Comprehensive Technology

Analysis Synthesis
Alyssa King
 Comprehensive Technology Analysis

This assignment is a multi-tired project in which I

conducted research, interviewed professionals,
collected documents, and analyzed Twinsburg
City School Districts Technology Plan.
Twinsburg City School District
School Leaders & Internet
Safety
School Leaders & Internet Safety

For this part of the assignment, I:

Investigated leaders and their implementation of Internet
safety strategies
Found documents related to CIPA, cyberbullying, AUPs, Internet safety,
Digital Footprint/Digital Citizenship, etc.
Researched the districts Vision, Mission, and Goals for Technology
Interviewed various stakeholders
Made a Prezi to present my findings
School Leaders & Internet Safety
Summary
It is critical to have technology and internet guidelines for all students. The
district needs to make every effort to keep the students safe on the internet
including AUP, filters, and education on technology usage and digital
citizenship. Twinsburg City School District will be making a huge leap into
21st century technology by providing 1-to-1 and 2-to-1 Chromebooks to all
students within the next five years. With this leap, technology usage and
internet safety education will be more important than it has ever been for
our district. am excited to see what our students do with technology at their
fingertips, but I am also nervous about their digital footprint.
It is evident through the interviews that teachers, administrators, technology
staff members, and parents all want to provide a safe learning environment
for their students. They embrace the idea of using technology in the
classroom, but ultimately, they want to make sure their children are safe
and are using technology appropriately.
Attitudes & Skills Analysis
Attitudes & Skills Analysis
For this part of the assignment, I:
Created a survey using questions from the SpeakUp Technology Survey
Sent the survey to my to determine attitudes, skills, and values
regarding educational technology
Collected and analyzed data
Created an informative PowerPoint Presentation to present my findings
Presented the research to Mrs. Farthing, Curriculum Director of
Twinsburg City Schools
The Speak Up Project for Digital Learning, facilitated by Project Tomorrow, gives education stakeholders
the opportunity to share their viewpoints about key educational issues, particularly concerning digital learning
and the use of technology to support future ready schools. By participating today, you are ensuring your voice
is heard not only by your school and district but at the state and national level as findings are summarized and
shared with national and state policy makers every year. Speak Up is both a national research project and a free
service to all schools and districts (SpeakUp, 2017).
Attitudes & Skills Analysis Summary

Teachers attitudes, skills, knowledge, and usage of technology is

important. One of the challenges facing teachers today is engaging
students with very diverse abilities and learning styles within the
classroom. The knowledge and use of technology is extremely important
in todays classroom to help ensure student success. Successful
technology integration is achieved when the use of technology is: routine
and transparent, accessible and readily available for the task at hand,
supports the curricular goals, and helps the students to effectively reach
their goals. Educators must work at adjusting their attitudes toward
technology use and its integration into the classroom. Positive attitudes
and perspectives can positively influence technology use in the
classroom.
(Brown, 2014)
Attitudes & Skills Analysis Summary
1-to-1 Technology Pros
"It's not like just providing a laptop to every student will automatically increase
student achievement, but we find that it's the first step" (Herold, 2016).
Research shows that 1-to-1 laptop programs on average had:
A positive impact on student test scores in English/language arts, writing,
math and science
Increased student technology use
More student-centered and project-based instruction
Greater student engagement
Better relationships between students and teachers
Attitudes & Skills Analysis Summary
Using Technology vs. Technology Integration
Since we have limited technology available at my school, the
teachers are often excited when the students can use any type
of technology (laptops, iPads, computers during computer lab).
However, there is a huge difference between using technology
and integrating it effectively.
Using technology is not important if you are not effectivity
integrating it into your classroom. Instructors are under the
impression that they are successfully integrating technology,
when in fact they are simply using technology (Rao, 2013). This
difference can have a major impact on student learning. The
goal of technology is to make sure you are integrating it
appropriately and effectively.
Resource Analysis
Resource Analysis
For this part of the assignment, I:
Contacted Mrs. Farthing to gain information and documents for the following:
Existing technologies: hardware and software, content, and connectivity
Facilities: building capacity, physical space, etc.
Human resources: personnel
Additional funding sources: grants, bond issues, donors, etc.
Collected and organized data
Created a detailed PowerPoint Presentation to present my findings
Compared data to the Attitudes and Skills Analysis for continuity, needs,
underused equipment, etc.
Presented the research to Mrs. Farthing
Existing Technologies Analysis
Twinsburg City School District is behind many neighboring communities in
regards to technology.
With our levy passing in May, there is finally a plan to upgrade and
increase technology, but it will take several years to be competitive with
other districts.
Twinsburg will be making a huge leap into 21st century technology by
providing 1-to-1 and 2-to-1 Chromebooks to all students within the next
five years. With this leap, technology usage and internet safety
education will be more important than it has ever been for our district.
Facilities Analysis
Facilities and Grounds was one of our district goals for 2016-2017 and
continues to be for 2017-2018.
The district is focused on maintaining and improving current facilities to
support student growth and development.
We have 5 spacious schools, housing over 4,000 students.
Although many of our buildings are old, they are beautifully maintained.
The newest building is the High School, which was built in 1999 and
expanded while I was a student there in 2006.
Human Resources Analysis

