2. Rationale: Why Develop a
Plan?
1. The Connecticut Department of Education (2008) ―believes that every student must
develop strong technological skills and continually use them in order to function
adequately in our 21st century world.‖ The state, therefore, requires each school
district prepare a three-year technology use plan that communicates a vision as well as
goals and objectives needed to achieve that vision.
2. A good technology use plan is, in the words of Anderson (2002). a ―proactive . . .
catalyst‖ for change that maps a course toward achieving a shared vision—that of
engaging all students in 21st-century learning.
Our plan will address the needs of:
Students
Teachers
Administrators
Community members and local businesses
Our Infrastructure
Staff development
Maintenance/support
Fiscal planning
3. Planning Team:
Who Should be Involved?
According to the state department of education, ―High-quality
comprehensive, educational technology plans must be collaborative
and include ideas and suggestions from all members of the
educational community. These stakeholders may include: faculty, staff,
parents, students, and others. The planning process must be a shared
activity that not only involves schools and school districts, but also the
community-at-large‖ (2008).
Our Team will include:
Teachers and administrators from each of the district’s schools
Support staff
A library-media specialist
Representatives of the community
Local business partners
Curriculum coordinator
Technology experts
Technology Coordinator
IT Technician
4. Process
Conduct Write a vision
Form Committee
Research statement
Conduct a needs
Write goals and Develop a plan
assessment
objectives for evaluation
survey
Review, revise, Implement and
and finalize Evaluate
5. Vision Statement
A good vision statement provides a foundation
for the plan.
When writing a vision statement, the
committee should consider
the needs and desires of stakeholders
the skills and knowledge students need as they
enter the workforce of the future
the standards set by professional organizations
such as ISTE or P21
6. Vision Statement
―Westbrook Public Schools continue to provide all
students with a high quality education, preparing our
students to contribute to society utilizing 21st century
technology skills. Technological competency facilitates
students’ lifelong learning and their ability to
communicate as effective and informed citizens.
Equitable access to technology helps to ensure that all
students are able to be educated, challenged, and
inspired to achieve their potential. Through technology
our students use critical thinking skills to explore diverse
perspectives, solve authentic problems, and generate
innovation ideas. Staff are provided with the resources
and professional development necessary to deliver a
working and learning environment rich with integrated
technology.‖
7. Plan Goals/Objectives
According to John See (2002), ―Effective technology plans focus on
applications, not technology. In other words, make your technology plan
output based, not input based. Develop a plan that specifies what you want
your students, staff, and administration to be able to do with technology and
let those outcomes determine the types and amount of technology you will
need.‖
The technology use plan will articulate the district’s goals and the
measureable objectives necessary to achieve them.
Goals should focus on the application of technology to facilitate the district’s
work.
Goals will center on the following topics:
Curriculum integration
State and National Standards
Accessibility
Staff development
Maintenance/Support
Conducting business and connecting to our community
8. Goals and Objectives:
Goal: Technology standards will be integrated
across the curriculum
Objective 1: By 2011, we will develop a curriculum
template that addresses the Partnership for 21st
Century Skills Framework.
Objective 2: By 2013, we will integrate clearly
articulated 21st-century skills across curricula for
grades 9 –12 as directed by the 2011 NEASC
Accreditation Standards.
9. Goals and Objectives
Goal: All teachers will use technology to facilitate
data collection and analysis.
Objective 1: By 2011, 70% of teachers will use
Google Docs Forms to create and administer
quizzes and tests.
Objective 2: By 2012, 75% of teachers will use
class polling devices (clickers) to conduct weekly
formative assessments and collect student
performance data.
10. Goals and Objectives
Goal: All students and teachers will have
adequate access to technology needed for
21st century teaching, learning, and assessing.
Objective 1: A SMART Board will be installed in
every classroom by 2012.
Objective 2: One laptop cart will be purchased for
every four classrooms, K-8, by 2013.
Objective 3: Install eight computers with wireless
Internet acccess in each K-8 classroom by 2013.
11. Goals and Objectives
Additional goals might center on:
Incentivizing teachers to learn and use new
technologies
Providing timely and effective support for users
Training for faculty and staff
Maintenance and support
Budgeting
12. Needs Assessment
In order to understand the needs and technological
proficiency of our stakeholders, the committee must
develop a needs assessment survey.
This needs assessment survey for faculty can serve
as a starting point.
The results will allow us to understand
how resources are allocated
how and why technology is being used
where teachers need training
what standards inform instruction
what obstacles interfere with successful technology
integration
what unmet technology needs teachers hold
13. Staff Development Models
Turnley (ND), McKenzie (2001), and Cradler (2002).
One-on-One Informal
Open Lab
Mentoring Groups
Professional
Online Growth
Workshops
Training Plans (PGP)
Outsourcing
14. Staff Development
1. Include a requirement for technology
integration in professional growth plans.
2. Provide incentives for expert users to train
and advise other staff.
3. Hire a technology coordinator technology
integrationist to mentor users.
4. Identify online training resources, such as
those available through ISTE, and provide
access for users.
15. Evaluation/Research
Before finalizing the plan, we must develop a
means for evaluating implementation.
Annual needs assessment survey
Classroom observations
Workshop evaluations
Interviews with faculty, students, staff, and
parents
Professional Growth Plans and their evaluation
Demonstration portfolios/exhibitions
Student assessment data
16. Timeline
2010-2011
September: Form committee and begin readings and visits
October: Write vision statement. Develop and administer needs assessment
surveys.
