Critique the Existing Technology Plan
1. How did the plan meet the existing needs in technology, funding, and management issues?
Technology
The plan met the existing needs in technology by implementing Educator Preparation and Development: which consists of Technology staff development to integrate technology into the curriculum and instruction. A District Technology Course Catalog which outlines workshops available on the district website. Our district will provide face-to-face, computer-based, or web based instructions.
The following categories of workshops is being designed to meet the needs of teachers and administrators:
Awareness - skills needed for staff to manage their needs, such as Basic Operations of Computers, Use of the Internet, Internet Searches and Technology Planning, Policies and Procedures, etc.
Application - skills needed for the staff to acquire the productivity skills they would need for word processing, spreadsheets, databases, thinking maps, and web design, etc.
Integration - skills needed to provide teachers with resources and modeling on how to infuse the technology and the Internet into the curriculum and instruction.
Management
For the plan to meet the existing needs, management must approved and hire a Technology Resource Teacher and a Master Technology Trainer to carry out the district needs for technology staff development and for teachers to integrate technology into the curriculum and instruction.
Funding
The budget presented in this plan includes funding for hiring a Technology Resource Teacher (TRT), a Master Technology Trainer and for the purchase of handheld devices (tablets) for students. The plan met the existing needs in funding because our district was again awarded e-Rate funds, State, Federal, and local funds, as well as using the school budget to fund other technologies. Our Technology Specialist have been doing the grant writing and applying for grant and other private funds.
2. How did the goals provide the measurable outcomes for future improvement?
Before the implementation of the plan, evaluation of the plan will be conducted which consist of many levels such as re-evaluating the district with the assessment tools not used in the original assessment including the Texas STaR Chart results, student assessment, portfolio analysis, and alignment and integration into the district and campus technology plans. The Technology Management Team will oversee the evaluation process and prepare a formative report twice a year. The technology plan committee will evaluate the effectiveness of the plan. Aldine ISD believes that formal evaluation and communication processes are the key to establishing trust and the basis for establishing a framework for accountability in learning and technology for the future. Throughout the lifespan of this technology plan, evaluation information will be compiled, evaluated, shared, reported and archived. This information will be utilized later for the next district long-range technology plan.
3. How did the strategies defined to meet the proposed objectives?
The strategies defined meet the proposed objectives because they are clear and aligned with the Long-Range Plan for Technology (2006-2020). Thinking through strategies and requirements will reduce costs and increase efficiency -- reducing
false-starts, ensuring compatibility with existing technology, and accurately addressing the district's unique situation and needs.
To evaluate success and identify areas of improvement, review the original success
measures created and evaluate progress against those original success
measures. Our district will gather data through follow-up surveys and interviews
of teachers, managers, and IT professionals.
Because integrating accessible technology is a long-term goal, we will recognize and reward
success and follow through on feedback received.
References:
Bamberg, W. (2009-2015). Aldine ISD Technology Plan. Retrieved March 4, 2012, from http://www.aldine.k12.tx.us
I see that your district uses the Texas STaR chart to help guide their technology planning. Has you district adopted the ISTE NETS? I'm interested to see how many school districts have adopted these standards since they "were intended to influence university preparation programs, district/state policies, and inservice professional development in the field".
ReplyDeleteWilliamson, Jo; Redish, Traci (2009-02-01). ISTE's Technology Facilitation and Leadership Standards: What Every K-12 Leader Should Know and Be Able to Do (Kindle Locations 390-391). International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). Kindle Edition.
Robyn,
DeleteYes, Aldine ISD has adopted the ISTE NETS. I would not say that all of the NETS is being fulfilled. I understand that the technology standards are being encouraged even more throughout the district. That is one of our needs for our technology plan. To hire a technology resource teacher to help teachers integrate technology into the curriculum and in return help the students with technology.
Donzella,
ReplyDeleteI like the fact that the management team will oversee the evaluation of the plan and complete a formative report twice per year. This holds the implementer accountable at all times. My district requires us to complete the STaR Chart at the beginning of the school year and nothing else is said about what technology is used or how it is implemented into daily lessons. Until we put a plan in place and everyone is held accountable our district will not see substantial growth.
Do you see your district allowing students to bring their own smartphones or other devices to be used in class if all students cannot be provided a tablet of some sort?
Marlise
Marlise,
DeleteI have been communicating with district technology staff, and they sound very sure that the PC tablets/digital textbooks is the next upcoming technology purchase for the district. I am not sure if the first roll-out will be at the primary level or the secondary level. I am not sure if the district would allow students to use their smartphones or other devices in the classroom, maybe at the high schools. "Among my campus student body, we have a lot of sticky fingers around our school". The teachers and staff at my school was very amazed that I could use my smartphone app called "ClickerSchool" as a clicker in the classroom. Therefore smartphones are useful in the classroom.
I agree that the management team needs to hire a "Technology Resource Teacher and a Master Technology Trainer to carry out the district needs for technology staff development and for teachers to integrate technology into the curriculum and instruction." We do not have those resourse people available in our district and our teacher are begging for assistance.
ReplyDeleteLaura,
DeleteI have been training teachers one-on-one with technology and the response have been great. The teachers are excited to learn new technologies and put what they have learned in action within the classroom. I have been asked by a teacher "what else can you teach me about computers" and another teacher have been asking me to teach her how to create her own website. This has been a great experience for me so I know that hiring a Technology Resource Teacher to work with teachers will be a success.
Teacher preparation is a very important element to include in your plan. If we are to use technology with our students we should know how to use it ourselves. I also included teacher training in my plan and I also included adding Instructional Technology Specialists to assist teachers.
ReplyDelete