Page 134 - Lakeland Catholic Technology Plan

3.1.2 OurDistrictPrimaryMandateorPurpose
Our Primary purpose, like Christ, is to serve... Our students, our parents and our community. Within this context:
•develop students as responsible, ethical citizens focused on serving God and the commu-
nity;
•provide students with a wide range of high quality educational programs and services that educate the whole child — spiritual, intellectual, physical, cultural and emotional;
•nurture self-esteem, success and wellness in a safe, caring and enabling learning environ- ment that affirms the dignity of staff and students;
•develop a learning climate that supports excellence, continuous improvement and life- long learning;
•enhance our Catholic identity by developing and maintaining strong links among the Par- ish, school and home; and
•educate students as critical thinkers and problem solvers to enable productive and useful lives.
3.1.3 OurDistrictStrategicPriorities/Goals
The District has identified seven goals or priorities a number of which relate directly or indi- rectly to education and information technology. These goals or priorities are:
• Enhance the District’s Catholic Christian identity.
• Provide high quality learning programs that meet student needs.
• Provide high quality support services that meet student needs.
• Students will acquire the skills, knowledge and attitudes they need to prepare them for work, further studies, citizenship and life-long learning.
• Utilize information technology effectively to support learning, teaching and administra- tion.
3.1.4 ExperienceandKnowledgeofOurStaff
The experience and knowledge of our staff plays a pivotal role in the design, development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the District Education and Information Technology Plan.
3.1.5 What the Research Says
There is a growing wealth of useful research on how best to use technology to enhance and improve student learning and achievement. For example, Elizabeth Wellburn, of the B.C. Ministry of Education (1996), completed an extensive and significant review of recent research literature regarding the status of technology in education and found that most of it is,
“overwhelmingly positive about the potential of a variety of technologies to be powerful components in accomplishing current educational visions.”
She found,
“... that technology had great potential to assist with educational goals,”
such as:
• individualization;
• increasing proficiency at accessing, evaluating and communicating information;
• increasing quality and quantity of students’ thinking and writing;
• improving students ability to solve complex problems; and
• increasing the productivity and efficiency of schools.
She also reported that the literature review indicated that the top ten reasons for using technology are to assist with educational goals such as:
1. individualization.
2.increasing proficiency of accessing, evaluating and communicating information.
3.increasing quality and quantity of students’ thinking and writing.
4.improving students’ ability to solve complex problems (a skill that cannot be “taught” , but which appears to develop in a more focused manner when productivity tools are available). 5.nurturing artistic expression (many flexible tools are available).
6.increasing global awareness.
7.creating opportunities for students to do meaningful work (work that reaches out and has value outside school — e.g., is presented to an audience other than the teacher).
8.providing access to high-level and high-interest courses (even in Districts where some courses have been impossible to offer).
9.making students feel comfortable with the tools of the Information Age (which they are almost certain to use in their future).
10.increasing the productivity and efficiency of schools.”
• •
Develop and nurture our human resources.
The District is responsive and accountable to the school communities and the public.
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