There are 490.666 Certified and Classified Employees in Twinsburg City

School District, servicing 4,140 students.
Twinsburg has a 17.8 : 1 Student to Teacher Ratio
Twinsburg Teachers have a higher rate of absenteeism than average.
Twinsburg Teachers make slightly more than average.
Twinsburg strives to hire the best teachers and staff members to meet the
individual needs of all students.
Finances Analysis
Financial was one of our district goals for 2016-2017 and continues to be
for 2017-2018.
The district is focused on supporting student learning and safety while
maintaining a budget.
Twinsburg is a financially responsible school district. They are very careful
about watching each penny that comes in and goes out of the district.
The district works diligently to apply for additional grants to provide
support services for our students.
Attitudes & Skills Analysis vs.
Resource Analysis
At Twinsburg, the teachers attitudes, skills, and knowledge of
technology is impacted by our lack of technology. In my opinion, we
use technology, rather than integrate it effectively, because the
students have limited time with technology. Some districts are 1-to-1
and can integrate technology appropriately.
Technology is currently used to deliver instruction and play games
when available. Teachers and students need access to technology to
construct and build knowledge, engage students, and facilitate
collaboration. With the Chromebook Initiative, we will have the
resources to meet our students 21st century needs.
Although this is a huge and exciting step for our district, it will take five
years for the 2-to-1 Classroom Cart Model Chromebook Roll-Out to
reach my school. I already believe our school district is behind in
existing technologies and in five years we will be even more behind
competing districts.
Attitudes & Skills Analysis vs.
Resource Analysis
My coworkers believe a classroom set of laptops, tablets or
Chromebooks will be beneficial in integrating digital content tools, and
resources into daily instruction.
Access to technology will allow teachers to facilitate and enhance
learning by giving students access to:
1. Virtual reality environments
2. Animations and simulations
3. Software/apps
4. Tutorials
5. Videos
6. Virtual labs
Attitudes & Skills Analysis vs.
Resource Analysis
In my opinion, it would be beneficial for the teachers at Twinsburg to
take the SpeakUp survey. With this Chromebook Initiative, I believe it
would be good to see the teachers attitudes, skills, and knowledge of
technology usage in the classroom. The results of the survey could help
plan and develop professional development.
As an administrator, it is important to know and understand your staff
members attitudes towards technology, the existing technologies, as
well as facilities, human resources, and finances. You need to know
what you have available and how to optimize what you have to
increase student achievement.
Technology Plan Analysis
Technology Plan Analysis
A strong technology plan is necessary to ensure the implementation of a
technology change. For this part of the assignment, I:
Contacted Mrs. Farthing to obtain Twinsburgs Technology Plan, but it has not
been updated since 2009
Gathered additional documents to successfully evaluate our mission, goals,
implementation plan, connection to standards, communication, design of
infrastructure, support, budget, currency, etc.
Collected and analyzed data
Created an informative PowerPoint Presentation to present my findings
Compared data to the Attitudes and Skills Analysis & Resources Analysis to
draw conclusions and make recommendations
Technology Plan Updated in 2009

Strengths Recommendations
Technology Plan is detailed Update Technology Plan
and addresses: Technology to reflect current
Standards, using technology technology and future
to improve teaching and planning
learning in different content
areas, technology policy,
leadership, infrastructure,
access to technology,
budget, and planning
Technology Plan
As mentioned previously, Twinsburg City School District is behind many
neighboring communities in regards to technology.
With our levy passing in May, there is finally a plan to upgrade and
increase technology, but it will take several years to be competitive with
other districts.
Twinsburg will be making a huge leap into 21st century technology by
providing 1-to-1 and 2-to-1 Chromebooks to all students within the next
five years. With this leap, technology usage and internet safety
education will be more important than it has ever been for our district.
Technology Rollout Plan 2017
Strengths
Chromebooks will allow the
vision to become a reality by
providing all students with a
technology-integrated
education that promotes
independence, success, and
life long learning.
Technology will be more
accessible to students.
Technology will be integrated
to support the 21st C Learner.
Recommendations
Update Technology Plan to
reflect Chromebook Rollout
Plan (schedule,
implementation,
professional development,
budget, etc.)
Keep looking ahead. Keep
looking to the future in
technology. Will
Chromebooks be obsolete
in 5 years?
Attitudes & Skills Analysis,
Resource Analysis, & Tech Plan Analysis

