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TECHNOLOGY PLAN TEMPLATE

North American University
Education Department
M.Ed. in Educational Leadership
EDUC 5321: TECHNOLOGY FOR SCHOOL PRINCIPALS
Name: Celal Giret

Date: 12/5/2014

This template is adapted from

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/et/rs/documents/et14techplan.doc

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND
The plan should guide the LEAs use of education technology for the next three
years.

List specific start and end dates (8/1/2014 to 5/31/2017). Provide a brief overview
of the LEA, its location and demographics and/or share a link to the LEAs
website.
Harmony Public School is a largest charter school system which is located in Houston
Texas. There 49 campus around the TEXAS and 16 campuses in Houston.

http://www.harmonytx.org/default.aspx

Describe how a variety of stakeholders from within the LEA and the communityat-large participated in the planning process.
A. Connect Ed. Executive Team; (Directors from Technology, curriculum,
operation, finance)
1. Provide different training for school administrators and teacher about the new
technology.
2. Approve any recommendation from technology Plan development group.
3. Communicated with finance department for technology related budget question
4. Check and approve any technology plan is developed by work group
5. Bring together all district department together to

B. Technology Plan development work group ; (Parent, Local technology Company,

regional educational services center, District Purchase director, technology
representative from university, Technology Researcher, teacher, school
administrators, local media, special and ESL teacher or representative, etc.)
Role and responsibilities;
1. Develop and propose district technology plan to connect Ed. Group
2. Define technology policy and procedure
3. Provide technology wishes and needs to district office.
4. Encourage and support any professional development regarding technology
5. Discuss and support research based ideas and propose them to connected Ed.
Summarize the relevant research and describe how it supports the plans
curricular and professional development goals.
Summarize the plans major curricular and professional development
outcomes that are supported by research.
Describe and cite the relevant research that supports the plans outcomes.
Describe the connection between the research and the plans goals.
Describe information gathered from site visits, including best practices.
Educational technology is becoming one of the most important tool for teacher during their
classroom. Every teacher is looking new adventures to engage and motivate students during
the teaching. But educational technology is not a simple techniques that teacher will
transform from traditional to modern. It requires training and assistance to educators who is
looking to integrate technology into their curricula. Those training and assistance needs to
align with students goals and level of the project. Dr. Hammond mentioned that Teacher
quality is the factor that matters most for students learning Darling Hammond and Berry
(1998). Nowadays Integrating technology in education is very good but training for teacher is
coming align with implementation of educational technology in classroom. Professional
development for technology needs to part of the technology plan to improve the quality of
the integration in every classroom. During the technology plan discussion meeting second
items always should be improving teachers educational technology quality with different
training and professional development.
Educational technology is changing every year. It is very hard for educator to follow up with
different technology and integrate them into daily curricula. As far as I remember when I
was teaching in my first classroom I was using the really huge big document cameras to
present any presentation to students. It was very hard to understand and effectively use the
technology in classroom. Most of the time I was afraid to use document camera and other
resources because I did not know how to use them. Nowadays document camera is the
simplest educational technology for teacher to use in their classroom. Every teacher are able
to use document camera in class because it is not different them cell phones.
References;
1. Darling-Hammond, L. & Berry, B. (1998, May 27). Investing in teaching. Education

CURRICULUM COMPONENT CRITERIA.

The Plan must establish clear goals and realistic strategy for using
telecommunications and information technology to improve education services.
(Answer at least 2 questions for each subsection below)

Describe teachers' current access to instructional technology and current use of

digital tools.
1. What technology is currently available to all teachers?
There are a lot of technology opportunities for teachers at Harmony Public school. Every
teacher has personal Laptop, IPAD, and Chromebook on their hands. Projector and
document cameras are also available in each classroom for teacher use. Math classroom are a
little special because there are smart board opportunities for teacher in every math classroom
as well. Smart clicker is one most effective convenience for teachers to get easy respond
from students during the class.
2. How does technology assist with student assessment?
Harmony Public school was using the paper base testing and grading till last year.
Technology development committee decided to use online district assessment and NWEA
MAP online during the testing period. This plan was approved at executive team and start to
implement at the being of the 2013-2014 school year. It was a little bit headache at the being
stage but right now students able to have online test during the district assessment and
NEWA MAP testing. Every core subject teacher has class set chrome book in order to use
during their classroom.
Describe students' current access to instructional technology and current use of
digital tools. Include a description about the LEA policy, practices, and/or
replacement policy that ensures equitable technology access for all students.
1. Is technology currently available to all students?
The answer will be YES. Currently all students able to use computer lab and other
technology resources in campuses. Last year connect Ed. Executive team decided to give
chore books to all 6-12 students but this year they changed this policy and procedure into co
subject classroom set. But still all students have access to use technology for their classes.
Project base learning classes is almost %100 technology base class for middle and high
school students.
2. What steps is the LEA taking to
ensure equity of access for all students
regardless of their academic standing,
socioeconomic level, proficiency in
English, or disabilities?
You may see the economic disadvantage
percentage of the district from the chart
above. More than half of the district is
economic disadvantage students. In district
the first group who receive the IPAD was
subgroup
population.
Executive

