Blog Assignment 5 - Technology Plan

Our Tech Coordinator has been out for the past 2 weeks and when I inquired with administration, they were not aware of a technology plan. I will have to further investigate after the break and hope she is back in school. I am sure that we have one as I know we do receive E-rate funding. I took the time to look over Mount Carmel Area's Technology Plan. Looking at the parts of a technology plan, the Mount Carmel Area Technology Plan is very thorough. The first part includes a mission, vision and shared values. This part of the plan unites the entire district as one in the vision of 21st century skills. It states the beliefs and expectations of teachers, students, administration and parents. It encompasses the vision and values that those in the district will meet in the 21st century. These parts of the plan give the district a common vision and a pathway in which to achieve that vision. This is very important for the district in that all faculty are aware of the expectations of implementing technology into the district. All faculty must be on board and ready to fulfill the vision and mission of the plan in order to best prepare the students for the 21st century workplace.

The next part of the plan covers a needs assessment, goals and strategies, and staff development. This part of the plan is the extremely important as it identifies and targets specific needs within the district. A needs assessment survey will give the plan direction and focus. The goals and strategies are specifically written from the results of the needs assessment. Mount Carmel's plan is broken down into specific areas that are in need of improvement. Each area is then broken into a goal and strategy which includes a list of activities, descriptions and resources. The staff development part of the plan lists the commitment made by the district to continue to provide professional development for it's staff. This seems to be the part of many plans that is overlooked. With so many other required professional development topics (ie., special education and state standards), technology sometimes gets put on the back burner.

The final part of the plan includes the budget, monitoring and evaluation. The budget is broken down by each of the goals set in the above section of goals and strategies in the Mount Carmel Technology Plan. This plan is very specific as to the goal, year and cost, and funding sources. The monitoring aspect of the plan gives the district time to see exactly how things are working as they progress through the plan. Finally, the evaluation allows for each aspect of the plan to be monitored and the information used in future planning.

The overall purpose of a Technology Plan is to give the district a plan to ensure that it's expenditures on technology have the impact for students, teachers and staff that is intended. Technology is a very expensive and yet important part of any district so it is only common sense that the district would want to protect it's investments. I feel that it is not only important for a district to have a plan but to also share that plan with it's stake holders. How can one meet the goals of a plan if not everyone is aware of and on board with the plan?

Bog Asssignment 4 - Chapter 4

Until last year, Shenandoah Valley School District did have shared storage on our network. However the server went down for good and when it was all fixed, the shared storage was never put back in place. So anything you had on the shared storage that was not backed up was lost. The website and the yearbook monitors were most affected although many teachers are very disappointed that this storage is no longer available. For those who are not 21st century tech savvy, this was a great solution however I never really used it. I prefer to keep things more online using google docs, wikis or other programs so that students have work available to them where ever they have internet access. Now that our server storage is gone, more teachers are willing to accept training on 21st century alternatives. As a CFF coach this was awesome! I was able to open many doors and provide needed assistance and training.

Before reading Chp 4, I was familiar with Acceptable Use Policies. I did sign one when I signed my contract at SV. I have never been responsible for collecting them. Our students, faculty, staff and even guests are required to sign them. I do not feel that they are enforced throughout the school. As the new website master, I have found that many students are using the internet without having simple internet/photo permission slips signed. This leads me to believe that many students do not have the AUP signed either.

Our district currently use Microsoft Outlook email system. I use it both at home and at school. I find having my email available both at home and at school is extremely beneficial. I am responsible for CFF, tutoring and now the district website. My email allows me a secure way to communicate with others both at home and at school since all other webmail programs are blocked at school.

Overall from this chapter I have learned that the tech coordinator has yet one more responsibility; AUP's. Tech coordinator's must establish network management plans and procedures that are well planned and monitored. They are responsible to assure that all administration, faculty, staff and students have the resources available to them to work and learn anywhere in the school. With so many things that can go wrong, dealing with AUP's is just another task the tech coordinator must monitor.