The plan, which was recently approved by the Board of Education, aims to improve student academic achievement through the extensive use of technology in elementary and secondary schools, Head Start Centers and special programs such as Early Childhood, Special Education, Chamorro Carolinian Language and Heritage Studies, and the Alternative Education Program.
“The educational technology plan’s goal is to have every student in the CNMI Public School System achieve ‘technology literacy’ by being able to use computers and other technology to improve learning, productivity, and performance across all content areas by the year 2014,” PSS said.
With the plan’s approval by the administration, PSS expects 95 percent of teachers, school administrators, and support staff to be proficient in the use of technology for instructions, assessment, and productivity.
In addition, the CNMI’s education agency expects 95 percent of 8th grade students to meet or exceed standards for technology literacy under the plan.
Under the plan, PSS will complete all network upgrades which will include an overall network restructure, activation of additional bandwidth, and replacement of video teleconferencing equipment by 2015.
PSS will also be installing a central wireless system at all junior high and high schools and implement a longitudinal database system.
PSS said the 3-year plan has an estimated cost of about $7.5 million, which is approximately $2.5 million for each year of implementation.
Commissioner of Education Rita A. Sablan said the benefits of the technology plan will continue to address professional development, the standards and benchmarks of the expected outcomes of each grade level relative to technology, and technology infrastructure.
“We have to make sure the [technology] infrastructure is in place to ensure that there is accessibility to internet and learning activities,” she added.
Sablan noted that the plan is not accessible to private schools, saying it currently is “of the public school system.”
Inos said the plan is great and that PSS is doing a great job in providing this service and opportunity to students.
“The Public School System is doing a great job, and I congratulate them. After all, it is ‘students first.”
