A (not so) brief timeline of technology efforts in ISD77

About 8 years ago, I created a "Brief Timeline of Technology Efforts in ISD77" to help me remember when some of our technology efforts were made in the district. I decided it might be time for an update. See if any of these resonate with you in your district. Of course some of you were probably not born at the beginning of this timeline. Go check your diapers.

Brief Timeline of Technology Efforts in ISD77 1991-2014

1991-92

• began regular technology inservices for media specialists who are given Macintosh Classics
• installed single stand alone computer in each media center with electronic encyclopedia
• added additional computers and Corvus networks to elementary schools
• installed first fax machines in school buildings
• changed District AV to District Media Technology Services. The new department is to offer computer services, library processing and support, audio-visual production and repair, the district print shop, a video/film library, and delivery services.
• hired Media Supervisor to replace the retired AV director (Doug)
• unsuccessfully attempted to move 1/2 computer coordinator, 1/2 time math teacher into department
• acquired 20 e-mail address on the Mankato State University vax for librarians. Line interface to Internet.

1992-93

• began first year of training for 20 elementary teachers and 20 secondary teachers. Macintosh Classic II computers, printers and 14.4 modems are given in exchange for 30 hours of non-school time for training. Program will eventually teach basic computer productivity skills to all elementary teachers.
• identified and write CODE 77 basic teacher technology skills
• installed file servers, Novell operating systems, student workstations and automated library systems in all building media centers
• installed Xpress/Xchange in each media center that provides access to news and information through cable TV network
• replaced Apple II computers with 15 Macintosh computers in Garfield lab. Cards to run Apple II software included.
• began moving elementary computer labs to classrooms adjacent to media centers with connecting doors. All school library media centers will eventually have computer labs in or adjacent to them.
• established District Media Technology Advisory Committee of teachers, administrators, parents, students and community members.
• hired district’s first computer technician (DJ)

1993-4   

• installed data and telephone network drops in all rooms and offices at Dakota Meadows, West, Eagle Lake – our model “high tech” schools – as part of building and remodeling efforts.
• wired Kennedy school classrooms for data with help of volunteer parents and staff.
• installed 24 computers in Kennedy classrooms for teacher and student use.
• installed 80 computers in Dakota Meadows labs and classrooms.
• installed 12 station PC lab at Alternative High School.
• installed WAN network consisting of permanently connected 14 baud modems in all district buildings and connection to the Internet cloud.
• hired a full time as computer coordinator for district with office in the department (Sue R)

1994-5

• started TnT Academy, 5 days of summer workshops for teachers in technology skills
• started formal secretarial training
• installed email servers and Internet connections in all buildings to provide email of all staff and students
• installed data and telephone drops in all rooms and offices at East JH and SH, Roosevelt, Monroe, Jefferson, Hoover, and Franklin schools
• installed 30 station lab in West High School media center
• installed 24 classroom computers in Roosevelt 2nd and 4th grade classrooms
• moved District Media and Technology Services from basement to 2nd floor of West High School Annex

1995-6

• Information Skills curriculum written by media specialists that included the objectives for both the library/media curriculum and computer curriculum
• installed data and telephone drops in all rooms and offices at Garfield, Washington, Alternative High School, and the District Offices - all classrooms and offices have telephones and data jacks.
• installed lab in East Media Center for high school students
• began Accelerated Reader, a reading promotion program, in elementary schools with funds donated by PTOs
• installed many computers in elementary labs purchased through PTO donations

1996-7   

• district media advisory committee wrote first long-range tech plan for state
• implemented integrated Information Skills curriculum in two content areas at each elementary grade level
• added a lab for Franklin 6th grade center
• added 30 computers to East Media Center for junior high students
• installed coaxial wide area network (10BT shared) with cable company
• created district website
• board adopted first Acceptable Use Policy for the Internet
• first webpage guidelines written for the district
• install CCC lab at one elementary school for Title I. Runs for 3 years.
• hired first elementary computer technician

