Transcript By Sue Saur EDLD 5362 Information Systems Final Project Where is Comal ISD ? Comal ISD is one of two school districts located in the beautiful, scenic town of New Braunfels Texas. Photograph.

By Sue Saur
EDLD 5362 Information Systems
Final Project
Where is
Comal ISD ?
Comal ISD is
one of two
school districts
located in the
beautiful, scenic
town of
New Braunfels
Texas.
Photograph by Sue Saur
New Braunfels
We are known
for our rivers,
our antiques,
and of course
Schlitterbahn.
Photographs by Sue Saur
New Braunfels and Comal County have experienced
rapid growth over the past few decades.
1981 –
 1 High School
 2 Middle Schools
 5 Elementary Schools
2010 4 High Schools
 5 Middle Schools
 14 Elementary Schools
We presently serve over 17,400 students. Projections estimate that number to rise
to 24,000 by 2017.
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The Mission of Comal Independent School District is to
provide extensive learning opportunities for all students to
ensure they become contributing members of our society.
“Comal ISD strives for educational excellence in all academic
areas. One of the district’s goals is to equip, train, and
utilize 21st century technology in all classrooms to prepare
students for the challenges of the
future.”
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Photograph by Sue Saur
 Strengthen Leadership
 Consider Innovative Budgeting
 Improve Teacher Training
 Support E-Learning and Virtual Schools
 Encourage Broadband Access
 Move toward Digital Content
 Integrate Data Systems
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 Invest in leadership development programs to develop
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a new generation of tech-savvy leaders at every level.
Retool Administration Education program to provide
training in technology decision making and
organizational change.
Develop partnerships between school, higher
education and the community.
Encourage creative technology partnerships with the
business community.
Empower students’ participation in the planning
process.
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 Determine the total costs for technology as a
percentage of total spending.
 Consider a systemic restructuring of budgets to realize
efficiencies, cost savings, and reallocation. This
includes expenditures on textbooks, instructional
supplies, space and computer labs.
 Consider leasing with 3-5 year refresh cycles.
 Create a technology innovation fund to carry funds
over yearly budget cycles.
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 Improve the preparation of new teachers in the use of
technology.
 Ensure that every teacher has the opportunity to take
online learning courses.
 Improve the quality and consistency of teacher
education through measurement, accountability and
increased technology resources.
 Ensure that every teacher knows how to use data to
personalize instruction.
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 Provide every student access to e-learning.
 Enable every teacher to participate in e-learning
training.
 Encourage the use of e-learning options to meet No
Child Left Behind requirements for highly qualified
teachers, supplemental services and parental choice.
 Explore creative ways to fund e-learning opportunities.
 Develop quality measures and accreditation standards
for e-learning that mirror those required for course
credit.
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 Thoroughly evaluate existing technology
infrastructure and access to broadband to determine
current capacities and explore ways to ensure its
reliability.
 Encourage that broadband is available all the way to
the end-user for data management, online and
technology-based assessments, e-learning, and
accessing high-quality digital content.
 Encourage the availability of adequate technical
support to manage and maintain computer networks,
maximize educational uptime and plan for future
needs.
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 Ensure that teachers and students are adequately
trained in the use of online content.
 Encourage ubiquitous access to computers and
connectivity for each student.
 Consider the costs and benefits of online content,
aligned with rigorous state academic standards, as part
of a systemic approach to creating resources for
students to customize learning to their individual
needs.
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 Establish a plan to integrate data systems so that
administrator and educators have the information they
need to increase efficiency and improve student learning.
 Use data from both administrative and instructional
systems to understand relationships between decisions,
allocation of resources and student achievement.
 Ensure interoperability. For example, consider School
Interoperability Framework(SIF) Compliance Certificate as
a requirement in all RFPs and purchasing decisions.
 Use assessment results to inform and differentiate
instruction for every child.
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 Part of the Texas’ Long Range Plan for Technology,
2006-2020.
 Emphasizes Four Main Areas of Focus:
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 Teaching and Learning
 Educator Preparation and Development
 Leadership, Administrative and
Instructional Support
 Infrastructure for Technology
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 Long Term Funding Priorities should emphasize:
Student to Computer Ratio—ultimate goal 1:1
Technical Support 350:1
Instructional Support and Professional Development
should equal 30% of Technology Budget
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Photographs by Sue Saur
 Goal 1: Utilize technology as a tool to foster
improvement in academic achievement, curriculum
integration, and increased accessibility and
innovation.
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The district will strive to have 100% of students achieve
technology proficiency and academic success.
100% of schools will integrate technology skills in all
subject areas/curricula.
Increase accessibility and innovation of technological
products and resources.
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 Integrated subject lesson plans posted on the
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Eduphoria web page, including technology
integration.
Availability of software such as Study Island to analyze
student skills and manage instructional planning.
Web-based scope and sequence for K-8 technology
expectations correlated to TEKS is being developed.
