FRIT 7232 Visionary Leadership in Instructional Technology

Technology Plan Evaluation

Treutlen County School System

http://www.treutlen.k12.ga.us/docs/2014TechnologyPlan.pdf

Group Members:
Jonathan Morris
Lisa Lee
Kirsten Blocker
Jason Stark

Annotated List of Resources

1. Title: Guidebook for Developing an Effective Instructional Technology Plan Version
2.0
Reference: http://www.nctp.com/downloads/guidebook.pdf
This guidebook was developed by a group of graduate students at Mississippi State University
and was last revised in 1997. In spite of the date last revised, this document provides a great
foundation for creating a technology plan. The graduate students responsible spent a great
amount of time gathering data from educators from around the world. They critiqued hundreds
of plans and using that information created a framework for a successful technology plan.

2. Title: NCES Technology in Schools - Suggestions, Tools and Guidelines for Assessing
Technology in the Elementary and Secondary Education
Reference: https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2003/tech_schools/chapter1.asp

This article provides suggestions for what the phases of a technology plan may involve. It
provides resources and ideas for evaluating technology plan implementation and also resources
for creating a comprehensive proposal. Policy development is also discussed.

3. Title: Future Ready Learning Reimagining the Role of Technology in Education

Reference: National Education Technology Plan 2016
http://tech.ed.gov/netp/

This plan is developed by US Department of Education. It establishes a national vision and plan
for education enhanced by technology. This resource provides an overarching perspective of
the goals and principles of using technology within the classroom across the country.

4. Title: Six-Step Process in Creating a Technology Plan - Missouri Department of

Elementary & Secondary Education
Reference: https://dese.mo.gov/quality-schools/education-technology/six-
step-process-creating-technology-plan

This is a model of a technology plan provided by the Missouri Department of Education. It

includes the six steps required to create a technology plan (getting started; technology mission
statement; current technology raw data and analysis; goals and objectives; development and
implementation of the plan with action plans and timelines; and dissemination, monitoring, and
evaluation of the plan), as well as additional resources with a downloadable Tech Plan Scoring
Guide and other templates.

5. Title: District/School Technology Plan Template - Your Blueprint For Success - A

resource from Scientific Learning
Reference:
http://www.scilearn.com/sites/default/files/imported/alldocs/cp/school-
district-technology-plan.pdf

This provides a blank template of a technology plan that school systems can customize based
on their needs. This tool provides a good foundation that can be added to if necessary on a
case by case basis. This insures the basics of the plan are not overlooked.
 6. Title: Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) Educational Technology
Plan
Template July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2015
Reference:
http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/word_docs/rfp/ed616_technology_plan_
template_2012_15.doc

The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) provides this plan as an outline for
local school districts. Connecticut requires an updated plan every three years. This template is
closely aligned following the format of the National Education Technology Plan.

7. Title: Ed Online- Writing a technology plan and template- a resource from WNET
Education
Reference:http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/primer/techplan.html

This resource provides a resource to the national center for technology planning and gives a
great explanation and blueprint of what should be in a technology plan. This is broken down
into basic steps that are easy to follow for a teachers classroom plan, principals school plan, or
district plan. There is even a google forms like fill in the blank template for you to answer the
questions. This plan is not as extensive as the ones we researched for class, but it looks like a
good place to start getting ideas down on paper.

8. Title: The Virtual Activist- A Training Course-Part 6 Technology Planning

Reference:http://www.netaction.org/training/part6.html

This training course provides many hyperlinks to additional resources. The course also
discusses the importance of prioritizing technology needs for your classroom, school or
district. This article is a plan to create a plan and gives good advice about to organize thoughts
and gives explicit information about each step of the technology planning process.

