TECHNOLOGY PLAN

Effective Dates

June 30, 2011 - June 30, 2014

CATHOLIC SCHOOL OFFICE ARCHDIOCESE OF CINCINNATI

100 E. Eighth Street

Cincinnati, OH 45202

ARCHDIOCESE OF CINCINNATI CATHOLIC SCHOOL OFFICE

TECHNOLOGY PLAN June 30, 2011-June 30, 2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TECHNOLOGY PLAN.................................................................................................................. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................................................ ii

MISSION STATEMENT ..........................................................................................................................................4 VISION STATEMENT.............................................................................................................................................4 DESCRIPTION OF SERVICE AREA......................................................................................................................4 GOVERNANCE........................................................................................................................................................4 INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................................5 I. TECHNOLOGY GOALS OF THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL OFFICE...................................................................5

PERSONNEL AND OFFICE ENVIRONMENT..................................................................................................5 TECHNOLOGY PLANNING AND COORDINATION......................................................................................7 TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT .......................................................................................8 RESOURCES ........................................................................................................................................................9 TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES AND INTERNET ACCESS ...............................................................10 BUDGET AND FUNDING ................................................................................................................................12 ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION ...............................................................................................................12

II. TECHNOLOGY GOALS OF THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS.........................................................................13 TECHNOLOGY PLANNING.............................................................................................................................14 TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT .....................................................................................15 CURRICULUM INTEGRATION......................................................................................................................17 TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES AND INTERNET ACCESS ...............................................................17 BUDGET AND FUNDING ................................................................................................................................18 ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION ...............................................................................................................18

III. TECHNOLOGY GOALS TIMELINE FOR THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL.......................................................19 OFFICE AND THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS .....................................................................................................19

ANNUALLY.......................................................................................................................................................19 School Year - 2011-2012.....................................................................................................................................22 School Year - 2012-2013.....................................................................................................................................23 School Year - 2013-2014.....................................................................................................................................23

Bibliography ................................................................................................................................. 25 Appendices.................................................................................................................................... 27

Archdiocese of Cincinnati Catholic School Office Technology Plan

Submitted to the Catholic Conference of Ohio June 23, 2010

The CSO technology plan was assembled by Sherry Gabert

Assistant Superintendent Archdiocese of Cincinnati

With grateful appreciation for assistance from

Pat Armstrong Cathy Bever Sr. Helen Lucille Habig, R.S.M. Mary Henninger Bob Haygood Sr. Miriam Kaeser, OSF Anne P. Battes Jeri Maschinot Jan Kennedy Denise Austing Mickie Gummer Chris Iacobucci Pat Ripley Dr. Toni Moore Dr. Laura Meibers Dave Gretz Julie Poux Kathy Ray Gina Harrington Jeff Eiser Elaine Schmidt Steve Quinn Rita Conti Kim Henninger

and in appreciation for the collective wisdom of all technology and media coordinators throughout the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, and the technology coordinators

of the dioceses of the state of Ohio

TECHNOLOGY PLAN June 30, 2011 -June 30, 2014

MISSION STATEMENT

The Catholic School Office of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati is dedicated to the teaching mission of the Catholic Church as servant leaders to the schools of the Archdiocese. We proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and promote the ideals of message, community, and service. We encourage, support, and challenge educators in their ministry. We provide vision, direction, and assistance for the enhancement of quality education in our Catholic schools.

VISION STATEMENT

The Catholic School Office driven passionately by faith in Christ will serve the Catholic school community as we share our faith, lead, challenge, and provide resources for the education of children.

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICE AREA

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati is comprised of 112 schools (90 elementary, 21 secondary, 1 special education) covering 19 counties in the southwestern corner of the state of Ohio. The territory extends from Cincinnati on the south to Wapakoneta on the northern border. These schools have an enrollment of 46,110 students and 2862 teachers and are served by a professional staff of nine in the Catholic School Office. (Appendix 1)

GOVERNANCE

The Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati are a network of schools rather than a school system. Therefore, each school operates independently in terms of management and financial issues. The staff of the Catholic School Office functions primarily in a consulting role. Therefore, the technology decisions are primarily site-based with consultation services and professional development opportunities provided by the Catholic School Office. The Catholic School Office serves to provide leadership, support, and assistance in technology planning. and guidelines on how to implement and enforce technology in the schools.

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CATHOLIC SCHOOL OFFICE ARCHDIOCESE OF CINCINNATI

INTRODUCTION

The primary goal of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Catholic School Office Technology Plan is to promote the technological advancement of the individual schools through the incorporation of technology into the curriculum, as directed by individual schools’ technology plans, and for the purpose of achieving the schools’ educational objectives. In conjunction with the Archdiocesan technology initiatives and in consultation with the Assistant Superintendent who focuses in technology, and other Catholic School Office staff members, the schools progress toward a technologically self-sufficient status using the resources and personnel in their school and parish communities. Without benefit of additional support personnel and financial resources traditionally available in the public school environment, Catholic schools continue to establish their own networks of support.