At Twinsburg, the teachers attitudes, skills, and knowledge of technology

is impacted by our lack of technology. In my opinion, we use
technology, rather than integrate it effectively, because the students
have limited time with technology. Some districts are 1-to-1 and can
integrate technology appropriately.
Technology is currently used to deliver instruction and play games when
available. Teachers and students need access to technology to
construct and build knowledge, engage students, and facilitate
collaboration. With the Chromebook Initiative, we will have the resources
to meet our students 21st century needs.
Attitudes & Skills Analysis,
Resource Analysis, & Tech Plan Analysis

Our Technology Plan has not been updated since 2009. Technology is
constantly changing and so should our Technology Plan, our mission,
goals, implementation, and professional development.
With the Chromebook Roll-Out Plan, the Technology Plan should be
updated to integrate this technology and meet our students 21st century
needs.
Although this is a huge and exciting step for our district, it will take five
years for the 2-to-1 Classroom Cart Model Chromebook Roll-Out to reach
my school. I already believe our school district is behind in existing
technologies and in five years we will be even more behind competing
districts.
Attitudes & Skills Analysis,
Resource Analysis, & Tech Plan Analysis

My coworkers believe a classroom set of laptops, tablets or Chromebooks will be

beneficial in integrating digital content tools, and resources into daily instruction.
Access to technology will allow teachers to facilitate and enhance learning by
giving students access to:
1. Virtual reality environments
2. Animations and simulations
3. Software/apps
4. Tutorials
5. Videos
6. Virtual labs
The Technology Plan should be updated to reflect changes in technology and
the Chromebook Rollout Plan (schedule, implementation, professional
development, budget, etc.)
Conclusions
 Technology is everywhere in education.
School leaders must establish technology and internet rules and guidelines
for all students. The district needs to make every effort to keep the students
safe on the internet including AUP, filters, and education on technology
usage and digital citizenship. They must create documents related to CIPA,
cyberbullying, AUPs, Internet safety, etc.
Teachers attitudes, skills, knowledge, and usage of technology is important.
Educators must work at adjusting their attitudes toward technology use and its
integration into the classroom. Positive attitudes and perspectives can
positively influence technology use in the classroom.
Technology must be integrated appropriately and effectively into
classrooms. This can have a major impact on student learning. Successful
technology integration is achieved when the use of technology is: routine and
transparent, accessible and readily available for the task at hand, supports
the curricular goals, and helps the students to effectively reach their goals.
 1-to-1 laptop programs can:
Empower students
Shift the way students learn
Give every student his/her own device for more personalized education. The
school-sponsored devices can be loaded with textbooks, programs, and lessons
that educators specifically design. The unlimited access allows students more
individualized learning at their own pace, uninterrupted access to resources, and
a chance to have technological tools they may not otherwise be able to afford
(Schrader, 2016).
Have a positive impact on student test scores in English/language arts,
writing, math and science
Increase student technology use and integration
Provide more student-centered and project-based instruction
Increase student engagement
Increase collaboration and problem solving skills
Build better relationships between students and teachers
 Twinsburg is behind many neighboring communities in regards to technology.
With our levy passing in May, there is finally a plan to upgrade and increase
technology, but it will take several years to be competitive with other districts.
Twinsburg will be making a huge leap into 21st century technology by
providing 1-to-1 and 2-to-1 Chromebooks to all students within the next five
years. With this leap, technology usage and internet safety education will be
more important than it has ever been for our district.
The district is focused on maintaining and improving current facilities to
support student growth and development.
Twinsburg strives to hire the best teachers and staff members to meet the
individual needs of all students.
The district is focused on supporting student learning and safety while
maintaining a budget. Twinsburg is a financially responsible school district.
They are very careful about watching each penny that comes in and goes
out of the district. They work diligently to apply for additional grants to
provide support services for students.
 Although technology is constantly changing, Twinsburgs Technology Plan
has not been updated since 2009.
In just 8 years, a lot has changed in regards to technology in the classroom.
When I graduated high school in 2009, we only had one SmartBoard at the
high school. Now there are SmartBoards, ActivBoards, MimioTeach
Whiteboards or BrightLink Whiteboards in every classroom.
In April aThe 2009-2012 Technology Plan is outdated and in need of revision
to support 21st century learners.
nd August 2017, the Curriculum Director and Technology Coordinator
presented the Chromebook Plan, Chromebook Initiative and Rollout Plan to
