Request For Implementation Of Technology In Education Strategic Plan In All Schools in P.E.I.

Resolution Number: 

2014-05

Submitted By: 

Glen Stewart Home and School Association
Resolution

WHEREAS   the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development recently completed its $8 million dollar investment of installing bandwidth into all P.E.I. schools so that each school has the proper infrastructure to access to the internet, and

WHEREAS   it is technologically feasible to segregate the network to allow P.E.I. teachers in schools full access to the internet while teaching their students so they can access online educational resources during class that are currently blocked, and

WHEREAS    the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development have contracted IBM to prepare a Technology in Education Strategic Plan, to be completed in April, which is expected to outline how integrating technology in the classroom can help students achieve better academic outcomes, and

WHEREAS    the next step in bringing technology into the classroom is to implement the Technology in Education Strategic Plan so that students can take advantage of the technology advancements in education, and

WHEREAS    P.E.I. students need to use these innovative educational resources NOW to enable our students to achieve better academic outcomes, as results have shown that P.E.I. students are falling behind their cohorts in Canada and abroad;

BE IT RESOLVED that the P.E.I. Home and School Federation request the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development to implement the Technology in Education Strategic Plan now, including the immediate installation of wireless access to all schools, so that P.E.I. students can take advantage of the technological advancements in education to achieve better education outcomes.

Consideration

Status: 

Passed with Amendments
Saturday, April 12, 2014

Destination: 

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Finance
English Language School Board
French Language School Board
Responses Received

Responses: 

English Language School Board:  As noted in this resolution, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development will implement the third stage of the provincial government's plan to improve the use of technology in schools. Meanwhile, school district representatives will continue to be involved in the development of the Technology in Education Strategic Plan.

Education and Early Childhood Development: Government recognizes the importance of advanced technology in our education system. This includes investing in the infrastructure to support advanced technology, as well as investing in educational technology to be used by teachers and students.

Investments made in education technology have the potential to have a tremendous impact on student achievement and engagement, and to prepare students for success in a technology-based knowledge economy.  Because this government recognizes the importance of technology to support student achievement, we have significant investments in technology over the recent years.

Government's first priority for the education technology was to establish a robust education network, one that would give all schools equal access to modern technology now and into the future.  The Department is continuing with investments in technology as recommended by the minister's Advisory Committee on Technology. The Department continues to work with ITSS to upgrade servers and routers to increase the access and speed of the education network.

Operationally, the Department spends over $1.0 M in technical support services for our 63 schools including assistance to teachers in use of technology, as well as technology integration with our curriculum in the public school system. Laptop computers were provided to all high school teachers and will continue with the intermediate and elementary teachers.

Educational leaders, students and stakeholders, including teachers and school administration, provided input into the Technology Strategic Plan for K-12 by way of surveys, focus groups and consultations.  We will be reviewing the Technology Strategic Plan for K-12 recommendations to develop a plan for the future.

Government is committed to providing the resources necessary to increase student engagement and prepare students for success in a technology-based knowledge economy.  We are confident that this Technology Strategic Plan for K-12 will lay the roadmap for the success of our students in the global technological workforce.

Hon. Wes J. Sheridan, Minister  of Finance, Energy and Municipal Affairs, May 22, 2014: Thank you for forwarding the resolution on technology approved at your recent meeting.  I sincerely appreciate all your group does on behalf of Island students. The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development will be providing a written response to Resoluton #5-2014 on behalf of both of our Departments.