A Vision Of Tech Integration

"The 21st century will require children to live, learn, and work in environments vastly different from the traditional classrooms they currently encounter. In order for students to be prepared for the demands of this new era, classrooms and schools need to reflect the changes in philosophy, teaching methods, environment, and equipment which are necessary for students to be competitive and productive in the information and communications age."

— Oregon Educational Technology Plan 

The SPS Technology Plan aims to "provide students and staff with ubiquitous, uninterrupted access to current and reliable technologies to support the business of teaching and learning."What exactly does this mean?

Technology skills are an important and integral part of this generation’s daily life, and involves more than learning keyboarding skills, using a credit-recovery program, or taking online assessments. Specifically, it means that students need to be able to:

• • access, apply and share large amounts of information with others appropriately and safely;

  • communicate and collaborate, in a variety of forms, to advocate for themselves and on behalf of others. 

Below are some of the ways in which technology is used in teaching and learning. 

Students and staff have a transparent learning environment, one in which anyone, anywhere, anytime can peer in and see students learning, creating, and applying their knowledge.

Learn More

• • News Coverage: Intro to Business Class Tackles Real World Project — Thurston High School students work to help homeless.

  • Article: Teacher mixes low and high tech — 2012-13 teacher of the year uses a variety of strategies to engage students in science at Page Elementary School.

  • Field Trip: iPads and Google Sites in the Woodshop?! — grant funds provide equipment, Thurston High School teacher develops online course materials to facilitate student learning.

The transparency and immediacy of student publication and sharing facilitates development of digital citizenship and leadership.

Learn More

• • Field Trip: Critical Issues — teacher/librarian partner to challenge Briggs MS TAG students.

  • News Coverage: 2nd Grade Students Create eBooks — teacher writes SEF grant; students write ebooks at Page Elementary.

  • Field Trip: Blogging to Create a Community of Writers — grant project provides teachers with tools for writing, empowering student writers in some 6th grade classrooms.

  • Field Trip: Using Google Sites to Create a Wiki-like Collaborative Space — grant project provides teachers with tools for writing, students work collaboratively in some 6th grade classrooms.

  • Field Trip: Podcasting with Garageband — grant project provides teachers with tools that allow students to practice their oral reading fluency, produce podcasts  in some 6th grade classrooms.

  • Field Trip: BookTubes — library media specialists work with students to create online book trailers at Ridgeview, Walterville, Centennial Elementary Schools and Briggs and Thurston Middle Schools.

Technology-rich environments that provide options for students to develop the 21st century skills, preparing them for future education and careers.

Learn More

• • Field Trip: eReader Library Checkout Program — grant funds technology for students to access ebooks at Walterville, Ridgeview, and Centennial Elementary Schools.

  • Field Trip: Lego Robotics for Kids — SEF grant funds robotics for primary students at Ridgeview Elementary School.

  • Field Trip: Robotics Engineering for High School — Thurston High School students compete in FIRST Robotics competition thanks to generous donations from local businesses.

  • Field Trip: Technology in the Autoshop — Springfield High School autoshop program provides students with access to real-world automotive shop technologies.