Region 13 Bryker Woods Elementary Austin, Texas Analysis of STaR Progress 20102013

Jennifer Henson edtc_6432_03 Technology Applications 10-03-13

Texas STaR Chart

School Technology

and
Readiness

NCLB
Primary Goal: to improve student academic achievement through the use of technology in elementary schools and secondary schools

STaR Chart: Four Key Areas

Teaching and Learning Educator Preparation and Development Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support

Infrastructure for Technology

Performance Descriptions
I. Early Tech II. Developing Tech

III. Advanced Tech

IV. Target Tech

Point Structure
I. Early Tech 68 points 914 points II. Developing Tech

III. Advanced Tech

IV. Target Tech

1520 points
2124 points

Bryker Woods Data

20102011 20112012

20122013

Key Area I: Teaching and Learning

Focus Area 20102011 20112012 20122013

TL1

TL2 TL3
TL4 TL5

Patterns of classroom use Frequency/Design of Instructional Setting Content Area Connections Technology Applications (TA) TEKS Implementation Student Mastery of Technology Applications

3 3 3 3 3 2 17

3 3 3 3 3 2 17

3 3 3 2 3 2 16

TL6 Online Learning Totals Advanced Tech

Key Area II: Educator Preparation and Development

Focus Area 20102011 20112012 20122013

EP1

EP2
EP3

Professional Dev. Experiences Models of Professional Dev.

3 3 2 2 3 1 14

3 2 2 2 3 2 14

2 2 2 2 3 2 13

Capabilities of Educators Access to Professional EP4 Development Levels of Understanding & EP5 Patterns of Use Professional Dev. for EP6 Online Learning Totals Developing Tech

Key Area III: Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support

Focus Area 20102011 20112012 20122013

L1 L2 L3 L4 L5

Leadership & Vision Planning Instructional Support Communication & Collaboration

3 3 3

3 2 3

3 2 2

3
3

3
3 2 16

3
3 3 15

Budget Leadership & Support for L6 Online Learning Totals Advanced Tech

3 18

Key Area IV: Infrastructure for Technology

Focus Area 20102011 20112012 20122013

INF1 INF2 INF3 INF4

Students per Computer Internet Access Connectivity Speed Other Classroom Technology Technical Support Local Area Network Wide Area Network Distance Learning Capacity

3 4 3 2 4 3 19

3 4 2 4 4 4 21

2 3 2 2 3 2 14

INF5 INF6 Totals

Key Area Summary

2010 2011 2011 Classification 2012 2012 Classification 2013 Classification

Teaching and Learning

17

Advanced Tech

17

Advanced Tech

16

Advanced Tech

II

Educator Preparation and Development

Leadership, Admin, Inst. Support Infrastructure for Technology

14

Developing Tech Advanced Tech Advanced Tech

14

Developing Tech Advanced Tech

13

Developing Tech Advanced Tech Developing Tech

III

18

16

15

IV

19

21

Target Tech

14

3 Year Overview

Teaching & Learning

Ed. Prep. & Dev.

Leadership, Admin, Inst. Support

Infrastructure for Technology

What Happened?
Are results reflective of actual events?

What contributed to negative trends?

What can be done to reverse trends?

Trigger Events
#1: In October of 2012, the District Vice President of Educational Technology resigned.

Trigger Events
#2: Layoffs, no funding, grant request rejected for 1st time, no leadership at District and State levels

Trigger Events
#3: Those few teachers who had resisted change took the opportunity to gather more teacher and parental support to oppose technology.

Trigger Events
#4: Events at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012 took a toll on teacher morale; teachers were vulnerable.

Trigger Events
#5: New technology received in 2011 was not compatible with browsers in old operating systems, and district would not allow for upgrades.

Trigger Events
#6: Teachers frustrated; some asked for resignation of Technology Specialist and end to technology programs.

Key Comments from Teachers

It seems like every time we get cool new technology we cant use it because its incompatible with something else.

I want to do new things, but I just dont have time to keep learning and troubleshooting when things go wrong.
The kids want it, but Im not sure its good for the kids. Kids get too much screen time. I disagree with the directives to add more technology. We have tried and trusted methodologies for teaching children that we know work. Why change? Kids can play with computers at home.

Analysis
The five roles outlined by Phillip C. Schlecthy (1993)as relevant in educational reform can clearly be identified in the last three years at Bryker Woods.

Path to Change
Trailblazers

Pioneers
Settlers Stay-at-Homes

Saboteurs

Key Areas of Concern

Educator Preparation & Development

Leadership, Administration & Instructional Support

Infrastructure & Technology

Recommendations
Professional development is critical. This needs to come from the State or District level so teachers understand this is not one person wanting to change one school. District/state needs to follow through with consistent funding so that the pieces of a longterm plan are all provided, and schools arent left with a partially funded, dysfunctional operation School leadership needs to support Technology Specialist so that initiatives are not weakened by 12 naysayers

On Track
Technology Specialist still on board

District/state funding improving

School leadership becoming more supportive

Credits
Austin Independent School District logo [Web graphic]. Retrieved from: http://archive.austinisd.org/schools/details.phtml?id=054/ Bryker Woods paw print graphic [Web graphic]. Retrieved from: http://archive.austinisd.org/schools/details.phtml?id=054/ Schlechty, P. C. (1993) On the frontier of school reform with trailblazers, pioneers, and settlers. Journal of Staff Development, 14(4), 4651. http://www.timeandlearning.org/files/P.611_Article_frontier_of_school_reform.pdf Texas Education Agency, Instructional Materials and Educational Technology. (2006). The Texas campus star chart, pp. 1114. Retrieved from website: http://starchart.epsilen.com/docs/TxCSC.pdf U.S. Department of Education, Elementary & Secondary Education. (2004). Part d Enhancing education through technology (Sec. 2402). Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg34.html