Technology Plan

FRIT 7232 Visionary Leadership in Instructional Technology

Dr. Jensen

Spring 2019

Tamara Ballard

Caitlin Seabolt

Keisha Wright

Annotated Bibliography
Aiken County Public School District Technology Plan
https://ed.sc.gov/policy/education-laws-legislation/state-technology-plans/sc-school-
districts-technology-plan-requirements/south-carolina-district-technology-plans/

Atlanta Public Schools Technology Plan

https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/domain/10194

Richmond County School System Technology Plan

https://www.rcboe.org/site/Default.aspx?PageType=6&SiteID=4&SearchString=tec
hnology%20plan
The above technology plans were analyzed and discussed in our group. Each plan provided
information needed to understand what a technology plan should resemble and the elements it
should exhibit. The plans were compared and contrasted to recognize the vital elements of an
effective technology plan.

Burke County Public School Technology Plan

https://www.burke.k12.ga.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=323901&type=d&pR
EC_ID=733041
The Burke County plan is the technology plan that will be utilized in our evaluation to assess
each element on the rubric we created centered on the most vital aspects a plan should
encompass.

5 Features of a Highly Effective Rubric. (n.d.). Retrieved February 7, 2019, from

http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/rubrics/effectiverubrics.html
This website provides information on how to create an effective rubric. The article goes into
detail and explains the different components needed to be effective. The components of a solid
rubric are; clearly delineated points, subcategories that relate to the main points, 100 total points,
total points per section with breakdowns in each subsections, and include room for comments.
The intended use of a rubric is to not give a grade but to explain why the grade was assigned.
This article is important when considering creating rubrics for projects, assignments, technology
plans, because effective rubrics make grading simple and objective. This website is helpful to
our group, as we create a rubric for evaluating school system technology plans.

District Technology Plan Rubric. (n.d.). Retrieved February 7, 2019, from

https://ed.fnal.gov/lincon/staff_rubric.shtml
The website provides an example of a district technology plan rubric. The example provided
insight of what we needed to do to accomplish module 3 task 2 assignment. It provides clear
delineated points and subcategories, which are all needed in the development of an effective
technology plan.
J. S. (1992). Developing Effective Technology Plans. Retrieved from
http://www.nctp.com/html/john_see.cfm
This article, by John See, was written to help people develop effective technology plans. It
encompasses the do’s and don’ts for creating a technology plan. It reminds district leaders to
develop a vision for the future and focus on that vision. This article goes into detail about the
things that effective technology plans should do such as: tie to staff development plans, stress
integration of technology into the curriculum, go beyond enhancing the curriculum, defining
technology as more than computers, etc. The author encourages readers to take the next step and
to stop saying that things cannot be done, “If you start now, taking one step at a time, you will be
amazed how far you went when you look back five years from now.” I love how the article
reminds us that all goals can be accomplished by creating an effective technology plan.

National Center for Education Statistics. (n.d.). Part 1: Planning your technology
initiatives. Retrieved from https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2005/tech_suite/part_1.asp#7
This website breaks down how to plan, create, organize, and evaluate a technology plan. This
article is sectioned into many subtitles and subheadings. This article informs that many people in
education can create or have input in a technology plan such as a teacher, principal or even the
superintendent. This website is great for people in education whose school district is revamping
or creating a technology plan for the first time.

Revenaugh. M. (2019). 10 tips for School Technology Planning. Scholastics. Retrieved

from http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=52
Mickey Revenaugh wrote this article with the assumption that school systems have a technology
plan already in place. This article provides 10 tips on how to improve your technology plan.
Here is a quick overview of the 10 tips in the article. Tip 1: Read over the mission statement and
ask yourself will this fit the school system’s goals for the students. Tip 2: Have a time frame for
the technology plan with a budget included. Tip 3: Have equipment that works. Tip 4: Decide
between the newest technology or security and safety. Tip 5: Upgrading the school’s connection
to the internet. Tip 6: Use your school’s data to achieve the mission statement or purpose. Tip
7: Training your wetware also known as teachers. Tip 8: Check the price for technology. Tip 9:
Try out the technology before purchasing the product. Tip 10: Have a student’s perspective on
the technology purchased. Revenaugh tips can have a positive outcome on the school system
and student’s college and career readiness. ¶

Saxena, S. (2019). 10 Steps to Successful Educational Technology Plan. [online]

