Terrell ISD High School Fine Arts Department’s Technology Plan 2003-2008

 

The Terrell High School Fine Arts Department and the Terrell Independent School district believe that technology can assist the Fine Arts department in preparing today's students for tomorrow's world.  Technology can provide the Fine Arts teachers with enhancement opportunities which include reinforcement of basic artistic skills, means to tie in technology with individual subjects, such as Visual Art, Music, Performing Arts, and Video Production, provide new skills, which will increase the students’ abilities to function in society,  raise student proficiency scores on standardized achievement tests and TAAS tests, as proven by the involvement in Fine Arts, provide enrichment for the exceptional child, and add the incentive for every student to learn more.  This plan serves to insure the students, teachers and community a wide variety of opportunities to gain computer and other technology skills necessary to meet the demands of the future.

 

Educational growth will be promoted with the introduction of the Internet, multimedia, instructional software, and production software to the existing curriculum.  The Fine Arts department is dedicated to broadening our learners’ base of knowledge and enhancing the learning, productivity and performance through effective and meaningful instruction.

 

The Terrell Fine Arts Department will prepare their students, teachers, parents, and community members by maximizing the use of information and communication through a technology rich environment.  We are planning the framework for the future, which will allow the department the flexibility to adjust to the increasingly fast-changing world of technology, as it applies to the arts.

 

While the recommendations of the plan cover the five-year period from 2003 through 2008, the quickly evolving technology field makes it impossible to predict the changes that will occur over that time. There are five goals being recommended for implementation as summarized below.

 

 

GOAL 1:  The department will enhance the quality of instruction by ensuring that each of the Fine Arts classes and all other appropriate personnel have access to key information sources.

 

Purchase technology for the Fine Arts department on the high school campus following state and district guidelines to ensure that student learning is enhanced, teaching resources and abilities are broadened, and since Fine arts is required for graduation, that graduates of TISD have the technology skills they need to begin productive post-graduate lives.

 

- Determine what technology purchases should be made through allocations and implement as necessary.

 

- Review the feasibility and cost of achieving state guidelines contained within the Long Range Technology Plan 1996-2010 and implement to the degree considered achievable.

 

- Modify existing plans for purchasing new equipment and recycling or updating existing equipment on a regular basis to ensure that changes in technology can be incorporated in all purchasing decisions.

 

- Revise the existing equipment standards to adapt to changing technology alternatives.

 

- Research emerging technologies for applicability to the needs of the THS Fine Arts Department.

 

- Upgrade the existing local area network to ensure that the new facility has access to the fastest and most reliable method of information transmission.

 

- Develop options for use of obsolete technology to take advantage of changes in the technology environment, e.g., network computers vs. workstations.

 

 

GOAL 2:  The department will enhance the quality of instruction by ensuring that software purchases, and upgrades to existing software, can be integrated into the learning environment and are compatible with current and emerging technologies. The department will continue to acquire and access the necessary technological equipment and supplies required to meet the department’s needs. The department will implement software resources that:

 

   -- Provide students and the Fine Arts staff with integrated software resources to enrich and enhance learning experiences;

   -- Provide an application suite that includes standard productivity tools;

   -- Provide application and productivity software that will enhance arts education;

   -- Provide operating systems that are easy to use, support multitasking, and support the user's applications;

   -- Provide access to online references;

   -- Provide users with the ability to share information and access shared peripherals.

 

The department will evaluate software standards on an annual basis.  By the end of each school year, the department will conduct an evaluation of the status of hardware, connectivity, and software to determine the progress of the department as well as future needs.

 

- Evaluate, and modify as needed, available courseware and conduct an evaluation of current usage and level of satisfaction.

 

- Review, and revise as needed, existing standards for purchase and/or upgrade of software to ensure alignment with the Terrell High School Fine Arts Department Plan.

 

The department will develop an ongoing evaluation process to assess the use and applicability of current and future software.

 

- Consolidate the purchase of new software and upgrades to reduce duplication and minimize the cost of licenses.

 

The department will identify innovative software for purchase that supports higher student achievement.

 

- Research, evaluate, and purchase innovative software that can enhance student achievement, technology-based research, and/or greater access to information.

 

 

GOAL 3: The Fine Arts department will secure and protect TISD's investment in technology resources.

 

The department will establish a security plan, which maintains hardware and software security and considers requirements associated with greater Internet use.

 

- Upgrade Internet and intranet virus protection software.

 

- Maintain technology copyright agreements from all Fine Arts teachers.

 

- Secure and monitor parental permission for student access to the Internet and publication of student work.

 

- Purchase software, which would allow teachers to identify and retrieve educational web sites and run them locally for controlled access.

 

 

GOAL 4:  The department will enhance the Fine Arts staff development program to ensure effective use of emerging technologies with emphasis on instructional applications.  The department will provide necessary in-service and/or training to assure that all faculty and staff who will be using the facilities are fully skilled to effectively utilize the provided technology with their classes, in their respective subject areas.

 

The department will develop teacher accountability system for instructional technology application.

 

- Review the current certification process to evaluate its effectiveness and any modifications that need to be made for future applicability [e.g., classroom demonstrations of technology use for certification and PDAS standards].

 

-Assess staff development requirements in technology for arts educators to ensure that all technology is being effectively utilized.

 

- Assess the proficiency of current arts educators in using technology for both instructional and productivity purposes and provides appropriate training to meet their needs.

 

GOAL 5: The Fine Arts department will provide several opportunities to develop parent and community awareness of the instructional and production technology resources in the Terrell Fine Arts Department, how they are used and what training opportunities are available to them.

 

The department will build community support through greater public awareness, shared information, and collaborative planning and education.

 

- Identify opportunities for publicizing student use of technology in the classroom through local media.

 

- Expand the use of the TISD web site to include more information on technology, including training opportunities.