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technology team is allocated the money to buy IPAD every K-12 ESL and special students
in district. Every ESL and special Ed. Students have opportunities to access and use
technology in school environment. At least one computer for every three students is also
located in ELS and Special Ed. Resource room as well
Describe goals and an implementation plan, with annual activities, for using
technology to improve teaching and learning. Describe how these goals align to
the LEA's curricular goals that are supported by other plans. Describe how the
LEA's budget (LCAP) supports these goals, and whether future funding
proposals or partnerships may be needed for successful implementation.
1. Are targets for improvement in student achievement being met?
We can answer this question still in progress. The aim of giving chore book opportunities
to every students was to improve the low achiever test score. Last year show us that there
overall %4 percent grow on students academic achievement. But there is a very high
percentage of grow for subgroup students within three years. Subgroup students have
opportunities to use different software program during their instruction. Reading Eggs,
Smart Reading is some of the programs that they are using during their ESL classes.
2. How are you redesigning learning spaces to support the LEA curricular goals?

Redesign the learning space; distinct start to work with Steelcase furniture. There are
different technological classroom opportunities for students and teacher. District office
purchase department will work on modern and technology integrated furniture for
classroom which Students able to use their chore book easy and convince during the
lecturing time. Technology is great tool changing the interaction between teacher and
students and improving the relationship when it is coordinated with teaching strategies and
goals. Teacher who use technology in classroom change the traditional teaching style into
models and modern teaching style. Individual rooms are designed with multiple zones
versus treated as one-type-fits-all, and different types of spaces are being created to support
different types of activities.

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Describe goals and an implementation plan, with annual activities, to address
Internet Safety and the appropriate and ethical use of technology in the
classroom.
1. What are the LEAs curriculum goals and plans for assisting students to meet technology
literacy and information literacy skills?

District technology literacy goal is students will demonstrate all their activities in proficiency
level. All student will have certain level of the technology literacy on their knowledge.
District will establish technology literacy work group to explore necessary step for next level.
District also allow their computer and technology specialist to train and collaborate with
regular classroom teacher to provide technology experience and key points. District integrate
technology literacy standards to state technology literacy standard during the district and
school professional development days.
2. How are technology and information literacy skills embedded in content area lessons? Are
specific courses offered that address these skills?

Digital content is always available during and after school for students. Project Base learning
is the biggest resources and area to integrate technology literacy skills in content area lesson.
Harmony public school project base learning is fully technology base project. Within the
help of Project Based Learning, students are able understand concept deep and expose
learning experiences that are hand zone based, active students participation, and integrated
to the curriculum. All students who is middle and high school needs to complete at least one
project base learning task from each core subject (English, Math, Social Studies, and
Science), in every semester.
http://pbl.harmonytx.org/home
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT
The Plan must have a professional development strategy to ensure that staff
understands how to use these new technologies to improve education services
(Answer at least 2 questions for each subsection below)

Summary of the teachers' and administrators' current technology proficiency and

integration skills and needs for professional development.
1. How does your LEA regularly assess teachers and administrators personal
technology proficiency skills?
Harmony Public school is the fastest growing charter school system in Texas. At the
beginning and during the year couple of times teacher and administrators had educational
technology training from different hardware and software. Last year all math teacher trained
from math software program which named ALEKS. AT the same time other core subject
teacher such as ELA, SS and Science also had their technology training as well. This year all

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administrators are having a training from new evaluation program which named techscape.
At the same time leadership development department is assigning the technology tanning to
administrators from Texas Charter School Association as well.
2. Are administrators able to support teachers with the integration of technology into
daily curriculum?
Teacher needs to able to get support from central office reading technology integration.
Each cluster office has IT specialist and instructional coach who has experience on
integration technology into core subject curriculum. On the other hand core subject teacher
able to get help from STEM coach regarding any technological integration from into their
daily lesson. Every teacher supposed to have integration of technology assignment in their
weekly lesson plan. This is requirement from central office for their weekly lesson.
Describe goals and an implementation plan, with annual activities, for providing
professional development opportunities based on your LEA needs assessment
data and the Curriculum Component of the plan.
1. What professional development will be provided to ensure teachers and
administrators will be able to effectively accomplish the curricular goals for students
described in section 2.
District technology literacy goal is students will demonstrate all their activities in proficiency
level. Project Base Learning (PBL) is the biggest initiative to integrate the technology into
their core subject curricula. Students needs to understand the concept and duty for PBL
assignment. Mainly experience teacher have idea about the PBL and integrate technology
into their classroom. District office will provide more technology training to the school
administrators and cluster instructional coach during the professional development. District
office also will get the help from local technology company to improve the technology
knowledge of school administrators. Training is not going to be only for PBL resources but
also other integration of technology in their daily curricula. All Harmony Public school
administrators will have face to face training from technology resources that using during the
daily lesson.
INFRASTRUCTURE, HARDWARE, TECHNICAL SUPPORT, SOFTWARE, AND
ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPONENT CRITERIA
The Plan must include an assessment of the telecommunication services,
hardware, software, asset management, and other services that will be needed to
improve education services.
(Answer at least 2 questions for each subsection below)