I. TECHNOLOGY GOALS OF THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL OFFICE

PERSONNEL AND OFFICE ENVIRONMENT Personnel - To enhance technological literacy of all Catholic School Office personnel; To educate personnel in a variety of legal matters related to advising schools on technology issues; To retain an Assistant Superintendent with a focus in technology to assist schools in the integration of technology into the curriculum All Catholic School Office staff members are involved in the technology planning and curriculum integration process. Staff will select to attend various workshops, in-services, conference sessions which enhance technology skills specific to their needs and interests. Catholic School Office staff members will be informed of issues pertinent to their responsibilities in that regard, and plan principal meetings which address those issues. Office Environment - To continue to stay abreast of current and emerging technologies, to upgrade technology hardware and software used in the Catholic School Office Archdiocese Tech Personnel Issues to address from 2011-14 include replacement and maintenance of aging office equipment, and the ongoing challenge of security and adequate storage. Budget constraints as well as time constraints of support personnel create additional limits on innovative planning. However, continuing goals for the Cincinnati, Dayton and Sidney offices, include pursuing providing all future communication tools for archdiocesan schools’ staffs through streaming video via the archdiocesan Website or DVDs created by CSO staff. Office Communications - To maintain and improve efficiency of Catholic School Office print materials in the form of Email and/ or Website resource distribution

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All communications possible are provided by way of Email and/or by way of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Catholic Schools Webpage, www.catholiccincinnati.org/schools (Appendix 9) and the Values for a Lifetime Webpage, www.valuesforalifetime.com (see Marketing Initiative, below). Catholic School Office staff and administrative assistants frequently collaborate on ease of use, appearance, content, and effectiveness of the Catholic School Office Webpage, and in conjunction with the marketing Webpage. Contents of the Values for a Lifetime Webpage is under the supervision the Catholic School Office. The Educator Data Center on the CSO page is a web-based resource for certification. Principals access the EDC to query and update school data, current school educators’ data, and current year subjects for their school’s educators. All educators access the EDC to query and update personal data such as address and educational background information, and to query CEU and certification data. Other resources on the CSO website include Forms for Professional Development, which includes IPDPs, LPDC forms and Entry Year forms; Curriculum Resources which has the Teacher Resource Station of over 500 curricular websites (Appendix 9); Workshops and links to other providers such as colleges and institutes, updated weekly; Technology links which includes the latest technology information and forms. The Principal News is a pass-worded section developed for communications directly with principals. A teacher newsletter is emailed to all schools on a bi-weekly basis and archived on the curriculum resources Webpage. The CSO Webpage is also used for recruitment of educators and substitute teachers. All schools can post position openings for principals and teachers, and the substitute link outlines the process for certification and substitute training opportunities. The Teacher Candidate Database remains active for prospective teacher candidates to submit information on their credentials. Principals design search queries to match candidates to the open position. Instruction on the use of the Webpage and Principal’s News Layer, usability of Email and the Webpage communication throughout the Archdiocese will be given to new principals and new teachers as needed. The Webpage continues to grow toward the goal of effective paperless communication. Effectiveness of CSO Email to schools and the CSO Webpage is periodically analyzed by use of Zoomerang, a web based survey used to compile individual school responses. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati is working on a new design for the website. The design company for the website is US Digital Partners here in Cincinnati. The Department Directors specifically Fr. Binzer, Directory of Executive Services and Richard Kelly, Director of Financial Services are overseeing the project. The contract was signed in January 2010. The launch date has not been set, but will be in 2010. There is a web team in place to work with USDP to steer the project to completion and oversee the site in the future. This committee was put in place by Richard Kelly and consists of Dan Andriacco (chair), Bob Haygood, Chris Iacobucci, Pat Ripley, Bob Wurzelbacher and Fr. Binzer Marketing Initiative – To utilize technology resources in the marketing of all Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati The Catholic Education Collaborative, working together with the Catholic School Office, Coordinates marketing efforts of the Archdiocesan schools by way of the Values for a Lifetime (www.valuesforalifetime.com) website and social media, described above, and a matching

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CDRom (Appendix). The Values for a Lifetime Website and related social media awareness efforts will continue to be emphasized and promoted throughout the nineteen counties of the archdiocese, and updates as needed in 2011-2014. Additional promotional elements such as billboards are also integrated into the marketing campaign directing prospective students and families to the Website.

TECHNOLOGY PLANNING AND COORDINATION

Technology Committees and Technology Plans – To provide assistance to school technology coordinators and committees as they implement on-going plans to achieve seamless integration of technology into the curriculum On-going support will be provided in the form of technology plan guidelines (Appendix 3), resources, consultations, and professional development opportunities. All technology plans are kept on file in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Office for Educational Services, in the Daniel E. Pilarczyk Center. With the publication of the State of Ohio Technology Standards completed in 2004, the Archdiocese communicates its directives on an individual school basis regarding alignment of schools’ technology plans with that document, as well with the 2007 revised ISTE technology standards, and the Universal Services Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) technology plan guidelines. Technology Coordination - To facilitate coordination of technology planning and implementation among the schools, and all dioceses of Ohio A technology survey of all Archdiocesan schools conducted during 2009 (Appendix 6) via Zoomerang, a web-based data base, provides data to assess the technology status, resources, and needs of all archdiocesan schools, and to assist in the future planning process. Information from that survey is provided to schools at principals’ and technology & media coordinators’ meetings, and on an individual school basis as data is requested. A mechanism for such meetings continues to be discussed, envisioned as a rotating committee of technology coordinators and business managers from diocesan schools, and divided by local areas (one tech person in each area/one year period attendance at monthly meetings). The 1:1 committee would serve as a strong arm for schools in dealing with vendors in consortium purchasing. Technology Coordinators of all dioceses of Ohio also meet as opportunities allow, and frequently communicate for the purpose of coordinating technology initiatives and integration of technology into the classroom. Technology Coordinator Meetings - To hold annual or semi-annual information and sharing meetings for all the technology and media coordinators; to promote attendance at Instructional Technology Centers (ITC) technology coordinator meetings throughout the Archdiocese. Each elementary and high school identifies a technology coordinator and an Internet coordinator

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(librarian/ library media specialist), a network of individuals for the initiation and support of technology applications (Appendix 2). Each school is assigned to a cluster, meetings for these clusters will be held in various schools’ technology labs. Host schools provide information specific to the implementation of unique technology integration initiatives. ITC’s hold semi-annual or annual meetings for non-public schools. Archdiocesan communications to the schools inform them of specific ITC site meeting dates and encourage attendance. Technology and Media Coordinator Communications - The Assistant Superintendent with a focus in Technology maintains an updated Email list of technology and media coordinators from all Archdiocesan schools. Frequent Emails from, to, and among technology and media coordinators address individual schools’ concerns. The Catholic School Office Website provides a monthly Technology and Media Coordinators Memo which provides the following: Websites for curriculum integration, opportunities and deadlines such as conference and workshop registrations, news of note, E-rate and other funding matters, current grant opportunities, and upcoming meetings. H/CCA, the Cincinnati area ITC, provides a listserv for Cincinnati area teachers and tech/media coordinators to address current technology integration concerns. In addition, eTech Ohio provides a listserv which the CSO encourages technology coordinators to monitor for technical assistance and information exchange.

TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Teacher & Administrator Professional Development – To assess specific needs for, and to provide on-going technology professional development opportunities The Catholic School Office contracts with several professional development specialists on a regular basis to provide Title II funded teacher and administrator in-services integrating technology into the curriculum. All CSO Assistant Superintendents themselves provide or contract with teachers and administrators throughout the Archdiocese and outside speakers to present workshops for both experienced and incoming teachers, (examples in Appendix 7 and 8), provided with Title IIA funding. In school years 2011-14 the Archdiocese will continue to contract with technology in-service specialists and with Archdiocesan teachers and administrators to present workshops with Title II funding. The Catholic School Office also encourages the use of individual schools’ Title IID funds for technology in-services. Professional Expectations - To assist administrators to develop realistic faculty expectations for the incorporation of technology into the curriculum The Catholic School Office encourages administrators to establish expectations for faculty and themselves to incorporate technology into the curriculum. Schools’ continuing improvement plans and faculties’ individual professional development plans are vehicles for implementation and overseeing of these goals on a yearly basis. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati Guidelines for Implementation of ISTE and State of Ohio Technology Standards and Competencies is the guiding document for professional technology skills development for teachers of grades K-12.

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Summer Technology Integration Workshops - To help facilitate summer workshops for teachers and administrators Archdiocesan schools have largely transitioned to ownership of their summer technology in-services, as specific needs for the individual school staff becomes apparent. The Assistant Superintendent with a focus in Special Needs arranges and plans workshops. In addition, the Archdiocese contracts with Title II funded technology specialists to teach summer in-services for technology incorporation. Partnering for Technology Training - To partner with professional organizations, universities, and vendors for the purpose of technology training

Universities and organizations such as SOITA, eTech, WCET, Xavier University, The College of Mt. St. Joseph, and the University of Dayton provide a variety of technology education offerings. Various vendors are available to provide technology in-services independently in cooperation with the Archdiocese, and at special conferences such as eTech, Ohio Catholic Education Association, SOITA, and Catholic School Office Principal Meetings.

In addition, ITCs for schools’ Internet connectivity continue to provide workshops and sessions for technology training and in-service. H/CCA, MDECA, WOCO and SWOCA are ITC leaders in providing such services to Archdiocesan teachers and technology coordinators.

RESOURCES Technology Standards and Competencies – To publish and promote guidelines for implementation of ISTE and State of Ohio Technology Standards and Competencies in the schools of the Archdiocese

Beginning in 2000, the Catholic School Office publishes its own Technology Standards and Competencies for Archdiocesan schools, Archdiocese of Cincinnati Catholic Schools Office Guidelines for Implementation of the ISTE and State of Ohio Technology Standards (AoC S&C). The current 2011 - 2014 document is based on the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards, and the Ohio Technology Learner Profiles. It is found on the Catholic School Office Webpage: http://www.catholiccincinnati.org/schools/PDF/08-11TechStandardsCompetencies.pdf

Curriculum Integration Resources - To provide the necessary resources to implement technology applications into the curriculum in direct correlation with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Graded Course of Study; To address media literacy issues; To help students and teachers understand the legal and ethical challenges of using electronic resources; To establish competencies for keyboard training and other technology skill applications for elementary students; To encourage elementary grade-level teams and high school departments to promote and to inform the archdiocesan schools’ of successes with technology integration With the publication of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Catholic Schools Office Guidelines for

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Implementation of the ISTE and State of Ohio Technology Standards, the above areas receive emphasis during the tenure of the plan. The CSO Webpage will continue to provide the Teacher Resource Station Website, a K-12 teacher and administrator reference for Websites recommended for curriculum integration by Archdiocesan teachers. Newly hired educators receive in-service in August of each year in the use of the CSO Webpage including resources on praxis, licensure, on-line curriculum resources and technology integration workshops. Archdiocesan Elementary Graded Courses of Study for science, social studies, math, and language arts include technology applications and websites as educational resources (Appendix 5). Graded Courses of Study published in the future will also include resources for integration of technology. The Catholic School Office provides professional development opportunities to acquaint teachers and administrators with these resources. The Catholic School Office annually studies Archdiocesan Grades 2-8 Iowa and Ohio Graduation Test results. Professional development for teachers of targeted subject areas is projected to assist with effective integration of technology with the schools’ continuous improvement plans in those areas. Vendors - To initiate and maintain contact with a variety of technology vendors Vendor contact (hardware, software, wiring, connectivity, maintenance, security) has proven important in assuring the schools committed assistance in technology. When appropriate, group discounts and educational buy programs are initiated. Professional Resources - To attend meetings and conferences of professional organizations and to encourage participants from individual schools to attend The Catholic School Office will maintain contact with a variety of professional organizations such as SOITA, ISTE, RPDC, WCET, CCO, USCC, NCEA, OITP, ASCD, INFOhio, Classroom Connect, in order to keep central office staff and schools informed about professional topics and to distribute information pertaining to technology issues. The Assistant Superintendent with a focus in technology serves as a member of the Board of Directors of SOITA (Southwestern Ohio Instructional Technology Association), and the INFOhio Board. Through their annual membership fees to SOITA and DA Sites, schools receive technical assistance and opportunities for professional development in a variety of matters related to their technology initiatives.

TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES AND INTERNET ACCESS Telecommunication Services - To evaluate the telecommunication services at the Catholic School Office and implement enhancements as desired and necessary Local and long distance telephone service is provided by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and is not a responsibility of the Catholic School Office itself. However, input to the directors involved is given as requested on a regular basis regarding phone service issues. Individual schools are encouraged to evaluate their phone service, Internet connectivity, and distance learning goals and strategies on a regular basis. Website - To continue the development of the Catholic School Office Website

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Refer to Office Communications, page 3. E-mail - To continue to send and receive information via electronic means on a daily basis to and from the schools E-mail accounts will be updated as needed for each school, allowing for a reliable daily exchange of communication. All Catholic School Office staff will continue to communicate locally and globally by E-mail, as well as keep abreast of changes in E-mail protocol, E-mail management skills, and E-mail security issues. The Catholic School Office will continue to develop E-mail lists of principals by geographic area, Technology and Media Coordinators, Secondary Curriculum Chairpersons, and others as the opportunity and need arises for specific E-mail communications. Ethical issues of E-mail availability and use in the workplace continue to be emphasized. Internet Connectivity - To provide schools with the necessary information and resources to continue to upgrade their Internet connection Through on-going communication with the seven ITCs serving the schools, resources will continue to be provided to help schools assess their needs and provide for increased Internet connectivity. Ohio’s Third Frontier Network through OSCnet, scheduled for completion in 2007, will provide fiber connectivity to all Ohio public and non-public schools. (OSCnet is a dedicated high-speed fiber-optic network linking Ohio colleges and universities with research facilities to promote research and economic development. Over 1,600 miles of fiber create the network backbone connecting colleges and universities, K-12 schools, and communities together.) (Appendix 11) Responsible Use of Technology Policy - To provide schools with a Responsible Use of Technology Policy and information on implementation The Acceptable Use Policy, is reviewed annually for necessary updates (Appendix 4). Schools are reminded annually in the fall, and at opportune times throughout the year, of the necessity to adhere to the RUoTP and to keep required signatures on file. The policy is compliant with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Webpage Guidelines – To provide schools with archdiocesan approved guidelines for school WebPages Webpage guidelines, are reviewed and revised annually, as needed. Schools are strongly advised to adhere to all statements (Appendix 4). Internet Professional Development -To continue to provide resources on integrating the Internet into the curriculum. Archdiocesan teachers who have developed web based curricular activities will continue to be utilized as instructors for professional development. Professional development credit will offered to teachers for doing web based curriculum research. In addition, the Catholic School Office provides information to schools about other Internet professional development opportunities such as those provided by SOITA, INFOhio, and ITCs. New teachers receive a brochure (Appendix 7) of Internet recommended resources, also available on the CSO Webpage.

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Online-Learning – To provide schools with the resources and professional development opportunities to effectively use online learning opportunities to enhance and deliver classroom instruction. Archdiocesan high schools and some elementary schools are offering an on-line learning component to their courses. Instructional Technology Centers (ITCs) - To maintain a cooperative and supportive relationship with the seven which serve the Archdiocese of Cincinnati These state-funded agencies provide Internet connectivity to the majority of the schools as well as technology training and curriculum integration opportunities. ITCs serving the Archdiocese of Cincinnati schools include H/CCA, SWOCA, MDECA, MVECA, WOCO, and NOACSC.

BUDGET AND FUNDING

Budgeting - To provide resources for preparing a school technology budget; To encourage schools to have technology as a line item in the budget. To encourage schools to include technology needs in any school/parish capital campaign Schools receive no money from the Archdiocese and are responsible for their own financial resources relative to technology expenses. Financial Resources - To make schools aware of the financial resources available for technology initiatives Money to finance Archdiocesan school technology initiatives will come from a variety of sources including Administrative Cost Reimbursement Funds, Auxiliary Services Funds, Title II Funds, Ohio eTech and Professional Development Grants, individual school funds including student technology fees, other grant monies, vendor contributions, and private donations. E-rate – To provide the necessary resources and encouragement for schools to participate in the E-rate process All Archdiocesan schools are directed to seek E-rate assistance on the SLD (Schools and Libraries Division of the Universal Services Administration) Website in order to obtain the most current and accurate information. As of 2009, each school is responsible for filing E-rate for Internet connectivity. The Daniel E. Pilarczyk Center Office of the CSO compiles, submits, and keeps on file the verification of Archdiocesan E-rate data for the SLD.

ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION Assessment and Evaluation - To assess and evaluate annually the telecommunication services, hardware, software, curriculum integration and other technology services of the Catholic School Office as well as the services of the individual schools; To make mid-course corrections as needed

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This will be accomplished through a variety of methods including both objective and subjective means. The Assistant Superintendent who focuses in technology along with other Catholic School Office staff members will evaluate annually the technology plan (goals and strategies) of the Catholic School Office and make recommendations for the implementation of new or upgraded technology services, equipment, software, and connectivity. The Assistant Superintendent who focuses in technology, and the Catholic School Office staff members will review technology plans, conduct informal on-site evaluations, if needed in relation to review by the Schools and Libraries Division of Universal Services Administration (SLD), or in the processes of principal evaluations, will facilitate meetings, review curriculum practices, initiate surveys, and monitor student achievement of individual schools to assess the use of technology. Surveys are conducted periodically, approximately every two to three years to evaluate many aspects of the technology programs in the individual schools (Appendix 6). Of continual importance is the attention to making mid-course adjustments to the technology plans of the office and schools as warranted. The next major survey will be in 2012. Technology will remain a major component in long-range planning as many schools plan re-structuring and consolidations in the future.

