MD 300:

School
Education
al
Technolog
y
Observati
on
Old Saybrook
Senior
High School

Caitlin Woods
April 9, 2008
 MD 300: School Educational Technology Observation

Demographics:
Apr. 9
• Grade levels: 9-12

• Students: 463

• Teachers: 39.3

• Administrators: 3.2

• Diversity of student

population:

• Number of students on free and reduced lunch program: 6.4%

Race/Ethnicity Number Percent

American Indian 1 0.2
Asian American 17 3.7
Black 11 2.4
Hispanic 17 3.7
White 417 90.1

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 MD 300: School Educational Technology Observation

Apr. 9

Location:

• Suburban

• Size of community: 14,500 people

School Faculty:

The staffing in the LMC is composed of one media specialist as well as an assistant. The

assistant is generally present in the LMC for five hours of the school day. In addition, there are

five labs with approximately twenty-two to twenty-four stations. There is also a committee that

plans for the acquisition and implementation of educational technology. It meets once per month

to discuss these plans and implementing in the future.

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 MD 300: School Educational Technology Observation

Apr. 9

Educational Technology-the Hardware:

• Computers: 240 available in various locations.

• Laptops available: 2 Macintosh Laptops & 1 PC Laptop

• Wireless Technology: Wireless technology is available, but there is no plan for the whole

school to be wireless.

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 MD 300: School Educational Technology Observation

• Smartboards: There are 9 Smartboards, but there is no implementation plan for all

classes to have them. In addition there are projection units mounted and on carts as well.

Apr. 9 • Digital Cameras: 16 digital cameras: 10 video tech cameras and 6 still cameras.

• Digital video cameras: 10 all with video editing capabilities. All students use these

digital video cameras, especially seniors for senior final projects. All classes, however,

access these cameras year round.

• TVs/VCRs/DVD players: Available in every room

• Additional educational technology available: Music: Keyboards and MIDI (Musical

Instrumental Digital Interface)

Educational Technology-the Software

• Major application software products used in the school: Office, Adobe, Creative

Suite, Geometry Sketch Pad, Internet Browsers: Safari, Firefox, Smart Tech,

Garge, i-Movie, Micro Type, Auto Desk, Engine Software.

• The major instructional software products used all fall into the categories of drill

and practice, tutorials, instructional games, simulations, and problem solving.

• No integrated learning system such as PLATO or BLUE RIBBON is used by

students.

• The library media center is automated and can be accessed through an online

cared catalog from any computer in the school and from home.

• Online data bases, encyclopedias, e-books: Culture Grams, Opposing ViewPoints,

IConn.

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 MD 300: School Educational Technology Observation

Apr. 9

Scheduling:

• Classes are scheduled for instruction in the LMC and/or computer labs by the

means of signing up through “Power School” which is an online source for

students to utilize.

• Laptops can be signed out in the LMC at any time when a student needs them.

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 MD 300: School Educational Technology Observation

School Facility and Availability of Educational Technology:

Apr. 9

• The facility was built in 1935

• The wiring infrastructure was updated in summer of 2007.

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 MD 300: School Educational Technology Observation

• The basic technology available in every classroom is the Internet, one computer, a

TV with DVD player, and Intercom. Many classrooms have a Smartboard, but

Apr. 9 not all.

• In the LMC and LAB, there are a number of various stations with additional

technology and appliances.

• Educational Technology utilized: Easy IEP

Funding:

• Technology is funded by federal, state, the town of Old Saybrook, and the parents.

There were various percentages of funding for each, but no exact measurement.

• As the high school has undergone significant improvements and reconstruction in

the last year, the next focus will be on a new lab and new software. However, due

to the high expenses granted for the renovations, a new lab is something that will

not be implemented for at least another year.

Professional Development and Technology Support

• Once a school year, there is professional development that is available to staff and

administrators in the area of technology.

• There is one tech support in each school within the district. There are three

schools which consist of the elementary, middle and high school.

Student Learning

• The adaptive technology that has been implemented into Old Saybrook Senior

High School consists of Dragon Speak and Inspiration.

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 MD 300: School Educational Technology Observation

• Philosophies uses in guiding the use of technology include both directed and

constructivist.

Apr. 9

Compilation of Information

Old Saybrook Senior High School has a great deal of beneficial, accessible, and

resourceful technology within the school system. Although the breakdown in numbers of

computers, laptops, and additional technological hardware do not seem profound, it is

crucial to take into account the school size. The high school is merely comprised of five

hundred students and 32 teachers. Despite the school size, the technology and access is

adequate and sufficient for the students’ use. In addition, to the adequate amount of

technology, the media technician was encouraging when she discussed the guiding use of

technology. Not only were students regularly directed on utilizing the technology at

hand, but it was regularly used in student projects, research, and studies.

In addition to the substantial amount of use of the computer labs and LMC check

out for wireless laptops, students also had a tremendous amount of access to digital

cameras. These cameras are encouraged with the iMovie program and are implemented

with interdisciplinary motives. I know from first hand experience that iMovie was used

regularly (I attended this high school!) and I created my own movie for my final senior

project. This was so successful that it was presented to the entire class on graduation day.

I was given instruction and guidance on the program and discovered that I learned so

much more utilizing this technology. Teachers were encouraging in working on these

programs and were more than willing to assist with the cameras and iMovie.

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 MD 300: School Educational Technology Observation

The high school is working toward the building of a new media lab and getting in

more software, but the school recently underwent renovation and additions. With the

Apr. 9 reconstruction, the school received nine brand new Smartboards which are constantly

used in the classrooms as well as technology for the music, science, and art programs.

With the influx of astounding technology, it is evident that the teachers and students are

eager to implement them into their everyday studies and classrooms. It is extremely

encouraging to see the high school develop into one that is much more progressive. As a

result, students and teachers are engaged in the learning and projects assigned. The new

technology and implementing into students’ daily routines has not only been effective,

but extremely beneficial.