District Technology Plan

The Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund is a federally funded organization that grants discounts to school districts seeking less expensive internet access.  This is called the E-Rate and schools wishing to take advantage of this program must submit a technology plan.  This plan must include five elements: goals and strategies for using telecommunications and information technology, a professional development strategy, an assessment of technology needed, budget resources, and an ongoing evaluation process.  After 2011, budget resources will no longer be required in the technology plan.  The district’s technology plan shows expenditures of three million dollars in technology with $150,000 set aside for professional development.  Training in technology application software is through the Instructional Technology department.  There are classes offered Monday through Saturday in the district technology training labs.  Special training sessions are available for campuses or teachers that need extra training.  This summer, I went to trainings for Google Earth and SmartBoards.  I will attend a ProjectShare training next week for Social Studies.  This is a collaboration web site for teachers to receive training and share information with one another.  The district made note of some needs they need to address.  These include increasing community awareness of the use of technology in the classroom, upgrading infrastructure in existing technology, increasing the technology equipment in each campus, and adding more professional development.  Assessments in the form of annual technology surveys and self reflections are collected as input for future professional development.  From looking at the technology budget, there seems to be enough money to place more computers in each campus and provide opportunities for professional development.