Technology planning can be the catalyst used to enhance a school’s vision for the future, to strengthen its learning goals and to help realize its mission. The technology planning process itself must weigh the relationship between technology investments and student growth to be deemed successful. Technology planning requires that schools be willing to make substantial investments in time, resources, and support. The information provided on this website will focus on the essential elements of technology planning, which will include: (a) how to establish a vision statement (b) how to assess the schools technology needs to establish target area goals to improve learning, (c.) how to create effective professional development resources to increase the use of technology in the classroom, and (d.) how to support existing technological resources through funding and maintenance. The Essential Elements Technology Planning will be your guide to preparing our districts technology plan that will revitalize the mission of the school and prepare the school for the world of cyber education.

Viewing technology planning as a process instead of an event requires two paradigm shifts in thinking and development. The first paradigm shift occurs when educators of the district realizes the planning process will result in more than simply purchasing technology. Ten years ago, technology planning focused primarily on acquiring computers and was simply a process of deciding what type of computers to purchase, how many, and where to place them. Today, new technology opportunities require educators to rethink the plausibility of technology in the classroom. The planning process must address how technology will be used by students and staff, not just what equipment it will involve.

The second paradigm shift occurs when the technology planning process integrates the technology into the curriculum. This paradigm shift allows the planning process to have an impact on student learning. For the technology planning efforts to have maximum effect on student learning, the process must be coupled with curriculum development. Since the goal of technology planning should be improved student learning, this process begets questions that only classroom teachers can answer. Therefore, a collaborative effort between technology committee and individual building sites can develop the most comprehensive, and successful, technology plan. Without this investment of time and effort, planning for technology will have little or no impact on school improvement. 

Links to Technology Plans

• Wichita Public Schools: TechnologyPlan.pdf
•  Wheelersburg Local School District Technology Plan
• Bellingham Public Schools

• Ellis Public Schools

   

• This is a group of people who are interested in technology integration in schools. We are staff developers, teachers, curriculum coordinators, administrators and tech coordinators.