Grand Rapids Public Schools' Technology Plan

Grand Rapids Public Schools the largest school district in Kent County and the third largest school district in Michigan. It is composed of 30 elementary schools; seven middle schools including the them schools; 15 alternative schools; 6 are residential programs 5 early childhood centers serving both general education and special education students; 8 special education centers and an adult education program.

On my research I found out that GRPS provides 36,000 devices for 17,000 students on the whole district and has 1,400 educators (teachers)

GRPS Mission:
"Our mission is to ensure the achievement of high standards by all students by enhancing the use of instructional technology, we support their growth into knowledgeably skilled and confidents citizens capable of seceding in their work, personal and family lives into the 21 century".

GRPS Vision Statements:

1. Facilitating and inspiring students learning 
2. Designing and developing digital-age and learning experiences and assessments 
3. Model the digital -age, work and learn
4. Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility 
5. Engage in professional growth and leadership

Questions and answers:

1. How many computers are in the classroom? There is only one laptop in the classroom, which is used by the teacher to take attendance and do other things that he needs to get his lesson plans ready to teach
2. Does the teacher have a computer connected to a projector? The teacher not alway have a computer connected to a projector. some time he connects it when he want to show something to the class, like a movie or when doing work together.
3. Does the students have their own devises? No, students do not have their own devises 
4. Are students able to bring their own devises? How many computer labs are in the building?They bring their own smart phone with them but they are not allowed to take it out of their pockets and backpacks . There are only two computer labs in the whole building.
5. How many movable carts (e.g., a cart containing  a classroom set of laptops or tablets)does the building have? I do no think the have movable carts with devices. I did my students teacher last winter and I do not remember ever seen a cart with devices. No computers, no laptops or tablets.

Michigan Department of Education:

By the Michigan Technology Standards

"Technology literacy is the ability to responsibly use appropriate technology to communicate, solve problems, and access, manage, integrate, evaluate, and create information to improve learning in all subject areas and to acquire lifelong knowledge and skills in the 21st century".

As I was reading Grand Rapids Public Schools' technology plan, I came to the conclusion that they expect teachers to use technology every day and most of the time they are teaching. Also, the departments of Michigan of education expect high expectations on teacher to make the most of technology while they teach to improve students education and be able to keep up with 21st century. Looking at the number of devices 36,000 that GRPS have to offer and the amount of students which are 17,000 and teachers 1,400 is seems like there should be enough devices for students and teachers, but unfortunately thats not the case. I was at Union High School for the whole semester and I never saw students use any kind of device to do any type of work or to research something. The only time a device was used in class was when the teacher put in a movie, taking attendance and when the whole class work as a group. Also, I never saw the teacher taking students to the computer lab. No, the GRPS technology plan does not match the use of devices in the school and their vision statements and the Michigan Department of education.



http://www.grps.org/images/departments/mis/pdfs/grpsTechnologoyPlan201215.pdf