(World of Wonder Preschool does not currently have a technology plan implemented. I used the district I live in, Pearland ISD's Technology Plan 2008-2010 to develop our goals, objectives, and strategies. For this weeks discussion I am providing aspects of the district's plan that were pertinent in developing our 2012-2013 Technology Plan.)
Pearland Independent School District Technology Plan 2008-2010 can be found
on the Pearland ISD website at www.pearlandisd.org.
This is the districts most recent plan and is aligned with recommendations for
Local Education Agencies and the Texas Long-Range Plan for technology in the
areas of Teaching and Learning, Educator Preparation and Development,
Administration and Support Services and Infrastructure for technology as well
as E-Rate guidelines and No Child Left Behind.
The
district believes that curriculum drives technology and that multimedia
technologies and computers enhance instructional presentations for all students
promoting independent learning, cooperative learning activities, and group
discussions. The technology plan was developed from an instructional viewpoint
and focuses on technology facilitation and implementation in curriculum and
instruction.
1. How did the plan meet the existing needs in technology,
funding, and management issues?
Pearland ISD’s Technology Plan
states that for every implementation initiative, the school or district will be
able to define:
• The instructional task to be accomplished. (Instructional Program)
• The courseware used to accomplish that task. (Instructional Program)
• The technology required to deliver the courseware. (Technology Plan)
• The facility infrastructure required to support the technology. (Technology Plan)
• Teacher training to use the courseware and technology. (Professional Development Plan) (http://www.pearlandisd.org/files/19135/District%20Technology%20Plan%2008-2010.doc)
• The instructional task to be accomplished. (Instructional Program)
• The courseware used to accomplish that task. (Instructional Program)
• The technology required to deliver the courseware. (Technology Plan)
• The facility infrastructure required to support the technology. (Technology Plan)
• Teacher training to use the courseware and technology. (Professional Development Plan) (http://www.pearlandisd.org/files/19135/District%20Technology%20Plan%2008-2010.doc)
By addressing each question during
development of World of Wonder’s Technology Plan for 2012-2013 technology goals
and objectives were created to meet student learning needs, provide funding
objectives, and management strategies to successfully implement the plan.
2. How did the goals provide the measurable outcomes for future
improvement?
Since
World of Wonder Preschool did not previously have a technology plan during development
rubrics were created to ensure outcomes of the goals have a measurable scale
for success and provide opportunities for review, revisions, and plan
assessment for future improvement. Quarterly student assessment strategies for
the technology goals and objectives as they relate to student learning are
measurable and recorded for annual review. Funding objectives will be recorded
and assessed yearly to ensure that the technology budget allows for upgrades,
additional technology tools and resources, and that the technology plan can
continue to operate to enhance classroom curriculum and instruction. Finally,
Management objectives are defined by the strategies developed to ensure that
computers (technology tools and applications) are maintained, that curriculum
and instruction goals are being met using the technology available, and that the
teachers are continually participating in professional development practices
and are using the technology appropriately.
3. How did the strategies defined to meet the proposed objectives?
Applicable Pearland ISD Technology Objectives for
Pre-K thru Kinder:
1.
Provide infrastructure that allows
students and staff access to computers and network services.
Pearland
ISD technology ratio is one computer for every five students and one computer
for every educator.
2. Provide quality software that
supports instruction and is compatible with current and emerging technologies
to enhance curriculum and instruction
Microsoft
Office 2000 or 2003
Microsoft
Publisher
Kidspiration
(elementary only)
Internet
Explorer and plug-ins
3. Pearland ISD students will use
technology effectively and routinely.
Pearland ISD computers have access
to productivity software and the Internet at every grade level and each campus
has a technology specialist on staff.
4. Infuse technology into curriculum
development and planning.
5. Train staff on job-specific
technology skills and technology integration.
6. Build community support through
public awareness, shared information and collaborative planning.
During
strategy development World of Wonder used these six objectives from Pearland
ISD’s Technology Plan 2008-2012 to develop
objectives and strategies to meet student learning needs, funding, and
management goals.
Pearland ISD Technology Plan (2010) Retrieved March
1, 2012 from
I really like how Pearland broke down the steps to create a new technology objective. It seems like a great process and something that would be beneficial to the early stages of implementing a new objective. Without these types of steps, I can see how an objective seems like a great idea, but if you don't consider the technology that goes with it, you may not be able to account for budgeting to meet this objective. This allows for proper planning and looking at all the parts of implementing a new goal.
ReplyDeleteBridget,
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing the Pearland approach to our attention. This seems like a very sound approach. I especially like that all "implementation initiatives" are tied to instructional goals, and must also specify how faculty needs are to be supported (professional development). This seems like the right focus to me. In the past, the technology infrastructure offered enough challenges to where it could be treated as a need unto itself. But once a school/district has built a robust infrastructure, it needs to turn its focus to meeting the needs of the students and the teachers. Sounds like Pearland has recognized that, and is responding appropriately. It is a situation that my private school is not effectively dealing with at the present.
Amy,
ReplyDeleteThis information will help me with the development of our districts technology plan. We have ideas and are needing to meet to put things into perspective soon. I have created several objectives and goals for this class so we are off to a good start. The ideas that are shown here are a great start for a new plan to have accountability through technology and instruction.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBridget, Mike, and Marlise,
ReplyDeleteSo glad I could provide you all with this fantastic resource. It has helped me immensly developing a technology plan for my campuse even at the preschoo level. I also appreciated how Pearland approached techology integration and implementation in relation to meeting curriculum and instruction needs, funding, and professional development. Plus the plan is written in an easy to understand format that makes utilizing it easy and effective.