Technology Use at ISBE

1. Technology Use at ISBE HRE 472 Learning Mediated by Technology Spring 2006 Instructor: Dr. Angela Benson Presented by Robin M. Lisboa, CCEL 2003

2. LearningWhat Technologies are being used and how? • Electronic Broadcasts & Superintendent’s Bulletin via the Internet • WebPages • E-Mail • Compressed Video &Video Streaming (A) • Desire2Learn (WIDA) (A) Technologies How? • E-broadcasts are used by the State Superintendent as a vehicle to communicate weekly with the field. This allows Districts to learn about current initiatives. • ISBE Web Pages are developed by each division in order to provide constituents with the most current up-to-date information. This information is available 24-7. • E-mail is used to provide direct communication and answers with constituents 24-7. • Compressed video is used as an instructional professional development tool for districts. This is also available 27-7. • Desire2Learn is used as a training resource for districts and their staff and as a 24-7 vehicle to assess teachers for ACCESS for ELL’s™ certification.

3. LearningWhy is technology being used? • Electronic Broadcasts &Superintendent’s Bulletin via the Internet • WebPages • E-Mail • Compressed Video &Video Streaming (A) • Desire2Learn (WIDA) (A) Why? Technologies • Communications • Access to information • Training • Confidentiality (IEIN) • Time & Speed -24/7 & Immediate • Reporting & Accountability (NCLB, OELA, EDEN) • Assessment, Ordering & Reporting Learning Mediated by Technology Performance Enhancement Digital Workplace Organizational Development and Change

4. LearningWhat is the impact of technology use on the organization? • Electronic Broadcasts & Superintendent’s Bulletin via the Internet • WebPages • E-Mail • Compressed Video &Video Streaming (A) • Desire2Learn (WIDA) (A) Technologies Impact? Communication Time & Speed –Immediate Training Increased Access (A) Flexibility Video/Voice Streaming–field based staff & management Cost (less paper & less mailings) Learning Mediated by Technology Performance Enhancement Digital Workplace Organizational Development and Change

5. LearningWhat major issues have been identified with this use of technology? Issues • Electronic Broadcasts & Superintendent’s Bulletin via the Internet • WebPages • E-Mail • Compressed Video &Video Streaming (A) • Desire2Learn (WIDA) (A) All intended recipients may not get the messages, changes in e-mail addresses bounce messages back or administrators might not read them. Web pages are only as good as the people that keep them updated. Web pages need to be updated regularly and if this is not done they may become outdated. Costs to maintain and upgrade these systems can be substantial. E-mail needs to be updated especially with the turnover rate of program directors and superintendents. When the internet goes down you are held at bay and unable to use e-mail. You are always vulnerable to viruses, spam mail, and worms. Agency filters can also keep you from getting important mail. Security can break down and it can get in the way. Video streams can be large so this may slow down a training and district Systems may not be able to Integrate with or handle the video stream. Technical support at ISBE and in school districts. Technologies Learning Mediated by Technology Performance Enhancement Digital Workplace Organizational Development and Change

6. Learning Resources • http://www.isbe.net • http://cx.isbe.net • http://webexchange.isbe.net/exchange • http://www.wida.us • https//uwosh.courses.wisconsin.edu • http://www.isbe.net/bilingual/htmls/elp_standards.htm • http://www.isbe.net/bilingual/htmls/ebroadcasts.htm

7. Performance EnhancementWhat Technologies are being used and how? • E-broadcasts & Superintendent’s Bulletin • Search Engines • WebPages • Intranet • E-Mail • Web Databases – OTIS • Telephone conferencing • Video Teleconferencing (S) • Desire2Learn (WIDA) (A) • Illinois Interactive Report Card (NIU) • Wireless internet connection via laptop What? How? • Sent weekly to field via the internet • Used to locate information on specific topics • Agency policy and other information is posted here • Houses agency applications • Used to communicate with agency staff and field • Used to access teacher certification information • Used to bring people together from more than one location • Used to view people brought together from more than one location • Used to train and certify teacher on ACCESS • Allows access to district performance info. • Used to access computer desktop from a remote location outside of the agency Learning Mediated by Technology Performance Enhancement Digital Workplace Organizational Development and Change

8. Performance EnhancementWhy is technology being used? Why? • To enhance communication within and outside the agency • To access information quickly thereby cutting wasted time and increasing efficiency • Training • To ensure Confidentiality (IEIN) • To management large amounts of information • Reporting & Accountability (NCLB, OELA, EDEN) • Assessment • To order materials Learning Mediated by Technology Performance Enhancement Digital Workplace Organizational Development and Change

