Project 3

1. Project 3 Supporting Technology

2. Project Proposal

3. Project Description • Explain what the project is: • The purpose of this project is to understand what my school district is doing to support technology integration. • What there is to do: • I will obtain a copy of the district technology plan to familiarize myself with the district’s efforts towards professional development efforts to support technology integration. • Why it is important: • This project is important, because currently we districts are faced with many tough decisions in regards to the budget. Teachers can expect that technology funding and professional development training will be impacted by budget cuts. Districts are evaluating the cost verses the benefits on all resources. If they do not see the technology being implemented in the classrooms and impacting student achievement, then the district will eliminate the technology.

4. Project Description • Explanation of what I expect to learn from this project. • I expect to compare what I have learned about technology integration with what is actually being put into practice in my district. In my opinion I expect to see that the school district is lacking the amount of support needed to successfully integrate specific technologies into the classroom. • How this project relates to the class • This topic intertwines with many topics in this course. Is the technology at the district level being managed? Is anyone showing leadership? What barriers are encountered with each technology? To what degree does the diffusion of innovation theory impact technology integration?

5. Project Artifacts • List what you will post for review to show that you have achieved the intended result. • I will post a PowerPoint presentation analyzing and summarizing the findings. • I will post a commentary evaluating how the district supports professional development. • I will post a copy of the district technology use plan.

6. Project Timeline • Must include a start and finish date. • Start Date: February 13th • End Date: March 1st • Events/Milestones: • Obtain the District Technology Plan • Interview member of technology committee • Evaluate Technology Plan

7. Summary & Analysis of District Technology Plan

8. Background Information • The technology plan is from 2006-2009 • A new plan is created every 3 • 9 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 2 comprehensive high schools, and 1 alternative high school. • District Technology Plan for all schools • Site Use Plan (SUP) for each individual school

9. Stakeholders • The district established a technology planning group to update the existing technology plan. Individuals were selected from a variety of positions to insure a diverse group that could offer their unique perspectives to the new plan: • Office Staff, Middle School Teachers, Elementary School Teachers, High School Teachers, Director of Technology Services, etc.

10. TREEs • TREEs program • Technology Representatives Empowering Education • Based on a trainer of trainers model a technology representative from each school site is responsible for leading their site-based technology program. • TREEs meet with a technology committee every two months as part of the monitoring and evaluation process, and to bring back new lessons, ideas, web resources, and instructional software applications.

11. How TREEs Provide Support at each Level • At the elementary schools, the TREEs train teachers in the uses of technology to ensure that instructional technology is being infused into the classroom. • At the middle schools, the TREEs work with a site technology committee which is represented by teachers from each department, site administrators, community liaisons, and the Director of Technology Services to ensure that the SUPs are being fulfilled as part of the monitoring and evaluation process. Collaboration at this level coordinates the selection, uses, and training of the hardware and software in the classroom. • At the high schools, the TREEs work with the academic Deans responsible for technology. These, in turn, work with department chairs to incorporate technology into the classroom for each discipline. The comprehensive high schools use a combination of web-based applications, program website development, and CD/DVD software applications according to the timelines set forth by the goals in their site use plans (SUP).

12. Technology Implementation Plan: • The technology plan has an implementation plan for the following areas that consist of goals, objectives, benchmarks, activity plan, timeline, funding source, and evaluation plan: • How and when students will acquire technology and information literacy skills • Programs and methods of utilizing technology that ensure appropriate access for all students • Utilize technology to make student record keeping and assessment more efficient • Utilize technology to make teachers and administrators more accessible to parents

13. Monitoring Implementation • A wide variety of evaluations will be used to determine if the aforementioned objectives being met. Some examples of these instruments include but are not limited to: • Workshop and training evaluations • Activity logs generated by web-based applications • Checklists of NETS • Assessments from District reading programs • STAR test scores • DataWorks Reports • Edusoft Reports • District Calendar of Events • Training materials and documentation • Electronic Guidelines for Web Services

14. Professional Development

15. EdTechProfile • Over 70% Walnut Valley teachershave completed the EdTechProfile within the past 12 months to gauge their current technology proficiency skills. • Based on these findings, professional development trainings are being provided both centrally and locally at each site via the TREEs. This effort is coordinated by the District’s Director of Staff Development to begin moving the staff beyond the first level of proficiency typified by word processing and general computing knowledge into a broader set of technology skills (i.e., email, spreadsheets, information literacy).

16. Professional Development Process • Identify a need from the EdTechProfile • Identify staff who are willing to deliver training to colleagues • Assist with workshop design • Grant and Categorical Funding • Deliver training sessions

17. Purchasing New Technology & Professional Development Process • Pursue software licenses for new technologies • Look for university partners or other sources for designing and implementing workshops • Design Workshops • Deliver workshop

18. Monitoring Professional Development Goals • Monitoring the achievement of the professional development goals is performed quarterly. • The Goal is to provide relevant training and on-going support to all staff in order to enhance professional development practices and personal productivity. • Monitoring will be evaluated through the use of professional development evaluations and follow-up. • Where needs are not met, modifications will be made, with input from other stakeholders. • Also, survey instruments of solutions implemented, based on usage reports, will serve to evaluate and monitor effective training practices.

19. Technology Funding • Funding: The money is being distributed to schools for computers and projectors: • Estimated 20,000 per year for all schools to purchase computers • Estimated 5,500 per year for elementary schools to purchase projectors • Estimated 11,000 pear year for middle schools to purchase projectors • Estimated 16,500 per year for high schools to purchase projectors

20. Professional Development Costs • Atomic Learning Subscription and Training: $15,000 • Technology Integration Training: $10,000 • Grade-Level Specific Training: $5,000

21. Summary of Findings • The $15,000 subscription to atomic learning has been cut. • Leaving only $15,000 allocated for training. • I was unable to locate any technology related trainings on the professional development calendar. • TREEs have been non-existent. They are available to provide help upon request, but their knowledge is limited. • Overall, managing and maintaining hardware seems to be the main focus of the technology plan.