How to Develop a Technology Plan for an Elementary School
Technology is a pervasive element in our society. It is present everywhere you turn, from the digitized parking meter to the automated ticket machines at many movie theaters. Many jobs available to adults in the future will require a certain degree of technological literacy. Schools need to respond to this need for technological competency by continuing to incorporate more technology into general classroom settings and providing students with more technology learning opportunities. When creating plans integrate technology into an elementary school, you need to create a technology plan. This plan lays out what the school intends to do with the technology it currently has available and how it intends to improve technology use within the school in the future.
Instructions
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1
Create a mission statement. This statement should be included in the first section of the technology plan. Be concise yet specific in this statement. Include any overall goals of the technology department such as "to improve student technological literacy" or "to increase the effectiveness of learning in core courses through the integration of technology."
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2
Summarize the school's current technology use. List specific information about the different types of technology present within the school as well as specific numbers of technological devices available for staff and student use.
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List school and district ethnic and economic demographics. Traditionally, technology is less available to economically disadvantaged students. This possible factor needs to be considered when creating a technology plan as a general lack of student technology experience will affect the technological program planning and teaching within the technology department.
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4
Outline the technology curriculum goals. List any technology courses available to students and explain how these courses meet the technology standards set by your state department of education.
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Plan for professional development. Abundant technology does no good if teachers are not aware of how to use it. Consider the technology available to teachers and plan for a member of the technology department to instruct teachers in effective technology use. Consult your school's local professional development committee to plan a time frame for these professional development programs.
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Establish technology growth goals. Create a plan for the technological improvements that you want to make in upcoming years. Include a projected time frame for implementing these improvements and a tentative plan for improvement funding.
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Include budgetary and funding information. Enumerate sources of funding for the school's technology, including state and district funding and well as any applicable grants. Create a chart or outline that explains how this money is allocated. This practice ensures transparency and prevents accusations of money misappropriation.
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Place applicable standards in the appendices. If your school is subject to national or state technology standards, as most schools are, include these standards in a series or appendices. This allows for easy reference of these important guiding principles.
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