The New Albany – Plain Local Schools provides a variety of technology tools to support student learning. A robust technology infrastructure offers an opportunity for efficient campus operation and state-of-the-art teaching tools in a safe learning environment. A dedicated team of students known as the Digital Network Assistants (or DNAs) makes up a critical component of the District Technology Team; they design, build and maintain technology equipment and solutions throughout the campus. This knowledgeable and hard working group has met each Thursday for two hours since the High School Campus opened in 1996. The District Technology Team oversees all technology operations on campus. On different occasions, fourteen members of this group (including students) have been invited to make presentations regarding our best practices at meetings such as: The Ohio SchoolNet Conference, The Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA), The Ohio Middle Schools Association, The North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL – Chicago), and The United States Department of Education in Washington D.C.
The campus computer network supports a variety of services including:
- Several general computer laboratories provide students access to information processing tools and curriculum specific software.
- Highly specific computer laboratories allow students to design computer networks, compose programs, design web pages, and produce videos: Cisco Academy; Programming, Web Fundamentals, and IT Fundamentals.
- Special and adaptive technologies provide diverse tools for students to learn, organize, and express information.
- Computer classrooms for grades K-1
- Computer classrooms for grades 2-3, and 4-5 provide technology instruction based on age appropriate standards.
- Kinko’s for Kids facilities in both the Middle School and High School provide students a rich selection of technology tools normally found in the business world.
- Computer supported Libraries teach students to access, assess, and use information wisely.
- All classrooms at all grade levels have computers capable of projecting images on the classroom television set, including campus streaming video.
- Content filtered Internet access is available on every computer.
- Wireless computer access is available at the High School and Middle School and in specific areas at other buildings.
- Hosting of network services includes: electronic mail, the District web site, individual teacher classroom web portals, web based classroom support tools, distance learning, and IP telephony.
- Many behind the scenes systems support student demographics, scheduling, and records, heating ventilation and air conditioning, building security and access, network security and access, building public address, asset management and work order requests, high precision GPS synchronized clock systems, telephone and communications switching, and over 75 digital security cameras that archive months of detailed campus activity, as well as other security systems.