• 2018 Technology Digital Initiatives
    2018 Technology Digital Initiatives

 Digital Initiatives

Past

 

In May of  2014, Rush County Schools began implementing our new digital learning initiative.  We began with a full day of technology professional development for the staff from a variety of sources.  This day of eLearning was hailed as a great success and very informative for everyone involved.

 

Summer of eLearning 2014 Making a Splash

Afterwards, we kept staff informed of the 2014 Summer of eLearning conferences being held at various schools across the state.  Many of our staff attended those conferences and gained valuable information from them.

 

We decided it was time to begin, starting in kindergarten and working upwards.  Over the course of the next 4 years, we rolled in phases grades PK-2, 3-6, 7-8, and 9-12 of 1:1 devices.

 

Originally, we had used ipads for grades K-2.  However, we discovered over time that chromebooks may be best suited for even the early elementary grades, so in 2018, we are switching PK-2 to chromebooks.


Summer of eLearning 2018Teachers are encouraged to attend Summer of eLearning and local professional development opportunities during the summer and periodic professional development and coaching during the course of the school year.  Every teacher also gets a chromebook to use.

 

Chromebooks are now an integral part of the Rush County Schools repertoire of tools available for teaching and learning.  Work continues to sustain and grow the initiative in order to maximize benefits and to provide a diverse set of tools to provide a balanced and blended tech and non-tech oriented learning environment.  

Digital Initiatives

Present and Future

 

Now that 2018 is here, it is time for a round two.  Those initiatives include but are not limited to:

 

  • Refresh of PK-2 with chromebooks (Fall 2018) 

HP x360 Chromebook in Tent Orientation

 Lenovo Chromebook 11e

  • Refresh of 3-6 chromebooks (Summer 2019)

 

  • Ongoing PD for Grades at all levels

 

  • Coaching and office hours to begin in 2018 for more focused training

 

  • Updating Responsible Use Policy

 

  • Further investments in software, content, hardware, and services to support digitally integrated classroom instruction

Picture of a classroom using technology

History

 

At the start of 2014, Rush County Schools formed a technology committee to investigate 1:1 and digital learning.  The committee included a representative group of teachers and administrators from Rush County Schools from all levels (elementary, middle school, and high school).


Picture of a committee

This committee visited several school districts to observe 1:1 and digital learning in action, and the impression was most favorable.  The committee concluded that digital learning was not only important for student engagement but would be necessary for college and career readiness and online assessment readiness, to name a few.

 

Therefore, the committee recommended to the board that we pursue a digital learning initiative, and that we do so by implementing a device for every student (1:1).

 

Prior to 2014, the technology department has been steadily preparing for this possibility.  Systems have been updated. High speed 802.11ac wifi is available in every classroom. We are proud to say that our network is “Geared for 1:1.”

 

According to SETDA, schools should have 1000 megabits per second of bandwidth per 1000 students by the 2017-18 school year target for a 3,000 student enrollment.  We are currently at 600 megabits per second, based on current utilization levels with the ability scale up to 2000 megabits per second.

 

Below is a short synopsis of our three year technology plan that demonstrates our desire and commitment to integrate digital learning into our education process.

 

 

VISIONPicture of a die with Vision Mission and Goals

 

Educating students with technology today for their digital success tomorrow  



MISSION

  • align technology use to local, state, and national standards
  • empower students, staff, and community to utilize technology to its fullest potential
  • improve educational outcomes via the use of technology
  • promote digital literacy concepts to teach our students to be responsible members and stewards of the Internet community
  • explore and implement new technology enhance teaching and learning

 

GOAL #1:

 

Increase the use and level of technology integration that will enhance the teaching and learning process.

 

GOAL #2:

 

Expand and upgrade technology to meet and exceed current and future online curriculum and assessment needs both mandated and locally determined.

 

GOAL #3:

 

Enhance current and future professional development in order in order to prepare for new technologies, pedagogies, online curricula, and modes of technology use.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Picture of a Network with devicesRush County Schools (RCS) has invested heavily in its infrastructure to prepare for upcoming initiatives.  A new high availability firewall has been installed to support increasing connectivity to the Internet. Ten gigabit core equipment has been installed to provide high availability at the core and to support increasing storage and network traffic.  All schools are connected via fiber optics to provide fast connectivity between buildings. The fiber optic network consists of leased fiber to outlying county buildings that provides a gigabit of shared connectivity, and school-owned fiber where possible to provide 1-2 gigabits of dedicated connectivity.   All schools are equipped with 100% wireless coverage to prepare for increasing use of mobile devices. All servers utilize virtualization technology to maximize utilization and minimize hardware footprint. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure will be used in 2018 to provide enhanced mobility and chromebook support for Project Lead The Way.

 

SUPPORTING TEACHING AND LEARNING

A wide array of techStudent using a computernologies are used to support teaching and learning.  Interactive whiteboards throughout the district provide digital interactivity with content displayed on the computers to engage students and help teachers be more productive.  Document cameras provide a powerful replacement for traditional overhead projectors that allow teachers to display content and objects in full color and capture content in digital form with ease.  Mobile devices provide support for various assessment platforms, access to educational apps, assistance for students with special needs, and greater mobility in a classroom setting. Increased availability of computers (both mobile and fixed) support summative and formative online assessments at all levels.  Upgrades are regularly performed on hardware and software to ensure compatibility and meet or exceed minimum system requirements for online assessments.

Back to top