Technology Action Plan

Organization Chart

District Technology Director: Oversees and is in charge of all aspects of technology in the entire school district from elementary schools, middle schools and high schools plus central office and all other district departments.

District Technology Trainer: Train district personnel on technology concepts and skills, serve as a resource person for the utilization of technology, district web master, assist campuses with special technology projectas and serve as the liaison between the Technology Director and the Campus CIT's with respect to trainings and campus websites.

District Technology Integration Specialist: Helps facilitate the integration of technology in the district, serves as a resource person for the utilization of technolody as a tool for delivering the content area curriculum, assist campuses in special technology projects and servs as the liaison between the Technology Director and the individual campuses.

CIT(Campus Instructional Technologist: Main person in charge of instructing the Faculty, Staff, Students and Parents about the use of technology.

Computer Lab Managers: In charge of managing the computer labs that each content area uses. They help out the classroom teachers use technology for classroom instruction.

Campus Librarians: They handle all the computers used in the library used by the teachers and students throughout the school day.

Instructional Technology / MIS Support Staff: Assigned computer technician from the MIS Department.



The Role of the Principal
The Principal is in charge of making sure that the Technology Department meets their mission which is to make sure there are plenty of profession development opportunities, have technical assistance when needed, and make sure that all the employees, especially the teachers become “informed and fearless users of technology”.


Professional Development Planning

At the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year our school district divided all the schools in our district into Area Vertical Academic Teams. Each area consists of a high school and all of the elementary schools and middle schools that feed into the high school. The Technology Department has assigned the District Integration Specialist to assist each team for one week every month. The Technology Director and Integration Specialist along with the Campus CIT’s assist the individual campuses with the integration and implementation of technology and technology resources into the curriculum. As per our District Plan of 2009-2011, all teachers are required to complete a mandatory nine hours of technology training every year.

• In week three’s report, I mentioned that each classroom in our school is equipped with a Smart Board, Wireless Smart Pad, Document Reader, Data Projector, a computer and laser printer. The first technology staff development I would want to make sure was offered was how to use each of these great resources. You would be surprised to know how many teachers still do not know the proper way to use some of this technology or all the perks they offer.
  
• Once the teachers go through the staff development of the simple use of all technology, I would like to offer a resource staff development. Many of our teachers do not know what resources are out there that can be used toward the content area they are teaching. I was in awe with how much software is out there for all four content areas that can help integrate technology in everyday teaching. Our school district subscribes to “Education Appreciation” which offers the best education sites on the internet. Other websites and excellent references used by our district are “United Streaming” and Easy Tech by Learning.com.
  
• Web page training would be another staff development to offer. All teachers are required to create and maintain a classroom website that will reflect classroom instruction. This sites will be use to communicate with not only the students but also their parents. Teachers can have their students turn in their assignments through the website. The teachers can set up blogs or podcasts for class. The web is not just for e-mailing or researching; the teacher can use it as a way to integrate a class assignment. The content areas have computer labs they can take their students to so they can use the software available to enhance what is being taught in class using technology.
  
• The “Grade Book” is a staff development that all teachers need. We have a great grade book program but not all teachers know how to use it properly and those teachers that have been around need to refresh their minds. This staff development must be offered every year.
  

Evaluation Planning for Action Plan

For all educators, providing assessments of all the staff developments offered is crucial. A principal needs to make sure the teachers understood the staff development and must follow through and make sure the teachers are using what they learned in their classroom. Different ways of evaluating are as follows:

• Staff Development participation reports
• Training Logs
• Teacher participation in the summer institutes
• Computer lab reports and attendance logs
• Timelines for core curriculum areas
• Scope and Sequence for core curriculum areas
• Teacher lesson plans with Integrated technology skills
• Reports from the online Technology Applications (Easy Tech)
• Increased number of teachers using technology (Program Reports)
• Show an increase in the rating results of Star Chart
• Increase in the number of students using technology (Program Reports)
• Increased technology training sessions held at the campus level (ERO Reports and Training Log Sheets)