A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Chapel Square Technology Center

Annandale, Virginia

The rationale for technology is many-sided.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is in the process of implementing a technology training and technical support program to the schools. This is a new approach for the county schools. Included in the FCPS FY95 budget are funds to employ 23 individuals called technology training specialists. Each technology training specialist will be assigned to one of the county high school pyramids. A pyramid consists of a high school and the middle and elementary schools that feed into it.

The technology training specialists will provide instructional technology application training for the teachers and administrators in the schools. They may provide the training directly or coordinate the efforts of technology trainers from the central office. In addition, they will devote about one-third of their time to technical trouble-shooting in the schools. This will range from diagnosis of a problem and referring the situation to the appropriate support service in the county or correcting minor hardware and software problems.

The rationale for the Instructional Technology Plan is many-sided:

• Increase daily use of technology as an instructional and productivity tool.

• Increase access to workstations so that teachers and students may regularly collect data from a variety of media and content areas in order to create written products and multimedia presentations.

• Increase the regular use of technologies in science, social studies, language arts, and mathematics to retrieve data, analyze applications, and solve problems as described.

• Increase necessary training which is required for the implementation of the technology initiatives.

• Implement the proposed standards for English and social studies programs requiring the use of technology to analyze material; to prepare multimedia presentations; and to access, organize, and present information.

• Implement the proposed standards requiring demonstration of proficiency in the use of various technologies and software including the design and use of spreadsheet presentations.

• Implement the science standards requiring students to use technology to collect and analyze data, create and manipulate databases, telecommunicate information, and use technology to access information.

• Increase ESL students' access to technology that integrates the curriculum and uses sound to meet the needs of these students.

• Accelerate the implementation programs such as the Model Technology School Project, the modular technology education program, and the art/technology program.

• Continue aggressive work toward the full implementation of the automated catalog and information systems in the library/media centers.

• Provide access to appropriate technology to support composition and research applications in music and interactive experiences in the spoken tongue and cultural background of foreign languages.

For more information:
William R. Thomas
Coordinator
Fairfax County Public Schools
Department of INSTRUCTIONAL Services
Office of Instructional Technology
4414 Holborn Avenue
Annandale, VA 22003
(703) 503-7580

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[Washington County School District]

[Craftsmanship 2000]