Describe the existing hardware, Internet access, electronic learning resources,

technical support, and asset management already in the LEA that will be used to
support the Curriculum and Professional Development Components of the plan.
1. What technologies are available to facilitate home/school communication such as
email, web pages, and voice mail?
Email, web pages, voice mail are all three of them available for teacher and parents to
communicate better and efficiently. All school has their own webpages which was operating
by school IT specialist or administers any time. School administrators are able to post any

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upcoming events or emergency news directly to website. Second biggest feature is parents
portal in every school website. Parents able to track their childs grade discipline and test
score without asking or calling directly to school. Another feature of the parents portal is
providing direct communication with teacher through the email.
Voice mail is also available in every campus as well. Parent are able to call and communicate
with school administers directly.
2. What E-rate services or discounts are available to your LEA?
Cell phone and Jack Pack internet are available for title I schools. All teacher are able to get
free IPHONE 5C cell phone and each department is able to receive Jack Pack internet
services without any fee. All this services are to improve the parents teacher
communication and help every child academic achievement.
Describe the technology hardware, electronic learning resources, networking and
telecommunications infrastructure, physical plant modifications, technical
support, and asset management needed by the LEA's teachers, students, and
administrators to support the activities in the Curriculum and Professional
Development components of the plan.
1. Where will the technology be placed (WI-FI System) to effectively support the
Curriculum and Professional Development components (mobile labs, classrooms,
handheld technologies, etc.)?
Harmony public school made the huge
improvement on handheld technology
by getting the chrome book for every
child. But it is not enough to have more
efficient technology integration into
daily curricula. Below the picture will
give us the idea about the wireless
education technology in classroom.
Any other multi touch tablet or devices
is an important that can support
students visual learning. Especially
digital multi-functional calculator is
very important for students during their
math classes.
2. What licensing opportunities (group buys, site licenses, open source, or discounts)
are available?

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District office will provide the latest version of the operating system that teacher and
students are using during their daily classes. The number one software that teacher is always
using in their classroom is office word, excel, power point. Teacher will have changes to
download or use the latest version of the office on their computers. There are certain
percentage of the discount available for operating system and office software for Harmony
Public school.
MONITORING AND EVALUATION COMPONENT
The plan must include an evaluation process that enables the school to monitor
progress toward the specific goals and make mid-course corrections in response
to new developments and opportunities as they arise.
(Answer at least 2 questions for each subsection below)

Describe the process for evaluating the plan's overall progress and impact on
teaching and learning.
1. What indicators of success will be used to evaluate whether implementation of the
plan has made a positive impact on student achievement?
Students assessment will be the best indicator to evaluate the implementation of the
technology plan. Harmony Public school is implementing the ALKES software for their
math classes with the help of chrome book overall two years. Data shows us that there is
significantly improvement on students math level and score during the state test. Just not
only state test but also other district assessment shows the improvement of the students
math level with in the two years. Second evaluation indicator will be the survey to parents
regarding the implementation the new technology and academic improvement of the child.
And the last and third evaluation indicator will be survey or feedback from teachers
regarding implementation of the technology plan.
2. Who will participate in the monitoring and evaluation process?
Definitely students will be first priority participant during the evaluation process but
technology development team needs to get idea from different stake holders. Parents
feedback will help to understand how students integrating the technology at home. Teacher
will be second group who will provide very sustainable information to evaluate the
implementation process of technology integration. District office will also benefit from the
feedback of local technology company, media representative and universities.
Describe the schedule for evaluating the effect of plan implementation, including
a description of the process and frequency of communicating evaluation results
to tech plan stakeholders.
1. How often will data be collected and summarized? Who is responsible?
Data will be collect two times a year. One of them will be at the begging of the year and
other will be at the end of the year. The data which will collected at the beginning of the year
will help to understand level of the technology implementation in classroom. It is also will
provide the level of technology integration in daily curricula. Second date which will collect
at the end of the year will provide idea of the improvement with in the one school year. All

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data will collected by technology plan development work group because there is researchers
who can summary the date and implementation of the technology plan. This summary needs
to share with school and district administrators.
2. How will technology success stories be documented and publicized?
Again this is the duty of technology plan development work group. Researcher and local
university representative member of this group and their first duty is to summarize and
publicize the success story. Local media can help this group to publicize the success story on
different local channels.