Statement of the Problem

Southland ISD located in Southland, Texas is a school district that has 87% minority, low income and at risk students.  The population of Southland, Texas is 1,280.  The only industry in Southland is farming and ranching.  There is no manufacturing industry in Southland.  Due to the population of Southland having low income, the school tax revenue is very limited.  The Texas State Legislature, each year, reduces the amount of money sent to the school districts.  Because of this, school districts rely heavily on the school tax revenue from housing and industry which Southland is very limited on.

What exactly will technology do?  Enhance the students’ success.  A low income, at risk district is more apt to have a large failure rate than districts that do not have these negative factors.

In 2001-2002, Southland ISD was rated as ACCEPTABLE.  We feel that the students would have more opportunities if the district was rated EXEMPLERY.  Additional software such as business software, the updated version of PLATO Learning (preparation software for the TAAS for English, Math, Social Studies and Science and college test preparation) will enhance the opportunities for success for our students.

Although Southland is currently ACCEPTABLE on the TAAS, statistics show that there is a likely hood that we will move down with the TAKS.  In order to meet the needs of the new high order thinking skills tests, new software will need to be purchased.  Since science and history have never been tested on the exit test, all new science and history software will need to be purchased.  The new test is very hands-on and experiment based.  We will need to set up problems for the students to solve using these types of methods, therefore, we will need web cam capability to set up research projects in a remote location and be able to monitor them.

Proposed Solution

The solution to put Southland ISD on the same level as technologically equipped districts is to improve Southland’s technological base.  This would involve updating their computer hardware and software.  Since Southland ISD has the oldest computer technology, 166MHz 16MB of RAM 2 GB of hard drive, new computers will need to be purchased.  Business computer software such as Microsoft Office 2002 Professional, and Plato Learning software will need to be purchased.  Additional hardware such as printers, scanners, video cameras, and web cams will need to be purchased so that the students will have exposure to all of the current technological advances.

The college test preparation course software, Plato Learning, is recommended because it is now part of the high school accountability that a percent of students take college entrance tests and register to attend college.

Monies will need to be set aside for staff development in order to train teachers to disseminate the TAKS scores to find areas for improvement, and to train teachers on the best ways to meet these needs.  There will need to be staff development to learn the new business software along with learning about scanners, video cameras, video projectors and web cams.

Monies will need to be set aside for a technician to install the new computers, printers, scanners, web cams, and video projectors.  Plato Learning will need to be installed.

It is estimated that the school district will take four months to purchase and install the computer hardware and software.  It is estimated that it will take six months to arrange staff development classes to train teachers.

Recommendations

I recommend that 25 desktop computers be purchased for the one computer lab.  I feel that every teacher, administrator and teacher’s aide should have the same computer hardware and software as the computer lab.  There is a total of 20 elementary, secondary, administrators and teacher’s aides that should be equipped with the same desktop computer.

I recommend one Laser printer and scanner in the computer lab, one Laser printer and scanner in the principal’s office, one Laser printer and scanner in the superintendent’s office and a personal printer and scanner in every teacher’s room and aide’s office.

I recommend two digital video cameras.  One will be placed in the computer lab.  The administration will be in charge of the second video camera.

I recommend a web cam on every desktop computer.

I recommend one video projector for the computer lab and a video projector for each administrator, teacher and teacher’s aide.

I recommend that the updated version of Plato Learning be on every computer in the school district except for the Administrators computers.

Many teachers and teacher’s aides are unable to make use of the one computer lab; therefore, having the same hardware and software in their rooms would benefit the students.

Additional Information

A detailed listing of the hardware, software, staff development and technician descriptions and costs:

References

Dell Corporation, www.dell.com

Plato Learning, www.plato.com

Texas TAAS report of 2000-2001