Assignment 1 – Context report

Establishing a context for instructional technology use and growth

Organization: McDonald elementary School

532 McDonald Road
Georgetown, SC 29440

Contact: Mrs. Rebecca Chesney

Initial Meeting: August 31st, 2018

3:00 PM

About McDonald:
McDonald Elementary school is a K4 – 5 plus 3K special education elementary school in

Georgetown county school district that is designated a Title I school by the US government. The

school’s demographics are about 66.7% African American, 5.6% Hispanic and 27.7% Caucasian.

The school is 51.8% male and 48.2% female. Gifted and Talented are 1.8% while there are 7.5%

in special education and 1.5% are served under a 504. This school is a part of a diverse

community in which students can be exposed to violence, drugs and alcohol but also has a very

close and caring group of people that look out for one another. This school receives help from

the community in the form of outside organizations such as A Father’s Place, AmeriCorp,

BackPack Buddies and other donations to events at the school from local community members.

Teachers in the school cover topics in their classrooms including Math, English, Reading,

Writing, Science, Health and Social Studies. In addition there are special areas that teacher P.E.,

Music, Art, Library and Guidance. Library class covers several technology standards in addition

to library standards. Classroom teachers also teach technology skills in their classrooms as they

integrate technologies both of their choice, based on availability, and by district requirements.

Why McDonald:
I chose to work with McDonald Elementary because I myself work in their establishment

and often times I am unaware of the resources that are truly available to the students and staff
other than the designated desktops that are in each classroom along with the Promethean Board.

With the district trying to go in the direction of 1:1 computers for students (by the end of the year

students in grades 3-5 will all have a computer and K-2 will share computer carts) I feel that it is

important to be able to utilize these resources the best I can for the students education and learn

about all the other equipment that is made available to us to use with these computers.

Expectations:
I believe that I will find a lot of possibilities within my study as I look deeper into the

technology room in my school and the storage room for other unused technologies. Sometimes I

think it takes a little snooping around and imagination to realize the potential that lies within

your walls and I hope that I will be able to help fellow teachers and staff come to realize the

advantages we have available for our students so that we can make the best learning experiences

for them.
Assignment 2 – Creating an instructional technology inventory

Analyze instructional technologies which are being used in educational systems

To collect this data I worked alongside the Technology Specialist/Librarian of the school

to review the technology inventory she has fellow teachers complete at the end of each school

year; so our data began with last May’s assessments. In addition to the data from the inventories,

we looked at the storage room of unused technology and I added the pieces that are still

registered to our school as usable technology. The technology specialist also informed me of the

condition of the materials in the storage room as well as explained the ‘phases’ of certain

technology that was integrated into the building over the years. It is due to this slower integration

that she began making detailed age/usage inventories for teachers to complete each year so that

when something does break or begins to show wear, she has documentation of its age and can

use that to either convince administration to buy parts for it or can convince them that the system

needs to be replaced completely. After our discussion and walkthrough, I went back to compile

data on the technology that the school uses and created my chart based on teacher observations

from last year’s inventory as well as my own observations of the storage room items.

Item Age of Device in Level of Level of Need / Use

Years Functionality
Promethean Boards – 10 Beginning to show These are used daily
Phase 1 signs of usage and and are vital to
technicians called a instruction at all
few times a year academic levels
Promethean Boards – 7/8 Work well but need These are used daily
Phase 2 little things fixed or and are vital to
adjusted 1-2 times a instruction at all
year academic levels
Promethean Boards – 5 Working great with These are used daily
Phase 3 little to no issues and are vital to
instruction at all
academic levels
Chromebooks 2 Work great and are Upper grades (3-5)
updated every other are using these daily
month and by the end of the
year, grade 2 will
have them at a 1:2
ratio for daily use
Desktops Up to 10 Models are beginning Most classrooms use
to be phased out and these only as backup
put in county storage, if a Chromebook isn’t
used mostly in lower working or is in the
levels middle of an update.
Lower level
classrooms use the 3-
4 they are given for
learning games
during instructional
rotations
Tablets <5 Allow for Most classrooms
differentiated have at least a set of 2
instruction in or more tablets and
classrooms and have these are either used
had no service for instructional
requests rotations or the
teacher uses it for
progress monitoring
notes / behavior, etc.
Special Education
uses them for
constant records of
development and also
for enrichment
activities with certain
students
Teacher Laptops 2–6 Some models are Teachers use these
being phased out and daily whether for
updates are often personal planning,
being made but most notes, etc. or teacher
models are in great have these connected
condition to the classroom
promethean board for
lessons
Projector for 15+ These are not used Teachers stopped
Transparencies anymore and are in using these in class as
the school storage; of 3 years ago and
most are broken have been put in
storage until the
 District allows for
removal
Document Cameras 7-2 Several models are The older models that
older and not are not compatible to
compatible with newer Prometheans
newer computers and have been placed in
Prometheans but storage and those
several new models teachers who do have
have been added to them; lower level
classrooms mostly, use them
almost daily for
modeled instruction
Sound Systems with 1 - 10 Some systems have The older systems
Wearable Mics been replaced that had a lot of static
recently and more are have been removed
expected to be while the newest
replaced each year as systems have been
they older systems used daily for video
wear down. Wearable viewing, interactive
pieces are easy to use lessons and assisted
and work well listening for the
hearing impaired
students
Tape Players and 20 + Not working well or These have all been
Headsets broken placed in storage
until the District
allows for their
removal

This experience taught me that although we have a lot of technology available to the

school, the age of the device is really important. From the teacher’s perspective, we just fill out a

maintenance form when something breaks or slows down. However, the technology specialist

has to look up information about the equipment beyond the form’s complaint and then check for

service options as well as alternatives in case something cannot be fixed right away. I also

learned that there is a lot of old items left in a school building and personally, I am not sure why.