EdTechReview. Available at: http://edtechreview.in/trends-insights/insights/859-10-
steps-to-successful-educational-technology-plan
In this article, 10 Steps to Successful Educational Technology Plan, explains that “it is often felt
that schools are still delivering education that has now become obsolete and lag behind in
preparing students to advance and progress in the 21st century”. This highlights the need for
technology integration in schools and effective technology plans. Saxena lists 10 steps to
creating a successful educational technology plan including things like developing a vision,
emphasizing on training and professional development, replace textbooks, etc. We used this
article as a resource to effectively evaluate the technology plans that our group found in task 1.
Due to the budget, fast-growing technology advancements, students increased use of technology,
dangers of technology and lack of teacher-training, creating an effective technology plan is a
difficult thing to do. Even though most of these plans span from 3-5 years, there is so much that
they have to take in to account in the planning process. This article reminds us to keep the end
goal in mind and simplifies the steps to take when creating a technology plan.

Swiggum, B. (2019). Instructional Technology. [online] gadoe.org. Available at:

http://www.gadoe.org/Technology-Services/Instructional-
Technology/Pages/default.aspx
This website includes multiple resources for integrating instructional technology. It provides
several different resources for schools to help with technology integration. It also includes a
rubric and template for schools to use when designing their own technology plans. This resource
includes detailed guidelines and lays out a template for creating a district-wide technology plan.
It was very helpful to see the exact things that need to be included in a technology plan in order
to receive funding and I would highly recommend this resource to any school district that is
updating or creating a technology plan.

Teachnology, Inc. (n.d.). Developing a school technology plan. Retrieved from

http://www.teach-nology.com/teachers/educational_technology/tech_plan/
This article begins with explaining that technology may not be in the school district’s
curriculum, but if the educator chooses technology it will enhance the learning. This article is
trying to pursue educators to choose technology and with the support of a technology plan it can
be implemented successfully in the classroom. The online text mentions that a school
technology plan is more than a document of information and that other entities have a technology
plan as their guide for technology. This article does not go into detail about how to evaluate a
technology plan, but it just states that you should always review and modify if situations happen
along the way. Overall, this article is trying to pursue the reader that having a technology plan
would not only benefit the school system with a balanced budget for technology, but benefit
students to become the next 21st century learner.

Vanderlinde, R., & van Braak, J. (2013). Technology planning in schools: An

integrated research-based model. British Journal of Educational Technology, 44(1),
E14–E17. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8535.2012.01321.x
The purpose of this article is to stress the importance of technology planning and the integration
of educational technology in the classroom. It goes into detail and provides the information that
schools should include in their technology plan (expectations, goals, contents and actions
concerning the integration of technology in education). It also states, “A technology plan
describes the overall philosophy of technology use, explores how technology will improve
teaching and learning and acts as a blueprint for the sequence of events a school hopes to achieve
(Baylor & Ritchie, 2002;van Braak, 20003).” The article provided an integrated research-based
model on technology planning in schools (TPS). The model is intended for teachers and school
leaders when developing their school’s technology plan. I found it interesting that there is a
distinction between “technology planning” and “technology plan”. Technology plan is official
document made by schools, where as technology planning is the outcome of several underlying
 processes that are at stake in schools. The model list five dimensions that constitute technology
planning. The dimension are the cyclic process, content, interaction (different stakeholders),
strategies, and outcome of the technology plan. Each dimension play a role in the process of
technology planning. Overall, technology planning in schools is a complex phenomenon.

Burke County School System: Technology Plan Rubric

Group 6 Exceeds Meets Below Not Included

Module 3 Task 2 Expectations Expectations Expectations (0pts)
(6pts) (4pts) (2pts)

Goals Goals are clear and Most goals are clear Goals are either The school’s
tangible and and tangible and are unclear or not technology goals
designed to meet designed to meet tangible. Several were not included.
 the needs of the the needs of the goals do not have
school system. school system. related strategies.
Each goal is Most goals are Several areas of
supplemented by a supplemented by the plan do not
strategy for strategies for appear to support
meeting the goal meeting the goals. the goals.
and the rest of the Most of the plan
plan facilitates facilitates meeting
meeting all goals. those goals.

