1. Develop strategies for funding.
Some of the following funding and management strategies are currently being used and need to be continued for funding. Some of them are new concepts that need to be implemented.
a. My school district currently receives funding from the state of Texas. Each campus will continue to improve student performance, so the students are meeting the goals set by the state of Texas. The campus will be responsible for implementing programs to boost students achievement and technology use.
b. We also have applied for and received several grants. One large grant we have received was a rural technology grant. These types of grants have made it possible for my school to purchase technology equipment. (R, Gonzalez) The grant writing will be increased to make up for the lack of funds the state is providing.
c. E-Rate funding has also allowed my school district to purchase items at a discounted rate. This program provides discounts ranging form 20%-90%. (TPESC) The district will continue to apply for E-Rate funding.
2. Develop strategies for management plans.
a. Teachers will attend technology-based professional development trainings. These trainings should increase the teacher’s knowledge which will help them better manage their equipment and using it to increase student achievement.
b. The current campus technology facilitator will check in with all staff members to see what current needs are in the individual classrooms. This will give all teachers the opportunity to express their needs to the technology facilitator. This will also help the facilitator keep track of technology that’s not being used as much as it could be, and where more trainings needs to be
offered.
c. The district and individual campuses will need to develop management plans to support an upgrade in the overall infrastructure, and the addition of devices to support the 1:1 environment. This will need to be rolled out in stages over the next few years.
3. Describe the required procedures for the proposed strategies.
Funding Strategies
a. My school district will continue to follow TEA guidelines to continue receiving funding from the state of Texas. A needs assessment will be conducted by using benchmark testing scores throughout the year. The campus will put intervention programs in place, so our state test scores improve.
b. My district’s full time grant writer will find grants that meet the needs of our school district. These grants will hopefully be granted. Teachers and staff members will attend required trainings, so these grants are used appropriately. In addition to the grant writer, other designated employees will use the TEA grant resources website to gather information and deadlines about grants that can be used to increase funding. According to the website, grants from TEA can be used to “. . . support programs and initiatives to improve student performance and the high school graduation rate.” (TEA Grant Resources, 2012)
c.The technology director is required to submit quotes and reports to continue to receive E-Rate funding. This funding is regulated, so the director will submit the needed reports by the deadline set. The campus technology facilitators will provide information so the director is able to complete the reports accurately.
Management Plans
a. The teachers will be required to sign-in at these required trainings. Teachers will also give feedback on the trainings and offer suggestions for future trainings via e-mail, or online surveys. Teachers will complete their StaR charts at the end of the school year.
b. The technology facilitator will create an online calendar and make it accessible to all staff members. The staff members can add to the calendar to schedule a time that best suits them to meet with the campus facilitator. This will help the facilitator keep a record of the meetings and and the needs that are discussed.
c. The technology director will meet with the campus facilitators to discuss the needs that will come during the infrastructure upgrade. A committee will need to be formed so data can be analyzed and strategies can be discussed on the best way to roll out the 1:1 program.
References
Gonzalez, R. NISD, NISD Director of Technology and Communication, Personal Communication, February 15, 2012.
TEA Grant Resources. 2012. Retrieved from http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=2147487920&menu_id=951
TPESC What is E-Rate? Retrieved from http://tpesc.esc12.net/erate/default.html
Monica,
ReplyDeleteOne of your management plans is that the technology facilitator will check in with teachers. This is very important that the facilitator know what is going on in the classroom. One author states “Helping teachers to integrate technology into lesson plans successfully becomes a twofold challenge for Technology Facilitators. They must be able to teach technology skills as well as understand ways to use technology to support instructional goals. Our TFs develop tutorials for teachers and students, assist teachers in developing and teaching lesson plans involving technology, and conduct professional development sessions” (Whitfield, 2005). I liked their idea of developing tutorials, I see this as a video that can be made and put on the website.
Cara Moreland
Reference:
Whitfield, C. (2005, April 1). The Five Essentials of Technology Facilitators: Successful On-Site Help for Technology Integration. Retrieved from http://www.techlearning.com/article/42544
Thanks Cara. I think it's very important that all teachers are integrating the technology they have into their lessons and move towards using it more efficiently.
DeleteAnother source for professional development that I found would be useful for public eucators is the Memory Fellows program created by the Library of Congress and the Center for Children and Technology. Here teacher come together in virtual classrooms and learning communities to develop, test, and publish creative classroom applications. Teachers receive training with primary-source archives that include photographs, pamphlets, films, and audio recordings from American history and culture. Technology makes access to these materials possible and enables teachers to work together to build lesson plans and curriculum for their classrooms.
ReplyDeleteHoney, M. (June 2011). Testimoney and Statement for the Record of Margaret Honey before the Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee United States Senate. Retrieved March 20, 2012 from
http://cct.edc.org/admin/publications/speeches/testimony_lhe01.pdf.
Amy,
DeleteThank you for that source. I have not heard of it before, but I will check it out.
Monica,
DeleteI also like the idea of developing tutorials, At our district, we have the opportunity of creating a podcast or video. We are in the process of creating a professional development library. The staff will be allowed to check out videos. Theses videos are also available on the district website under professional development tab.