The following guiding questions taken from Edie L. Holcomb’s text, Asking the Right Questions (2nd Edition, 2001) will also be used in conjunction with the overall process of technology implementation and assessment:

Where are we now? Where do we want to go? How will we get there? How will we know we are (getting) there? How will we sustain focus and momentum?

Two on-line resources, The Net Day Compass, http://www.netdaycompass.org/ , and the U.S. Department of Education’s An Educator's Guide to Evaluating the Use of Technology in Schools and Classrooms (U.S. Department of Education) http://www.ed.gov/pubs/EdTechGuide/index.html are the primary references used for quality guidelines to assess specific areas of technology implementation. (Appendix 8).

II. TECHNOLOGY GOALS OF THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS

The Catholic School Office of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati provides direct support and consultation services on technology issues to the schools as listed below and as evidenced by the Catholic School Office technology goals and initiatives stated previously. The primary goal of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Catholic School Office Technology Plan is to promote the technological advancement of the individual schools through the incorporation of technology into the curriculum, as directed by individual schools’ technology plans, and for the purpose of achieving the schools’ educational objectives. Each school has its own financial resources and does not receive technology funding from the Catholic School Office. The goals presented in this document are general goals that apply to all schools. Each school develops its own technology

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plan to document the school-specific details associated with general goals and then files its own technology plan at the Catholic School Office, Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk Center.

TECHNOLOGY PLANNING

“Blending a Vision for Technology Integration with Continuous Improvement Planning”

eTech Ohio LIT project

Technology Vision for the successful integration of technology: To embrace a three-tiered system needed in order for the integration of technology to be successful— Tier I – Archdiocesan School Office

Sets standards for administrators and teachers in technology. Develops the Archdiocesan Technology Plan. Provides and promotes ongoing Professional development for

teachers and administrators.

Tier II – School Administration Conducts a needs assessment. Develops realistic faculty expectations. Sets the tone for technology integration. Provides ongoing and extensive guidance and support. Articulates a technology vision. Provides teacher in-service throughout the year. Sets an example by using technology. Maintains adequate information systems to support technology

integration

Tier III – School Faculty

Takes time to become familiar with technology. Participates in on-site instruction. Attends in-service training. Takes college courses. Accepts coaching knowledgeable colleagues. Attends conferences. Pursues advanced courses. Develops an understanding of personal teaching style. Adapts to change.

Adapted from We Can’t See the Vision If Our Eyes Are Closed

Deborah A. Schwope, Assistant Principal,

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Resurrection Catholic School, Lakeland, Florida. From: Examples of the Integration of Technology in the Classroom Department of Elementary Schools, NCEA Robert J. Kealey, Ed.D., Editor ©2000

Technology Committees - To maintain a school technology committee composed of knowledgeable stakeholders: principals, teachers, parents, students, business leaders, technology vendors, and other community resource persons as determined by each school Schools are provided written guidelines for technology committees in the 2011-2014 Archdiocese of Cincinnati Guidelines for Implementation of the ISTE and State of Ohio Technology Standards and Competencies (Appendix 5). Technology Plans - To maintain and revise the current written school technology plan to guide the planning and implementation of technology Since 1997, technology resources and consultation services are provided by the staff members of the Catholic School Office on an on-going basis to help schools develop, revise, and assess their technology plans. Each year schools are encouraged to review and update their plans, to make mid-course changes, and file the revised and/or updated plan with the Catholic School Office. Each school is advised annually of the status of its technology plan as either current or in need of revision. Technology planning guidelines (Appendix 3) are available on-line from the Catholic School Office Webpage, under the Technology tab. The guidelines are aligned with the School and Libraries Division of Universal Services.org (SLD), administered by the Federal Communications Commission. Technology Needs Assessment - To conduct an annual technology audit that will include an inventory of all technology equipment, resources and connectivity, as well as an inventory of professional development needs An assessment of the infrastructure should take place prior to beginning an initial technology or upgrade project. Schools also need to assess the status of technology integration into information systems aspects of the school, including attendance, report cards, record keeping, learning management systems, student files, and marketing, and school Webpage. Technology Guidelines for Schools Closing or Consolidating –to implement procedures for storage and disbursement of hardware, software, and other technology resources as directed by the Catholic School Office and the public school district of ownership. Schools which close or consolidate follow Catholic School Office guidelines listed in Appendix 3, and guidelines of the school’s public district in the case of Auxiliary Services funded technology materials and equipment.

TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Professional Development - To provide on-going technology professional development opportunities for teachers at the building level including basic applications, Internet resources

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and curriculum integration activities; To inform teachers and encourage teacher participation in the many technology professional development opportunities offered by the Catholic School Office and other community and professional organizations Educators new to the Archdiocese attend an in-service day planned and presented by Catholic School Office staff, and held in high schools’ computer labs in various locations in the Archdiocese. The in-service includes an hour of orientation to CSO Webpage resources, including licensure, the CSO Technology Standards and Competencies, on-line curriculum resources for implementation of the standards and competencies, and workshops available to assist in developing necessary technology skills. Iowa and Ohio Graduation Test results will be studied to determine areas of strength and weakness. The Catholic School Office will create technological resources to assist administrators to interpret and communicate test scores. Technology resources which address areas of weakness will be reviewed and recommended for use by teachers with students. Professional development will be planned for teachers of targeted subject areas, as well as for the development of necessary technology skills aligned with Archdiocesan Standards and Competencies. The Archdiocese continues to partner with local colleges and universities for professional development. Since 2004, Xavier University has been working with Cincinnati area Catholic schools to develop leadership and strengthen core subject programs. The University of Dayton has been collaborating with Archdiocesan schools in the Excellence Initiative. All Archdiocesan educators are expected to participate in Title II Archdiocesan sponsored in-services, in-house in-services, or professional development workshops sponsored by outside providers. Schools’ Continuing Improvement Plans, OCSAA guidelines, and educators’ Individual Professional Development Plans guide the planning and implementation of in-services specific to the technology initiatives and needs of each school. Conferences - To encourage and enable school staffs to attend technology conferences. Teachers and administrators will be informed of funding available for registrations for SOITA, eTech, OCEA, NCEA, Classroom Connect, NECC, and other technology conferences. Summer Technology Workshops –To provide and take advantage of various funding for on-site workshops for their own teachers; to encourage teachers to take advantage of numerous workshops sponsored by educational and professional organizations, as well as the Archdiocese. Numerous workshops are in process both during the school year and in the summer as document-ed previously in this plan. Budget - To establish a Professional Development Budget for Technology In planning the technology budget, schools are encouraged to strive towards allocation of 40% for professional development, in accordance with guidelines from the U.S. Department of Education. Professional development budget sources include Title IIA, Title IID, various grants,

