Running Head: SHARED VISION & RATIONALE 1

Shared Vision & Rationale: Banneker High School

LaToya Morgan

Instructional Technology Leadership ITEC 7410

Summer 2018

Mr. C. Fuller
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Shared Vision & Rationale: Banneker High School

Vision Statement

The vision of Banneker High School is to prepare all students to actively compete
in the global economy by providing technology rich lessons that are hands-on, relevant,
rigorous, personalized, and engaging. Students will be prepared by engaging in
technology-integrated lessons that teach collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and
communication skills. All students will have access to digital resources to increase
student achievement.

With the help of the Assistant Principal over Curriculum and Instruction and the
School Improvement Specialist, the vision statement was crafted. One of the initiatives
for Banneker High School is Personalized Learning. This included distributing Microsoft
Surfaces to students to use in and out of classes to increase student achievement.
Unfortunately, our first year did not go well for a few reasons. Students were not bringing
the devices to class and teachers were not using them in lessons. The vision was crafted
as a response to the issues faced during the last school term as a vision to be realized over
the next 3-5 years.

Rationale

As mentioned in Sutton’s “What the Research Says about 1:1,” simply having
technology in the school does not increase student achievement (2015). Strong
implementation is required for academic gains to occur. Researchers have determined
that the massive shifts in technology are creating jobs that students are not equipped for.
65% of students who are entering elementary schools will work jobs that do not exist
(World Economic Forum, 2016). In the near future, new skill sets will be required that
are not considered crucial today (Krueger, 2017). Effective technology implementation
will prepare our students to engage in the careers that are to come. Technology is a way
to help teach and prepare students for this new world.
There are several ways to turn the shared technology vision into reality. One
important component is to provide ongoing support for teachers. In order to provide the
meaningful, relevant, and engaging technology rich lessons, teachers should be trained on
strategies and technology tools that can be integrated into their lessons in meaningful
ways. The vision will be realized when students are participating in problem-based
learning activities, Socratic seminars, data talks, blogs and podcasts. Students will
become producers, and not consumers of content. The use of skill-and-drill apps will be
minimized, and more focus will be placed on technology tools that foster critical thinking
and collaboration. Students will be able to connect the relevance of their lessons to the
happenings of the globe.
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Diversity Considerations

To ensure equity, teachers will be trained on technology tools that provides equal
access to students. For example, students who struggle with reading comprehension will
be introduced to the Immersive Reader feature in the Microsoft Office apps. This tool
provides reading features, such as, picture dictionaries, pronunciation tools, background
colors, and more. This features levels the playing field for students who have struggled
with reading. To ensure a culturally responsive educational experience is provided,
teachers will receive training on problem-based activities that include girls and issues that
relate to the students of Banneker High School. 99% of students at Banneker receive
Free/Reduced Lunch. Because Banneker is situated in a low income neighborhood,
students can participate in activities that help solve problems, such as food deserts,
gentrification, gun violence, and other disadvantages that plague the surrounding
community. As recommended by Scott (2009), to ensure equity for girls, special
programs such as Girls Who Code will be implemented in a club. Ideally, girls will also
be able to participate in their Summer Immersion Program. Lastly, to make sure that
everyone has access to the technology, classes will start of with class sets of Microsoft
Surface Tablets. During the 3 to 5-year span, students will be able to take the tablets
home. Recommendations, such as affordable internet through InternetEssentials.com and
insurance through the Worth Ave Group will be given to parents to make sure students
will be able to use their devices at home. Workshops and seminars will be offered to
parents to make sure they understand the importance of digital access and technology
integration in their child’s education.

Stakeholder Roles

Administrators
Administrators will fulfill the technology vision by providing ongoing
professional development to teachers that is technology enriched. They will provide
extracurricular opportunities to students that is tech based, such as Girls Who Code and
STEAM mini case studies. If the budget allows, administrators will hire an Instructional
Technology Coach to manage and facilitate technology use in the school. During
meetings, administrators will model effective technology use to show teachers how
technology tools can be modeled in their classrooms. Administrators will also offer a
blended professional development program that allows teachers to participate in
webinars, edweb.net sessions, and professional learning networks such as Facebook and
Twitter.
Teachers
Teachers will demonstrate lifelong learning by participating in ongoing PD to stay
up to date with new technologies to incorporate in their classes. Teachers will offer
technology rich, hands-on, relevant, engaging, and meaningful lessons to students to
improve their collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills.
Teachers will use ISTE’s standards for teachers to ensure students are using technology
in meaningful way. Classrooms will be student-centered. Teachers will use multiple
strategies and technology tools to reach students such as Project Lead the Way, Defined
Stem, Socratic Seminars with Back Channels, EdPuzzle, FlipGrid, Blogging, Coding,
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Digital Storytelling, and other technology platforms that foster 21st century skills.
Teachers will share with their colleagues the different strategies that have worked in their
classrooms.
Parents
Parents will attend workshops and seminars that promote the use of responsible
technology use for students. Parents will provide spaces for students to concentrate and
work at home. Parents will be supportive of technology initiatives. Parents will ask
questions when they are unclear of the reason or rationale behind the initiatives.
Students
Students will use communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity
skills throughout the day. Students will be able to connect what they are learning to the
current events of the world. Students will be engaged in learning by participating in class
and adding scholarly contributions.
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References

Krueger, N. (2017, June 16). Preparing students for jobs that don't exist. Retrieved June,
2018, from https://www.iste.org/explore/articledetail?articleid=1002

Scott, K. (2009, November 25). The New Digital Divide: Where are Our Girls? by
Kimberly Scott. Retrieved June, 2018, from http://www.niusileadscape.org/bl/the-
new-digital-divide-where-are-our-girls-by-kimberly-scott/#comments

Sutton, N. (2015, March 26). What the Research Says about 1:1. Retrieved June, 2018,
from https://www.edutopia.org/discussion/what-research-says-about-11

World Economic Forum. (2016, January). The Future of Jobs Employment, Skills and
Workforce Strategy for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (pp. 1-158, Rep.).
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Appendix

1. What is your vision for technology integration within Banneker High School over
the next 3 to 5 years?
2. In your opinion, what does technology integration mean?
3. How often do you integrate technology into your lesson?
3-4 times a week
Once a week
Once a month
Once every semester
Once a year
4. How important is technology integration to you?
Very Important
Important
Moderately Important
Slightly Important
Not Important
5. What resources or assistance do you need to help you integrate technology
effectively?