Professional Professional Professional Professional Professional

Development Development Development development development was
programs are programs are programs are not included in the
clearly defined and clearly defined with offered but are not school’s technology
created to help a range of delivery clearly defined. plan.
teachers target options offered. Delivery
their instructional Some funding opportunities may
practices toward sources are be limited.
student success of provided. Minimal
standards. A range information
of delivery regarding funding
opportunities are sources is
offered including provided.
face-to-face,
online, and
blended learning
opportunities.
Funding sources
are provided.

An Assessment of The plan clearly The plan has almost The plan has a The plan failed to
Telecommunication identifies the all amounts of limited amount of include any to all
telecommunication telecommunication telecommunication telecommunication
services are services are services are services (hardware,
available available available software, and other
service needed)

Accessibility of The plan clearly The plan has almost The plan has a The plan failed to
Technology identifies all all amounts of limited amount of include any to all
Resources technology technology technology technology
resources resources resources resources
● list of technology ● list of technology ● list of technology ● list of technology
devices devices devices devices
● Amount of ● Amount of ● Amount of ● Amount of
 technology technology technology technology
devices per devices per devices per devices per
school school school school
● student to ● student to ● student to ● student to
technology technology technology technology
device ratio device ratio device ratio device ratio

Budget There is a specific Specific technology Little budget The school’s

long term budget budget is provided, allocated for budget for
provided in but other budgets technology. Some technology was
addition to line are not considered policy exists, included in the
items in other for technology. loosely articulated plan.
budgets for long- and mostly
term budget needs. informal with no
formal approval.

Ongoing The plan clearly The plan identifies: The plan is The plan does not
Evaluation identifies: missing and/or include an
● data collection for does not address evaluation process
● data collection effective one or all of the that enables the
for effective evaluation following: school to monitor
evaluation (quantitative and progress toward the
(quantitative and qualitative). ● data collection
specified goals in
qualitative). ● goals and for effective order to make mid-
● goals and indicators of evaluation course corrections
indicators of achievement. (quantitative and in response to new
achievement. ● integration into qualitative) developments and
● integration into the curriculum. ● goals and
opportunities as
the curriculum. ● realistic indicators of they arise.
● realistic accomplishments achievement
accomplishments to individual ● integration into
to individual situation. the curriculum
situation. ● process as ● realistic
● process as ongoing. accomplishments
ongoing. to individual
situation
● process as
ongoing

Technology Plan Evaluation

Burke County Public School Technology Plan
https://www.burke.k12.ga.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=323901&type=d&pREC_ID
=733041
Category Explanation Recommendation Score

Goals The goals for the Although there are 4

district's three year eight goals listed with
technology plan are fourteen strategies
clearly listed at the there isn’t a timeline
start of the established to ensure
technology plan. the goals will be
These goals are achieved. A timeline
realistic and should be presented
achievable. The goals to ensure these goals
set the tone for the are achieved in a
remainder of the plan. timely manner. Also,
Beginning on page data in the benchmark
ten of the plan, the and evaluation plan
goals are broken should be updated
down into categories yearly, to see if the
and from there into goals listed are being
subcategories, and met with the strategy
then into different that is implemented.
strategies. Each
strategy listed has a
benchmark,
evaluation plan,
budget, and the
person(s) responsible
for the carrying out
the strategy. The
goals address
teachers,
administrators,
students, parents, and
other stakeholders in
the community. With
a comprehensive
structure like this,
each strategy is being
held responsible for
the completion of the
listed goal.

Professional The technology plan The plans should be 2

Development expresses the revised to include
effectiveness of using specific opportunities
technology in the for teachers and staff
classroom and how to participate in
professional directors research-based
work alongside with professional
the instructional development
technology director programs that are
and federal programs designed to target
director to provide instructional
training using a practices projected at
variety of supporting student
professional learning success of CCGPS; in
models. However, the doing so, the current
plan does not provide year and
specific professional future years of the
development technology plans
opportunities besides should be considered.
Professional Learning The funding sources
Units (PLUs), that and annual allotments
provide in school, for available
after-school, and professional learning
online technology opportunities should
training. There were be clearly defined. To
no courses further encompass the
specifically outlined productivity of
besides Kurzweil professional
3000 software development, reflect
training. Teachers on what data can be
receive ongoing used for selecting
support on programs, as well as
application of what assessments
technology in their could be used to
content areas. Three assess the
goals within the effectiveness of
technology plan relate programs.
to professional
learning and refer to
staff being trained in
the implementation
and integration and
continuing education
of current technology.
It is stated that 90%
of staff will rate
proficient with
 emphasis on
technology usage and
80% of staff will have
participated in
professional learning
activities, and that
technology support
technicians
participates at two
technical
classes/workshops per
year to improve the
preparation of Burke
County students for
the future. The
technology plan fails
to identify what
courses will be
offered and how they
relate to improved
student success.
Funding sources of
professional
development
opportunities are
noted to be provided
by local, provided by
local, federal, state,
professional learning,
and state funds. Some
sources of funding are
not presented in the
plan though an
amount for each year
is presented for two
of the goals.

