Technology Plan Evaluation

FRIT7232
Dr. Charles Hodges
Fall 2019

Dayna Halloran, Tymisha Creightney, and

Brittany Lord

I. Annotated Bibliography:
Clark County School District Technology Plans:
retrieved from: https://sites.google.com/a/clarke.k12.ga.us/ccsd-tech-essentials/,
https://www.clarke.k12.ga.us/Page/949

Dekalb County Technology Plan

retrieved from: https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/tech-plan-2018/files/2018/07/tech-plan-2018-
2021.pdf

Gwinnett County Schools Technology Plan

retrieved from: http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/Techplan06/03c.html

Winchester Public Schools Technology Plan:

retrieved from: https://www.winchesterps.org

The resources above are the technology plans found for four different counties. These were the
plans that were reviewed and compared. Each plan gives individualized insight into what a
technology plan should contain. Each of these plans was used in order to guide us in our
decisions regarding what makes a technology plan comprehensive and effective.

LInc Online Technology Plan Rubric

retrieved from: https://ed.fnal.gov/lincon/staff_rubric.shtml

This rubric is used in the assessment of technology plans for the state of Illinois. This rubric was
very similar to the requirements of the rubric we were to create. Analyzing this rubric aided in
the creation of our own rubric.

Georgia Three-Year Technology Plan

retrieved from;
https://www.gadoe.org/Technology-
Services/Infrastructure/Documents/GaDOE_Technology_Plan_Rubric_2013.doc

The GaDOE website holds this technology plan template for schools or districts to create a
custom plan. The use of this template showcases what should be included in plans. We used
this resource when evaluating the plans we found.

Georgia Department of Education, Instructional Technology

retrieved from: https://www.gadoe.org/Technology-Services/Instructional-
Technology/Pages/default.aspx

This resource contains the key points of what instructional technology plans should include and
embrace, in the eyes of the Georgia Department of Education. In referencing this, we were able
to see what areas of technology were key aspects to look for when evaluating various
technology plans as well as the creation of our rubric.
Orange Slice Rubric Add-On retrieved from:
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/orangeslice-teacher-
rubri/hfbffoacepkeklpippgijnoemfmiondo?hl=en-US

This add on to Google Drive allowed us to create a rubric collaboratively. It will also help when
we are grading to keep data points segregated and stored.

Palm Beach Schools Technology plan retrieved from:

https://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/cms/lib/GA01000373/Centricity/Domain/75/Three%20Year
%20Technology%20Implementation%20Plan%20.pdf

We selected the Forsyth County Public School plan to assess based on the rubric we created in
task two. We chose to do this because it was a plan that no one in the group had accessed
before so our judgements would be fair.

The State of Georgia K-12 Technology Plan retrieved from :

http://archives.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/technology/state/TechPlan.pdf

This resource allowed us to understand the goal for the state of Georgia as a whole and gain
further insight on what was expected when we were reading these individual plans published
from the schools. This served as a broad outline for what we should be looking as well as a
guide to allow us insight to the decisions within the plans we read.

II. Technology Plan Rubric

CATEGORY Well-Defined (3pts) Needs Clarification (2pts) Beginning (1pt) Score

Goals and All of the following are Many of the following are Zero of the following are
Mission present: present: present:
Statement ● Goals and Mission ● Goals and Mission ● Goals and
Statements are well Statements are well Mission
defined, defined, Statements are
comprehensive, and comprehensive, and well defined,
focused on focused on comprehensive,
improvement. improvement. and focused on
● Goals and Mission ● Goals and Mission improvement.
Statements are Statements are ● Goals and
representative of representative of Mission
school/district as a school/district as a Statements are
whole. whole. representative
● Include roles for ● Include roles for of school/district
teachers, students, teachers, students, as a whole.
administrators, and administrators, and all ● Include roles for
all others. others. teachers,
● Goals are realistic. ● Goals are realistic. students,
● Goals and Mission ● Goals and Mission administrators,
Statements are Statements are and all others.
representative of the representative of the ● Goals are
best use of best use of technology realistic.
technology for for instruction, ● Goals and
instruction, administration, and Mission
administration, and parent/community. Statements are
parent/community. representative
of the best use
of technology
for instruction,
administration,
and
parent/communi
ty.

