Technology Planning part of the Education Reform Network

Access (workstations, networking, bandwidth, software)

• A Guide to Networking for K-12 Schools
  A Guide to Networking for K-12 Schools is the result of a project originally masterminded and developed at the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and turned over for final production to the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory's (NWREL) Northwest Educational Technology Consortium (NETC).
• AccessIT
  AccessIT promotes the use of electronic and information technology (E&IT) for students and employees with disabilities in educational institutions at all academic levels. This Web site features the AccessIT Knowledge Base, a searchable, growing database of questions and answers regarding accessible E&IT.
• Campbell-Kibler Associates
  For the past 25 years Dr. Patricia B.
• Center for Applied Special Technology
  CAST is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to expand educational opportunities for individuals with disabilities through the development and innovative uses of technology. CAST believes that the most effective strategy for expanding educational opportunities for individuals with disabilities is through Universal Design for Learning.
• Digital Divide Network
  Despite the incredible growth of the Internet since the early 1990s, many citizens still do not have easy access to basic IT tools, whether it's access to hardware, software, or the Internet itself. Access is an issue that affects people at home, at school and in the community at large.
• Edutools
  The EduTools website was launched in September 2002 by the Western Cooperative on Educational Telecommunications (WCET). It is a web-based database containing independent reviews of 45 Course Management Systems (CMS).
• Equal Access: Computer Labs
  As increasing numbers of people with disabilities pursue educational opportunities that require computer use, accessibility of computing facilities becomes even more critical. The key is simply equal access.
• How Wireless Systems Work /Powerpoint presentation
  How Wireless Systems Work is a Powerpoint presentation that describes many of the fundamental terms and concepts underlying wireless communications. This presentation may be helpful in providing fundamental backround in considering a wireless network.Thomas Sugrue Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Federal Communications Commission [PowerPoint (1.8MB) / pdf (1.2MB)] .
• K-12 Networking Infrastructure Guide Recommendations
  The technology infrastructure within a school district will consist of many components depending upon the goals, objectives and resources of the district for integrating technology into learning and administrative functions. There are a variety of approaches and issues that need to be considered within the classroom, at the building level and across the district.
• Laptop Lessons: Exploring the Promise of One to One Computing
  This highlights issues to consider when implementing a laptop or one-to-one program in a K-12 school.
• Moodle and other Open Source LMS Systems
  open source LMS tools should not be overlooked. Some people who have used Blackboard and WebCT find Moodle to be superior to both.
• Technology Briefs for NCLB Planners
  The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation emphasizes the importance of leveraging the power of technology in all areas of K-12 education, from reading to science to special education. As a result, education leaders at the state and local levels are expected to develop plans that effectively employ technology to enhance learning and increase student achievement.
• The Alliance for Technology Access
  The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) is a network of community-based Resource Centers, Developers and Vendors, Affiliates, and Associates dedicated to providing information and support services to children and adults with disabilities, and increasing their use of standard, assistive, and information technologies.
• The Growing Digital Divide in Access for People with Disabilities
  This White Paper was commissioned by the National Science Foundation was presented on May 25, 1999 at the "Understanding the Digital Economy_ conference; a public conference convened in response to a directive from the President of the United States to the National Economic Council, in consultation with executive branch agencies.
• Web Accessibility Initiative
  WAI, in coordination with organizations around the world, pursues accessibility of the Web through five primary areas of work: technology, guidelines, tools, education and outreach, and research and development.
• Wireless Technologies
  This gives descriptions of most of the developed wireless technologies and provides resources and background information that may be helpful to planners.
• Work essentials for elementary school teachers
  This Microsoft site provides templates and other resources for teachers that are interested in Office Online team collaboration tools. At this time a beta version of Office applications is avaliable for download and testing.