Management Information Services

The  MIS  Department  recently   produced   a  newsletter that highlighted  many  new and  exciting  ways that  technology is being used throughout  our district. Here  are just a  few of  these  applications.

World Wide Communication  

• Through  the use of a webcam and a free Skype download our staff  will  be able  to communicate  to other Skype users anywhere  in the world. This communication  will  be both  an audio and a video form of communication which   may  be  projected  on  a  large  screen or on a StarBoard. Our district will begin exploring this exciting technology in our  labs working with our Educational Technologists and  then  expand  the program to additional  classroom  applications.

Lesson Plans On-Line

• Teachers can now create, edit and   view their  lesson plans  from any computer that  has  Internet capabilities. This also allows principals  to provide to  teachers  quickly and generate reports  regarding  what  is  being  taught  by grade level, subject, teacher and New Jersey  core content standard.  

Video in the Classroom

• Students  are working  at Copeland to create public service announcements in the form of television commercials. The process includes creating  a story line, writing a script, using props, and determining where and how to choreograph the commercial. Students  work with  video camera  to create  video clips files  which  may  be  edited  to create the commercial. Audio and  video  clips  are also added  to  complete the project. 

 OnLine Computer Testing

•  Rockaway Township students in kindergarten through the third grade are using  Children’s Progress Online Assessments.  These tests are administered three times during the school year.  The tests evaluate progress in reading and math with detailed reports for each student and for the entire class.  These assessments are used to identify what subjects need to  be stressed with an  individual student or with  the  entire class.

Some of the other technology initiatives that are being utilized in our district  this winter  include the  use of  laptop computers at  Copeland, the continued  use of  our district StarBoards at all  locations and  the daily  use  of  our  networked  computers  in  every   classroom to enhance instruction. Rockaway  Township  has  been  very fortunate  to  have  the  district support  needed  to  create  a  technology  program that  we are all very proud to  use.  We are  even  more fortunate  to  have   such  dedicated  teachers  that  invest the  many hours  needed  to master and use our  new  technologies to improve  instruction.