Staff development key to district technology plan

Staff development key to district technology plan

School board members approved the district's 2010-2013 Technology and Learning Plan last night after Technology Director Janis Barton presented a report on the process used to develop the state required plan.

Barton organized a Technology Advisory Committee to assist in the process. This year Barton scheduled two Technology and Learning Plan forums to develop, refine and finalize school and district level plans.

Barton reported staff development is essential to ensuring technology is being integrated into lesson plans and daily work in the classroom. She said the 2010-2013 technology plan will have more emphasis on training staff.

Pocket iNet Owner Todd Brandenburg also presented during last night's school board meeting. He said he has a new perspective on what technology can do to support learning.

Brandenburg said a visit to the new Edison Elementary to watch a kindergarten and 5th grade class in action had an impact on him.

He said the school's technology helped keep the students engaged and excited about learning. He said he will help the district in it's efforts to bring even more technology to the classroom.

Community and business partners who participated in the Technology & Learning Plan Forums

- Punkey Adams, WW County Library Director
- Terry Atchison, Corps of Engineers, IT consultant
- Todd Brandenburg, Pocket iNet, Owner
- Bob Branscum, VP, American West Bank
- Kelly Hartley, Prospect Point Parent
- Tom McMakin, Doyle Telecom, Owner
- Keiko Pitter, Whitman, Chief Technology Officer
- Jeff Rask, Qwest, Global Account Manager
- Bill Storms, WWCC, IT Manager
- Jack Morris, ESD 123, IT Manager & Forum facilitator