Practical Advice for Creating a CombinedInformation (Library Media) TechnologyPlan

By Tammy Stephens

Introduction

The old model for creating a technology plan was for a single leader to do some informalplanning and to be in charge of making all of the decisions for technology purchases. Todaythings are different. Wisconsin advocates that districts do a Combined Information (LibraryMedia) Technology Plan that has wide stakeholder involvement and input in the planningprocess.The information shared in this article is not rocket science. It’s just practical advice on a lot of little things that that can make a big difference in creating a successful plan.

Part 1: Creating a Realistic Timeline

My biggest piece of advice is to give yourself enough time. In my experience an ideal timeline iseighteen months. I think of the planning process as occurring in three major phases:• Phase 1: Planning and Implementing the Needs Assessment• Phase 2: Involving Stakeholders in the Planning Process• Phase 3: Writing and Sharing the Draft of the Plan.In an ideal timeline, each phases takes approximately six months.If you don’t have eighteen months, use backwards planning to make a timeline with the time youdo have. Start by finding out when your Information Technology Plan is really due. Due datesare listed on the DPI web-site http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/dltcl/imt/tekcert.html . However, itis important to note that because of recent changes in E-Rate you may be required to submit anaddendum of your current plan to the state before you file your Form 470. This is especially trueof plans that are due in December. Next, figure out when the plan should be submitted to theschool board for approval. Every school board is different. Some require that the plan first go toa subcommittee for review before it goes to the full board. Often school boards take twomeetings to approve a plan, one meeting to have the plan presented to them and a secondmeeting to approve it. Next, find out the date by which the plan will need to be added to theschool board packet and mailed out to board members (typically one week prior to the meeting).Once you have this date, divide the time you have left into three equal time-periods for each of the phases listed above.There are four policies that are required: an Acceptable Use Policy, Copyright Policy,Interlibrary Loan Policy, and Special Needs Policy. These policies need to be board approved.You should check on the status of these policies immediately. Sometimes school boards require

that policies need go through three readings before they can be approved. In my experience, mostdistricts do not have an Interlibrary Loan Policy. Another new requirement is the Special NeedsPolicy. Sometime districts add a paragraph to their existing special education policy to meet thisrequirement. You need to have language indicating that you will provide assistive technology tostudents who have special needs even if they have not been formally identified for specialeducation programming.

Part Two: Planning and Implementing The Needs Assessment

Districts are required to do a needs assessment as part of the plan.A needs assessment should:• Drive data-driven decisions• Track progress over time• Empower the change process• Provide a means of communication• Develops a common language• Assist in setting priorities, allocating funds• Support effective use of resourcesAt the very least a needs assessment on student and educator proficiency needs to be done.Student proficiency should relate to proficiency on the Wisconsin Information TechnologyLiteracy Standards. In addition, you will be required to write an analysis of EducatorProficiency, Effective Teaching & Learning Practices, Access to Information & TechnologyResources, and Support Systems & Leadership. Having data available on these topics makeswriting these sections much easier. The enGauge assessment has two components: an onlineprofile and on-site interviews http:// www.ncrel.org/engauge. This assessment correlates with the DPI criteria for creating your plan. Districts can also usecustom-made assessments, but must include these assessments in the appendix of the plan.Below is a quick reference chart that shows some ready made needs assessments and what theymeasure:

Tool:

StudentProficiencyEducatorProficiencyEffectiveTeaching&LearningPracticesAccess toInformation&TechnologyToolsSupportSystems &Leadership

enGauge

X X X XLearningwithTechnologyProfile Tool

XLoTI (Levelsof TechnologyIntegration)

XMile Guide

XPETIProfilingEducationalTechnologyIntegration

STaRChart

X X

TAGLIT(Takinga Good Look atInstructionalTechnology)

X X X X

(some)

Note:

Some of these tools are free and some are not.

While a needs assessm ent of your library media program is not required, it can be helpful indetermining needs of the program, setting goals, and writing measurable objectives.A great article on factors to share when planning for a library media assessment is

What Gets Measured Gets Done: a School Library Media and Technology Self-Study Workbook

by DougJohnsonwww.doug-johnson.com, 2001.One assessment that has worked well in our consulting is the

School Library Media Program Assessment Rubric for the 21st Century

from A Planning Guide for Information Power BuildingPartnerships for Learning, American Association for School Librarians (AASL) 1999.