9. Performance EnhancementWhat is the impact of technology use on the organization? Impact • Communication is improved and response time is cut down • Time & Speed – information is accessed and obtained quickly • Access to (A) Training is Increased (available 24/7) • Personnel costs are cut due to information that is accessed electronically • The cost for paper or stamps is cut due to the information that is sent out electronically or that does not have to be mailed out Learning Mediated by Technology Performance Enhancement Digital Workplace Organizational Development and Change

10. Performance EnhancementWhat major Issues have been identified with this use of technology? Issues • While Costs for personnel has gone down costs go up to employ technicians who provide infrastructure support • Limited IT staff to provide technical support • Technology is outdated quickly and there are additional costs associated with upgrading and maintenance of the equipment • The field has various levels of competency in using technology and this effects their ability to access online training or resources • Some districts do not have the resources to upgrade their systems making it difficult to access some information • There may be internal competition when it comes to upgrading systems • Security is compromised or the system breaks down • Wireless Technology can be difficult to access • Data storage space is limited and when it is full systems shut down Learning Mediated by Technology Performance Enhancement Digital Workplace Organizational Development and Change

11. Performance Enhancement Resources • http://www.isbe.net • http://cx.isbe.net • http://webexchange.isbe.net/exchange • http://www.wida.us • https//uwosh.courses.wisconsin.edu

12. Organizational Development and ChangeWhat Technologies are being used and how? • Intranet & applications (Citrix) • Electronic Grants • Video Teleconferencing (S) • Wireless internet • Illinois Interactive Report Card (NIU) • Desire2Learn (WIDA) (A) • IEIN on OTIS What? How? • Used to communicate internally within the agency (A) • Used by school districts to submit grant applications electronically (A) • Used to bring individuals together face-to-face (S) • Used to access agency systems when one is away from the office (A) • The IIRC is used by school districts to access student performance date and to submit improvement plans (A) • IEIN is used to identify teachers rather than using social security numbers (A) Learning Mediated by Technology Performance Enhancement Digital Workplace Organizational Development and Change

13. Organizational Development and ChangeWhy is technology being used? Why? • The intranet allows agency personnel to register for internal training and it allows access to a variety of internal or Human Resource information • E-grants allows district to apply for a variety of grants at one time rather than having to submit individual paper copies • Video teleconferencing allows people to meet face-to-face without leaving the work setting and this cuts down on travel and travel costs • Wireless internet access is used to access agency files, data bases and other resources when in the field • The IIRC centralizes district performance data and allows the agency to manage large amounts of information • Desire2Learn allows training at great distances and is available 24/7 (A) • The IEIN is being piloted to protect teacher Confidentiality Learning Mediated by Technology Performance Enhancement Digital Workplace Organizational Development and Change

14. Organizational Development and ChangeWhat is the impact of technology use on the organization? Impact • Training access is Increased within the agency and external to the agency (A) & cuts down on personnel costs to deliver training • E-grants saves time and money for districts and this also cuts down on personnel costs • Face-to-face conferencing cuts down on travel costs by allowing individuals from a number of locations to connect at the same time thereby improving communication • Wireless access to information is relatively Immediate wherever staff may be assigned • The IIRC allows immediate access to large amounts of performance data (A) and allows districts to develop strategic plans using this information • Desire2Lean improves access of training to the field while also cutting on personnel costs • The IEIN number allows the agency to protect teacher confidentiality by reducing fraudulent activities Learning Mediated by Technology Performance Enhancement Digital Workplace Organizational Development and Change

15. Organizational Development and ChangeWhat major Issues have been identifiedwith this use of technology? Issues • While personnel costs are lowered technology maintenance and technical assistance also is expensive • Not all grants offered by the agency are accessible through the E-grant system • Teleconferencing equipment is expensive and participants need to be available at the same time (S) • Wireless internet usage can be difficult to access and the laptops that are used are heavy • Not all districts use or access the IIRC • Training is only as good as those that are able to access it and for some individuals their ability is low making it difficult to benefit from this format • There is such a thing a too much security and then there are the issue of Security which addresses span mail, but there is other important mail that is kept out from firewalls • District staff complain that the IEIN system lengthens the process of identification and certification Learning Mediated by Technology Performance Enhancement Digital Workplace Organizational Development and Change

16. Organizational Development and Change • http://www.isbe.net • http://cx.isbe.net • http://webexchange.isbe.net/exchange • http://www.wida.us • https//uwosh.courses.wisconsin.edu