Technology Plan Evaluation

FRIT 7232

Visionary Leadership in Instructional Technology

Sydney Banks
Brandon Biggins

Banks Resources:
 1. Developing Effective Technology Plans
a. http://www.nctp.com/html/john_see.cfm
The author, John See addresses numerous ways to create technology plans effectively
for staff members who could eventually use within their classrooms. Plans should be
written with a short-term in mind, long-term plans are not effective with the drastic
changes annually in technology. The plans should focus on which applications could be
used to ensure an effective “output” of student learning. Technology plans have to
emphasize the productivity of teachers and students. Technology cannot be taught
inclusively but should be integrated into all curriculum classes.
2. Promoting Technology: 13 Ways to do it
a. http://www.nctp.com/html/promoting_technology.cfm
This article illustrates how a technology coordinator in California promoted technology
for educators, students, and the community. In order to grab the attention of others,
Robertson created plans and activities to involve everyone in the school community. By
including the school board and local media outlets, Robertson is able to create a
positive push for the use in technology and the importance of funds to purchase
equipment. The article states many ways to involve the students; for example, having
students evaluate software, holding contests, loaning equipment and training students
for troubleshooting.

3. Six- Step Process in Creating a Technology Plan

a. https://dese.mo.gov/quality-schools/education-technology/six-step-
process-creating-technology-plan
This article outlines the process of creating a technology plan for school districts. The
article addresses the importance of creating a committee of individuals from all
spectrums of the school environments. The committee should emphasize on the 5 focal
areas of technology; student learning, teacher preparation, administration processes,
resource distribution, and technical support. The author includes a sample timeline of
how the committee should use a school year to design a technology plan for 1-year, 3-
years or 5-years. The six-step process introduces guiding questions for the committee
to determine at each level of planning.

4. 10 Tips for School Technology Plans

a. http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=52
This article highlights the best strategies to create a technology plan for schools. The
tips are ensuring those who are creating to always have the unknown in mind. With
technology being an ever-growing industry, it is important to think about the technology
developments that may happen in the years to come. School districts have to be sure to
the priority list has what is best to meet the goals. With thinking with the end in mind,
the district has to make sure to leave room for risks; overspending or buy technology
devices that do not meet the needs of the students, staff or community.
 5. How to Create a Districtwide Technology Plan
a. https://info.schoology.com/rs/601-CPX-764/images/How-To-Create-a-
Districtwide-Tech-Plan-1.pdf
The author of this article stresses the benefits of implementing technology. School
districts are investing in technology by purchasing computer labs and new technology
devices for student and teacher use. This article outlines how districts consider how a
technology plan should be written. First, the district must focus on their goals. By
setting clear and measurable goals, districts are able to see which goals are achieved
and how schools are achieving them. Next, keep in mind who will be using the
technology. The plan must support the users. Plans have to focus on small goals and
what needs to happen for the next step.

Biggins Resources:
1. Planning a technology plan
(n.d.). Retrieved February 04, 2018, from
http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/primer/techplan.html
This source gives information on how to effectively plan out a technology plan. It
emphasizes the fact that the actual planning part is the most important factor of the
technology plan. It says that The best way to integrate technology effectively into your
classroom is to plan for it.

2. 7 Critical Steps to building a K-12 technology plan

7 critical steps to creating an effective technology plan. (2018, January 22). Retrieved
February 04, 2018, from https://www.schooltechteam.com/steps-to-creating-a-
technology-plan/
This source gives good information on building an effective technology plan in steps.
The steps are creating a vision, what works and what doesn’t, reviewing the curriculum,
figuring out the infrastructure, educating the school community and selecting the
devices, make decisions, and budgeting and rotation plan. These steps basically say
create the vision of the plan and make the necessary adjustments along with
communication to others the plan’s infrastructure, budget, and rotation of devices.

3. Developing a School Technology plan

(n.d.). Retrieved February 04, 2018, from http://www.teach-
nology.com/teachers/educational_technology/tech_plan/
This source gives information about how having an effective technology plan can
impact students learning. A Well-thought out plan could have students learning the
same curriculum in new and exciting ways. It mentions that school must budget wisely
for technology because it allows the teaching in the schools to be more effective and
productive in today's classroom.
4. Technology in Schools. (n.d.). Retrieved February 04, 2018, from
https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2003/tech_schools/chapter1.asp
This source addresses the assessment of documented strategies that direct the
acquisition, use, maintenance, and expansion of technology in the educational
enterprise. This information gives great insight into how a technology plan should be
planned, put in place, edited for mistakes, and edited for growth.

