CCC+Report

Here is where we will begin to construct the CCC report on Educational Technology and Computer Science.


 * Introduction:**


 * Current Computer Curriculum at SFS:**

Information Services Department Mission, adopted May, 2007  The mission of the Information Services Department is to enhance the education of Sidwell Friends School students and support the administrative functions of the School with library and technology resources. The many resources of the School libraries, both in print and online, and the integrated use of technology in the classroom augment the curriculum and help stimulate creative inquiry, intellectual achievement, and independent thinking. Additionally, technology makes it possible to conduct the “business” of the School and to communicate with students, employees, and families in a timely manner. To accomplish these goals:
 * Philosophy:**
 * Library research skills and technology skills are integrated into the classroom experience for every student.
 * A lifelong interest in reading is promoted through the use of a robust selection of fiction and non-fiction titles that cater to diverse backgrounds, perspectives, interests and opinions.
 * Students graduate with a carefully delineated set of technology and research skills.
 * Teachers, administrators, staff and students are expected to continually engage in learning opportunities in order to keep pace with new technologies.

1. Describe the scope and sequence of current PK-12 program in technology education and computer science; make specific recommendations for change. ** **2. Establish competency benchmarks for computer skills within the PK-12 curriculum of the School.** **3. Evaluate the coordination of technology skills with other disciplines, especially math and science.** **5. Evaluate the tension between the pressure to utilize cutting-edge technology and the actual needs of students and classroom teachers. **
 * Recommendations sorted by mission statement:
 * Build word processing, presentation, and spreadsheet benchmarks into departmental or grade level curriculum and communicate expectations of those benchmarks with teachers.
 * Footnotes, citations-Library
 * Language specific skills-accents, installing languages--Language Department
 * Best practices for presentations --History Department
 * Basic & Advanced Excel--Coordinate with Math and Science Departments
 * Freshmen orientation in August and in addition a class during freshmen studies
 * Increase the number of girls in computer science courses
 * 4. Evaluate the sufficiency of technology infrastructure at Sidwell Friends. **
 * Add Open Office and Firefox to all computer images this summer.
 * Enhance the network to accommodate Macs so they can be used as needed in various disciplines.
 * IT Department should possess in-house Linux and Macintosh expertise.
 * We need a more responsive internet connection.
 * We need alternative means for solving IT problems when solutions are not internally available in a timely fashion. For example consider hiring outside expertise and establising a set of standards for timely solutions to various problems.
 * In continued consultation with the 1:1 Laptop Exploratory Committee, we recommend that we continue the laptop pilot in the middle school for another year.
 * Set aside time for an annual professional development session during the school year that is mandatory for all teachers.
 * Continue funding the Sidwell Friends Summer Technology Institute.
 * An IS Department member should serve on the Venture Grant subcommittee to make recommendations about the connections between technology and library research and the proposals.
 * A basic "getting started" technology training should be a part of the orientation for newly hired teachers
 * Establish a procedure for determining which SFS students do not have a home computer and/or internet access at home and find solutions for solving these inequities.


 * PK-12 Computer Skills Scope and Sequence Chart:**


 * Appendices: (surveys, school visits notes, curricula)**