1. How did the plan meet the existing needs in technology, funding, and management issues?
The existing needs for Cy-Fair ISD are clearly addressed in the current technology plan. The plan states the following needs:
Need 1 – The district has a need to increase the frequency and level of utilization of technology in the teaching and learning process. The Technology Application TEKS provide a framework for the integration of technology into the students’ learning experience. When coupled with the technology-based elements of content TEKS, the student has substantial opportunity to use technology to
assist in learning.
Need 2 – The district has a continuing need to maintain and increase the level of professional development necessary to assist teachers in using technology effectively in the teaching and learning process.
Need 3: The district has a need to continue to provide administrative leadership and support for teachers in the use of technology. Additionally, the district needs to continue to invest in upgrades and new technology-based products and services to increase the district's operating efficiency and effectiveness.
Need 4 - The district has a need to continue to update and enhance its technology infrastructure consistent with the Texas STaR chart and as necessary to support the teaching, learning, professional development and administrative needs of the district. All stakeholders recognize the need for the provisioning, maintenance, and replacement of assets. This is particularly true for technology assets.
The Objectives for the technology plan were clearly linked to each of these needs as outlined by the district. Needs 1,2, and 3 meet the management needs of the district. Needs 3 and 4 meet the technology needs of the district. Thankfully, Cy-Fair is an extremely large and wealthy district who does not have many budget restraints. Budget needs are minimal or are easily met.
2. How did the goals provide the measurable outcomes for future improvement?
Each goal is broken down in the plan into Objectives and Strategies. Each strategy has a clear list of evidence supplied in the technology plan so that the district can easily come back and look at their plan for evaluation. As far as MEASURABLE outcomes, I feel Cy-Fair ISD's technology plan is lacking here. Objectives are stated in general wording such as "Increase the degree to which campus and district administrators utilize technology to improve productivity and effectiveness." Other objectives are more measurable, but even one objective phrased in such a way can hinder the district from reaching a goal or evaluating their success.
3. How did the strategies defined to meet the proposed objectives?
Strategies are broken down into detailed steps. For example, for the above mentioned objective, the following strategies appear:
Provide or upgrade PDA's, Principal Toolkits and/or other technologies to district/campus administrators to maximize productivity.
Implement a district-wide workflow system to reduce paperwork and increase
efficiency.
Expand the scope of the digital conversion project to include additional employee documents, district financial records, and student cumulative folders located at each campus.
Implement a training program to increase the proficiencies of campus/district administrators in the use of technology.
Strategies listed are vague at times and do not really outline how it should be accomplished. CFISD might find more success in the future by outlining clearly measurable objectives with clear step-by-step strategies to achieve their goals.
Resources:
C-Fair ISD Technology Plan (2011). Retrieved April 16, 2011 from http://www.cfisd.net/dept2/technology/Technology%20Plan.pdf
Casey,
ReplyDeleteYou are very correct about objectives being written so they can be measured. I believe schools are great at saying we will increase this or reduce that. Without a specific amount that really means nothing. According to the SMART process the M can mean measurable, they state “[b]e clear in the objective about what will be changed and by how much. Setting this clearly at the start makes it easier to evaluate” (Wilburn & Wilburn).
Reference:
Wilburn, S & Wilburn K., Developing measurable program goals and objectives. Retrieved from http://www.fldoe.org/aala/pdf/smart.pdf
Great resources, Cara! Thanks for sharing. Hopefully, when I graduate and move on to be a specialist and save the world (haha) I will have some influence on the next technology plan!
ReplyDeleteCasey,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post. I like getting a different point of view of our large district. My experience when it comes to technology and district administrators is that many of them do not even comprehend the technology being discussed. They understand that technology is important but why it is I think it escape them to a certain degree. Therefore, I came to the conclusion as I studied our own technology plan that maybe the reason things are so vague is because those involved with writing the technology plan didn't fully understand technology integration. I feel that our teachers for the most part do a great job or at least want to do more with technology. I feel that CFISD as a whole needs stronger leadership in technology.
Anderson, R. E., & Dexter, S. (205). School Technology Leadership: An Empirical Investigation of Prevalence and Effect . The Journal of Leadership for Effective & Equitable Organizations, 41(1), 49-82.
I always like reading your posts too, for the same reason! I think you have made a very astute observation. There needs to be stronger leadership in CFISD technology. Did you notice in the technology plan that they are trying to have 10 technology specialists by 2014? Currently they only have 8. Those other two could be us!!
DeleteI 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.
I have not heard anything from our district about integrating the NETS. I wish they would. The TEKS even are not really addressed, in my opinion. There is a lot of room for improvement, especially for such a large district. I think it really comes down to CFISD expectations and support.
DeleteCasey,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your strategy to implement a training program for campus/district administrators. I have been teaching a lesson with my SMART board and my prinical has come in to do a walkthrough and he has had to ask me what I'm using and how it works. What kind of training program would it be? Would your district partner with an outside source or service center or would the training occur in house?
Administrators desperately need to be trained so that they understand the importance of using technology in reaching today's students and understanding how to incorporate technology effectively. I'm not sure what kind of training program would be most beneficial - but I am a strong believer that if you get the leadership of the school doing or using something then the teachers will follow. I would probably start with using technology more for communication with the community and the teachers.
DeleteI agree that traing teachers on how to use the equipment is necessary. Currently Katy ISD offers a technology training class during teachers conference period. This is held once a month and it is optional. Teachers can attend to learn different ideas on how to implement technology into the classroom. Does your school offer anything like this?
ReplyDeleteI have heard from other teachers that they did offer these in years past, but I have not heard of any trainings during conferences this year. The teachers I was talking to were sad that such opportunities had not been offered this year. Perhaps they will do it again soon.
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