Professional All of the following are Three of the following are Zero of the following are
Development present: present: present:
● Plans for ● Plans for professional ● Plans for
professional development are clear professional
development are (how and when PD will development
clear (how and occur) are clear (how
when PD will occur) ● Plan supports all staff. and when PD
● Plan supports all ● Collaboration will occur)
staff. opportunities are ● Plan supports
● Collaboration available for staff all staff.
opportunities are development. ● Collaboration
available for staff ● Technical assistance opportunities
development. is provided and are available for
● Technical planned for staff
assistance is ● Time allocations and development.
provided and budget is included for ● Technical
planned for professional assistance is
● Time allocations development. provided and
and budget is planned for
 included for
professional
development.
Telecommunicatio Plans for services available
n Services and needed to support
technology use (network,
computer, and software
support) are clear,
comprehensive, and in line
with the district’s
requirements.
Accessibility of All of the following are
Technology included:
Resources ● An inventory of
technology is
included
● Plan details
accessibility to the
school/district
● An inventory of all
subscriptions and
resources available
for staff use is easily
accessible
Budget All of the following are
included in the plan
● Prioritized list of
major technology
projects
● The budget is
included in the plan
with details
explaining intended
use of funds.
● Funding sources are
identified.
● Possible other
funding sources are
identified.
● Budget is realistic
based on the goals
set forth within the
plan.
● Time allocations
and budget is
included for
professional
development.
Provides adequate but not Missing or vague
comprehensive plans for telecommunication
services available and needed services information.
support technology.
One of the following are Zero of the following are
included: included:
● An inventory of ● An inventory of
technology is included technology is
● Plan details included
accessibility to the ● Plan details
school/district accessibility to
● An inventory of all the
subscriptions and school/district
resources available for ● An inventory of
staff use is easily all subscriptions
accessible and resources
available for
staff use is
easily
accessible
Three of the following are Two or less of the
included in the plan following are included in
● Prioritized list of major the plan
technology projects ● Prioritized list of
● The budget is included major
in the plan with details technology
explaining intended projects
use of funds. ● The budget is
● Funding sources are included in the
identified. plan with details
● Possible other funding explaining
sources are identified. intended use of
● Budget is realistic funds.
based on the goals set ● Funding
forth within the plan. sources are
identified.
● Possible other
funding sources
are identified.
● Budget is
realistic based
on the goals set
forth within the
 plan.

Ongoing The plan includes all of the The plan includes two of the The plan includes one of
Evaluation following: following: the following:
● Tools and ● Tools and procedures ● Tools and
procedures for data for data evaluation procedures for
evaluation ● Clear goals and data evaluation
● Clear goals and achievement indicators ● Clear goals and
achievement ● Relationship of achievement
indicators evaluation to indicators
● Relationship of goals/vision ● Relationship of
evaluation to evaluation to
goals/vision goals/vision

Design The plan design addresses
all of the following:
● Spelling and
grammatical errors
● Comprehension
And the plan uses a
template complete with
headers and footers.
The plan addresses one of the
following:
● Spelling and
grammatical errors
● Comprehension
Or it addresses both, but does
not use a template.
The plan does not
address spelling and
grammatical errors nor
comprehension. It also
does not use a
template.

Comments Total:

III. Technology Plan Evaluation

Our group used the rubric above to evaluate the three year technology plan from Forsyth
County Public Schools. This plan is what has been in implementation for 2017, 2018, and
currently in 2019. This plan was retrieved from:
https://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/cms/lib/GA01000373/Centricity/Domain/75/Three%20Year
%20Technology%20Implementation%20Plan%20.pdf
CATEGORY Well-Defined (3pts) Needs Clarification (2pts) Beginning (1pt) Score

Goals and All of the following are Many of the following are Zero of the following
Mission present: present: are present:
Statement ● Goals and Mission ● Goals and Mission ● Goals and
Statements are well Statements are well Mission
defined, defined, Statements are
comprehensive, comprehensive, and well defined,
and focused on focused on comprehensive
improvement. improvement. , and focused
● Goals and Mission ● Goals and Mission on
Statements are Statements are improvement.
representative of representative of ● Goals and
school/district as a school/district as a Mission
whole. whole. Statements are
● Include roles for ● Include roles for representative
teachers, students, teachers, students, of
administrators, and administrators, and school/district
all others. all others. as a whole.
● Goals are realistic. ● Goals are realistic. ● Include roles
● Goals and Mission ● Goals and Mission for teachers,
Statements are Statements are students,
representative of representative of the administrators,
the best use of best use of and all others.
technology for technology for ● Goals are
instruction, instruction, realistic.
administration, and administration, and ● Goals and
parent/community. parent/community. Mission
Statements are
representative
of the best use
of technology
for instruction,
administration,
and 3
parent/commu
nity.

Professional All of the following are Three of the following are Zero of the following
Development present: present: are present:
● Plans for ● Plans for ● Plans for
professional professional professional
development are development are development
clear (how and clear (how and are clear (how
when PD will occur) when PD will occur) and when PD
● Plan supports all ● Plan supports all will occur)
staff. staff. ● Plan supports
● Collaboration ● Collaboration all staff.
opportunities are opportunities are ● Collaboration
 available for staff available for staff opportunities
development. development. are available
● Technical ● Technical for staff
assistance is assistance is development.
provided and provided and ● Technical
planned for planned for assistance is
● Time allocations ● Time allocations and provided and
and budget is budget is included planned for
included for for professional ● Time
professional development. allocations and
development. budget is
included for
professional 2
development.

