NISD, John C. Webb Elementary, Robyn Allphin

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

My proposed strategies for Week 8, Step 6 included strategies in the areas of funding and management.  The proposed strategies for funding included:  creation of technology plan, E-rate, FIRST, and TEA Grants.  The proposed strategies for management included:  campus technology plan, evaluation of plan once a year, data disaggregating software, Gradebook software and updates, ParentsChoice (automated phone calling system, tracking software, remote management tools, up-to-date infrastructure for the district, annual maintenance agreements, equipment inventory, and current backup servers.  All of the strategies were formed based on the needs of my district and campus.  Needs were determined by interviews, surveys, STaR chart results, and state requirements (SBEC guidelines).  These must be met because “the teaching and learning process must be receptive to a wide variety of options, including the expansion of learning extended into the home and into the broader community, development of virtual relationships among learners, and learning through online and other distributed learning environments” (Texas Education Agency, 2010).

Before this plan can be implemented, it must be approved by our district Technology Committee.  In addition, the campus and district plans should follow requirements and requests from the Long Range Technology Plan that was released by the Texas Education Agency.  Furthermore, we must ensure the ISTE NETS and SBEC standards are being met by including these strategies. 

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.

After examining the reading materials in the Technology domain, and speaking with people who play important roles in our technology department, I would only make a few suggestions for standards that are not adopted by our school.  Our district’s technology plan does not implement all of ISTE’s technology facilitation standards.   I would recommend following these specific standards because they are national standards and very specific.  In addition, they would help outline the specific responsibilities of the technology department.   These standards “describes the knowledge and skills needed to be a successful technology facilitator at the school-building level and an effective technology leader” at many different levels (Williamson & Redish, 2009).  I feel these standards will help improve our district if the technology department knows what is expected of them and has a blueprint of guidelines to follow.  The more knowledgable our technology department, the better resources we have to implement to enhance and improve student learning within our district and campus. 


ISTE NETS Standards to adopt:


Technology:



TF-I Technology Operations and Concepts
Educational technology facilitators demonstrate an in-depth understanding of technology operations and concepts.

TF-III Teaching, Learning, and the Curriculum

Educational technology facilitators apply and implement curriculum plans that include methods and strategies for utilizing technology to maximize student learning.

TF-IV Assessment and Evaluation
Educational technology facilitators apply technology to facilitate a variety of effective assessment and evaluation strategies.

Funding:



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.



Management:



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.

TF-V Productivity and Professional Practice

Educational technology facilitators apply technology to enhance and improve personal productivity and professional practice.

TF-VI Social, Ethical, Legal, and Human Issues
Educational technology facilitators understand the social, ethical, legal, and human issues surrounding the use of technology in PK-12 schools and assist teachers in applying that understanding in their practice.





TF-VIII Leadership and Vision
Educational technology facilitators will contribute to the shared vision for campus integration of technology and foster an environment and culture conducive to the realization of the vision.

References:

ISTE. (2001, January 1). Technology Facilitation Standards. ISTE:  International Society for Technology in Education. Retrieved January 11, 2012, from www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/2001_Technology_Facilitation_Standards_Doc.sflb.ashx

Texas Education Agency. Chapter 126. Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Technology

Williamson, J., & Redish, T. (2009). ISTE's technology facilitation and leadership standards: what every K-12 leader should know and be able to do. Eugene, Or: International Society for Technology in Education.