district will review ways to continue to provide the computers to students.

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Step 2 – Student ComputersProject Specifications (cont.)

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The district will work with students as much as possible to ensure all students have access to wireless internet. At a minimum, a classroom will be left

open between the hours of 3:15 – 6:00, staffed by volunteers, so that students can access the internet if needed.

The library also offers wireless internet and is open extended hours.

Step 2 – Student ComputersStillwater Program

The Stillwater, MN, schools have had in place a laptop computer program for the past several years.

The Stillwater program used grant money to begin the program.

http://www.k12blueprint.com/k12/blueprint/story_evaluating_stillwater_minnesotas_laptop_program.php

http://wiki.ties.k12.mn.us/file/view/Stillwater+Laptop+Initiative+Parent+and+Student+Comments.pdf

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Step 2 – Student Computers

The district will conduct baseline survey prior to assigning computers to students. The survey will be similar to the one that Stillwater schools completed (see previous slide). Data will be collected from teachers, students, and parents.

Each subsequent year, the survey will be repeated.

The district can also use standardized test scores as a way to compare results from one year to the next.

Monitoring Progress

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SummaryPipestone Area Schools, while it has purchased many technology pieces such as new computers and SMART Boards and an updated ITV room, teachers have not been properly trained to use the technology. The district is making strides in the right direction as far as integrating technology into the curriculum but there is a long way to go. By providing information and training to teachers, they can make better use of the technology and tie it accordingly into the curriculum. By providing net books to students we will ensure that all students have access to up-to-date software and hardware. 53

Sources www.pas.k12.mn.us http://www.justia.com/us-states/minnesota/pipestone/ http://www.schoolmatters.com/schools.aspx/q/page=dp/did=2055 http://www.pipestonestar.com/Stories/Story.cfm?SID=22826 http://zipskinny.com/index.php?zip=56164 http://epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=21371 https://edis.commerce.state.nc.us/docs/countyprofile/MN/

27117.pdf http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/27/27117.html http://wiki.ties.k12.mn.us/file/view/

Stillwater+Laptop+Initiative+Parent+and+Student+Comments.pdf http://www.k12blueprint.com/k12/blueprint/

story_evaluating_stillwater_minnesotas_laptop_program.php http://www.mn2020.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={38EEB3FE-

A533-40CB-A4AD-1584E52B081C}&DE= http://www.pipestonestar.com/Stories/Story.cfm?SID=16434 http://www.pipestonestar.com/Stories/Story.cfm?SID=21823 http://www.pipestonestar.com/Stories/Story.cfm?SID=18400

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