Telecommunic Plans for services available Provides adequate but not Missing or vague
ation Services and needed to support comprehensive plans for telecommunication
technology use (network, services available and services information.
computer, and software needed support technology.
support) are clear,
comprehensive, and in line
with the district’s
requirements. 2
Accessibility All of the following are One of the following are Zero of the following
of Technology included: included: are included:
Resources ● An inventory of ● An inventory of ● An inventory of
technology is technology is technology is
included included included
● Plan details ● Plan details ● Plan details
accessibility to the accessibility to the accessibility to
school/district school/district the
● An inventory of all ● An inventory of all school/district
subscriptions and subscriptions and ● An inventory of
resources available resources available all
for staff use is
easily accessible
for staff use is easily
accessible
subscriptions
and resources 3
available for
staff use is
easily
accessible

Budget All of the following are Three of the following are Two or less of the
included in the plan included in the plan following are included
● Prioritized list of ● Prioritized list of in the plan
major technology major technology ● Prioritized list
projects projects of major
● The budget is ● The budget is technology
included in the plan included in the plan projects
with details with details ● The budget is
 explaining intended explaining intended included in the
use of funds. use of funds. plan with
● Funding sources ● Funding sources are details
are identified. identified. explaining
● Possible other ● Possible other intended use of
funding sources are funding sources are funds.
identified. identified. ● Funding
● Budget is realistic ● Budget is realistic sources are
based on the goals based on the goals identified.
set forth within the set forth within the ● Possible other
plan. plan. funding
sources are
identified.
● Budget is
realistic based
on the goals
set forth within
the plan. 1
Ongoing The plan includes all of the The plan includes two of The plan includes one
Evaluation following: the following: of the following:
● Tools and ● Tools and ● Tools and
procedures for data procedures for data procedures for
evaluation evaluation data evaluation
● Clear goals and ● Clear goals and ● Clear goals
achievement achievement and
indicators indicators achievement
● Relationship of ● Relationship of indicators
evaluation to
goals/vision
evaluation to
goals/vision
● Relationship of
evaluation to 3
goals/vision

Design The plan design addresses
all of the following:
● Spelling and
grammatical errors
● Comprehension
And the plan uses a
template complete with
headers and footers.
Comments
The plan addresses one of The plan does not
the following: address spelling and
● Spelling and grammatical errors nor
grammatical errors comprehension. It also
● Comprehension does not use a
template.
Or it addresses both, but
does not use a template.
3
Total:
17pts
IV. Technology Plan Evaluation Explanations and Recommendations

Goals and Mission Statement

a. Evaluation: After looking over Forysth’s technology plan, we decided to give them a 3
(out of 3) for their Goals and Mission Statement. The vision for technology usage to
increase student learning is clear and comprehensive. The Forsyth County mission
statement and vision are also outlined at the beginning of this technology plan.
b. Recommendations: Our recommendations would be to include some sort of timeline in
regards to when particular implementation parts of their goals should be completed. For
example, the plan mentions that Forsyth County Schools will develop a learning
commons that will house all of their digital resources, however there is no timeline on
when that can be expected to be completed.

Professional Development
a. Evaluation: We decided to give the Forsyth County Technology Plan a 2 on their section
regarding professional development. The plan addresses that professional development
will be embedded into working days, taking place after students leave on Early Release
 Days. They also mention that schools will submit individualized Professional
Development plans yearly.
b. Recommendations: Our recommendations for this plan would be to include a detailed
outline of what professional development retailed to technology plans on being given.

Telecommunication Services
a. Evaluation: Following our evaluation of this plan, we gave Forsyth a 2 for
telecommunication services. They outline what services will be used however there is
not much detail regarding the matter.
b. Recommendations: Our recommendations would be to include a more detailed plan
regarding telecommunication services (network, computer, and software support).

Accessibility of Technology Resources

a. Evaluation: After analyzing the Forsyth County technology plan, we gave them a 3 for
the accessibility of technology resources. There is a complete list of the resources that
are available for use. They are broken into categories regarding elementary, middle, or
high school use. In addition to their list of digital resources, there is also a list of what
technology the county’s services support. The plan outlines that each classroom in the
county has ten chromebooks, an interactive board and sound system.
b. Recommendations: We have no recommendations for this section. The plan clearly
outlines several technology resources that are available and serviced.

Budget
a. Evaluation: Following our evaluation, we gave Forsyth a 1 for budget. We believe that
the idea of what the technology budget is not present. There is no mention of where
technology money will come from, what resources it will be used for, or how technology
mine might be raised in the future.
b. Recommendations: Our recommendations are a prioritization of the technology budget.
It should be included in the technology plan in a way that shows where the money
funding is coming from, alternatives to failed funding, and a breakdown of how the
money is planning on being distributed. Will it go to digital resources or will the county
decide to update older technology?

Ongoing Evaluation
a. Evaluation: We decided to give this plan a 3 in regards to ongoing evaluation. We
believed this was appropriate given that the plan outlines clear goals, an action plan for
these goals, and indicators for when goals will be met.
b. Recommendations: Our recommendations would be outline the data of past technology
plans to show the success of implementation as intended.

Design
a. Evaluation: We gave this plan a 3 in the area of design. The Forsyth technology plan
was easy to navigate and read through. Each area of the plan was clearly labeled and
organized. There were no spelling or grammatical errors that stood out.
b. Recommendations: At this time, there are no recommendations for improving the design.