Vision

School Vision
Everything we do for students at Manitou Springs Elementary School is driven by the concepts in our whole-child vision:
 * Our whole children are Empowered personally to lead and to serve, Equipped intellectually to shape their future, Enriched creatively to flourish lifelong.**

We make careful academic choices for every lesson every day to develop students who exemplify that vision. We choose from among many effective instructional tools--and technology is a powerful new addition to our toolbox. Teachers choose a technological tool (as opposed to traditional academic tools like textbooks, paper and pencil, posters, presentations, encyclopedias, etc.) only when they ascertain that technology is the best means to help students learn new knowledge, master a skill, explore research sources, publish their knowledge, or make a new creation. Most often, even in that case, teachers combine a variety of tools, only one of which may be technological, to deliver a basic unit of instruction. Moreover, when empowered, students make their own best instructional-mode choices during their learning.

When guided by creative, focused instruction, students utilize technology such as iPads in conjunction with the broad range of traditional learning tools to:
 * engage in more interactive reading, with audio support, touch-word vocabulary, and imbedded quizzes;
 * research more quickly and broadly using interactive websites and the world’s most current, direct sources;
 * publish their knowledge in a variety of media, from written word with hyperlinks to video with music;
 * engage more in skill-building practice, seeking out math-facts or spelling practice apps, setting individual goals, and tracking their own progress;
 * creatively pursue their fascinations, with fluency and independence.

In our decisions related to use of technology, we strive continually to strike a balance between the power for learning these tools offer and the safety and well-being our the students using them.

District 14 School Board Policy
In their D14 School Board Ends Statements, the school board directs that "s tudents have acquired the skills and knowledge required to continue learning and experience success in the next stage of life," to include "reading, writing, mathematics, speaking, communication, creativity, technology, time management, adaptability/flexibility, design/fabrication, work ethic, and perseverance." Toward that end, the Board has adopted Policy JS, which states, in part:


 * "**The Internet and electronic communications (email, chat rooms and other forms of electronic communication) have vast potential to support curriculum and student learning. The Board of Education believes they should be used in schools as a learning resource to educate and to inform. Use of the Internet and electronic communications require students to think critically, analyze information, write clearly, use problem-solving skills and hone computer and research skills that employers demand. Use of these tools also encourages an attitude of lifelong learning and offers an opportunity for students to participate in distance learning activities, ask questions of and consult with experts, communicate with other students and individuals and locate material to meet educational and personal information needs."

Colorado Department of Education Technology Standards
The Colorado Department of Education has adopted the following technology standards for Colorado students: Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Students: > A. apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, decisions, processes, products or solutions. > B. create original works as a means of personal or group expression. > C. use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues. > D. identify trends and forecast possibilities. Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students: > A. interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts or others employing a variety of digital environments and media. > B. communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats. > C. develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures. > D. contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems. Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. Students: > A. plan strategies to guide inquiry. > B. locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information > C. evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks. > D. process data and report results. Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, design and manage projects, solve problems, engineer solutions and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. Students: > A. identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation. > B. plan, design and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project. > C. collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions. > D. use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions. Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. Students: > A. advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology. > B. exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity. > C. demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning. > D. exhibit leadership for digital citizenship. Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems and operations. Students: > A. understand and use technology systems. > B. select and use applications effectively and productively. > C. troubleshoot systems and applications. > D. transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies
 * I. Creativity and Innovation**
 * II. Communication and Collaboration**
 * III. Research and Information Fluency**
 * IV. Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving & Decision-Making**
 * V. Digital Citizenship**
 * VI. Technology Operations and Concepts**