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vendor assistance, school fundraisers, independent donors, and others. Schools’ general budget constraints present challenges which are often met with technology funding cutbacks.

CURRICULUM INTEGRATION

Curriculum Integration - To provide funding for and encourage attendance at workshops and programs that support and foster integration of technology into the curriculum; To adopt technology applications that support the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Graded Courses of Study; To adopt and implement the 2011-2014 Archdiocese Guidelines for Implementation of the ISTE and State of Ohio Technology Standards and Competencies Technology is an essential tool to help achieve curricular success for students. Engaged and integrated learning via technology is an emphasis and an expectation. Schools provide teacher in-services in the efficient use of this technology. Keyboarding - To provide keyboard training for elementary students; to accomplish the minimum competencies as outlined by the Archdiocesan Guidelines for Implementation of the ISTE and State of Ohio Technology Standards and Competencies Keyboarding instruction is essential. Professional development & resources for teachers, technology coordinators, and teachers of keyboarding will be available and emphasized. Student motivation techniques will be researched and implemented. Digital Citizenship - To address with students and teachers the responsible, legal and ethical usage of internet and electronic resources. Refer to Acceptable Use Policy Media Literacy- To address with students the terminology of media literacy Teacher in-services continue to be provided on this topic. Schools also conduct their own programs in conjunction with the Archdiocese Graded Course of Study for Language Arts. Library Media Specialists are a necessary component of the school’s technology environment. High schools, in particular, will be expected to retain a certified Library Media Specialist to assist all teaching staff in the incorporation of technology into the curriculum.

TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES AND INTERNET ACCESS Telecommunication Services – To continually evaluate telephone services. Schools individually evaluate their own phone service as needed since the phone service is often tied into the parish phone system.. Internet Connectivity and Implementation - To continually assess Internet connectivity and services; To provide professional development opportunities for teachers on communication and curricular applications of the Internet.

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Since 1995-96, all schools of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati have been connected to the Internet. At present, all schools are upgraded to T1, cable modems, DSL, or fiber optic connections. Online Learning - To evaluate online learning initiatives, strategies and programs; to continually evaluate programs taking into consideration costs and program benefits. Schools will continue to evaluate online learning and the fiscal ability to offer online learning. Responsible Use of Technology Policy - To require all students, teachers, administrators, and school affiliated personnel to sign the Responsible Use of Technology Policy (RUoTP; formerly AUP) Schools will annually review the Responsible Use of Technology Policy (updated annually, the last update in May 2010, Appendix 4) to ensure educational use of technology resources. Schools develop school policies that further define acceptable use practices on the specific school’s computers and/or network, and penalties for unacceptable use. Guidelines for appropriate and ethical use of technology by students and employees in and out of the school environment continue to be emphasized in 2011-2014, along with no reasonable expectation of privacy in the use of computers on school property. School administrators, faculties, and Network Administrators will develop emergency response plans for unacceptable use. All schools were notified of the revised “Internet Acceptable Use Policy” in 2010. The revised policy is posted annually to the Catholic School Office Website.

BUDGET AND FUNDING

Budget - To ensure and foster the implementation of technology through the development of a comprehensive annual budget for technology which includes expenditures for hardware, software, connectivity, technical support, televisions, phone service, infrastructure, wiring, security, disaster recovery, maintenance, and professional development. Technology is a line item in schools’ budgets. Money to fund technology initiatives can come from a variety of sources. In the 2009 technology survey of Archdiocesan schools, the estimated total budget of all schools was $7,814,657. Budgets for the individual schools range from $1500 to $980,000. E-rate – To participate in the federal E-rate program Schools are encouraged to assess annually the value of participating in the E-rate program for discounts on telecommunication services, Internet access, and internal connections. One hundred seven of the one hundred fourteen schools apply for E-rate.

ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION

Assessment and Evaluation - To review on-going assessment and evaluation strategies; To annually assess and evaluate the implementation of technology applications (hardware, software, telecommunication services, etc.) in the administrative and curricular areas of the schools (through informal and formal methods including sharing, surveys, testing, research, consultation, and observation); To make mid-course corrections as needed

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Schools’ technology plans, goals and strategies, programs, and technology committee effectiveness should be evaluated annually. School Improvement Plans, Individual Professional Development Plans of school staff, and school accreditation documentations will guide in the assessment processes. (Also see Assessment and Evaluation under Section III, below.)

III. TECHNOLOGY GOALS TIMELINE FOR THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL

OFFICE AND THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS

ANNUALLY June 30, 2011-June 30, 2014

Assessment and Evaluation - To assess the needs of the Catholic School Office and the individual schools related to technology services and applications; To evaluate this plan and adopt new yearly goals and strategies and/or revise goals and strategies based on assessment findings and research on current best practices As stated in Section I, the following guiding questions taken from Edie L. Holcomb’s text, Asking the Right Questions (2nd Edition, 2001), in conjunction with the OhioSchoolNet/eTech Ohio LIT project data, are encouraged for use in the assessment process:

Where are we now? Where do we want to go? How will we get there? How will we know we are (getting) there? How will we sustain focus and momentum?

