1.2 Strategic Planning
Candidates facilitate the design, development, implementation, communication, and evaluation of technology-infused strategic plans. (PSC 1.2/ISTE 1b)
Reflection:
The Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis assessed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to technology and its integration at Timber Ridge Elementary School. It was an eye-opening project. The SWOT made me aware of the strengths and weaknesses of our current technology status at Timber Ridge. Unfortunately, we had more weaknesses than strengths in this SWOT Plan. The good news is that the new principal has prioritized the need for technology-infused classrooms and because of that; I was able to help him as he used strategic planning to take our school to a higher level of technology infusion.
In Standard 1.2, Strategic Planning establishes the expectations for design, development, implementation, communication, and evaluation of technology-infused strategic plans. This standard fits perfectly into the current plan at Timber Ridge Elementary. This past year, when our new principal arrived, it did not take him long to see that technology had not been a priority to Timber Ridge. Our past principal was fabulous in so many ways but lacked the desire to have a school integrated with technology.
Our new principal, Mr. Hill, an advocate for technology-enriched classrooms met with me soon after the year had started. He wanted me to work closely with him as he planned to transform our school. The design and development of his technology-infused vision was going to be a three year process. He was ready to start implementing the beginning stages now and that is where he wanted me to be an integral part.
I was to begin by communicating the need for increased technology integration with the grade level team leaders, the Technology Team, and the Data Team. I also kept in communication with grade level teams to find out the most and least used forms of technology in classrooms at the current time. I graphed that information for Mr. Hill as I reported back to him. I was included on his other designing and planning meetings with Media Center and Technology Lab coordinators as well as meetings with PTA and Foundation Leaders. These were all in relation to the renovation of our current media center to a new technology friendly media center and technology lab combination. He had to meet with PTA and Foundation as he planned to request funds from those groups to help fund his technology integration plan.
As the design and development of this plan moved forward, we began by implementing the first steps. This involved communicating with the staff to find present levels of technology integration within our staff. Next, Mr. Hill had me introducing new digital tools at staff meetings with examples of how I was using them in my classroom. Next stage of implementation was professional development workshops that involved a team of technology coaches teaching Web 2.0 tools to our staff.
Implementing the technology vision that Mr. Hill has for our school has involved many after school meetings. I have been fortunate to have been involved in Mr. Hill’s planning process as he knows that this is of the utmost importance to me that our teachers enhance their classrooms with technology driven activities and that our school become a 21st Century School.
In evaluation of the first stage of his technology plan, at the end of the year Mr. Hill again surveyed our staff to measure the growth of technology being used in our classrooms. The survey showed that the professional development held by Melinda and her Technology Team had made a difference. There had been an increase in the amount of technology being used in our school compared to beginning of the year survey. Mr. Hill was pleased to see growth happening already with his initiative in this area.
This technology plan has impacted Timber Ridge already and we have just completed phase one. When our new principal let us know right away about his technology vision for our school, it woke up a lot of teachers who had not been using technology as they should have been. They began increasing their technology use. The Professional Development workshops that I held as well as the staff meetings that included my introductions of new digital tools also were a factor in helping increase technology use in the classrooms of Timber Ridge. I was able to meet the goals and show mastery of Standard 1.2 by assisting my principal with the designing, developing, implementing, communicating, and evaluating of the school’s new technology-infused strategic plan.
The Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis assessed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to technology and its integration at Timber Ridge Elementary School. It was an eye-opening project. The SWOT made me aware of the strengths and weaknesses of our current technology status at Timber Ridge. Unfortunately, we had more weaknesses than strengths in this SWOT Plan. The good news is that the new principal has prioritized the need for technology-infused classrooms and because of that; I was able to help him as he used strategic planning to take our school to a higher level of technology infusion.
In Standard 1.2, Strategic Planning establishes the expectations for design, development, implementation, communication, and evaluation of technology-infused strategic plans. This standard fits perfectly into the current plan at Timber Ridge Elementary. This past year, when our new principal arrived, it did not take him long to see that technology had not been a priority to Timber Ridge. Our past principal was fabulous in so many ways but lacked the desire to have a school integrated with technology.
Our new principal, Mr. Hill, an advocate for technology-enriched classrooms met with me soon after the year had started. He wanted me to work closely with him as he planned to transform our school. The design and development of his technology-infused vision was going to be a three year process. He was ready to start implementing the beginning stages now and that is where he wanted me to be an integral part.
I was to begin by communicating the need for increased technology integration with the grade level team leaders, the Technology Team, and the Data Team. I also kept in communication with grade level teams to find out the most and least used forms of technology in classrooms at the current time. I graphed that information for Mr. Hill as I reported back to him. I was included on his other designing and planning meetings with Media Center and Technology Lab coordinators as well as meetings with PTA and Foundation Leaders. These were all in relation to the renovation of our current media center to a new technology friendly media center and technology lab combination. He had to meet with PTA and Foundation as he planned to request funds from those groups to help fund his technology integration plan.
As the design and development of this plan moved forward, we began by implementing the first steps. This involved communicating with the staff to find present levels of technology integration within our staff. Next, Mr. Hill had me introducing new digital tools at staff meetings with examples of how I was using them in my classroom. Next stage of implementation was professional development workshops that involved a team of technology coaches teaching Web 2.0 tools to our staff.
Implementing the technology vision that Mr. Hill has for our school has involved many after school meetings. I have been fortunate to have been involved in Mr. Hill’s planning process as he knows that this is of the utmost importance to me that our teachers enhance their classrooms with technology driven activities and that our school become a 21st Century School.
In evaluation of the first stage of his technology plan, at the end of the year Mr. Hill again surveyed our staff to measure the growth of technology being used in our classrooms. The survey showed that the professional development held by Melinda and her Technology Team had made a difference. There had been an increase in the amount of technology being used in our school compared to beginning of the year survey. Mr. Hill was pleased to see growth happening already with his initiative in this area.
This technology plan has impacted Timber Ridge already and we have just completed phase one. When our new principal let us know right away about his technology vision for our school, it woke up a lot of teachers who had not been using technology as they should have been. They began increasing their technology use. The Professional Development workshops that I held as well as the staff meetings that included my introductions of new digital tools also were a factor in helping increase technology use in the classrooms of Timber Ridge. I was able to meet the goals and show mastery of Standard 1.2 by assisting my principal with the designing, developing, implementing, communicating, and evaluating of the school’s new technology-infused strategic plan.