The Importance of Technology Plans
The Importance of Technology Plans
Objectives of Lesson:
Materials Needed:
What is a Technology Plan?
Almost every school district has a technology plan of some sort. This plan is the basis of what teachers, students, administrators, and paraprofessionals can and cannot do on a school based internet connection. To illustrate the importance of a technology plan and all it entails, I invite other GUSD teachers to explore the GUSD technology plan found at your school site. If you are a teacher from another school district, seek out your districts technology plan to analyze. Most technology plans have similar sections. I feel that the following sections are very prevalent to the analyzation of a technology plan: introduction, curriculum & instruction, standards or technology skills by grade level, and acceptable usage policy, and professional development guidelines.
More about School/Company Technology Plans:
The Acceptable Usage Policy
ElizabethTown Area School District
http://www.etown.k12.pa.us/pub/pdf/INTPROC.PDF
Laramie School District
http://www.laramie1.k12.wy.us/family/stuinternetuse.htm
Westmoreland School
http://www.sau29.k12.nh.us/westmoreland/Media/Accept_usage.htm
The Glendale Unified School District's Technology Plan
The entire document is about 60 pages. If you have time, reading of the technology plan in its entirety would be beneficial background knowledge. If you are limited on time, some parts that you might focus on are the following parts. (please note, the page numbers correspond only to the 2000-2003 GUSD Technology Plan. You can find this document at your school site if you are a GUSD teacher)
The latest version of GUSD's technology plan is in its final stages. You can read the updated plan online. (some graphics are not visible) For copies of the original technology plan, check with your school.
The technology plan opens with the following statement:
The current use of educational technology and staff expertise varies greatly at school sites in the District. This plan, in concert with the Glendale Schools 2005 Strategic Plan, will help Glendale Unified School District move forward. The Educational Technology Planning process was established by the Board of Education in November, 1995 and was given the following charge: The District will create a planning team to develop an educational technology master plan which will provide direction to the District and school sites in the use of technology to assist students in meeting curriculum standards and to assist staff in delivering instruction and services to students and parents. The plan should include the following:
A District Technology Mission Statement
An explanation of how educational technology can be used as a tool for student achievement.
A delineation of minimum expectancies for students as users of technology
A plan for the training of staff in the application of educational technology for effective instruction for students and for record keeping management for staff.
A definition of the minimum level of hardware and software resources for each school and guidelines for the acquisition of new hardware and software.
In addition to the direction given for the technology plan from the Board of Education, the State of California has developed guidelines for technology planning and the District technology plan. In accordance with the Recommended Guidelines for School District Education Technology Planning (recommended by the Commission on Technology in Learning to the California State Board of Education on December 12, 2000, and adopted by the State Board on January 10, 2001) this plan will include the following major topics:
Curriculum and Instruction
Professional Development Infrastructure
Hardware
Technical Support and Software Funding
Budget Monitoring and Evaluation
The District's Technology Plan is designed to be a guide from which student usage and instruction will stem from. This document entails all key components that teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, students, and parents should be aware of with the integration of technology. It is imperative that all educators are familiar with this document as it serves as a guideline as to what students are expected and allowed to pursue on the Internet.
Lesson #2 Threaded Discussion: If you would like to add your thoughts or comments about technology plans, do so in this discussion thread. You might want to address the following questions:
What is your initial reaction?
Were you familiar with this document before this course?
What, if anything surprised you?
Which part do you feel is the most important for you and your teaching?
Introducing Students to the Internet
Students utilizing the internet can be scary for teachers and parents. There is the typical worry that students will "stumble" upon inappropriate subject matter or pointlessly surf the internet. To avoid such dilemmas, a teacher must properly address student usage issues. First and foremost, the teacher must make sure that all students have signed AUP permission slips. This is a mandatory document that all students must have signed by guardians and placed in their CUM file. (In GUSD) Missing this important step can lead to legal problems of students accessing non-parental approved websites. To maintain a safe teaching environment, this document is a must!
When introducing your students to the internet, there are several options. Please review the PowerPoint presentation created by fellow GUSD educator, Carolyn Ingram. Ms. Ingram has created this presentation to be shown with students so that internet usage parameters are set. Please view this presentation by accessing the Acceptable Usage Policy here. (Please note that uploading times may vary) If you have trouble viewing this file, please email me and I will attach a copy of the Acceptable Usage Policy PowerPoint Presentation to you
04/30/2003