Technology Implementation Programs

Fox, C. (2009). More than machines. T.H.E. Journal, 36(6), 23-26. Retrieved from EBSCO on September 8, 2009.

This article describes how two school systems utilized federal, state, and local funding to implement technology initiatives. Both school systems experienced positive results for their students and have expanded their programs to additional grade levels.

Chesterfield County Schools in South Carolina initially implemented the STEP (Student Technology and Education Proficiency) Initiative sixth grade classrooms at Plainview Elementary School and McBee Elementary School and seventh grade classrooms at McBee High School. These students were issued laptops. Students with financial needs were also provided with free installation and a special $5 monthly Internet plan at their homes. In addition to the laptops, classrooms were equipped with many digital components: cameras, interactive whiteboards, projectors, among additional resources.

The high school in Pennsylvania's Southern Columbia Area School District utilized funds through the CFF (Classrooms for the Future) Program, starting in 2006. In this program, state funds provide the school with various technologies including interactive whiteboards, laptops, printers, etc. Each math, science, social studies, and language arts classroom is provided with a laptop cart. The school chose to use their own funds to provide each special education classroom and the media center with a laptop cart to expand on the CFF program.

More importantly, both programs provided technology coaches to help them with the implementation of the technolgoy and provided resources. This seems to be the common denominator among programs that are not successful in the classroom. When they are dumped into a sea of technology, the training acts as the raft for teachers to cling to until they get the hang of it! Without this training, the technology remains unused and teachers become frustrated.

Both Chesterfield County and Southern Columbia Area's school systems saw an increase in student achievement, learning, and test scores. Chesterfield County also reported a decrease in discipline referrals. After this success, Chesterfield was issued a federal grant and the program was increased to include eighth grade students at McBee High School last year and includes all sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students in the county this school year (09-10). Southern Columbia Area has expanded their program to include seventh and eighth grade students at the middle school this year.

Through utilization of state funds and cooperation with AT&T, Chesterfield County was able further expand their program to install LCD monitors and WIFI service on all of the school busses. They use these in order to enhance field trips and also to show short videos that enhance classroom instruction and deal with issues from bullying to study skills to environmental issues. They also will be able to use the internet on their laptops while on the school bus with the WIFI capability.

One student in particular is profiled from the Chesterfield County School System - a fourth grade student with cancer who spends much of his school year in a homebound educational setting. Through the STEP program, the county was able to provide him with a digital camera and laptop. He is then able to interact with the class, follow along with his teacher's lesson in the classroom, and feel as though he is in the classroom with the other students. What a great way to utilize the technology to really help this child excell in the classroom! :-)

One struggle that both school systems are facing in the continuation of these programs is the funding. Many of the initial grants and funds have expired, and the schools are having to find the money in other places. However, they have both committed to finding additional grants and stretching the money that they do have in order to keep the programs going.