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?
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Hello
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in a part that the need assessment is important to identifies and targets specific needs within the district. We realized that when we make the need assessment before. it gives you data and inforamtion about the users and what they need and how you can achieve the main goals.
In my opinion, there are many benefite from having the tchnology plan.
Here is the school rule is to have and support having the perfect plan.