Appendix A
EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY IN
NEW JERSEY
Vision and Benchmarks
by 2002
The New Jersey Department of Education
and New Jersey's school districts are moving forward vigorously to infuse
educational technology in curriculum and the management of information
for student achievement of the Core Curriculum Content Standards. The purpose
is to accelerate the delivery of voice, video, and data so that all districts
will have the opportunity to share curricular offerings, ongoing projects
and programs, and professional development opportunities. This delivery
will expand the scope, quality, richness, and diversity of curricula in
all school districts and contribute to the redefining of teaching and learning
in our state.
| VISION: |
All students, no matter which district
they attend, will be able to achieve the Core Curriculum Content Standards
because they will have unlimited access to people, to the vast array of
curriculum and instruction offered in the state, and in particular to information
and ideas, no matter where they exist. |
Following are the related benchmarks to
achieve that vision by 2002. These are intended to guide district
and school technology plans. Keep in mind that this is a work-in-progress
and will evolve.
Benchmarks for New Jersey Schools:
1. Educational technology will be fully
infused into the schools' curriculum and instruction, thus significantly
enhancing students' ability to achieve the Core Curriculum Content Standards.
For example, computers will be integrated into all classrooms for instructional
purposes. rather than maintained solely in a computer laboratory environment.
2. All counties will continue to implement
and update plans for the coordination, development, application and
implementation of technology through countywide collaboration and commitment
using existing and new educational, business, and community resources.
3. All local school districts
will continue to implement and update biennially their local technology
plans to address core elements of successful school technology activities.
including facilities planning, maintenance and upgrading equipment. implementation
strategies. staff development, spending and evaluation plans.
4. All teachers will have the skills
and knowledge needed to use educational technology as an effective
tool to support achievement of the Core Curriculum Content Standards. The
state's system of Educational Technology Training Centers will continue
to offer the highest quality professional development opportunities
for educators in cooperation with additional local preservice and inservice
training.
5. All classrooms will have fast and
reliable Internet access, thus enabling educators and students to access
information, places, and people throughout the world to enhance achievement
of the Core Curriculum Content Standards.
6. All school districts will have
high quality, highly informative, user-friendly websites, thus enabling
educators and students to share key information about their district's
activities in a timely manner and showcase their achievements.
7. All districts, schools and classrooms
will be connected to high-speed voice, video and data networks, thus
enabling effective and efficient delivery of resources to educators and
students through a statewide, integrated information delivery system.
8. All school buildings will have
the equipment and infrastructure necessary to provide distance learning
opportunities for all students, thus enabling students to take courses
offered in other schools or universities. to collaborate on projects with
remote peers or mentors, and to access a wide array of electronic services
for achievement of the Core Curriculum Content Standards.
9. The multiple distance learning networks
throughout the state will be connected and will, therefore, be able to
communicate with each other freely, thus enabling students and teachers
to access courses and share projects no matter where they are located.
10. The ratio of multi-media computers
to students will be 1 to 5, thus enabling students to access equipment
when they need it, where they need it.
11. All teachers will have e-mail,
thus enabling them to freely communicate with their colleagues throughout
the world, and with parents and students in their communities to enhance
achievement of the Core Curriculum Content Standards.
12. All educators and students will
have access to effective and engaging software, CD ROMs, and online resources
as an integral part of every school curriculum, thus enabling them
to access a vast array of materials in support of achievement of the Core
Curriculum Content Standards.
13. All school districts will
have the equipment necessary to access satellite transmissions, thus
enabling them to capture special events that are uniquely broadcast via
satellite.
14. All school construction projects
(new and retrofitting) will include a backbone distribution system, communications
outlets in each room, and wiring closets in each school thus enabling schools
to establish infrastructure for a technology-rich environment.
l5. Schools will have educational technology
coordinators in the following ratios: one for each high school,
one for each middle school and one for each three elementary schools. This
will enable educators to have onsite experts to facilitate implementation
of technology equipment and programs.