Technology Task Force

Or “the figuring out if every kid will have a laptop and every teacher will

have a smart board task force”

Task Force Members

• Jim Sefrit• Scott Vonder Bruegge• Kent Kehr• Han Kim• Ann DeRousse• Don Tiemeier• Howard Warren• Dale Beachy• Ellen Robb• Doug Butte

Philosophy of Technology

Westminster Christian Academy seeks to develop, through the use of technology, students who are discriminating researchers, and analytic thinkers. Westminster Christian Academy students will use knowledge to collaborate, communicate, analyze, create, innovate and solve problems using technology as a tool. Technology and technology use must foster discovery of not only the potential for its use but also the understanding of its proper place in learning, applying knowledge, and integration into all aspects of life. The teaching with and teaching of technology, while being based on Westminster Christian Academy’s philosophy of education must contribute to increased interdepartmental communication, increased departmental collaboration and increased unity of pedagogy. At the same time it must foster an environment that combats, not contributes to, the increased sense of disconnectedness among people while ensuring that ethical use which includes self-control, focus, and clear objectives is embraced as much, if not more than, the tools of technology themselves.

What We’ve Realized

• It’s not about the machines

What We’ve Realized

• It’s about how to be more effective teachers

What We’ve Realized

• If we make it our aim to figure out how technology gets integrated into the curriculum we are already behind.

What We’ve Realized

• Our biggest challenge is how to increase the faculty’s technological literacy. Technology is nothing more than the pencil and paper of our time.

Implementation of Philosophy of

Technology

• Disclaimer:

• Nothing has been approved. This is merely what we’re thinking. Don’t panic.

Implementation of Philosophy of

Technology

• In order to achieve a technologically literate educational system it is imperative that the faculty of Westminster be trained and skilled in its use and implementation with vigilant support of hardware, software, and staff development opportunities.

• We will be devising a pilot staff development program in technology to test this spring.

Staff Development

Implementation of Philosophy of

Technology

• Aside from philosophical and pedagogical issues, technology also has a very concrete side. The design of the Town and Country campus must accommodate the possibility of different “spaces” that must be connected. This requires us to either move to a 1 to 1 campus (which could mean many things) initially or at the minimum design the campus with the ability to accommodate such a move should it be deemed necessary

Hardware/Design

Implementation of Philosophy of

Technology

• The creation of an Information Technology department at WCA is essential. This department would include the staff positions of Director of Technology, Technology Coordinator, and Media Coordinator. Additional positions, whether part-time or full-time, would include positions oriented toward specific areas such as software experts, troubleshooters, trainers, hardware repair, etc. and would be added as needed and if viable.

I.T. Department