TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT PLAN

Amanda Love/Tech 503

HARDWARE

Portable Scanners

Value to Curriculum:Portable Scanners allow for instant access to documents and allow you to create a PDF to send via email for quick access. Also eliminate stacks of papers for grading. It can now be sent straight to the teacher for grading via email.

Scan time can cause a delay in productivity

These devices can be bulky and expensive.

Strategy: Since more teachers are trying to go paperless, scanners are a great way to do this. Lesson plans could be reviewed to see if teachers are utilizing them, as well as, classroom walkthroughs.

Cost: $30.00 - $ 470.00 depending on brand Possible Drawbacks

USB Drives

Value to Curriculum: All teachers would have a way to back up their data other than the cloud. Teachers could also store student work and pictures to later share or download for educational purposes. It saves space on your computer, as well.

These devices can be easily misplaced or stolen.

Strategy: Teachers can give feedback to the technology department on if they would like to continue with the USBs for the following year.

Cost: $5.00-$50.00Depending on GB space and brand

Possible drawbacks:

Smartboards

Value to Curriculum: Smartboards can create an engaging environment for students. Teachers and students can interact with the smartboard, use it for presentations, watch videos, or create an interactive touch screen for students to use.

Smartboards are expensive and teachers will need to be trained to be able to effectively use them.

Strategy: Lesson plans could be reviewed to see if teachers are implementing lessons using the smartboards. Teacher training could be used to establish issues/concerns and extra training.

Cost: $1999-$5000 depending on brand Possible drawbacks

All in One Desktops

Value to Curriculum: After moving to portable Dell Venues, many problems have arisen. If classrooms could have at least 3 all-in-one desktops, students could use these if their Venues are being repaired or replaced. The desktops are sleek and save space. They are equipped with smart technology, as well.

These desktops can be expensive and costly to repair causing the school to not order as many as may be needed for a classroom.

Strategy: Teachers could send feedback to their department chairs of how often they have to use them during the month. This would give accurate data towards the use of these desktops.

Cost: $600.00- $2000.00 depending on brand and components Possible Drawbacks

PORTABLE DEVICES

Student Response Systems

Value to Curriculum: These portable response systems are a great way to engage students in the curriculum. It helps to increase test scores and provides a great learning environment. Instant feedback is included.Managing devices: These devices will need to be assigned to students in each class. They can be put into bags with students’ names on them and kept locked up when not in use. Students must turn in devices before leaving the classroom.Safety: Teachers need to count devices before students leave to verify none have been taken. No other safety concerns are obvious.

If these are used too often students may become bored with the tool. The classroom management has to be in place for a positive experience with them. They can also be costly to replace.

Strategy: Student’s scores can be compared using the devices with past scores to indicate successful use of the SRS. Teacher and student feedback will be necessary to determine continued use or refurbishing of devices.

Cost:$500.00-$1200 per set depending on brand Possible drawbacks

Document Cameras

Value to Curriculum: Document Cameras are reasonably small and can quickly turn into a way of quickly projecting student work for editing, reviewing, and presenting. Students can also use it to present their work or make class corrections for assessments.Managing Devices:This device will need to be placed on a solid surface, but can also be stored very easily out of the way. It should not leave the classroom. Safety: Make sure device is secured on a level surface.

There will be one per class, so this device will be used more for whole class.

Strategy: Teachers/students can provide feedback on use and issues/concerns to determine if product is beneficial.

Cost: $275.00-$475.00 depending on brand Possible Drawbacks

Tablets

Value to Curriculum: It can be used for blended learning, enhances the curriculum, saves space in the classroom, and is economical, thus saving the use of paper.

Managing Devices: Devices should be locked in a secure area, along with all device components. Teachers will need to keep monitoring for inappropriate websites or maintenance issues.

Safety: Students should be prompted on how to secure their data and personal information, and instructed on appropriate internet use.

Tablets can be difficult to manage with students being able to access the internet. Teachers should establish rules and procedures for managing students on the devices. Tablets can be prone to damage since they are mobile. Extra money will need to be set aside for damages of devices.Strategy: Meetings should be set up to determine issues/concerns/progress about the tablets. Student test scores, data and feedback should be collected to determine effectiveness.

Cost: $150.00-$730.00 depending on brand Possible drawbacks

Digital Video Cameras

Value to Curriculum: These cameras can bring another element to how students analyze, present, and edit their work and others’ work. It will allow students to be more engaged in their classrooms.

Managing devices: Devices will need to be carefully handled and have a procedure for signing out the camera to be used. Students must be taught the basic principles of how to efficiently use it and what is allowed. Devices with need to be locked up when not in use.

Safety: Students will need to be given rules and procedures to understand appropriate use within the school and classroom.

These devices are expensive so extra care must be taken with maintaining them and proper handling. A procedure must be in place for the care of these devices.

Strategy: Lesson plans can be monitored for use along feedback from the teachers.

Cost: $120.00-$450.00 depending on brand Possible drawbacks

WEB-BASED ORCLOUD ACQUISITION

FreewareQuizlet

Value to Curriculum: Quizlet is a great way to encourage students to study. It increases vocabulary skills and studying skills through games, reviews, spelling, and tests. Students can easily access information from anywhere internet is accessible. Teachers may also load lesson for students to review and practice for upcoming assessments.

