𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐇𝐍𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐘 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍- 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐓?

                            Video showing a Technology Plan of Davis Independent School District

A technology plan articulates how appropriate technologies will be integrated into specific disciplines. It allows the school to organize how staff will merge content and processes of education with technology.

The overarching goal of a technology plan is the successful integration of technology to support student learning and school management. The plan facilitates policies at all levels and underpins curriculum decision making, especially when it comes to resource allocation. (Technology in Schools - Chapter 1: Technology Planning and Policies, Technology in Schools: Suggestions, Tools, and Guidelines for Assessing Technology in Elementary and Secondary Education, n.d.).

𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧

Schools can benefit greatly from having a technology plan. It will:

1. Support opportunity for new technological innovations.

2. Provide a layout for staff on how the plan will be implemented.

3. Include policies of the use of equipment, for example, the Acceptable Use

Policies (AUP).

4. Help to pinpoint challenging areas and suggest ways to overcome the challenges

of implementation. 

5. Investment in technological tools, both hardware and software, will lead to more 

     efficient spending expenditures and 

6. Most importantly all these measures will lead to improved student achievement.

A well developed technology plan will contain the following facets:

1. Student Support System 

This system outlines a wide variety of in services, which include but are not limited to short term use of technology for tutoring, testing, academic support, inclusion services for special needs students, academically talented support, behaviour interventions, and social services. These endeavours have shown the need for the procurement of assistive technologies and other such resources.

2. Professional Development 

To keep staff and all personnel abreast of our evolving changing and growing world training sessions and seminars are critical components of any potentially successful technology plan. If staff is to integrate technology into curriculum to support teaching and learning they must also be efficacious in using the technology. Professional development for teachers, administrators, and other personnel must include continued awareness of technology policies and standards and be current in their knowledge of new developments in technology literacies, strategies, and tools that support the integration of technology. 

Training must be done in tools for the following:

• Classroom management tools 

• Collaboration tools 

• Communication tools  

• Content area resources and tools 

•  Formative and summative assessment tools  

• Learning management systems  

• Productivity and presentation tools

3. Technology Integration  

Teachers work collaboratively to share websites, and techniques of integrating the technology into their lessons. A team can be created to provide support and direction for students and teachers. Teachers will learn new techniques and have  resources available readily. The tools themselves must be on hand for when they are required. Links and software, for example, can be kept up-to-date and stored in a database that they can be used when necessary. 

With the advent of online classrooms, these provide an easy means for blended learning. Teachers have a vehicle where they can include online resources like worksheets, videos, links to games and other activities. These can be accessed by students and parents and allow them to keep track of content being taught in the physical classrooms. 

4. Supporting Resources

Such resources provide opportunity to ensure the appropriate use of technology. Policies must be put in place to alleviate problems such as:

• Identity theft

• Hacking

• Inappropriate use of the Internet

• Stealing of information (plagiarism)

For this purpose specific rules and sanctions as they relate to the use of technology are outlined in an Acceptable Use Policy where parents and other users are required to sign their acknowledgement and agreement.

References

Technology in Schools - Chapter 1: Technology Planning and Policies, Technology in Schools: Suggestions, Tools, and Guidelines for Assessing Technology in Elementary and Secondary Education. (n.d.). https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2003/tech_schools/chapter1.asp