Carol Taylor - Fairfield ISD - Week 10 Step 7

1.       How do your proposed strategies (Week 8 Step 6) meet the required standards as your Week 6 Step 4 stated?

FAIRFIELD ISD TECHNOLOGY GOALS
TECHNOLOLGY
Goal 1:  Train teachers in emerging 21st century technology to enhance curriculum and increase educator preparation and development to enable them to integrate successful technology applications Strategies for Funding: ·         Budget the salary of a campus technology facilitator to be shared with all campuses – eventually to hire one for each campus ·         Staff  (i.e. teachers, administrators, Technology Coordinator) volunteer for training ·         Utilized Region XII for training ·         Research for free training ·         Team with other school districts – trade training ·         Research grants for training Strategies for Management ·         Hire a technology facilitator for each campus to assist the Technology Director ·         Technology Coordinator recruits staff to volunteer for training ·         Technology Coordinator plans and schedules technology professional development training for staff ·         Require teachers to attend 36 hours of technology training every 3 years ·         Incentives are offered for teachers to attend technology professional development ·         Technology Coordinator and Administrator for accountability of training ·         Establish team to research and write grants ·         Technology Coordinator and Administrators team with surrounding school districts to trade training		Standard:  “TF-II Planning and Designing Learning Environments and Experiences Educational technology facilitators plan, design, and model effective learning environments and multiple experiences supported by technology. Educational technology facilitators:               A. Design developmentally appropriate learning opportunities that apply technology-enhanced instructional strategies to support the diverse needs of learners” (ISTE, 2011). Meeting the Requirements This standard is met by the proposed strategies by budgeting monies to include a campus technology facilitator to assist in the technology training that is desperately needed within the district.  Learning opportunities will be made available for staff by utilizing current training opportunities such as Region XII in addition a multiple of new training opportunities provided throughout the school year.  The provision of a variety of technology trainings will include those which address the needs of diverse learners and assist teachers in meeting this requirement.   By requiring teachers and staff to receive a certain number of technology training hours per year, teachers can remain up to date with the latest technology innovations.  Incentives for teachers will encourage teachers to receive these multiple technology trainings.  In order to fund the campus technology facilitator, a grant writing team will be created to research for funding for appropriate learning opportunities that apply technology
OBJECTIVE 1.1	Provide adequate technology training for teachers to implement in daily      Instruction of curriculum
OBJECTIVE 1.2	Train teachers to use communication and teamwork tools
OBJECTIVE 1.3	Provide teachers training in digital and graphic applications.
OBJECTIVE 1.4	Provide online technology training.
FUNDING
Goal 2:  Fairfield ISD will provide sufficient budget to acquire and support all elements of the technology program. Strategies for Funding:   ·         Research grants for training ·         Support and prioritize technology purchases between campuses ·         Apply for E-Rate Strategies for Management:   ·         Establish team to research and write grants ·         Oversee research of grants and outside sources ·         Budget technology needs and wants ·         Research newest technology hardware and software and compare prices ·         Oversee E-Rate application		Standard:  “TF-VII Procedures, Policies, Planning, and Budgeting for Technology Environments Educational technology facilitators promote the development and implementation of technology infrastructure, procedures, policies, plans, and budgets for PK-12 schools. Educational technology facilitators:             A. Use the school technology facilities and resources to implement classroom instruction. candidates:             1. Use plans to configure  software/computer/technology systems and related peripherals in laboratory, classroom cluster, and other appropriate instructional arrangements” (ISTE,2011). Meeting the Requirement By establishing the means to provide for a budget, a facilitator can promote the development and implementation of a sound technology infrastructure and utilized technology systems in a computer lab, classroom cluster, and other instructional arrangements.  Continuing to provide competitive grants for scaling up innovative and evidence-based practices through the Department of Education's Investing in Innovation Fund (i3) (TEA, 2006) Meeting the Requirement By having faculty members training to research and write competitive grants, our district can meet TEA’s requirement of providing competitive grants.   In addition, the continuation of applying for the ERATE discount will also provide supplemental funds to the technology budget.
Objective 2.1	Hire a district-wide technology facilitator/technician to create and implement a comprehensive, district staff development plan and assist and train teaches to integrate technology into the districts.
