Garden City School District technology questionnaire
These are the replies from some districts to the Newsday questionnaire regarding the use of new technologies in their classrooms.
Some of the answers are elaborate, and have not been edited or reduced. Some districts did not answer the questions directly.
Garden City Public Schools has implemented many exciting technology initiatives in the past three years. Below are a few examples:
* The District has installed SMART Boards in every middle and high school academic classroom and provided staff development for our teachers to maximize the boards’ instructional use. Many classrooms in our two elementary and three primary buildings have SMART Boards.
* Last year, one of our primary schools implemented iPods for instruction (release/image attached – Michael Ebert featured this on the Schools page last spring), and this year, the same teacher is implementing use of iPads for instruction. One of our middle school special education teachers is also using iPads for instruction.
* New this year, with grant monies, the District has hired an assistive technology specialist to work with our special education population.
* The District has renovated one elementary classroom as a 21st–century classroom for District-wide use which features video-conferencing capability, a SMART Board and “Clicker” technology (instant response system). Our teaching staff has access to a wide catalog of lessons/programs through a BOCES video-conferencing site.
* As part of a 2009-2010 District research initiative (to ensure our students have the needed research/research writing skills when they move into higher ed.), the district installed a dedicated area of our high school library with an Eno Board (another brand of interactive whiteboard), 29 computer stations and expanded access to research data bases. The initiative included an online curriculum guide that folds in the elementary through HS grades. Attached are two images taken in the new library space dedicated to research: district-wide science teachers receiving Eno board training, and students working during a research session.
* Being piloted this year, and to the best of our information, Garden City is the only LI district doing so (including plans to launch during this school year), is the use of Virtual Desktop software. This software allows the District to “bundle” common-use programs, such as software frequently used by specific groups of students/teachers, and make it available on any computer in any school building or home computer. We are beginning with our special education students, but will expand to include other student groups and, eventually, our entire staff. The advantages of a virtual desktop system are many, e.g., not having to install specific software on specific computers – any computer will have access to the virtual desktop; age/capacity of the computer does not matter, etc.
* Our middle school implemented a new Science Technology and Engineering lab for seventh- and eighth-grade students. The STEM lab utilizes synchronous one-to-one computer interface providing students the opportunity to learn through interactive lessons and simulations (image attached).
* The District has many document cameras in use throughout our seven school buildings and plans to include more.
Teachers and students do not use cell phones for instructional purposes.
