MICDS Strategic Technology PlanVision:

MICDS aspires to create an innovative, contemporary learning environment comprisedof an engaging, rigorous, and developmentally appropriate curriculum that acknowledgesevolving, emerging skillsets and literacies, supports differentiation, provides opportunities forglobal collaborations, and facilitates meaningful assessment. Teachers consistently,intentionally and thoughtfully employ technology in an increasingly student-centered,interdisciplinary learning environment to develop critical and creative thinkers with the abilityto ethically manage, manipulate and create information as they tackle real and relevantproblems. To this end, our students and faculty will have access to and support for a range of tools and strategies that foster the acquisition of the knowledge and skills required for lives of service and purpose in the 21st century.

PrioritiesI. Ensuring that technology is an integral component of all curricular andprogrammatic development

Deepen the commitment of students, teachers, parents, and administrators to the best uses of technology in teaching and learning

•

Establish mechanisms and allocate time to share and discuss the role of technology inthe academic program and particularly in student learning: consider what we're doingand what we need to be doing

•

Ensure that hiring, professional development, curriculum, and evaluation reflect theimportant role of technology in education

•

Accommodate and foster the use of technology to enrich extracurricular and athleticexperiencesDevelop forward-thinking curriculum that includes contemporary (21st century) literacies

•

Articulate a scope and sequence of literacies to facilitate changes in instruction

•

Be responsive and intentional in the inclusion of emerging technologies; change, grow,and innovate as opportunities become available and relevant to K-12 educationEnsure that resources, technical support, and internal expertise are sufficient and properlyleveraged to sustain and grow the technology program

•

Increase understanding of the academic environment and its interface with technologyby all members of the technology department

•

Create redundancy in roles to ensure timely, effective support is always available

•

Perform an annual audit of the efficiency and efficacy of applications and processes thatsupport the academic program

II. Using technology as a catalyst/accelerator for student centered learning

Promote student independence and ownership of learning through technology

•

Identify pre-existing student skills and help build a well-rounded student technologytoolkit which can be used where relevant in learning

•

Leverage students’ eagerness, comfort and fluency with non-Academic uses of technology in the service of their own learning

•

Lead students to understand and exercise executive function, digital citizenship, andethical use of technologyPartner teachers and students in learning to facilitate a pedagogical shift in the role of teachers

•

Structure classrooms in a way that promotes and encourages more studentindependence and direct student access to resources and tools

•

Design curriculum to allow for more student choice and greater differentiation bycontent and ability levelLeverage technology to strengthen our commitment to Best Practice and diverse learningstrategies