FRIT 7739 - Technology Program Administrator (2)
- 1. Running head: TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMADMINISTRATOR 1 Technology Program Administrator Meagan Harrelson New Brockton High School Media Center
- 2. TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMADMINISTRATOR 2 Executive Summary New Brockton High School has recently made an assertive effort to upgrade their technology plan and the technology resources available. The system’s technology department covers three high schools and two elementary schools. During the spring semester last year they upgraded the Wi-Fi infrastructure in our high school so the students and faculty would have more reliable internet throughout class time. The media center has since been able to upgrade their technology by purchasing more computers, Chromebooks, and iPads that are available for use by the students throughout the day. The media center at New Brockton consists of only a single individual that must wear many hats throughout the day that range from helping to teach online classes, to monitoring prospective college students, and aiding teachers with their technology needs for classroom usage. Overall the administration and other stakeholders have made technology a priority and the media center has followed suit by purchasing useful equipment from which the entire school can benefit.
- 4. TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMADMINISTRATOR 4 Methods During my time in the technology center, several different methods were used to gather information in regards to the workings and processes of the media center and the overall student use that the media center offers on a daily basis. I spent time with the media specialist on several different occasions and asked an array of questions on her day-to-day responsibilities. I spoke with the technology coordinator for our school system and what hand she has in helping our media specialists maintain and purchase technology for the media center. I also met with multiple teachers and students ranging from grades 7-10 and documented their overall knowledge of the media center and how they perceive the media center through surveys, questions, and general conversation.
- 5. TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMADMINISTRATOR 5 Center Context and Goals History: New Brockton High School was initially known as Brockton High school before a fire burned most of the town and the high school was rebuilt in the 1950’s. A second high school, Warren Smith HS, was across town and eventually was shut down in 1969 after all of the African American students were integrated into New Brockton High School. The only technology present at New Brockton during this time was a typing class taught in the current band room. The current media center was established in the 1980’s where it was only considered a Library until the mid-2000’s when VHS players and desktop computers made their way into the center. Now the media center is full of technology and even some outdated books that still have cards in the back cover that are shown to be checked out in the early 1980’s. New Brockton High School is an open campus composed of nearly 400 students that are in grades 7-12. There is an elementary school nearby that houses preK-6th grades. Mission: The mission of New Brockton High School is to provide students an educational environment that is clean, safe, educates, promotes, and assists teachers with not only resources, but also technology that allows for further learning outside of the classroom. The media center allows for all stakeholders to have access to 21st century literacy educational opportunities that otherwise would be out of reach. Goal: The primary goal of the NBHS media center is to provide 21st century learning by allowing students access to technology and providing teachers professional development that assist in teaching 21st century learners how to integrate and utilize technology in their learning on a day to day basis. Expectations: Set by administrators and media center specialist.
- 6. TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMADMINISTRATOR 6 - The media center is to be used as a learning environment where students are able to focus and complete assignments outside of a normal classroom setting. - Students are allowed to visit the media center during break, lunch, before school, or during class time with a teacher note in order to utilize computers and other technology. - Students can read silently, work in small groups quietly, or utilize headphones while on computers. - Any student completing online dual enrolment or access classes have priority on the computers during normal classroom time. - There is to be no food, drinks, or candy in the Media center. - Students and faculty are to treat the media center as a classroom and respect all aspects of the media center. Media Center Activities There are many different activities that take place in the media center. Throughout the day Mrs. Martin has two periods in which she teaches an online access Spanish class to students at NBHS. Seniors and juniors who are enrolled in dual enrolment through the local junior college have time to visit the media center to complete their assignments in hopes to obtain college credits. NBHS is in the process of transitioning to using technology on a more regular basis in the classroom by utilizing Google Classroom and other online learning tools. Students who have online assignments are often in the media center during lunch period or break working on online homework assignments. Mrs. Martin works directly with teachers to secure online resources that may be needed if teachers would like to bring their entire class into the library to utilize the computers that are available to conduct an online lesson. Mrs. Martin and the technology
- 7. TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMADMINISTRATOR 7 department were able to secure over $6,000 that was able to be used to purchase in-class technology for teachers throughout the high school. Evaluation The NBHS media center works to meet their goals on a daily basis and do a fair job of giving students and teachers digital resources that are usable and up to date. Mrs. Martin spends a great deal of time working with teachers and students to make certain they have the technology needed to be productive while in the media center. The school’s website is very user friendly and gives the community access to the school’s online library and other online resources. Mrs. Martin provides a link in which anyone of the community can print out and submit a request for a certain book title in order for it to be available for checkout. Recommendations for Mrs. Martin and the media center. - Develop a Google Calendar that can be utilized for teachers to view what dates are available to use the media center. Often times there is no record of whom is in computer labs or the media center and it interrupts the details of lesson plans made each week. - Have an open house or a readers’ night during the year so parents and students can visit the media center and see the progress and perhaps show how they can help by donating time or funds. - Lastly, if Mrs. Martin would be able to co-teach with teachers throughout the school year utilizing technology more efficiently during class time would help less technological savvy teachers understand the usefulness of technology in the classroom.
- 8. TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMADMINISTRATOR 8 Appendix A Interview questions asked and survey questions used during this activity. Media Center Specialist: What are your goals and the mission of the media center? How do you accumulate funds in order to purchase new technology and books? What are your daily responsibilities outside of checking out books? How do you feel the media center helps the teachers the most? Student questions: What type of activities do you visit the media center to complete? During what time of day do you normally visit the media center? Do you feel as though you understand what resources are available to you in the media center? Teacher questions: What do you feel the media center can improve upon? How do you utilize the media center in reference to student learning? Are you aware of all of the resources that are available to you in the media center? How do you schedule a day to visit the media center with your class?