Township High School District Technology in Education

1. Township High School District Technology in Education

2. District 214 Technology TodaySnapshot - 6,300 Computers • iPods – iPads – Netbooks – Chromebooks • Twitter – Facebook – Moodles – Doodles • Linked In – Linked Out – Texting and iTunes • Pilot Programs

3. District 214 Technology TodaySnapshot Organizationally • Director of Technology • Technology System Supervisors • Instructional Technology Coordinators • Network Operations Manager • Webmaster Awards • NSBA Technology Trailblazer • Digital School District • Digital Education Achievement • Apex Website • Apple Distinguished District

4. How Did We Get Here? • It took the commitment of all • It took the collaboration of all • It took overcoming fears of failure • It took the honesty to say “I don’t know” • It took leaps of faith • It took the honesty to ask for help

5. Where Were We? • In 2002… We didn’t know what we didn’t know about technology and what District 214 needed. • Administration and Board decided we needed assistance – Where are we? What should we do? Where are we going? How do we get there? • We needed big time help!!!!

6. What did we do?2002 Brought in an outside technology information system expert to: • analyze current technology environment • conduct in-depth organization interviews • suggest technology system design • suggest technology organization structure and technology administration design • define a short and long-range plan

7. What did we do?2003 ACTION – D214 administration and Board initiated the technology plan process by establishing: • short/long-range technology plans • parameters for organization structure • parameters for employee skill sets needed • parameters for basic technology system design • parameters for technology administration

8. More To Do2004 ACTION - D214 administration and Board initiated plan for control of technology: • Educational Technology Replacement and Investigation Program (ETRIP) • established initial administrative job descriptions and hired technical and educational support and management expertise • established clear/solidified hardware/software standards • a commitment that hardware/software remain current • establishment of standards for hardware/software across all sites in district • introduced preliminary controls of both purchasing and introduction • established an equipment life cycle management

9. Curriculum/Student Learning2005 CRITICAL – Technology must support student learning, and curriculum must drive technology: • innovation embraced and encouraged • targeted administrators/supervisors encouraged to submit research and development proposals to a tech sub-committee • PCs were the platform • other platforms – hardware/software encouraged for investigation

10. Systems Stability2005-2009 SUCCESS – Gain confidence back from staff • Computer & network systems running optimally • Confidence in delivery of classroom instruction • Hardware/software standards & processes enforced • Proactive monitoring of all technology systems • Increased staff demand for more technology

11. Curriculum/Student Learning2009 Educational Technology Replacement and Investigation Program (ETRIP) changed…now Educational Technology Replacement and InitiativeProgram – still ETRIP but ‘initiative’ is added and a formal commitment is INNOVATION

12. Curriculum/Student Learning2009 Critical aspects of the new ETRIP were: • Reaffirmation of clear/solidified hardware/software standards • Recommitment that hardware/software remain current • Reaffirmation of standards for hardware/software across all sites in district • Developed a Clear Social Media Policy • Policy addresses student access/activities with social networks (Facebook, Twitter)

13. Curriculum/Student Learning2009 • Technology infrastructure ready to handle any hardware and software • Established the Technology Initiative Proposal (TIP) process – A BIG CHANGE Participation for technology classroom initiatives expanded to include all teachers – they are the ones in the classroom that should be driving technology in the curriculum for student education.

14. Technology Initiative Program (TIP)2009 • How does TIP process work? • Key***Pilot Programs***Mobile Devices • Measured and controlled process • Strict criteria to initiate a pilot program • All pilot proposals addressed through 3 phases • #1 – Building – initial analysis • #2 – District level analysis • #3 – Building/District evaluation process • Innovation & Change Committee • Presentations – success/failures • Qualitative and Quantitative measures

15. Technology Initiative Program (TIP)2009 • Budget Neutral – Trade Off – Desktops??? • Transitioning to mobile devices • Results must be measureable

16. Technology Initiative Program (TIP) First Year Program 2010-2011 School Year • Classroom Launch • Teacher proposals via TIP process – Spring 2009 • Approved proposals – Spring 2009 • 350 iPads purchased/programmed – Summer 2009 • Informational letters to parents – Summer 2009 • Orientation/training for students – 2 class days • Quarterly review – Innovation & Change Committee

17. Technology Initiative Program (TIP) Second Year Program 2011-2012 School Year • Data collected/reviewed from first year • Investigate if iPad should be the standard • Motorola Xoom Tablets, NetBooks, Laptops, Chromebooks • Added 500 devices – total 850 • 2nd year pilot teachers train 1st year teachers • Quarterly review – Innovation & Change Committee

18. Technology Initiative Program (TIP) Third Year Program 2012-2013 School Year • Review current pilots (Jan. – April) • Expansion – 1,800 more devices – 2,650 total • New committee formed – January 2012 • Mobile Computing Feasibility Committee • Review and approve new proposals for 2012-13 – May 2012 • 2nd & 3rd year pilot teachers train 1st year pilot teachers – summer Internal University • Quarterly review – Innovation & Change Committee

19. Where Are We Now? • Philosophy of the Board and Administration regarding technology - PRIMARY – Curriculum and technology must be student focused – students are why we exist - Curriculum and technology must be academically positive - Must meet District’s three instructional goals

20. Where Are We Now? • We believe: - “Curriculum subjects/programs and technology should not be made safe for students…students must be made safe to deal with curriculum and technology.” - Objective is to teach students to make positive decisions with curriculum and technology in high school and for the future after high school. - We believe teachers and curriculum drive use of technology – through pilots.

21. Where Are We Now? • We believe: - new technology programs must be able to be replicated across district - and support innovation – OK to fail – Learn - strict budget considerations – we do not chase technology for technology sake - expensive – lacks control - the community should understand the use of technology in education

22. The Future • 2012-2013 (3rd year pilots) will be a ‘mock’ model for: • Distribution • Insurance • Device management • Application distribution • Agreement forms • Fees • Establishment of Internal University Courses for Teachers • 2013-2014 Expansion • Spend a year on Focused Professional Development • Expansion of Internal University Courses for Teachers • Prepare teachers for 1:1 classrooms • Comprehensive subject area expansion • 4,000+ total mobile devices

23. Key to TechnologyIntroduction and Use Planning Monitoring Curriculum Innovation