Information Technology
The Information Technology department includes technical support services, educational technology initiatives, interdistrict grant programs, and the Media Center. Technical Support is provided for internal operations at LEARN and its programs throughout the region, the Regional Multicultural Magnet School (RMMS), and The Friendship School (TFS). This includes network support, software applications, Internet, E-mail access, and telecommunications services. A technical support Help Desk and Hotline for emergencies has improved efforts to maintain continuity of use of equipment and network in all of our locations.
Information Technology provides technical support to outside agencies as well as several local school districts. LEARN is available to consult with districts on networking, website design, and any other custom technology solutions.
The Instructional Technology Lab is equipped with 20 dual core work stations that run both Windows XP Pro and Macintosh OS X.4. Workshop participants are able to choose to work on the MAC side or the WIN side. The lab also includes a SmartBoard, LCD projector, scanner, DVD player, and speaker system. Planned, ongoing, systematic training is offered during the day in LEARN’s technology training center.
Soon to be unveiled during upcoming technology professional development is LEARN’s interactive response systems. Students use remote response pads to answer questions, sending answers via radio frequency or infrared technology to a receiver attached to the instructor’s computer. Immediate feedback is provided, displayed, and recorded. This enables a teacher to understand immediately what material the students comprehend, adjusting teaching based on students’ responses. LEARN provides training for schools using SmartBoard's Senteos, Promethean's ActiveVote and ActiveExpression, and eInstruction's Classroom Performance System RF and IR.
LEARN's Technology Plan
LEARN’s technology committee was recruited through a district-wide e-mail search for volunteers to assist in updating our technology plan. Last summer, the committee began the review of the 2006-2009 plan. The 2009-2012 technology plan is comprehensive and was developed with LEARN's educational goals in mind. LEARN is dedicated to ensuring that all students have access to technologies and that the necessary skills are taught to every student. View the technology plan.
Technology Workshops
Educational technology specialists offer a variety of services such as individual, team, building, and district educational technology trainings based on the use of technology to improve student learning. We offer instruction in our computer lab or on-site in your lab. We customize training to meet your needs as outlined in your technology plan. View our current list of classes.
RESC Alliance: Technology
Serving as the lead agency, LEARN collaborates with the five other RESCs to provide statewide technology services through a federal Title II, Enhancing Education Through Technology grant awarded by the CSDE. Focusing on statewide professional development activities, the Alliance of RESCs offers numerous technology integration workshops, school-based services, and technical assistance to districts. The RESC Alliance continues to explore new options for training and services, assists the CSDE with grant reading, and conducts state-wide focus groups to understand the current status of technology integration in Connecticut. LEARN coordinates the grant and served as fiscal agent.
Media Center
The purpose of the Media Center is to select, purchase, and distribute instructional resources that support a wide range of academic and vocational programs, plus professional development for teachers and administrators.
The Media Center provides an extensive and current audiovisual collection designed to support instruction for grades preK through college with the added benefit of a weekly delivery service. This regional cooperative effort offers a cost-effective and efficient method for purchasing and sharing outstanding resources that expand and improve the quality of instruction. Print out and view the Media Center's Catalog.