1997-8   

• online elementary progress reports started using home-grown FileMakerPro database
• online Individual Education Plans for special education students begun
• began advanced CODE 77 training and upgraded equipment for teachers
• TnT Academy taken over by South Central Technical College
• World Wide Web page design and FileMaker Pro training for individuals in buildings given
• added 15 station computer labs to all elementary buildings
• began replacing dumb hubs with switches and smart hubs
• remodeled Jefferson media center

1998-9   

• selected new networked student management system (SASIxp) to replace 10 year old stand-alone Osiris
• started MeetingMaker – a shared calendar program for all administrators
• began using Internet services provided by regional consortium SOCRATES
• NCA visit evaluated media and technology programs
• remodeled Franklin media center
• conducted first security audit of networks
• added media and information skills to elementary progress reports
• hired Student Information System Manager (Katie)

1999-00  

• added networked district file space for all staff and students (YODA)
• teachers began using Classxp to take attendance and do final grades online
• purchased subscription to online full-text magazine databases and provided access to state provided databases
• remodeled Hoover media center
• add two secondary computer technicians

2000-01  

• upgraded network that connects all buildings to shared Ethernet 100BT fiber network leased from telephone company
• aligned Information Skills curriculum with Graduation rule requirements
• began recording and reporting of Basic and High Standards in student information systems
• purchased and implemented IntegradePro at middle schools
• piloted online grade book system (ParentConnectxp) accessible by parents at East Junior High
• began datamining project to help determine effectiveness of educational programs
• library programs nominated for national award
• implemented web-forms for teacher pages
• began using SmartFinance online accounting purchasing system
• add second elementary technician

2001-02   

• wrote technology benchmarks for student 9-12 and placed technology skills in required classes
• acquired World Book Encyclopedia online for school and home use by students
• upgraded schools library catalogs to make them web-accessible
• created listservs for district parents
• installed system wide virus protection system
• installed electronic entry system in all buildings

2002-03

• purchased and implemented IntegradePro at high schools
• expanded online grade book system accessible by parents at all middle schools schools
• developed cheating and plagiarism guidelines
• monitored tech skill inclusion in Grad Rule packages
• built database of elementary IL/tech projects
• provided MarcoPolo training
• changed media and tech department monthly newsletter to e-mail format
• worked with new staff development coordinator to formulate long-term staff development technology plan.
• installed Apple Network Administrator on all teacher computers
• pilot Read (un)Naturally in one elementary building

2003-04

• installed wireless 802.11a base stations in each media center and study hall for use by students and staff with wireless laptops
• conducted marketing/advocacy campaign for Mankato School Library Media Centers.
• employed spam filtering software for staff email accounts.
• conducted training sessions on data mining for administrators and building site teams
• rewrote state required long range technology plan
• contracted for regular security sweep of the district’s networks.
• create VPN for security purposes.
• wrote security policies.
• completed authentication database
• Apple OSX in all elementary schools

2004-05

• expanded online grade book system accessible by parents at all high schools
• worked with Curriculum Council on placing information literacy and technology standards in secondary written content area curricula based on survey.
• install and inservice teachers on Digital Curriculum.
• improve interface of district website and conduct usability study.
• training and using AtomicLearning.
• begin transportation database project.
• install X-serve servers and begin using Apple Profile
• install and configure NAS backup device for servers.
• create position of Administrative Systems Manager

2005-06

• review current technology benchmarks for K-8 to ascertain that they will meet the requirements of NCLB.
• form library media study groups to discuss best practices and the media/technology program’s contributions to student achievement.
• implement NWEA online testing, grades 2-10
• write guidelines for student owned technology used in schools
• implement databases for reading and math achievement in all elementary schools
• implement district-wide facility scheduling program for Community Ed
• switch from Novell to Windows NOS
• finish adding voice mail to all schools
• pass technology referendum for $500,000 per year for seven years to 1) improve student access to tech resources, provide projectors and interactive white boards in all classrooms, improve infrastructure (move to 100 mb switchedWAN)

Added in this post...

