Cityside Middle School Case Study Overview

Case Study 1: Cityside Middle School

School Profile

Middle School Grades 6 - 8.
High percentage of students from low-income families.

1. Leadership

Mr. Smith is a great believer in technology and wishes he had time to learn more. Mr. Smith writes the comprehensive education plan alone. The lab teacher writes the section on technology integration.

2. Collaborative Learning Community

Teachers are encouraged to meet as a department, but do not. Last year, Mr. Smith created a schedule to allow for one common prep period a week. He cancelled this policy.

3. Emphasis on Curriculum and Content

Improve scores on 8th Grade tests in Language Arts, Mathematics by 3%.
Classroom integration of technology varies widely by teacher.

4. Data-Driven Decision Making

Mr. Smith provides each teacher access to GrowNet and Princeton Review data. He knows some teachers use it, others do not.

5. Professional Development

The school has an onsite literacy and math coach. They don't integrate technology into their curriculum.
A survey of teacher's technology use revealed:
30% use technology for general purposes
15% use computers for instruction
90% of teachers have computers at home

6. Hardware and Networks

Library - Four new computers with Internet access.

Classrooms:
Grades 6: 1 Laptop cart (24 laptops) for 6 classrooms
Grades 7: 1 Laptop cart (24 laptops) for 6 classrooms
Grades 8: 2 Laptop cart (48 laptops) for 6 classrooms

Lab
The lab teacher has a room full of PCs.
He does not help troubleshoot computers, "I have a full classload."

7. Technical Support

Lab teacher has five periods to trouble shoot technology.
None of the printers in Grades 6 and 7 are working.

8. Funding and Budgeting

Funds for technology are provided by the district.
Mr. Smith is thrilled with the new portable lab purchased by the region but wishes they would pay for training.

Dimensions of a Tech-Savvy School Case 1 Cityside Middle School Case 2 Connor Elementary

School Profile	Middle School Grades 6 - 8. High percentage of students from low-income families.
1. Leadership	Mr. Smith is a *great believer in technology* and *wishes he had time* to learn more. Mr. Smith writes the comprehensive education plan *alone*. The lab teacher writes the section on technology integration.
2. Collaborative Learning Community	Teachers are encouraged to meet as a department, but do not. Last year, Mr. Smith created a schedule to allow for one common prep period a week. He cancelled this policy.
3. Emphasis on Curriculum and Content	Improve scores on 8th Grade tests in Language Arts, Mathematics by 3%. Classroom integration of technology *varies widely by teacher*.
4. Data-Driven Decision Making	Mr. Smith provides each teacher access to GrowNet and Princeton Review data. He knows some teachers use it, others do not.
5. Professional Development	The school has an onsite literacy and math coach. They don't integrate technology into their curriculum. A survey of teacher's technology use revealed: 30% use technology for general purposes 15% use computers for instruction 90% of teachers have computers at home
6. Hardware and Networks	Library - Four new computers with Internet access. Classrooms: Grades 6: 1 Laptop cart (24 laptops) for 6 classrooms Grades 7: 1 Laptop cart (24 laptops) for 6 classrooms Grades 8: 2 Laptop cart (48 laptops) for 6 classrooms Lab The lab teacher has a room full of PCs. He does not *help troubleshoot* computers, "I have a full classload."
7. Technical Support	Lab teacher has five periods to trouble shoot technology. None of the printers in Grades 6 and 7 are working.
8. Funding and Budgeting	Funds for technology are provided by the district. Mr. Smith is thrilled with the new portable lab purchased by the region but wishes they would pay for training.