TECHNOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL LEADERS FINAL PRESENTATION

Mona Salem

Our Vision

We seek to encourage and enhance the use of technological tools available to our students to move them forward in the endeavor to become successful participant in our ever-challenging community.

Demographics

The Kuwait American Girls School is a K-12 single gender school providing an American style education. It is situated in Dasman, Kuwait and has been operating as a private proprietary school for 10 years. The pilot project will involve Grade 8 students at the Kuwait American Girls School. The grade consists of 65 female students Type of Nationality and their percentage of students  Kuwaiti81%  Other ArabNationals12%  American2%  Canadian4%  British1%

Project Development Team

          Financial Administrator (Representing the Board members) Superintendent (Head of School) Elementary School, Middle School and High School Principal Software System Operator Head of IT Department in Middle School IT Technical officer in Middle School Grade 8 Team (All teachers integrating laptops into their classes) Two parent representatives from the PTA group Curriculum and Staff Development Coordinator Student council Representatives

What does the research suggest…..

Laptops are tool that can be used to elevate the level of education of our students. The essential component in making all this work is the ongoing and effective implementation of strategic plans to make sure that the monetary value and effort put into a program like this is worthwhile. Studies that have been conducted so far seem to encourage the idea that laptops benefit and have a positive impact to the students learning experience. With education being important to success, the key is to find the best use of the technology and implement it in a way that will benefit and enhance the educational experiences of both teachers and students.

Summary of How New Technology can be Implemented into the Curriculum

    Essential elements needed to implement technology into the curriculum include; Standards - must be congruent with the school philosophy, CIS (Council of International Schools) and MSA (Middle States Schools) accreditation agencies and the regulations put in by the Kuwait Ministry of Private Education.

Assessments - clearly indicates and guides the success of the student and the program.

Accessibility - for all learners to meet each student's individual needs.

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This can be implemented through different strategies;

Active learning – Students use the Laptop as a means for exploring their own learning and take charge of what, how and when they learn.

Constructive learning computer applications and the use of the web to build on what they already know. – Students use their prior knowledge of Authentic learning but instead delve into the real world and learn using up to date information. – Students no longer use static textbooks, Cooperative learning the lecture of the teacher, but take part and are responsible for their own learning.

– Students are no longer the audience to Intentional/Reflective learning – Once given the choice, students will often take charge and accomplish more than when they are told what to do.

Goal and Objectives

Project Goal: Integrating Laptop use into classrooms as a medium for instruction Time frame: Fall 2009- Spring 2010  Objective 1: Staff integrating the use of laptops into their teaching pedagogy  Objective 2: Continued professional development to support the implementation of laptops into the classroom  Objective 3: Evaluation and eventual implementation of using the laptops as a tool for instruction for all of Middle school students and ultimately through to high school students

Budget Summary for Pilot Project

Pilot Project for the Integration of Laptops in the Classroom

Evaluation 1% PD 19% Emergency Fund 10% Technical equipment 37% Maintenance and Tech support 5% Software and License 22% Utilities and Communication 6%

Evaluation Procedures

The following are areas that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the new pilot program introduced in the fall 2009:     Comparing and reviewing different brand of laptop computers to make sure they meet the requirements of the teachers and students Frequent informal and bi-yearly formal assessment of students performance Standardized test to compare earlier years to that working with the laptops in the classroom Surveys to parents, staff and students to provide information to reassess and revisit the revised curriculum and make changes where possible

Additional Resources Needed

 Stationary  Meeting rooms for PD sessions  Electrical Adaptors for laptop use in class  Paper – printer use  Ink cartridges – printer use