2009-2010+Action+Items

===To realize the Priorities, Goals, and Strategies of the Strategic Plan requires the development, execution, and measurement of Action Items. The following are the Middle School's targeted Priorities, Goals, Strategies, and Action Items fo r the first year of the Strategic Plan:===

**Priority: Ensuring that technology is an integral component of all curricular and programmatic development**
> **Goal:** Deepen the commitment of students, teachers, parents, and administrators to the best uses of technology in teaching and learning >> **Strategy:** Establish mechanisms and allocate time to share and discuss the role of technology in the academic program and particularly in student learning: consider what we're doing and what we need to be doing >>> **Action Item**: Division Head, Department Chair, and Grade Level Deans provide opportunities to share/discuss the role of technology during Divisional, Departmental, and Grade Level meetings. >>> **Progress:**

> **Goal:** Develop forward-thinking curriculum that includes contemporary (21st century) literacies >> **Strategy:** Articulate a scope and sequence of literacies to facilitate changes in instruction >>> **Action Item:** Establish a MS Technology Committee to articulate the knowledge and skills (literacies) for grades 5-8: >>>> --Visual/Media Literacy >>>> --Information Literacy >>>> --Citizenship and Ethical Literacy >>>> --Network Literacy >>>> --Intercultural Literacy >>>> --Basic Literacy >>> **Progress:** The 7th grade team has holistically defined **Basic Technology Skills** >  >>  >>>  >> >> >> **Strategy:** Be responsive and intentional in the inclusion of emerging technologies; change, grow, and innovate as opportunities become available and relevant to K12 education. >>> **Action Item:** Leverage recently acquired technologies: >>>> --Wimba (language acquisition): Implement through World Languages Department >>>> --Learnosity (language acquisition): Implement through World Languages Department >>>> --Moodle (distance learning): Implement through Digital Literacy, World Languages, and grade-level teams for H1N1 Contingency Plan >>>> --Chalk and Wire (e-portfolio): Implement through small pilot groups in 7th and 8th grade (TBD) >>> **Progress:** Language Department has received basic training on Moodle and Wimba; Moodle deployed in Digital Literacy and for H1N1 planning

**Priority: Using technology as a catalyst/accelerator for student centered learning**
> **Goal:** Promote student independence and ownership of learning through technology >> **Strategy:** Identify pre-existing students skills and help build a well-rounded student technology toolkit which can be used where relevant in learning. >>> ** Action Item: ** Review and evaluate the use of academic technology in grades 5-8. >>> **Progress:** To be reported by Department Chair: >>>> --Math >>>> --Science >>>> --Arts >>>> --Languages >>>> --English >>>> --History >>>> --PE

>> **Strategy:** Lead students to understand and exercise executive function, digital citizenship, and ethical use of technology. >>> ** Action Item: ** The Deans, Counselor, and CIT will develop grade-level programs to address citizenship and ethical use. >>> **Progress:** Last year's 7th grade program is being revised and will reside in a **new online space**.

> **Goal:** Partner teachers and students in learning to facilitate a pedagogical shift in the role of teachers >> **Strategy:** Structure classrooms in a way that promotes and encourages more student independence and direct student access to resources and tools >>> **Action Item**: Evaluate allocation and type of technology resources available for 5th and 6th grade. >>> **Progress:** Fifth grade is piloting a pod of Netbooks in Mike Fitzgerald's geography class.

>> **Strategy****:** Design curriculum to allow for more student choice and greater differentiation by content and ability level >>> **Action Item****:** Academic departments to include opportunities for choice and differentiation when designing/revising curriculum. >>> **Progress:** To be reported by Department Chair: >>>> --Math >>>> --Science >>>> --Arts >>>> --Languages >>>> --English >>>> --History >>>> --PE

> **Goal:** leverage technology to strengthen our commitment to Best Practice and diverse learning strategies >> **Strategy:** Create an environment that embraces collaborative, interdisciplinary, and project-based learning opportunities >>> **Action Item**: Develop grade level integrated units for H1N1 contingency plan >>> **Progress:** Units completed 9-30-09

> **Goal:** Match assessment strategies to the learning process. >> **Strategy:** Utilize portfolio, formative and diagnostic assessments to measure learning processes and provide more frequent and timely feedback. >>> **Action Item**: Establish Chalk and Wire portfolio pilot in 7th and 8th grade. >>> **Progress:** Due to technical issues with our network, portfolios are on hiatus. >>> >>> **Action Item**: Review DyKnow formative assessment features with faculty. >>> **Progress:** Training schedule TBD.

**Priority**: Expand the locations and opportunities for learning through the use of technology
> **Goal:** Create a ubiquitous learning environment. >> **Strategy:** Provide formal and informal online/distance education opportunities >>> **Action Item**: Deploy Moodle as a course management tool >>> **Progress:** Moodle will be used for all grade-level H1N1 units; World Languages will use Moodle and Wimba in all grades.

> **Goal:** Integrate the work of the library and technology >> **Strategy:** Coordinate and promote a common skill-set for information literacy >>> **Action Item**: Work in conjunction with MS Library to develop/define information literacy in grades five through eight >>> **Progress:** Have invited Matt to participate in the 7th grade Digital Literacy course and include library resources tour as part of the curriculum.

> **Goal:** Converge social networking, online collaboration, and global connections >> **Strategy:** Explore programmatic implications of electronically facilitated social interactions >>> **Action Item**: Create in-house social network for the Middle School >>> **Progress:** Currently in the process of testing Elgg and BuddyPress as social networking solutions >>

>> **Strategy:** Extend our reach to include distant countries and make intercultural connections >>> **Action Item**: Every World Languages teacher is expected (per Dept Chair) to establish a global connection for each of his/her courses >>> **Progress:** Gathering resources/contacts; no definite connection made yet. >>

>> **Strategy:** Understand and utilize power in communication to a wider audience. >>> **Action Item**: Students will use blogging as a publishing platform. >>> **Progress:** 7th and 8th grade English, 7th grade math, and 8th grade science classes are blogging.

**Priority**: Fostering and advancing faculty professional development to better utilize technology to enhance learning
> **Goal:** Build teacher investment in ongoing learning about technology, emerging strategies, research on learning, and contemporary curriculum. >> **Strategy:** Commit to ongoing professional development opportunities to continue to provide a forward-thinking curriculum and innovative educational experiences for students. >>> **Action Item**: Encourage faculty to participate in the K12 Online Conference >>> **Progress:** Teachers invited to 9-26 Live Event >>> >>> **Action Item**: Invite teachers to attend and present at METC 2010 >>> **Progress:** Middle School submitted three session proposals

> **Goal:** Create a rich faculty learning environment that ensures teachers have access to experiences that develop their expertise with technology tools and strategies >> **Strategy:** Organize online and face-to-face large and small group learning opportunities >>> **Action Item**: Develop Professional Development Moodle for independent and collaborative learning >>> **Progress:** Framework is established and available here >>> >>> **Action Item**: Organize next year's Summer Teacher Institute >>> **Progress:** Potential speakers contacted; awaiting feedback from Jeff and Lisa

> **Goal:** Update hiring and evaluation procedures to include assessment of technology knowledge, skills, and implementation >> **Strategy:** Ensure academic leadership understands and values role of academic technology >>> **Action Item**: Bi-weekly CIT/Dept Chair meetings to discuss academic technology >>> **Progress:** In process of establishing meeting schedule