Safety: There are no evident safety concerns with this website. Students will need to create usernames and passwords for this account.

If the internet is not accessible then students may not access their accounts.

Strategy: Scores can be reviewed to determine the effectiveness of the website as well as student feedback.

Cost: Free for basic educational use Possible drawbacks

ReadworksOpensource

Value to Curriculum: This website will increase student lexile levels, as well as give students relevant articles to read. Teachers can choose from multiple lessons to focus on. It allows students to read at their own lexile levels, while still improving their reading skills and comprehension.

Safety: There are no safety concerns with this website.

If teachers have ESOL students, the articles do not come with translations, but the lexile level should still assist with low level readers.

Strategy: Previous lexile levels can be compared to new levls to determine if the website is assisting students. Reading comprehension can also be checked through assessments after using the website.

Cost: Free Possible drawbacks

NewselaCommercial

Value to Curriculum: Newsela gives teachers the opportunity to choose articles with appropriate lexiles for their students, along with, quizzes for that level of reader. It will increase reading and comprehension. Articles are current so students will be aware of real world events.Safety: There are no concerns with this website.

Teachers may have to upgrade to set up classes or accounts.Strategy: Teachers can give feeback about students’ scores and lexile increase. Reading comprehension assessments can also be reviewed for increase to determine effectiveness of the website.

Cost: Free for basic educational account/fee for upgrades Possible drawbacks

GoogledocsCommercial

Value to Curriculum: Googledocs can create a way for teachers and students to collaborate in real time and

Safety: There is no safety concerns this software.

Training may be needed for teachers to implement the Googledocs resources in their classrooms. Strategy: Lesson plans can be checked to identify teachers’ use of the software. Feedback can be given by the teachers to determine where more training or areas of concern may be.

Cost: $50.00 per user/per year Possible drawbacks

DropboxOpensource

Value to Curriculum: Dropbox is a tool that teachers and students can use to keep files, share files, and keep organized. Teachers can use this tool to collaboratively plan with other teachers and share their work.Safety: Teachers should be aware that if someone else changes a document it will change the original. Teachers should be made aware of basic concepts of dropbox.

Additional space may be purchased, or you may add people to your Dropbox. Teachers may change documents without knowing that they are changing someone else’s forms/documents.Strategy: Teachers may give feedback on use and concerns/issues.

Cost: Free, but more space may cost. Possible drawbacks

LiteracyTaCommercial

Value to Curriculum: LiteracyTa can increase lexile, and help build vocabulary. It also provides resources, worksheets, and tutorial videos for teachers to access.

Safetly: There are no evident safety concerns.

This tool is not accessible if there is no internet connection. There is also a yearly fee.

Strategy: Teachers could show use through documentation on their lesson plans and use data from students’ work to determine effectiveness of the tool.

Cost: $50.00 a year for online resources Possible drawbacks

Technology Workshop Cost: Free: In house participants sharing ideas and strategies. Value to Curriculum: Having a technology workshop is critical for

teachers to come out ahead in their classrooms. Teachers will have two workshops a month, where they will share ideas, strategies, tools and websites and how they can be used in the classroom. One of the workshops will be hosted by a person from the district that is in charge of new technology curriculum. Teachers will be caught up to date on the best tools to use for their curriculum and example lessons that will be shared through GoogleDocs or other sharing platforms.

Strategy: Teachers will provide feedback at these meetings on what is working, what needs to be addressed, what other tools need to be purchased, and how the district can help. Also, teachers will share success stories, lessons plans, and conduct walkthroughs of their fellow teachers to see how technology is being used.

Sharing Best Practices

Classroom walkthroughs can be extremely beneficial, in that teachers can see how teaching using technology can be implemented in all curriculum areas.

Classroom walkthroughs will be conducted by all staff members. After the walkthroughs have been completed, teachers will come back together during 30 minutes of their planning periods (block parties) to discuss what was working, how technology was being used, what areas can be improved, and how to implement the technology changes for all subjects. After the discussions, principals and departments chairs can discuss how their departments are going to implement technology more efficiently.

Electronic Sharing

GoogleDocs

Edmodo

Staff will use Edmodo and/or GoogleDocs to share best practice resources and tools that are beneficial in the classroom. Through these resources teachers can pull videos, lesson plans and technology tips that they saw through the classroom walkthroughs or tried themselves. Feedback can be given through Edmodo and pictures can be shared of how technology is being implemented successfully. Even technology fails can be recorded to help prevent issues for other teachers.

ScheduleComputer Maintenance Teachers need to complete a

checklist, for maintenance once a month, and submit it to an Edmodo group to verify completion.

Department chairs will verify completions withn a submission to the technology specialist and principal.

Teachers need to have students complete a checklist, for maintenance, once a month, and submit it to their teachers.

Back Up Procedures Teachers need to complete a

checklist, for backing up their files, by completing a GoogleDoc form.

Department chairs will verify completions with a submission to the technology specialist and principal. Dept. chairs will also add this to their monthly meeting agenda to remind teachers of due dates.

Teachers need to have students complete a checklist, for maintenance, once a month, and submit it to their teachers on Edmodo or GoogleDocs. A grade will be given for work ethic to keep students on track with backing up their files. Posters need to be in each room of best practices for technology.