Blog Posting #2 – School or District Technology Plan

Compose a 250-word summary/reflection of your school’s or district’s technology plan. Identify the goals included in the plan and the accompanying strategies. What professional development opportunities are available, who is in charge of coordinating the professional development opportunities and are there the financial and time resources to ensure staff is kept up to date in learning about new technologies. How are the telecommunication services, hardware, software and other services assessed to ensure improved student learning.  Is there sufficient budget to acquire and support the non-discount element of the plan?

In this information age, the ability to gather and distribute information through electronic communication is vital. Therefore vision of L. A. Morgan, School of Science & Engineering is to help students become comfortable and proficient in using technology. The school’s plan is flexible and dynamic and is constantly updated due to changing developments in technology.

Below is the summary of technology plan for Morgan Elementary-

·        Technology is not an independent curriculum area and should be integrated into current curriculum

·        Teachers are assessed on the basis of technology tools for expanding learning opportunities for students

·        Teachers are offered training opportunities to realize the potential that technology holds for enhancing student learning. Staff development opportunities to assist each staff member to become fully competent with technology utilization for learning

·        Making sure significant funding is available to accomplish our vision

·        Providing support framework to monitor the progress of students and teacher

 Professional development opportunities are offered at Morgan every Thursday, from 3:30-4:30PM throughout the year. Professional development is designed for teachers to learn and become more effective with additional technology resources. The trainings are focused on usage of computer equipment, necessary software, computer maintenance related upgrades to handle simultaneous uses. Teachers are given opportunities to attend technology conferences like sxswedu, TCEA, ISTE, Technology for tots to stay current with advances and to replace and upgrade technology on an ongoing basis.

 The school has an on-campus technology specialist who designs and offers the professional development based on the needs of students and teachers. Morgan received a magnet grant from MSA (Magnet Schools of America), the grant provides financial resources to buy new and updated technology.

 The evaluation process that enables our school to monitor the progress and make mid-course corrections in response to new developments are-

• Assessing the ways of communication: Ways the students are expressing themselves, are they using multiple ways such as audio, video, animation, and design software to complete assignments independently.
• Data interpretation: Are students able to compare, and choose among the data available Web-based and other electronic formats.
• Manage and Prioritize Tasks: Are students able to manage the selection, and prioritizing across technology applications that allow them to move fluidly among assignments.
• Security and Safety: Are students using strategies to acknowledge, identify, and negotiate 21^st century risks.