9. Title: Power Up What Works

Reference:
http://powerupwhatworks.org/sites/default/files/PowerUp%20WHAT%20
WORKS%20Tech%20Implementation%20Roadmap.pdf
This PDF provides a roadmap to creating a technology plan and uses references like the Texas
Star chart which contains several rubrics that help to create and monitor/evaluate a technology
plan. This is useful in helping to create a rubric for our group because some of the rubrics are
very extensive. I am also including the link to the reference from the PDF
https://www.txstarchart.org/docs/TxTSC.pdf

10. Title: New Hampshire Technology Planning Toolkit

Reference: http://www.nheon.org/techplanning/

This resource is a site designed by the New Hampshire school district to aid in technology plan
development. It includes links to Wikibooks for quick reference on technology plan elements and
even includes links to suggested teacher/curriculum based technology objectives.
 Rubric for Scoring School Technology Plans

Rubric Needs Meets Expectations Exceeds

Improvement Expectations
Vision for Mission statement or The plan includes an The plan includes an
Technology vision statement is not overall mission overall mission
Use included. statement but fails to statement that
state all of the required communicates the
elements. primary purpose, the
primary duties, the core
The Plan includes a beliefs, values and
specific vision but fails accessibility of system
to include all of the technology.
required elements. The plan includes
specific vision
statements that
communicate
specific areas of
impact and
improvement.

Goals Goals are not listed in Goals are listed in the Goals are listed in the
an understandable technology plan, but plan with clear
format or are absent benchmarks are not benchmarks and a
from the plan clearly indicated reasonable amount of
time is given to achieve
these goals

Professional The plan does not The plan includes a Plan includes all
Development include a professional strategy to address elements of
development strategy professional Professional
or timeline and does development but does Development to
not address specific not include an adequate support
funding sources. explanation for implementation of the
Details are vague and funding/resource technology plan
do not include specific acquisition and timeline including party
training to be obtained for training. The plan is responsible for
and needs/assessment missing one of the professional
for training critical elements. development, timeline
of training and
resources/funding
source for PD

Technology Plan does not Plan has limited details Plan has a well-
Assessment specifically address regarding: developed accounting of
 inventories on hand or Hardware, software and both on-hand
acquisition for technology technology hardware,
hardware, software infrastructure and software, and other
and technology supports and or plan supports and also
infrastructure and does not address future outlines timeline for
supports technologies added to future enhancements
the school or program and the parties
responsible

Budget Budget estimates, Budget estimates and Budget estimates and

expenses, and funding expenses are identified. expenses are identified.
resources are absent Specific funding sources The project, budgets
from this technology are described but are and times are listed for
plan, or are limited to traditional each item. Specific
incomplete and do not sources without specific funding resources are
address other budget figures. described including
incoming funding current and future
required to implement funding sources.
the plan. Includes the
reallocation and
employment of
resources and attached
budget figures.

Ongoing No formal evaluation An evaluation process is An evaluation process

Evaluation process is described. described but lacks and instrument are
complete details and described in detail and
comprehensiveness. The is comprehensive in
link to goals and nature. Assessment is
strategies is not timely and tied to the
apparent. goals and strategies.

Diversity and No Diversity and The plan has a process The plan has a process
Equity Equity plan in place to in place to plan for the in place to meet the
meet the needs of all needs of all students. needs of all students.
students. Funding is not included There is funding in
for equipment. place to purchase any
equipment needed for
special needs students.
 Scoring Rubric
Technology plan
Treutlen County School System
Rubric Needs Meets Exceeds Score
Improvement Expectations Expectations
 Vision for Mission The plan includes The plan includes Exceeds:
Technology statement or an overall mission an overall mission The Treutlen
Use vision statement statement but fails statement that County plan
is not included. to state all of the communicates the has a clear
required elements. primary purpose, mission
the primary statement. A
The Plan includes a duties, the core vision
specific vision but beliefs, values and statement is
fails to include all of accessibility of included and
the required system identifies a
elements. technology. specific
The plan includes vision.
specific vision
statements that
communicate
specific areas
of impact and
improvement.

Goals Goals are not Goals are listed in Goals are listed in Exceeds:
listed in an the technology the plan with The Treutlen
understandable plan, but clear benchmarks County plan
format or are benchmarks are not and a reasonable has specific
absent from the clearly indicated amount of time is goals outlined
plan given to achieve with
these goals benchmarks
and a timeline
for goals.

