The iTeam and the History of Technology Implementation at Dutchtown Middle School

History of Technology Implementation at Dutchtown Middle

 

--> In 1935, Dutchtown High School was built in the agricultural community of Geismar, Louisiana, serving first - twelfth grades.  While studying the history of our school, we have learned that Dutchtown has implemented technology over the span of several decades.  Originally, the technology was based on an agricultural need, but as time went on the evolution of educational technology was based on the introduction of the Internet in the mid to late 1990s and the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002.

Technology-related event in Dutchtown School	Event date (1960- Present)	Information Source
First electric typewriter bought for Business Administration Course	1960	Mrs. Cheryl Brunson Dixon, 1960 graduate of Dutchtown School
Video conference partnership program with Uniroyal  Chemical	1988	Mr. Patrick Dixon, retired employee of Uniroyal Chemical, supervisor of the video conference partnership program
First class outfitted with a dial-up internet connection	1995	Mr. Douglas Walker, Principal of Dutchtown Middle School
Personal computer and access to email was available to all teachers	2004	Mrs. Angele Ourso, veteran teacher and member of the  DMS Leadership Committee
One to One Pilot Initiative begins at Dutchtown	2010	Karen Buratt, Coordinator of School Improvement

Technology-related event in Ascension Parish	Event date (1960- Present)	Information Source
Ormet Corporation of Burnside, Louisiana, donates IBM electric typewriters to the Ascension Parish School System	January 6, 1964	Personal letter addressed to Mr. W.C Brunson , Superintendent from 1968 to 1973
District allocates money for science equipment, stage equipment and visual aid mobile unit	May 3, 1967	“Gordon A. Webb to Leave post As Ascension Superintendent”  per Morning Advocate, Btr
Equipment purchased and professional development planned for implementation of new reading program	June 13,1969	“Ascension Parish Reading Program Underway” per The Gonzales Weekly, Gonzales, LA
Pilot Vocational project developed for special need students which accessed a mobile unit  designed to teach students to work in a supermarket	October 28, 1971	“Ascension in Vocational Project” per The Morning Advocate, BTR
Creation of Technology Plan	Spring 1995	Ascension Parish District Technology Plan Adopted March 20, 2007 Revised: January 2010
Creation of district-wide email system	1999	Mr. Donald Songy, Former Ascension Parish Superintendent
District begins one – to- one initiatives at Lake Elementary School	2007- 2008 School year	Karen Buratt, Coordinator of School Improvement
100% of Ascension Parish classrooms have Internet access, a presentation system which includes a networked PC (or several Internet connected workstations), projection system, and printer. 100% of Ascension Parish classrooms have access to stationery labs (25 to 30 workstations, in addition to multiple 30-station wireless mobile labs.  Many schools have assigned a mobile lab per grade level.	2010	Ascension Parish District Technology Plan Adopted March 20, 2007 Revised: January 2010

Technology-related event in Louisiana	Event date (1960- Present)	Information Source
75% of PK -12 classes access to computers and utilize email as an effective computer tool.	2004	Louisiana State Technology Plan Adopted August 2001
All schools have up to date websites and training for software to perform  administrative tasks (gradebook, attendance, etc.)	2006	Louisiana State Technology Plan Adopted August 2001
In the past five years there has been significant growth in organized online instruction (E-learning) and “virtual” schools, making it possible for students to receive high quality academic and enrichment courses that meet requirements for high school graduation and entrance for higher education. Most public schools, colleges and universities now have access to high-speed, high-capacity hardware, software, and broadband communications.	2007	Louisiana State Technology Plan Adopted August 2001 Revised 2007

History of the iTeam

In the spring of 2010, our principal approached our team about writing a grant for for a one to one pilot program that would be implemented in the fall of 2010.  It is safe to say that we had no idea what was in store in the coming years, but looking back we are so happy that we took that leap of faith and plunged into the unknown.

While writing the grant, we focused on the mission statement of our district:

The mission of the Ascension Parish School System is to provide each student the high-quality education necessary to succeed in an ever-changing world.

By assuring that each student has the necessary material and technology paired with the high level of educational standards in our comprehensive curriculum, we are promoting computer literacy for life-long learning.  Our focus for educators is to prepare our students to not only be an active participant in future society, but leaders that will one day shape our nation.

This is a very exciting time, and we are eager to be a part of this educational evolution.

When technology is placed in the hands of every student, our current instruction and assessment must be pushed to the next level.  As teachers, we must adapt the comprehensive curriculum and the high educational standards that we have for all students to attain this ambitious, yet attainable goal.

It is imperative for the 1:1 teachers to not only plan together, but also communicate with other teachers who are also apart of a blended learning environment.  Activities that inspire critical thinking on the lower levels of Bloom's Taxonomy can be adapted to create a substantial level of critical thinking on the synthesis and evaluation level of Bloom's.  Instead of asking students to memorize or compare,  we can lead students to create and evaluate.  The sky is the limit and we were up for the challenge.

We have learned so much since the implementation of the 1:1 initiative, and continue to learn every day.

As you navigate through the rest of your life, be open to collaboration.  Other people and other people's ideas are often better than your own.  Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot time with them, and it will change your life.

Amy Poehler

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