0708AnnualReport


 * Annual Report Information Regarding BPS GOAL ONE: 21st Century Skills and the Branford Public Schools Technology Department 2007-2008**

BHS grant for laptop cart for english foreign language webcast with Glasonbury ic training smartboards and workshops laptops posting activities on the webpage inspiredata workshops salmon release upgraded school survelliance system for better school security.

District Installation of fiber optic cabling between the schools. Implementation of Infinite Campus student information system UTC Power Project - Monitoring and Management through the BPS network. Enernoc - Monitoring of electricity usage in the building through BPS network. Implementation of school id badges for teachers and staff. Printer and Multifunction Device Study

Walsh: Replacement of network switches for classroom computers. Student elections using School in Sites PD on developing Teacher Webpages and posting homework assignments PD on Infinite Campus Gradebook PD on Smartboards and creating lessons with software Student assessment data input into IC Special Ed department received new laptops for teachers New stage lighting system for student events New Math Software with built in Smartboard Intergration and web access for students Upgrade in Video Editing Software for Media Technology classes

Elementary Schools: PD on Infinite Campus; Attendance Module PD on Infinite Campus: Grade Book Module for Reading, Writing and Math Assessments PD - Murphy; Reading Teachers on Reading Software PD on Webpage content posting PD on Smartboards and creating lessons with software New HP Computers - 25 per school; towards a (upgrade or new) 4 to 1 ratio Updated all teachers laptops; OS and memory (selective)

The Branford Public Schools Technology Department continues to play a critical role in the implementation of the Board of Education's strategic goals, specifically in the area of teaching and learning 21st Century skills.

Over the course of the 2008-2009 school year, the Technology department will be overseeing the creation of the next three year technology plan as required by the State of Connecticut Department of Education. A committee of stakeholders from across the Branford community will participate in this endeavor. The goals of the plan are to specify the actions Branford Public Schools has and will take to achieve the stated strategic goals and to support teaching and learning for all students. The planned curriculum renewal process for the schools will play a large part in the technology planning process. Research has shown that students are more successful when technology resources are integrated into existing curriculum and instruction. Therefore, the technology plan will include strategies for continued implementation of the use of information and communication technologies into curricular areas such as math, language arts, social studies, and science.

The Technology department has been working to continue the practice of supporting all students with modern information and communication technologies that support teaching and learning. All district schools are now connected with high-speed dedicated network lines and network switching equipment has been replaced in all schools to leverage these new lines. Technology related hardware and software continues to be maintained, upgraded, and replaced. The use of laptops and mobile carts has risen to support learning in the classroom. Multimedia projectors are being adopted in a significant number of classrooms along with electronic "white boards." Teachers are adapting their instructional practices to incorporate these tools into their teaching to provide students with 21st Century experiences.

Students in grades 5-12 are being issued accounts that provide access to web-based electronic mail and productivity software. These "Web 2.0" services not only replace traditional software, but they come at low to no cost, they can be used anywhere at anytime, and they provide collaborative sharing and publishing features that are critical components to the 21st Century learning process.

The Branford Public Schools Technology department will continue to play an active role in supporting the goals of the school district and its students. Modern, research based methods of planning, training, managing, organizing, and facilitating will be used to guarantee success.