2006-07

• developed Internet safety campaign for school and community
• implemented rSchoolToday website for all secondary schools
• installed 120 Smartboards and projectors (first of a five year project that added this equipment to all classrooms
• included secondary teachers in CODE77 training
• worked with mentors to establish formal tech training for new teachers
• moved to Microsoft Exchange from Send Mail and MeetingMaker
• implemented Versatran Transportation System

2007-08

• wrote Internet Safety Curriculum for grades K-12
• implemented rSchoolsToday website for district and elementary pages
• developed online film booking system
• online testing for MCAII Science, MTELL for ELL students, NWEA
• discontinued YODA for staff and students with LODESTAR
• began upgrading building switches to 1 gig
• installed level 7 packetshapter to prioritize Internet traffic rather than block YouTube

2008-09

• wrote technology and information literacy assessments for grades K-8
• implemented InfiniteCampus and began parent registration for parent portal
• implemented AtomicLearning and AtomicTraining
• deployed district wiki and blog server (short-lived)
• installed ITV connection at East HS for Chinese language classes
• began planning new (Rosa Parks) elementary school

2009-10

• began use of GoogleApps for Education for staff
• trained all 6-12 students in use of InfiniteCampus student portal
• began use of Messenger feature in InfiniteCampus by teachers
• selected and planned for installation of new VOIP telephone system
• conducted internal and external independent security audit

2010-11

• began use of GoogleApps for Education for students
• aligned elementary progress reports to match the educational learner outcomes
• upgraded library automation system to Destiny
• implemented helpdesk
• building-wide voice amplification systems at Rosa Parks and Eagle Lake
• wrote 2013-2015 state technology plan
• included technology offering in PD dept’s Teacher Academy

2011-12

• surveyed students on home Internet access
• revised Acceptable Use Policy to included personally owned devices
• put curriculum guides online
• began first cohort of Moodle users
• began pilot BYOD projects
• began work on adding tech competencies to teacher evaluation process (Danielson)
• began supporting Naviance
• include early childhood screening in IC
• deploy Android and iOS apps for parent/student IC portal
• install security camera systems at elementary schools
• implement new virtualization software on district servers
• passed second technology referendum for $500,000 per year for seven years

2012-13

• began “Get Connected” program offering low cost Internet access to families qualifying for FRP
• planned iLearn 7-8 1:1 pilot project
• began e-book projects using Mackin Via, TumbleBooks and PebbleGo
• review and acquire e-book versions of all 7-12 textbooks
• began Innovation Zone conference
• revised CODE 77 training to be differentiated and online
• began using Destiny textbook management system
• upgraded wireless access in grades 9-12
• installed voice amplification systems grades K-2 (3 year plan to add voice amp in all instructional areas K-6)
• upgrade firewall/packetshaper/filter to Palo Alto
• implement mobile device management system for iPads
• begin upgrade of building switches from 1 Gig to 10 Gig
• began outsourced printer management program
• iPad leadership training for district administrators

2013-14

• complete ELA media standards to be taught by media specialists
• begin iLearn project with teachers and social studies classes
• began use of Moodle to replace textbooks in 7-8 social studies
• upgraded wireless access in grades 6-8
• begin online portfolios for students 6-12
• begin Title 1 iPad project
• intellectual property board policy created
• moved food service into InfiniteCampus
• Public Relations begins using IC Messenger for community communications
• participate in development of district strategic roadmap and write VisionCard for technology department
• support mirroring of iPads to computers/projectors using AirPlay
• upgrade district-wide network to 300 mpps
• participate in planning of new east side middle school and expansion of Dakota Meadows

2014-15 (planned)

• aligned technology goals to District Strategic Roadmap
• assess full implementation of iLearn - 1:1 for K
• upgraded wireless access in grades K-5
• upgrade Internet connectivity to district from cloud to 1 Gig
• create plan for BYOD in 9-12
• pilot MyOn Reader with community
• pilot wifi on school buses
• support Benchmark literacy online resources
• design ILP for teacher use, replacing F2F classes in CODE77

And I am sure the next 20 years will see even bigger changes. 

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