Benchmark assessments for those grades are being
developed.
Video-on-Demand service is available to all campuses.
 Technology Integration is part of every Campus Improvement Plan.
 Staff Development is being provided at a campus level to train staff on ways to
integrate technology into the curriculum.
 Maintenance of flexible, extended library hours with computer access to
accommodate students and community needs for research and adult literacy.
 Hardware purchases:
 COWs—(computers on wheels ) three stations of 25 per elementary campus, four stations of 30 at
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each middle school, and five stations of 30 at each high school;
document cameras in every classroom;
3 Classroom Performance Systems per campus;
150 iPods for ESL middle school classrooms;
1 Alpha Smart cart per pair of second grade teachers;
20 science probes per campus;
26 Videoconferencing systems across the district;
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Photograph by Sue Saur
 Goal 2: Promote growth in educators’ effectiveness
integrating technology into the curricula, achieving
proficiency in SBEC Technology Standards, and
transforming teaching practices by promoting studentcentered learning.
1. 100% of instructional staff is expected to implement and
teach the Technology Application TEKS in conjunction
with the integrated technology requirements in the core
curriculum TEKS.
2. 100% of instructional staff will meet SBEC standards for
technology literacy.
3. 100% of staff will be encouraged to transform educational
practices to include collaborative environments and other
specialized curricula.
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 Offerings of trainings online and at campus level on the use
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of new technologies such as PDAs, CPS systems, etc.
Establishment of staff study groups to promote
communities of learning.
Just in time learning for teachers and librarians using
district specialists.
Staff evaluation by administration for SBEC standards.
Incentive programs to encourage teachers to reach SBEC
standards.
Distance Learning Opportunities through Region 13
offerings.
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Photograph by Sue Saur
 Goal 3: Improve quality of communication to facilitate
data-driven decision making processes in the areas of
student records (achievement, attendance, special
education, and discipline), community
partnerships/parent awareness and involvement, and other
support services.
1. 100% of schools will utilize technology as a tool to access
and maintain student records.
2. 100% of Instructional staff will be encouraged to utilize
electronically delivered information to communicate with
parents and community members, as appropriate.
3. 100% of support staff will streamline information-reporting
and decision-making processes by utilizing
electronic/digital productivity tools.
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 Staff use of Email, HotNews, Comal Communicator,
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News Alerts,(district communication formats)
GradeSpeed usage
Digital resource postings such as manuals, handbooks,
directories, catalogs.
100% staff access to digital file formats.
Online curriculum database
ADM data for decision making processes.
Online gradebooks in use by all staff
Campus Websites maintained and updated regularly.
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Photograph by Sue Saur
 Goal 4: Increase or maintain capability and stability of the
LAN/WAN, Internet connectivity, user/computer ratio, and
emerging technologies as appropriate.
1. The LAN/WAN system will be optimized to meet the
needs of all facets of the school district enterprise.
2. 100% connectivity will be maintained from every location
in the district.
3. CISD will continue to work toward optimal
user/computer ratio in the district.
4. CISD will continue to discover and include new and
emerging technologies where appropriate, to maximize
user potential.
 Shared use of hardware and digital equipment
 Student/computer ratio of 3:1 with 1:1 in computer labs as
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appropriate.
CISD will gradually upgrade to full IP telephony service as well as
add phone service to new schools and Central Admin.
Ensure direct user access to internet to every user in the district.
Establish and maintain wireless access points at each location.
CISD will provide backbone redundancy by establishing a loop
topography MAN with layer 3 switches.
Explore grant and funding sources to enhance infrastructure.
CISD will maintain gigaman fiber connectivity and upgrade
existing T1 and DS3 circuits to gigabit fiber providing a robust
MAN between sites and Ethernet LAN at each site.
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 Comal’s Technology plan targets focus areas of Star Chart of
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teacher training, developing leadership, improving
infrastructure, and instructional support.
Some areas of the National Educational Technology Plan are not
included, such as innovative budgeting, e-learning and virtual
schools, and moving toward digital content.
Comal offers many opportunities for online and distance
learning for staff. But implementing some creative opportunities
for students is still in the planning stages. But the potential is
exciting.
Comal does not seem have a plan for moving toward digital
content in lieu of textbooks. As opportunities for e-learning are
expanded, this area will most likely receive more attention.
Overall, the Comal Technology Plan is very thorough.
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By Sue Saur
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 Comal ISD. (2006). Comal ISD Technology Plan. New Braunfels:
Comal ISD Technology Planning Committee.
 United States Department of Education. (2004). 2004 National
Educational Technology Plan-A New Golden Age in American
Education. Washington DC: U. S. Department of Education,
Office of Educational Technology.
 Texas Education Agency. (2006). Texas Star Chart: School
Technology and Readiness aligned with the Long-Range Plan for
Technology, 2006-2020. Austin: Texas Education Agency,
Instructional Materials and Educational Technology Division.
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