Policy/Program Memorandum No. 116

Issued under the authority of the Deputy Minister of Education

Introduction

Policy/Program Memorandum No. 113, May 31, 1991, announced that school boards would be required to submit annual planning and progress reports on the integration of computers into all curriculum areas, beginning in 1992.

The present memorandum provides guidelines for school boards to follow when developing their implementation plans for the integration of computers across the curriculum, as well as information on planning at the school level, on the annual planning and progress reports, and on audits.

1. School Board Implementation Plans
   School boards are responsible for developing flexible, long-term plans for the integration of computers into the curriculum. Minority-language sections are expected to develop their own long-term plans reflecting their specific needs. These plans shall be made available to the Ministry of Education upon request.
   
   Each school board shall designate a supervisory officer to ensure the development of the annual plan and to provide schools with appropriate support, as needed, during implementation.
   
   The following information shall be included in the board implementation plan.
   
   1. Curriculum
      The plan shall outline strategies for:
      • the integration of computers into all areas of the curriculum in all schools;
      • the development of learning objectives for the use of computers in all grades and in all areas of the curriculum;
      • the sharing of curriculum resources among schools, divisions, departments, and teachers.

   2. Equity
      The plan shall identify procedures for:
      • ensuring equitable access for all students to the use of computers in the classroom;
      • evaluating all software to determine whether it is culturally appropriate for all students, factually correct, and free from bias and stereotyping.

   3. Professional development
      The plan shall address:
      • activities designed to help teachers understand the impact of computers on the education process;
      • staff development programs to provide educators with information on classroom activities, software applications, hardware operations, and resources.

   4. Community partnerships
      The plan shall address the need to:
      • consult with parents and community members about board and school plans;
      • share information with parents and community members about the implementation process;
      • work with parents and community members to plan for the use of computers in meeting the needs of all students.

   5. Special education
      The plan shall:
      • identify and allocate computers and resource materials to meet the needs of exceptional students;
      • provide a variety of devices, as needed, to assist exceptional students to learn and communicate;
      • provide direction for teachers and support staff regarding the uses of computers to meet the special needs of exceptional students.

   6. Acquisition of resources and equipment
      The plan shall address:
      • a review of the board's current inventory of computers and related resources in order to allocate resources efficiently and determine future needs;
      • a set of long-range objectives for acquiring sufficient computer hardware to allow every student access to a computer for a minimum of 10 per cent of in-class time;
      • the disposal, replacement, and upgrading of outdated equipment;
      • the provision of safe and ergonomically suitable environments for the use of computers.

   7. Staff support
      The plan shall address the need to:
      • provide, to the best of the board's ability, both curricular and technical resource staff support to assist teachers, principals, and other staff members in the use of computer hardware and software;
      • enable educators to share information and experience within the board and to consult experts outside the board;
      • identify teachers who could serve as resource persons during the review, development, and implementation process.

   8. Evaluation
      The plan shall provide for:
      • an ongoing review of the implementation process to ensure progress towards meeting the overall goals of the plan.

2. School Level Planning
   Planning at the school level shall reflect and be co-ordinated with provincial and school board plans and policies. Each school should provide the board with a copy of its plan, to assist the board in developing its own overall plan.
   
   Principals are key catalysts for change in schools and are expected to assume an active leadership role in the integration of computers across the curriculum. While they are ultimately responsible for planning and implementation at the school level, they shall carry out these activities in consultation with teachers from all divisions and subject areas, in order to ensure the integration of computers across the entire curriculum.
   
   
3. School Board Reports
   The School Board Report on Computer Integration, which is being sent to school boards, will form the basis of the annual planning and progress report submitted by each school board.
   
   
4. Random Audits
   Beginning in the 1993-94 school year, random audits at both the school board and school levels will be undertaken by the Ministry of Education to assess progress in the area of integration of computers across the curriculum.