An Assessment of This plan has almost The plan states that it 4

Telecommunication all amounts of has examples of some
telecommunication of the software and
services available. Internet resources that
The plan provides a are available for use
breakdown of high school, middle
different softwares school, and
and Internet elementary school.
 resources. It also The plan should be
differentiate the types revised and updated
of softwares used for to include all of the
high school, middle software and Internet
school, and resources. It should
elementary school. also list the most
updated software
resources. They need
to update Microsoft
Office 2007 to 2010
since the technology
plan was updated in
2014. So the plan has
software that is
almost 13 years old.

Accessibility of This plan clearly Although the plan 6

Technology identifies the clearly identifies the
Resources technology resources technology resources
within the school within the school
system. The total system, it is outdated.
amount of desktops, According to Burke’s
laptops, Netbooks, technology plan, the
and tablets was GaDOE Technology
clearly stated for the Inventory Survey was
school system. The conducted in 2013,
students to modern which means that this
instructional data would be
computers district- sufficient if the
wide is a ratio of school year was 2014.
1:1.34. The plan was Therefore it’s been 6
broken down by years since an audit
schools (1 high for accessibility of
school, 2 middle technology resources.
schools, 3 elementary The enrollment might
schools, and 1 life have increased
center). changing the child to
a technology device
ratio. The number of
additional technology
may resources
increased. With it
being 6 years since
their last audit, their
technology resources
are outdated and may
 not function as well
as it use to.

Budget This plan’s budget is Although this plan 2

listed in each table has listed the budget
(by goal) but is not by year, goal and
specific or concrete. strategy, it is not as
Little budget is detailed as we would
allocated for prefer. It states things
technology. Some such as “local funds”,
policy exists, but it “SNP”, “state funds”,
seems loosely “state grants”, etc.
articulated and mostly Following this it lists
informal with no a dollar amount
formal approval. For according to each
example, in the table fiscal year followed
for Goal 2 under by “contingent on
“Administrative Uses available funds”. This
of Technology”, the makes the budget
budget is listed then seem very unclear to
states “Contingent on the reader. Does this
available funds”. This mean that funds could
seems as if they do be directed
not plan on receiving elsewhere? If so, how
as much funds for are you going to
technology as they reach your goals
have planned. without the needed
funds? We
recommend listing
each of the amounts
according to where
the funds come from
with a specific dollar
amount. If you state
that you are receiving
these funds, how
much of these funds
are you receiving? Do
each of these add up
to the fiscal year
amount or is that split
across the whole
county? It is very
unclear if this budget
is going strictly to
technology or if they
 are just planning on
receiving whatever
money is left over in
the budget? We
would prefer that the
budget be more
specific because we
all know that lack of
funding is one of the
largest issues with
technology in school
systems.

Ongoing Evaluation The plan identifies: Our recommendation 4

data collection for is that this plan
effective evaluation should be revised to
(quantitative and make it more current
qualitative); goals and information. It
indicators of appears as if it has not
achievement; been updated within
integration into the the past couple of
curriculum.realistic years and is not
accomplishments to current. Although the
individual situation evaluation plan is
and the process as listed according to
ongoing. These things each goal and strategy
are listed in a chart it is not 100% clear
according to each exactly how they are
department and goal. evaluating the
Strategies to reach specific goal. Many
each goal are clearly of these are short and
stated with brief - if you have
benchmarks listed as never worked in this
an ongoing process county it is unclear
(previous years and difficult to
numbers are listed as understand. We
well as 16 & 17 with believe that it is well
blanks to fill in at a written and thought
later date). They have out, We really like the
also listed the chart form of each
evaluation plan for goal and how they are
each goal and strategy going to meet each
to meet that goal but specific goal. We
it is not very clear think that this plan is
that they have written well but could
updated this use a little more detail
information and not in their evaluation
much explanation is plan sections.
provided. The person
responsible for
evaluating and
meeting each goal is
listed as well.

Total 22/36