OBJECTIVE 2.2	Create a team of employees to be trained in research and grant writing to seek outside support for technology funding.
OBJECTIVE 2.3	Continue to apply for ERATE.
MANAGEMENT:
Goal 3:  Fairfield ISD will expand and improve existing technology hardware and infrastructure. Strategies for Funding: ·         Prioritize needs and wants per campus ·         Cycle  5 + year old computers to create new labs ·         Cycle teacher computers to student computers ·         Trade in old computers on the purchase of new ones ·         Research and write grants ·         Seek support from local corporations and private donors ·         Apply for E-Rate ·         Funded by district/campus budget ·         Require campuses to use their campus budget to fund software programs for their campus Strategies for Management ·         Campus technology committee and campus administrator prioritize technology campus needs and wants ·         Tech Department documents the age of computers and informs Technology Coordinator of need of new one. ·         Tech Department completes routine maintenance on computers to keep these functioning at optimal performance ·         Teacher computers are cycled to students to use in computer labs or classrooms ·         The need of new computers will be reviewed by the District Technology Committee and each need will be prioritized ·         Technology Coordinator researches companies that participate in accepting old computers to fray the cost of new ones ·         New Technology Software will be reviewed by the District Technology Coordinator ·         Campuses may prioritize the need for software on the list their needs and wants requests to Campus Administrators ·         Technology Coordinator and Campus Administrator creates a grant research and writing team ·         Grant Team will apply for grants for various technology ·         Grant Team will inquire local corporations and private donors for technology support ·         The Technology Director will do follow up on grants if needed ·         The Technology Coordinator will apply for E-Rate assistance ·         Campus Administrator will survey campus members for technology needs and wants ·         The District Technology Coordinator, Campus Administrators and selected members from the campus will prioritize the needs and wants of the campus ·         The District Technology Coordinator and District Technology Team will prioritize the needs of the districts wants and needs ·         The District Technology Coordinator and Finance Director will create a technology budget for prioritized technology needs and wants which include those items purchased by the district’s budgets and those purchased by the campuses		TF-VII Procedures, Policies, Planning, and Budgeting for Technology Environments Educational technology facilitators promote the development and implementation of technology infrastructure, procedures, policies, plans, and budgets for PK-12 schools. Educational technology facilitators: A. Use the school technology facilities and resources to implement classroom instruction (ISTE, 2001). 1. use plans to configure software/computer/technology systems and related peripherals in laboratory, classroom cluster, and other appropriate instructional arrangements. 5. utilize methods of installation, maintenance, inventory, and management of software libraries 6. use and apply strategies for troubleshooting and maintaining various hardware/software configurations found in school settings. 7. use network software packages to operate a computer network system. 8. work with technology support personnel to maximize the use of technology resources by administrators, teachers, and students to improve student learning. B. Follow procedures and guidelines used in planning and purchasing technology resources. Candidates: 1. identify instructional software to support and enhance the school curriculum and develop recommendations for purchase. 2. discuss and apply guidelines for budget planning and management procedures related to educational computing and technology facilities and resources. 3. discuss and apply procedures related to troubleshooting and preventative maintenance of technology infrastructure. Meeting the Requirement The following standards are met through the strategies listed for Goal 3.  The Technology Department handles the inventory of computers, hardware, and software programs.  Lists are compiled and evaluated to determine the need of new technology.  Computers receive scheduled maintenance and troubleshooting of computers and software systems are handled immediately by the Technology department.  Older computers that are still function are recycled throughout the district to use in other areas.  The Technology Coordinator oversees a grant writing team who is responsible for researching and writing grants to assist in technology funding (Taylor, C.,2012).
OBJECTIVE 3.1	Provide opportunities and support for teachers to develop and model practices using technology
OBJECTIVE 3.2	Technology Coordinator will select a technology representative over each school to promote and schedule technology training at the campus level.
OBJECTIVE 3.3	Fairfield ISD will improve the ratio of students to computers to 1:1.
OBJECTIVE 3.4	Rotation of student and teacher computers every three years in alternating years.
OBJECTIVE 3.5	Purchase of  hardware as needed