5. How to build a Successful school technology program

Saltmarsh, J. (2014, December 15). How to Build a Successful School Technology
Program. Retrieved February 04, 2018, from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-
saltmarsh/how-to-build-a-successful_b_6329300.html
This source talks about how technology is a catalyst for change. It states that planning,
communication, support, and Evaluation are the pillars of a successful technology plan.
Those pillars won’t stand if it wasn’t for the foundation of a long-term funding
commitment and representation from all stakeholders to support the plan to make it
successful.
 Cobb County Technology Plan Evaluation
http://www.cobbk12.org/centraloffice/Technology/TechPlan2016pdf.pdf

Elements 1 2 3 Total

Mission and/or No mission or Both mission and Both mission and 3

Vision vision vision statements vision statements
Statement statement was are given. They are strongly
given or written display a focus written. Both
vaguely. on student focus on student
Explanation of growth and growth and
technology supports the successes of
integration is 21st-century academic
missing. learning but does learning. Directly
not indicate how addresses how
technology will be students will be
a benefit. able to develop
technological
skills that will
allow them to
become digital
citizens. States
who will benefit
and how.

Goals Goals are Goals are Goals are 2

missing or measurable. measurable and
written with Includes attainable. The
unmeasurable strategies, but show strategies,
goals. some evaluation
components are method, and a
missing. Goals do funding source.
not include an Includes who is
evaluation responsible for
method for the reaching the
goals or list how goals.
the goals will be
funded.
 X

Professional Does not list States the need A clear statement 3

Development professional for professional of the need for
development development but professional
needs no goals are development and
provided to addresses the
describe what major areas of
supports will be concern. The plan
given or how it establishes a
will be written goal for
implemented professional
development. The
goals describe
strategies that
will support the
teachers.

Assessment of The plan fails Provides details Provides details 3

Telecommunicat to provide a list on the current on current
ion Services, of the current technologies technologies
Hardware, technologies available with available with
Software, and used or bandwidth, speed, current network
other services available. Does and bandwidth, speed,
needed not have what infrastructure; and
is needed. current software, infrastructure;
hardware and current software,
types of hardware, types
telecommunicatio of
n are included. telecommunicatio
Does not include n is included.
the problems they Clearly states the
 currently have, or gaps and/or
what suggestions problems and the
to improve. suggestions to
improve.

Accessibility of Plans does not The plan states The plan 2

Technology specify the how to make adequately
Resources technology technology addresses how
available for accessible to technology can
students with some students be accessible to
disabilities. The with disabilities all students with
plan does not but does not disabilities and
specify any specify how it can specifies how it
assistive be used. can be used.
technologies.

Budget The plan fails The plan The plan 1

to include identifies some specifically lists
funding funding sources. all funding
sources. sources for all
goals set.
X

Ongoing No mention of An indication of Description of 3

Evaluation how the plan how the plan will how the plan will
will be be monitored and be monitored and
evaluated. evaluated but evaluated
fails to describe throughout and
how this will be includes how it
accomplished. will be
accomplished.
 X

Overall Writing is The plan is well The plan is well 3

Presentation vague and/ or written, but the written. Contains
contains many format is not no errors. Cover
errors. Missing organized well. page and table of
sections/ Contains fewer contents is
information is than 5 errors. present. Sections
not organized Some information are organized
and hard to given is well and the
find. irrelevant. information is
clearly labeled or
bulleted.

X
24-20 Satisfactory 19- 15 Needs Improvement 14-0 Unsatisfactory

OVERALL SCORE = 20

Recommendations

- Goals are measurable and attainable. The show strategies, evaluation method,
but does not show a funding source. Includes who is responsible for reaching
the goals.
The plan should include funding sources on the plan for the next revision

- The plan states how to make technology accessible to some students with
disabilities but does not specify how it can be used.
The plan should include technology accessible to all students with disabilities and it
should include how they are to use it and if problems occur the teacher should know
how to solve it.
 - The plan fails to include funding sources.
The plan needs to include how the budget works for technology. This lets stakeholders
know how much you are investing in technology to advance the learning of the
students.

Overall, the plan was a very well-organized plan that is easy to read. The plan just
needs to revise answer every question a stakeholder may have by looking at the plan.
Parents would like to see what technological advances their child’s school system is
making with this new age of technology-savvy students.