Welcome to the MPS Instructional Technology Page!

This page will be used to outline the curriculum, explain the computer programs and the projects that the students will be doing in class, and to show the connections to both state and national standards. This ongoing process will be used to help keep the community informed both as to what is being done in regards to Instructional Technology and why it is important to for the students to experience these activities. Question and comments are always welcome. Please send your thoughts to the MPS Instructional Technology Staff.

For user information please see the Technical Support Page

At the Fuller Meadow School students will experience a wide range of activities that foster computer literacy as well as addressing the Massachusetts Recommended Standards for Instructional Technology as appropriate for their age levels. Please refere to the Fuller Meadow Skills Matrix for more information.

Recent research shows that innovative teachers, who use educational technology in new and meaningful ways to support student learning, are enabling students to become independent life-long learners.

Middleton Public Schools Technology Plan for 2006-2011, year 1

New: Spring 2008 Updated Instructional Technology Standards approved by the Board of Education. To see the revised draft click here.

The Middleton School Committee has established the following goal for Technology Integration:

We will continue to develop the internal and external resources and financial capacity to integrate technology into our educational program.

Outcomes and Performance Indicators for 2005-2006

• Web Based Communication- We will see increased use of the www.tritownschoolunion.com and www.townofmiddleton.org as well as the revitalized www.middletonps.org websites for posting SC agendas and minutes, policies and reports of school activities and student achievement. Target Date: Immediate and Ongoing

• Newsletters- We will institute electronic transmission of school newsletters. Target Date: September 2005.

• District-wide Email- TheSuperintendent’s Technology Advisory Committee (STAC) believes that an email system will foster better internal and home-school communication which will enable staff and families access to pertinent and timely notifications. Also included would be a professional development piece that would enable staff to take full advantage of the system being put into place. Target Date: September 2005.

• Wireless Networking- As the school system has continued to expand within the confines of the existing school buildings there are several areas that are now in use that were never included in the wiring of the school networks. Through a comparison of the cost of running additional wiring and that of adding a wireless component to the existing networks, a decision was made to pilot a small-scale wireless network to meet the immediate needs of the staff. The hardware has been purchased and the installation of that pilot program is currently underway. Target Date: April 2005 and ongoing.

• District Web Pages - The STAC feels that the development of an interactive web page would be another step toward fostering better community involvement as well as enabling parents and concerned citizens with the ability to keep current in the ongoing work being done in the schools. Several options from various vendors have been considered as well as having identified the characteristics that should be incorporated into new web page design. Arrangements for the hosting of the website are currently being reviewed. Target Date: Launch by September 30, 2005.

• Professional Development- The faculty has indicated that there are several areas in which a comprehensive technology professional development program will help foster the wide-spread use of technology throughout the curriculum. The faculty would benefit from offerings in productivity tools such as spreadsheets and presentation programs, Assistive Technology (which is the use of technology with special needs students), and the selection and alignment of software programs for supporting the curriculum. Target Date: Ongoing

The Howe-Manning School Improvement Council’s Technology Goal:

Increase the integration of computers into the curriculum to enhance student learning

Useful documents regarding Instructional Technology:

Middleton Public Schools Student Acceptable Internet Use Policy
Massachusetts Recommended PreK-12 Instructional Technology Standards
Local Technology Plan Benchmark Standards for the Year 2003
Assistive Technology Guide for Massachusetts Schools