Academic Programs & Departments
Media & Technology
All members of the Media & Technology Department are committed to enable teachers, students and parents to use technology as a means by which we create and support self-directed learners, complex thinkers, quality producers, collaborative workers and community contributors. Media & Technology will play an integral part in preparing our students to be productive and competitive citizens in a global economy.
Orange County Schools Technology Plan (pdf)
Assessment Programs used in Orange County to benchmark and assess student achievement include:
• Study Island, a web-based state assessment preparation program
• Accelerated Reader
• Accelerated Math
• CPS (Classroom Performance System) from e-instruction
• HeartBeeps, a 3rd grade math, reading, and writing assessment program
• ClassScapes, used by teachers to create bench mark assessments
• STAR Reading
Media and Technology Collaboration
OCS has adopted a schedule that is both fixed and flexible for its media centers and technology labs. This approach is used to ensure seamless integrated technology across the curricula. Teachers sign up for use of labs and go to the media centers on an open basis in order to more closely align media and technology instruction with individual class needs. The Technology Facilitator and the Media Specialist collaborate with teachers at all grade levels to integrate technology and media using the current North Carolina Standard Course of
Study and the North Carolina Computer Skills Curriculum. The Technology Facilitator and Media Specialist at each location jointly develop individualized and grade level instruction with teachers, ensuring that lessons are rich in media and technology for all students.
Computer and Internet Access
The average number of computers per classroom is approximately 3.5. The student/computer ratio is 3.02. All classrooms and computers in the district have high speed internet access available. In the spring of 2008, the district purchased (leased) new computers for all teachers and staff as well as 12 new servers to prepare for the NC Wise implementation.
Distance and Online Learning Opportunities in Orange County Schools include opportunities through NovaNet, LearnNC, Brigham Young University, North Carolina School of Science, Math Distance Learning, Learn and Earn, and the North Carolina Virtual Public School. OCS also uses Moodle for student online learning, highbred courses--a combination of face to face and online lessons, PLC type activities, and for professional development courses.