Professional The plan does not The plan includes a Plan includes all Needs
Development include a strategy to address elements of Improvement:
professional professional Professional The Treutlen
development development but Development to County Plan
strategy or does not include an support has a
timeline and does adequate implementation structure for
not address explanation for of the technology teacher
specific funding funding/resource plan including professional
sources. Details acquisition and party responsible development
are vague and do timeline for for professional and includes
not include training. The plan is development, benchmarks,
specific training missing one of the timeline of funding
to be obtained critical elements. training and sources but is
and exceptional
 needs/assessment resources/funding vague in
for training source for PD structure and
method and
most funding
is listed as
none. There
is not a
timeline for
attaining the
goals

Technology Plan does not Plan has limited Plan has a well- Meets:
Assessment specifically details regarding: developed Adequate
address Hardware, software accounting of details are
inventories on and technology both on-hand provided in
hand or infrastructure and technology the plan
acquisition for supports and or hardware, including
hardware, plan do not address software, and computer o
software and future technologies other supports student ratio
technology added to the school and also outlines and
infrastructure or program timeline for future accounting of
and supports enhancements hardware.
and the parties Future
responsible technologies
are
addressed,
but timeline is
vague

Budget Budget estimates, Budget estimates Budget estimates Meets

expenses, and and expenses are and expenses are Expectations
funding resources identified. identified. The TCSS has
are absent from Specific funding project, budgets funding
this technology sources are and times are descriptions
plan, or are described but listed for each for each goal
incomplete and are limited to item. Specific (local
do not address traditional funding resources funding,
other incoming sources without are described grants, or E-
funding required specific budget including current rates), but
to implement the figures. and future there are no
plan. funding sources. set amounts
Includes the or figures.
reallocation and
employment of
resources and
attached budget
figures.
 Ongoing No formal An evaluation An evaluation Meets:
Evaluation evaluation process is described process and This is a very
process is but lacks complete instrument are loose rating,
described. details and described in detail and
comprehensiveness. and is suggestions
The link to goals comprehensive in are included.
and strategies is not nature. There is a
apparent. Assessment is survey done
timely and tied to and a
the goals and technology
strategies. team meets,
but no details
or evaluation
details were
given

Diversity No Diversity The plan has a The plan has a Needs

and Equity and Equity process in place to process in place to Improvement
plan in place to plan for the needs meet the needs of TCSS does
meet the needs of all students. all students. not have a
of all Funding is not There is funding plan in place
students. included for in place to for to meet
equipment. purchase any the needs of
equipment the diverse
needed for special student
needs students. population.

Plan Recommendations

Budget: Treutlen County may consider including the exact grants they will be applying for and
using to fund the technology goals for their county. TCSS may also want to have a list of the
estimated prices and fees associated with meeting their goal so that the reader knows how much
money will be spent to upgrade, replace or incorporate technology in the schools.

Diversity and Equity: There is currently no indication of how funds will be spent to
accommodate the needs of the diverse student population in Treutlen County. Students with
disabilities may need additional technology support to meet the needs of their Individualized
Education Program. The district should make mention of what their students may need and
have a budget and plan in place to meet those needs if necessary.

Professional Development: Although the correct criteria for the rubric exist within the plan, it is
very vague, and the specifics of addressing when and what funding will be used is incomplete.
The plan list three primary hardware/software components that will be implemented or
expanded (document cameras, whiteboard(Smart boards) and Infinite Campus) along with
other software items. The plan would be enhanced if a training timeline were included, or a
needs assessment were given to gauge the current technology ability level of the teachers, and
specific Professional Development topics were listed. Additionally, the plan lists two areas under
Professional Development as none for a funding source, though these will be low-cost options
since both are on site training, there is still a concern with this type of funding (none). The
concern is that there is always a cost, even if it is the schools IT coordinator or Business teacher
who conducts the training, there still may be cost for substitute teachers and or
training/printing materials.

Ongoing evaluation: The plan meets the very minimum requirements for the rubric in that there
is a series of surveys being conducted regarding the implementation and effectiveness of the
technology, but there is no evidence in the plan of a formal evaluation process. It is
recommended that when the technology team does meet as outlined on page 9 of the plan that
they make use of a formal evaluation strategy to effectively review the technology in the system.

Technology Assessment: Treutlen County should consider implementing a more detailed

timeline concerning future technology goals. Teacher surveys may help decide what technology
is most needed. This will assist in future budget planning and give better direction as the system
moves forward.

This plan collectively had two categories rated exceeds expectations according to the rubric, two
areas of needs improvement requiring immediate action and four areas that meet. This plan is a
great starting off place for a district serving just over 1,000 students but has some room for
improvement according to our groups evaluation of their technology plan