the Curriculum Committee.
Chromebooks will allow the vision to become a reality by providing all
students with a technology-integrated education that promotes
independence, success, and life long learning. With the Chromebook
Initiative, Technology will be more accessible to students and it will be
integrated to support the 21st C Learner.
Recommendations
 Twinsburgs Technology Plan has not been updated since 2009. It is outdated
and in need of revision. Additionally, we do not have the necessary
technology to support the 21st Century Learner. We need to update our
outdated Technology Plan to reflect current technology, future planning,
and the Chromebook Rollout Plan (schedule, implementation, professional
development, budget, etc.). The updated plan should support the 21st
Century Learner.
 With the Chromebook Initiative, we will have the resources to meet our students 21st century
needs. Although this is a huge and exciting step for our district, it will take five years for the 2-
to-1 Classroom Cart Model Chromebook Roll-Out to reach my school. I already believe our
school district is behind in existing technologies and in five years we will be even more
behind competing districts. As a district, we need to keep looking ahead into the future of
technology. What technology will be available in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years? Will
Chromebooks be obsolete?
Although technology is rapidly changing the world around us, education will never
disappear. It will just take up different forms. Here is a list of 9 things that will shape the future
of education during the next 20 years (Henny, 2016):
Diverse time and place
Personalized learning
Free choice Twinsburg must look into the future
Project based of education and technology.
Field experience Instead of being steps behind, we
Data interpretation need to make leaps ahead.
Exams will change completely
Student ownership
Mentoring will become more important
 We should write and apply for grants (such as the Straight A Fund) to:
Increase technology accessibility in the district
Provide professional development to teachers
Purchase applications and programs to enhance 21st Century Skills
ex. LEGO Education for problem solving
Stakeholders Reactions
Principals Reactions
Mrs. Johnson was impressed by all the data I gathered for this multi-tiered project.
She was intrigued by the Using Technology vs. Integrating Technology chart. Since we
have limited technology available (4 laptops per classroom and weekly scheduled times
in the computer lab), we are mainly using technology to deliver information.
With the Chromebook Initiative, we want to move towards integrating technology to
construct and build knowledge, engage students, and facilitate collaboration. Mrs.
Johnson is excited for the Chromebook Initiative and eager to see how the students learn
and grow with the new technology.
Professional development will be extremely important to the new Chromebook Initiative.
It will be very important to teach students about internet safety and how to appropriately
handle the technology.
Mrs. Johnson also mentioned how an administrator wears many hats. The role of an
administrator involves a great deal of multitasking. As an administrator, you will oversee
daily operations, supervise students and staff, interview and hire candidates, manage
budgets, maintain facilities, maintain safety including on the internet, and make decisions
that affect the students, staff, and community.
I agree that administrators wear many hats. They are hardworking individuals who must multitask constantly. They
must ensure the environment is safe and the students have everything they need to learn and be successful.
Teachers Reactions
Mrs. Doyle could not believe all the documents and data I gathered for this multi-
tiered project.
She was surprised that the Technology Plan has not been updated since 2009.
Mrs. Doyle is eager to get 2-to-1 Chromebooks at our school. She is most excited
for integrating technology for Google Classroom and Writing Buddies.
She agrees with Mrs. Johnson that we need professional development to
implement the Chromebook Initiative.
Mrs. Doyle is nervous about giving 2nd and 3rd grade students freedom on the
Chromebooks and internet. Internet safety and proper ways to handle the
Chromebooks will be extremely important.
She is also nervous about keeping, maintaining, and protecting 10+ Chromebooks
in the classroom.
I am also nervous and excited about this new initiative. Technology will enhance 21st Century Learning.
If integrated appropriately, technology will help our students tremendously.
 References
Brown, H. (2014). Teachers Attitudes and confidence in technology integration. Theses, Dissertations and
Capstones.

Henny, C. (2016). 9 things that will shape the future of education: What learning will look like in 20 years?.
Retrieved from https://elearningindustry.com/9-things-shape-future-of-education-learning-20-years

Herold, B. (2016). One-to-one laptop initiatives boost student scores, researchers find. Education Week.

Rao, A. (2013). Whats the difference between Using technology and Technology integration?.
Retrieved from https://teachbytes.com/2013/03/29/whats-the-difference- between-using-technology-
and-technology-integration/.

Schrader, A. (2016). Pros and cons of 1-to-1 computing. Retrieved from http://www.edudemic.com/one-
to-one-computing/

SpeakUp. (2017). Speak up research project for digital learning. Retrieved from
https://speakup.tomorrow.org.