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HCCSC board hears results of tech audit

The Huntington County Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees, during its meeting on Monday, Nov. 9, learned the results of a recent technology audit conducted in the middle and high schools.

Dan Funston, director of eLearning of Five-Star Technology Solutions, presented the report to the board. He explained the purpose of the audit is to transform the learning environment of the district by providing a high-access digital environment for all students as well as assist the teachers and administrators in creating a strategic plan.

HCCSC teachers were asked to complete a survey and Five-Star conducted different focus groups for teachers, students and administrators.

Funston says the findings of the audit are divided into five areas based on International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards, a non-profit organization that assists teachers and education leaders in creating connections among students.

Huntington County Schools received higher marks than many other school systems on meeting the standards, Funston adds, much of which was attributed to the high school’s Viking New Tech program of project-based learning.

“The standards understand that technology is a means to better learning outcomes,” Funston said. “It’s not about what device you’re using, what software you’re using; it’s really about what kind of experiences you are providing for your students. That’s what we look at.”

ISTE Standard 1 focuses on fostering creativity. Funston said HCCSC scored high in this area, with the schools’ project-based learning the best way to see evidence of creativity. He said 54 percent of teachers said students creatively demonstrate their learning, which, compared to other school districts, is a strength for HCCSC.

“Typically when we see discussion happening the teachers are asking very low-level questions, regurgitation sort of things,” Funston said. “In the classrooms here we saw deep discussion where they were comparing things, they were having to analyze and evaluate ideas.”

ISTE Standard 2 involves digital age assessment and experiences. Funston says 87 percent of teachers reported their students get to use devices for learning in their classroom more than once a week. Classroom observations noted there was evidence of the majority of students using devices in 59 percent of the classrooms.

ISTE Standard 3 focuses on modeling digital age work and learning experiences. The report showed 41 percent of the classrooms had teachers actively using available technology for instruction, but only 1 percent had evidence of the teacher using of social media for student or parent communication. Funston said students wanted teachers to use the Canvas learning management system as one central hub of communication.
“What that means to your teachers is that we would have to get all your teachers on board for using that,” he said. “That would make life easier for your kids.”

HCCSC was the strongest district Funston has seen in implementing ISTE Standard 4, or digital citizenship. While he said students had a very strong understanding of legal and ethical online behavior, the Internet content filter was locked down too tightly at times to allow students to access age-appropriate educational content.

ISTE Standard 5, professional growth, revealed that 32 percent of teachers are part of a professional network. Funston said that number should be higher.

During the audit, Funston said students were asked what advice they had for the district.

“We received one response not previously mentioned that is motivating in and of itself,” he said. “One student said, ‘I know that this has not been easy. I have heard people complaining, but I have been here for four years and things have gotten better. My advice would be for the district to stick with it; it’s worthwhile.”

Funston made recommendations in each of the five standards of how the district can improve its technology learning among students. Some of those recommendations involved providing clear expectations to students, tapping into students’ strengths form an interest level, and providing individual training for teachers.

The report outline can be accessed online at tinyurl.com/HCCSCIMPACT.

In other action, the board:

• Unanimously approved Assistant Superintendent for Business and Classified Staff Jon Bennett to use POS Merchant Card Services for processing credit card purchases for books and lunches by parents.

• Unanimously approved a feasibility study request for the state of the district’s buildings in 2017.

Superintendent Randy Harris says in terms of the district’s facilities, that date is not very far off. He said at the end of 2017 the district will pay off a bond for the construction of Crestview Middle School.

“When we make the final payment there, we need to be prepared for what other needs we have in the school district,” Harris said. “We are at a point where we need to solicit proposals from outside companies … They would do a feasibility study on all the buildings.”

Included in the study would be analysis of structures’ age, heating and cooling systems and enrollment trends.