Additional specific evaluation documents include those from The Net Day Compass, http://www.netdaycompass.org/ , and the U.S. Department of Education’s An Educator's Guide to Evaluating the Use of Technology in Schools and Classrooms http://www.ed.gov/pubs/EdTechGuide/index.html (Appendix 8) Curriculum Integration - To enhance the integration of technology into the curriculum The Catholic School Office is committed to active learning which includes encouraging the use of technology in all curricular areas. The use of technology as a teaching tool is modeled at meetings and in-services with principals. In the role of instructional leader, principals are encouraged to look for use of technology in curricular and cross curricular teaching methods. Teachers who integrate leading-edge technology showcased and encouraged to share with other teachers in the building and in other schools. In addition, by way of the eTech listserv, the Catholic School Office Webpage monthly technology and media coordinators memos, the H/CCA listserv, and other web based communications tools as well as individual schools’ Websites, teachers share a multitude of technology integration suggestions not previously available in an easily accessible format.

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To blend a vision for technology integration with continuous improvement planning in targeted academic areas:

District averages and item analysis of the Grades 2, 4, 6, and 8 Iowa tests, Ohio Graduation Tests and other assessment mechanisms will be studied to determine areas of strength and greatest needs.

Software, websites, streaming video, mobile learning and other emerging technologies

which address areas of greatest need will be reviewed, shared in a variety of ways, and recommended for use by teachers and students.

Professional development of K -12 teachers will be provided to enable teachers to integrate technology effectively into the curriculum to address the greatest needs.

Professional Development – To evaluate and initiate technology-related professional development opportunities Both the Catholic School Office and individual schools of the Archdiocese will continue to offer and advertise, by way of the Catholic School Office Webpage, workshops geared to incorporation of technology into the curriculum. The Catholic School Office will continue to inform and strongly encourage administrators and teachers to participate in the following: ● Archdiocese of Cincinnati Title II Funded Technology Workshops ● SOITA workshops ● SOITA Conference; eTech Conference; OCEA; NCEA ● Other national technology conferences such as NECC (National Educational Computer Conference) and ISTE Technology Committees and Technology Plans - To have a functioning technology committee; to have the comprehensive written technology plan in each school reviewed annually, based on SLD and Archdiocesan guidelines. Plans and committees vary greatly from school to school. Emphasis will be placed on maintaining a technology plan which aligns with the guidelines for technology committees found in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati CSO Guidelines for Implementation of the ISTE and State of Ohio Technology Standards, and those of the SLD. Networking, Hardware, and Software - To continue to encourage evaluation of the infrastructure of the schools to allow for increased technology options; assessment and evaluation of computers in the school environment and to provide for the addition of computers in the classroom as well as the lab environment; evaluation of the school’s productivity, administrative, library, and curricular software including its effectiveness and current delivery method; promotion of engaged learning with the availability of technology in the classroom; promotion of proper disposal of outdated equipment Many networks are aging and need to be replaced. Schools need to continually plan for their next upgrade of networks and equipment. Computers, Interactive Whiteboards, and LCD projectors will be utilized in the classroom as well as in lab settings. Software needs continual evaluation in light of growing Web offerings and changing curricular needs. Schools are mindful of the need to develop a plan for environmentally-safe disposal of outdated equipment.

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E-rate and Internet Subsidy – To provide continued awareness and application direction for schools applying for E-rate discounts; To assist schools in understanding the state’s 426 funding allotments and planning for connectivity upgrades; to provide required E-rate documentation to the Schools and Libraries Division of the Universal Services Administration Schools will annually assess the value of participating in the E-rate program. Schools will be notified of E-rate meetings provided by eTech for the purpose of correct application procedures, and will be informed of E-rate management companies available to assist with the filing process. Website – To redesign sections of the Catholic School Office website and encourage schools to design, redesign if necessary, and maintain updated Websites in accordance with the Arch-diocese of Cincinnati Responsible Use of Technology Policy and Archdiocese Webpage Guidelines Internet Connectivity and Resources – To continue to collaborate with Internet Service Providers and schools, to enable increased Internet bandwidth for schools, to enable improved access to Web resources and to provide teachers and technology coordinators with related Internet professional development opportunities Schools will be encouraged to maximize opportunities for Internet connectivity, Internet delivered resources, and opportunities for professional development. Responsible Use of Technology Policy – To address unacceptable use of technology School administrators, faculties, network administrators will be advised to develop and/or annually reassess school handbook policies and procedures for unacceptable use. Flexibility should serve as a guiding principle. Security– To encourage schools to protect the integrity and privacy of the school, staff and students. Schools will continually be aware when implementing technology of security issues. Compliance issues of student privacy, network security, school data, email system and password protection. Funding - To continue to seek additional funding to support the technology goals of the Catholic School Office and individual schools The Catholic School Office continues to inform schools of related technology funding opportunities. Inclusion – To continue to seek funding and technology resources for students with special needs Professional Development emphasis will be placed on an Inclusion Workshops held annually.