November: Complete analysis of needs assessment data and begin writing goals
and objectives
December: Continue writing goals and objectives
February: Complete staff development section. Review, revise, and finalize.
March: Submit to RESC for review.
June: File with Connecticut State Department of Education
2011-2012: Year 1
Implement and begin evaluation
2012-2013: Year 2
Continue Implementation and evaluation
2013-2014: Year 3
Implementation completed. Evaluate and begin planning to write a new technology
use plan.
17. Resources
Anderson, Larry, et al. “Guidebook for Developing an Effective Instructional Technology Plan.” NCTP. Revised 2002.
Connecticut State Department of Education, “Educational Technology Plan Template.” Aug 2008.
Cradler, John, et al. “Research Implications for Preparing Teachers to Use Technology.” Learning and Leading with Technology.
September 2002.
McKenzie, Jamie. “How Teachers Learn Technology Best.” From Now On. Vol 10, No 6. March 2001.
See, John. “Developing Effective Technology Plans.” NCTP 2002.
Turnley, Melinda, “Potential Models for Teacher Technology Training,” (ND).
Editor's Notes
Why Develop a plan?NEASC Evaluation in 2016. Integrate 21st-century skills. Infuse ISTE NETS in curriculum documents.
Who should be part of the team and process?Teachers from each school. A library-media specialist. A technology teacher. Parents. Business partners (Lee Company, Pfizer).
Writing the technology use plan is a multi-step process:Form a technology committeeRead articles and guides that would facilitate technology planningReview the current technology use planWrite a vision statementVisit technologically advanced area schoolsConduct a needs assessment survey and analyze dataWrite clear, measurable goals with benchmarksReview and revise planFinalize and publicize the plan
It communicates a vision of the kind learning and working environment we wish to create.
Provide a sample vision statement from which the group could begin working.
Provide a sample from which the group could work. Include maintenance and support. you would want to include maintenance and support issues, curriculum integration, the need for staff development, addressing district, state and national technology standards, etc.)
Objectives, like our SMART goals, must be measurable and time-bound.
Provide some suggestions for staff development as this will be such a crucial element in the plan - and one that you, as the educational technologist will spearhead.Benefits and Concerns of Different ModelsWhen making decisions about which technology training models to implement, administrators should consider both the strengths and weaknesses of different options. No method is universally applicable or entirely without complications. Under appropriate circumstances, however, each model can provide opportunities for effective, ethical teacher training. Please use the information below to consider which approaches might be most feasible for your local institutional context.Courses for CreditInstructors enroll in a semester-long graduate level course that addresses issues related to computer teaching.Potential BenefitsCourses provide space for thorough consideration of both theory and practice. They provide a structured environment for developing proficiencies and reflecting on instructors’ relationships with technology. Further, they are institutionally supported.Potential ConcernsCourses require consistent commitments of programmatic resources. They also assume that instructors have the time and resources to register for classes. courses for credit | one-on-one mentoring | workshops | open labs | informal groups | outsourcingOne-on-One MentoringNew instructors are paired up with more experienced instructors who offer guidance and support.Potential BenefitsIndividual mentoring offers opportunities for collaboration and continuing professional development. This type of one-on-one support can provide opportunities for instructors to teach each other and share knowledge.Potential ConcernsBecause this method is informal, it likely receives less institutional support and credit. Additionally, maintaining continuity also could be challenging. It also requires a pool of experienced instructors who have the time to participate. courses for credit | one-on-one mentoring | workshops | open labs | informal groups | outsourcingWorkshopsInstructors attend individual meetings which provide hands-on instruction in particular topics related to c-teaching.Potential BenefitsWorkshops offer flexibility in terms of scheduling, and they can target specific concerns raised by instructors. They also allow instructors opportunities to teach each other and do “dry runs” of technical instruction.Potential ConcernsScheduling for such events also can be complicated. Additionally, the planning, advertisement, and conducting of workshops can require a great deal of preparation on the part of facilitators. Lastly, they necessitate an additional time commitment for instructors. courses for credit | one-on-one mentoring | workshops | open labs | informal groups | outsourcingOpen LabsInstructors receive ad hoc support from staff working in campus labs.Potential BenefitsOpen hours in a lab offer flexibility and provide opportunities for instructors to receive support while taking initiative in their training. Potential ConcernsWell-supported labs require resources and training for staff and equipment. Also, depending upon who is able to work in the labs, the staff may not be familiar with the pedagogical needs of particular instructors. courses for credit | one-on-one mentoring | workshops | open labs | informal groups | outsourcingInformal GroupsInstructors organize unofficial meeting times during which they can offer each other support.Potential BenefitsInformal meetings provide safe spaces for sharing concerns, collaborating on materials, and trying new ideas. Potential ConcernsThe informality of the group can limit continuity, access to resources, and institutional credit. Further, scheduling difficulties may arise. courses for credit | one-on-one mentoring | workshops | open labs | informal groups | outsourcingOutsourcingInstructors draw upon university or community resources in order to develop technical proficiencies.Potential BenefitsThis method can be helpful if a program has limited resources. It also can provide access to expertise that may not be available within the local programmatic context. Potential ConcernsWhen working with external resources, instructors and administrators may encounter a disjuncture between their pedagogical goals and other programs’ technical frameworks. Further, access to such resources may be limited if a high demand for them already exists.