Technology
GODLEY ISD’S USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM AND A SUMMARY OF CONDITIONS
The Technology Department plays a significant roll in the education of students in the district. The responsibilities of the department are not limited to maintaining the district’s network and hardware but also include the integration of technology into the classroom. The educational philosophy of the district strives to address the learning styles of the students in the 21st century and therefore technology plays a vital part. This approach (See Godley ISD’s 21st Century Approach to Education) has recently been recognized by the Region 11 Education Service Center as being a model for other districts to follow.
The district maintains approximately 650 computers and a 3:1 student to computer ratio. Three T1 lines (2 for data and 1 for distance learning) provide Internet access to all rooms and computers in the district. The district’s network is divided into VLANs running at Gigabit speed. We are currently running 18 servers in the district:
One hard-wired and one mobile distance learning system provide GISD students with many opportunities to participate in offerings not available locally. Yearly, high school students enroll in subjects that are taught at other high schools or are available on a college level. Many students participate in virtual field trips exploring subjects and concepts from all over the nation. Some classes have even interacted with our troops in Iraq.
The High School and Middle School classroom teachers have access to a Media Distribution Network that allows them, with a touch of a button, to access media from:
| Their computer | Document camera | DVD on their computer |
| Internet | Recorded television program | DVD/VCR from Library |
| Another laptop | DVD/VCR | Live TV |
All if this media can be displayed for students through a ceiling-mounted data projector focusing their attention on the specific information. By utilizing multimedia, teachers are able to engage the students and facilitate learning in an environment that interests them. It is the intention of the district to expand this capability in the future to the lower grades.
To facilitate teacher’s ability to understand and utilize technology in the classroom the district employs a full-time Instructional Technologist. She works with teachers on training, lesson plans and new technology implementation.
Godley Elementary School
The emphasis for the PreK-2nd grade campus is on developing a sense of trust and security between the teacher and young student. Therefore technology is treated more as an aide to the teacher rather than the center of learning as in later grades.
Teachers requested data projectors and document cameras for their rooms in addition to several individual computers located in each room. To ensure TEKS are taught at the appropriate level, the campus has two computer labs and an instructional aide that are available for regularly scheduled classes.
Godley Intermediate School
The Texas Long Range Planning for Technology Advisory Committee has recommended state testing of students in grades 2, 5 and 8. It is possible that these tests will begin within the next 3-4 years so it is important that we ensure our elementary and intermediate students are adequately prepared. As with the Elementary campus, TEKS are stressed here but in a less formal approach. With two computer labs available, teachers integrate the necessary skills as a part of their curriculum. This approach not only provides opportunities for students to increase their technology skills, it engages them in their core lessons. One formal approach is utilized, however, in the introduction to keyboarding beginning in 3rd grade. The campus utilizes a portable 30 station keyboarding cart that is shared by the three grades. The objective is simply to provide an opportunity for students to learn the home keys and proper keyboarding procedures. While speed and accuracy will be improved later in the student’s educational path, the skills learned allow teachers in fourth and fifth grade to begin assigning more research-oriented lessons.
Teachers engage students on the Intermediate campus by using Internet resources, data projectors, classroom response units, digital cameras and Interwrite pads. Using teaching strategies that incorporate technology excites the students and hopefully will provide an increase in learning. Likewise, teachers are finding it fun and are becoming very innovative it the lessons that they prepare.
Godley Middle School
Many districts try to teach technology within the core classes. However, from student input and observation, we have concluded that in reality many students receive far less benefit from the integration approach, and therefore it is not possible to give all students the foundation in technology they really need. Additionally, the core teachers don’t have the class time to devote to teaching technology skills.
We continue on this campus to stress keyboarding with the requirement that sixth-graders pass a high school level proficiency test. This sets them up for being able to efficiently complete technology assignments for the remainder of their school careers. During the latter part of the course research skills and cross-curriculum assignments are part of the class. Seventh-graders are required to take a dedicated half-semester Technology Applications class which will ensure they are prepared for the possibility of a state mandated test as well as teach them the skills to meet future classroom assignments. Eight-graders are expected to use technology as part of their core curriculum.
As students get into the Middle School grades more technology is utilized by the teachers. In addition to the technology describe for the other campuses above, the Middle School has two computer labs for classes, one for open class use and two portable wireless labs for teachers to utilize as necessary. Additionally, all science classrooms have workstations with Internet access available at each experiment table. Three student computers have been installed in classrooms of teachers who have requested them.
Special Education students are benefiting from the use of technology as well. Interactive technology helps these students in many ways and the use of Kurzweill software that reads, text, websites or scanned materials for students who need that help can be important.
Godley High School
Godley High School teachers are leading the way in using technology in their classrooms to enhance instruction. The High School all of the technologies described for the other campuses and teachers are taking full advantage of those resources with innovative lessons that students prefer.
Additionally, the campus has 4 computer labs, 3 portable wireless labs (one located in the library) and a designated distance learning room. A fifth lab will be built for the Vocational Agriculture department as part of the newly passed bond initiative. Student computers with Internet access are located at each of the lab tables in the four science rooms as well as in classrooms of teachers who have requested them.
Three Technology Application courses (Desktop Publishing, Multimedia, & Website Design) are taught as part of the high school curriculum in addition to Business Computer Information Systems (BCIS). Students enjoy multimedia projects on Apple computers located in the Technology Applications lab and the Art classroom. Credit recovery for students needing to catch up and cannot fit additional courses into their schedule is available through online Plato curriculum.
With the technology available, teachers have created video lessons for substitute teachers to use while they are absent. This enables instruction to continue and not be missed if a teacher is absent.
Technology Staff