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Distance Learning - To encourage schools in the implementation of quality Distance Learning experiences; to communicate effective content providers; to inform schools of professional development opportunities related to Distance Learning Related professional development opportunities at OCEA, eTech, SOITA or by other providers will be communicated and encouraged as schools continue to acquire necessary equipment. 1:1 Group (GCNPC) Mission: To encourage the consortium of schools in purchasing of technology through the 1:1 Group. In working with many Archdiocese of Cincinnati high school technology staff and in partnership with CDW-G, the recognition to bring Archdiocesan schools together as a consortium is in its third year. What this accomplishes is presenting the Archdiocesan schools as one large purchasing entity to product vendors and manufacturers. This enables many of them to extend discounts to the entire diocese that the schools can purchase on an individual basis. Examples of this include Tablets, Microsoft, and DyKnow Licensing. These discounts were initiated through programs run by the high schools, and the vendors have agreed to extend the same level of discounts to all grade and middle schools as well. Moving forward any discounts obtained will be extended to all Archdiocesan schools including grade, middle, and high schools. Another benefit is that the schools can begin to share standards on various technologies so that troubleshooting and tips can be shared between schools. An example would be to standardize on one or two types of wireless access points for wireless implementations. This way if any school has a question on configuration or setup, they will be able to use IT staff at other Archdiocesan schools as a resource since they will have the experience of working with the same model. The pricing and standards can be accessed at a dedicated CDW-G/Archdiocese web site, http://www.cdwg.com/archcin that will be tailored specifically to the diocese. The items chosen to be standards of technology will be featured and pricing corresponding to discounts extended to the diocese will be posted as the lowest available pricing. CDW-G also acts as a tech resource, and has access to specialists who focus specifically on advanced technologies such as security and storage. They also have developed strong partnerships with many vendors and can bring them onsite to present various industry technologies to many of the Archdiocesan IT staff at once. In addition to these benefits, we are open to suggestions to best serve the technology needs of the Archdiocesan schools. Professional Development for Catholic School Educators - To promote professional development collaboration opportunities among universities and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Schools will be encouraged to work with universities on professional development and collaboration opportunities.

School Year - 2011-2012

Resource Bank- To develop resources for addressing specific competencies in the Archdiocese Guidelines for Implementation of ISTE and State of Ohio Technology Standards and Competencies, to assist schools needing guidance in those areas

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Technology Coordinators will be asked to share ideas for successful implementation of standards difficult to address. These will be posted on the Appendices to the S&C, posted to weekly technology and media coordinators memos, and disseminated at technology and media coordinators meetings. An online database of lesson plans and/or lesson plans resources will also be developed. Web-conferencing – To promote and encourage web-conferencing with an understanding that it needs to be done in a secure environment . Schools will be encouraged through training and modeling to utilize web tools that allow for communication via the web. Intiative on Administrator Technology Standards – Administrators will be introduced to the ISTE Technology Standards for Administrators. Administrators will receive professional development of the technology standards for administrators and standards that need to be taught in the classroom.

School Year - 2012-2013 Mobile Learning Technology – To bring 21st Century learning tools into the classroom. Schools will be encouraged to transform paper-and-pencil lessons into stimulating mobile learning activities. Students will collaborate through this technology and share documents.

Graded Courses of Study Updated Graded Courses of Study will be published by the Catholic School Office which will include technology resources. Technology Survey – To have all schools complete a technology survey as an assessment and evaluation tool; To publish documentation of the results to the school communities A technology survey will be completed by all of the schools to assess the current state of their equipment, resources, professional development activities, technology-related services, and technology plans

School Year - 2013-2014

Technology Standards and Competencies – To evaluate and revise the 2011-2014 Archdiocese of Cincinnati Guidelines for Implementing ISTE and State of Ohio Technology Standards and Competencies Revision will be based on 1) changes in the ISTE and State of Ohio Technology Standards and Competencies 2) research on best practices in technology integration

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3) implementation during the previous years 4) collaboration among Archdiocesan and all-Ohio Diocesan technology coordinators

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Bibliography

June 30, 2008 - June 30, 2011

Articles Livingston, Pamela. “The One-to-One Tsunami: It’s on the Horizon. Will you be ready?” Technology & Learning April 2007; pages 24-30. Office of Educational Technology U.S. Department of Education (2010). Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology. National Educational Technology Plan 2010 Executive Summary Draft. Swope, Deborah A. "We Can't See the Vision If Our Eyes Are Closed" from Examples of the Integration of Technology in the Classroom by Robert J. Kealey; 2000; pages 20,21. Books Greaves, T. W. & Hayes, J. (2008). America’s Digital Schools 2008: The Six Trends to Watch. www.schooldata.com. International Society for Technology in Education. (2009) National Educational Technology Standards for Administrators. DC:ISTE. International Society for Technology in Education. (2007) National Educational Technology Standards for Students. DC:ISTE International Society for Technology in Education. (2008) National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers. DC:ISTE Websites Archdiocese of Cincinnati Catholic School Office – Technology Information: http://www.catholiccincinnati.org/ministries-offices/catholic-schools-office/school-resources/technology International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE): http://www.iste.org/ International Society for Technology in Education National Education Technology Standards (NETS): http://cnets.iste.org/index.shtml Net Day Compass: http://www.netdaycompass.org/ Ohio Department of Education Academic Content Standards for Technology: http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&TopicRelationID=1707&ContentID=1279&Content=72514

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Standards for Technology Literacy: http://www.iteawww.org/TAA/Publications/STL/STLMainPage.htm U.S. Department of Education: An Educator's Guide to Evaluating the Use of Technology in Schools and Classrooms http://www.ed.gov/pubs/EdTechGuide/index.html

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Appendices June 30, 2011 – June 30, 2014

Appendix 1 Archdiocesan Fact Sheet School Directory and Professional Staff Area Maps

Appendix 2

Technology and Media Coordinators List Appendix 3

Technology Planning Guidelines Auxiliary Services Approved Funding for Technology

Appendix 4

Responsible Use of Technology Policy Webpage Guidelines

Appendix 5

Guidelines for Implementation of the Technology Standards and Competencies Archdiocese of Cincinnati Graded Course of Study (Example)

Appendix 6 2009 Technology Survey Compilation of Significant Data

Appendix 7

Technology and Curriculum Integration Workshops (Examples)

Appendix 8 Other Professional Development Resources (Examples)

Appendix 9 Catholic School Office Homepage

o Principals News o Catholic School Office Technology Page o Teacher Resource Station

Values for a Lifetime Marketing Webpage