2.       Review the reading materials in Technology domain to propose using other standards which are not adopted by your studied school. Explain why those new standards should be considered for your studied school

The Texas Campus STaR Chart provides information regarding a campus’ status toward achieving the Long-Range Plan for Technology and (LRPT) and No Child Left Behind.  The most recent data has shown that the majority of Texas teachers and campuses evaluate themselves as being either Developing or Advanced Tech in Teaching and Learning.  A new standard for Fairfield ISD campus would be to have all employees reach the Target Tech which is the highest level of the STaR chart.  In order to do achieve this goal, the implementation of goals mentioned in Report 1 and 2 would be imperative to instill in the district technology plan.  “The recommendations in the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 support these 21st Century learning opportunities—opportunities that would not be possible without the technology” (Texas Education Agency, 2010). The following ISTE standard would be integrated into the technology plan and goals of FISD.

 "TF-I Technology Operations and Concepts
Educational technology facilitators demonstrate an in-depth understanding of technology operations and concepts. Educational technology facilitators:
A. Demonstrate knowledge, skills, and understanding of concepts related to technology (as described in the ISTE National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers). Candidates:
1. assist teachers in the ongoing development of knowledge, skills, and understanding of technology systems, resources, and services that are aligned with district and state technology plans.
2. provide assistance to teachers in identifying technology systems, resources, and services to meet specific learning needs.
B. Demonstrate continual growth in technology knowledge and skills to stay abreast of current and emerging technologies. Candidates:
1. Model appropriate strategies essential to continued growth and development of the understanding of technology operations and concepts" (ISTE, 2011).

Another goal for FISD is the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology 2006-2020 to have “all learners engage in individualized, real-world learning experiences supported by ubiquitous access to modern digital tools; robust anywhere, anytime connectivity; and dynamic, diverse learning communities (Texas Education Agency).  This goal would include access for parents/guardians 24/7 as well and the provision of technology to make this possible for all.  The following ISTE standard would be implemented into the FISD technology plans and goals

 "TF-V Productivity and Professional Practice
Educational technology facilitators apply technology to enhance and improve personal productivity and professional practice. Educational technology facilitators:
D. Use technology to communicate and collaborate with peers, parents, and the larger community to nurture student learning. Candidates:
1. model the use of telecommunications tools and resources for information sharing, remote information access, and multimedia/hypermedia publishing in order to nurture student learning.
2. communicate with colleagues and discuss current research to support instruction, using applications including electronic mail, online conferencing, and Web browsers.
3. participate in online collaborative curricular projects and team activities to build bodies of knowledge around specific topics.
4. design, develop, and maintain Web pages and sites that support communication between the school and community (ISTE, 2011).

 

References

ISTE. (2011). The National Educational Technology Standards (NETS-T). Retrieved February 26, 2012, from: http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS-T_Standards.sflb.ashx

Texas Education Agency, (. (2010, March). Long Range Plan for Technology 2010 Progress Report(LRPT) . Retrieved from Texas Education Agency: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=5082&menu_id=2147483665

Texas State Board for Educator Certification, (2000). Technology Application Standards. Retrieved February 26, 2012, from: http://www.sbec.state.tx.us/sbeconline/standtest/standards/techapp.pdf 

Taylor, C. (February, 20, 2012). CSTE 5338 Development of Technology Infrastructure Report 1.  Unpublished Report Data