They say the District has to grant permission for removal but that is a slow process. I don’t

understand why things are left to further deteriorate when they could be sent to poorer schools or

private that could use the items. It all seems a bit of a waste to me.
Assignment 3 - Creating a multimedia product displaying your skills of a new
technology within an organization

To help teachers in my school create easier communication links with their student’s

families, I have created a tutorial on how to use the conference set up option on Bloomz.

Teachers can watch and follow along to my tutorial on how to set up a conference signup sheet

that can be sent out electronically, or they can watch another tutorial from the app itself as I

show them where to find that.

I choose to focus on the conferencing capabilities of the Bloomz app because we are

getting close to our first report card time and many teacher will be trying to reach out to families

to come in for a one on one conference. In the past this has been a really hard thing to

accomplish as students loose the signup sheets or parents forget to come and such. With this

feature on Bloomz there is no paper waste and both the parents and the teacher can get reminders

about when the conference is on their phones.

When I was creating this video, I personally felt comfortable talking behind the camera

as I knew this is going to benefit my colleagues. However, I did find that it was difficult to

completely explain the app’s features because I was not actually setting up a conference. I just

wanted other teachers to see where they can go to begin the set up and prepare them for the

questions they will have to answer when creating their conference signup. I also didn’t want to

go too long on the topic since it would be easy for an audience to lose interest so I was trying to

be as informative as I could be in a short amount of time.

Please watch at: Bloomz Conferencing

Assignment 4: Conduct an instructional technology deficit analysis

Summary / Notes Date/Time

Objective and Most of the items in the Information is based on data
Observational Data gathered from 9/17/18 –
technology room are in one of
Summary 9/21/18
two categories; old and obsolete
or non-compatible.
Items in the current classrooms
range from being ten years old or
younger while at the same time
some classrooms have retained
items that are not in use (TV’s)
but required to stay there. The
breakdown of the major pieces of
equipment are as follows:
- 5th grade hall, all
Prometheans are ten years
old along with 2 of 4
sound systems and the
pieces of equipment that
goes along with them
however 2 rooms have
received new projectors in
the last 2 years
- 4th grade hall,
Prometheans are about 8-9
years of age as well as the
sound systems and pieces
that accompany the
equipment
- 3rd the boards are about 7-
8 years old but new
 projectors have been put
in 2 of 4 rooms as well as
a new sound system in one
room
- 2nd grade hall is split up
and in one hallway the
promethean systems and
sound systems are about
5-6 years of age
- 1st grade hall have systems
that are about 6 years old
with one system currently
not working and have a
projector ordered, sound
systems are also old and
no plans have been made
to replace them
- K5 hallway has some of
the newer Prometheans
and sound systems in that
they are about 5 years old
since that wing is newest
to the building
- Special Education does
not have promethean
boards as of yet
- The Art classroom has an
older model promethean
that seems to work fine
along with its sound
system. These items are
 about 7 years old;
however the Music
classroom has a brand
new system as of last year
that is a projector only and
the teacher can touch her
whiteboard (or connected
laptop) to manipulate the
screen
Target Questions – 1. Did all equipment come Monday, October 22, 2018 at
Librarian/Technology
with a warranty? 2:30 p.m.
Specialist
a. If yes, how long 1. Yes, about 3-5 years
did the warranty depending on vendor
last? 2. Projectors / Sound
2. What pieces of equipment Systems
from the Promethean 3. Board itself (about
systems has been the $5,000 ea.)
faultiest? 4. Older boards (round
3. Which piece from the 1) pens are no longer
Promethean systems is the replaceable (they
most expensive to replace have tried to find
or fix? overseas contacts to
4. Are there any pieces that find the pens and no
are hard to find? plan is currently in
5. Is there a system in place place we are aware of
(online datasheet) to give to resolve this issue).
you a heads up when a 5. At the District level
piece of equipment has there is so that we can
reached the end of its pull items that will
warranty or has reached a not be able to be fixed
(760 computers –
 milestone such as 10 keep until they die but
years? will not be replaced)
6. Have you thought about paper records at the
alternate equipment for individual school with
the school? asset tags that tell
a. If yes, what things about the warranty.
have you looked 6. Yes, such as Epson
into? Projectors are all in 1
7. Have you looked into so it’s interactive
software to help you without an expensive
organize the technology board and parts are
data in your building? easier to find.
a. If yes, what 7. No, stick to the
programs have you individual sheets of
considered? records
Target Questions – 1. Did all equipment come Monday, October 22, 2018 at
Secondary Technology
with a warranty? 3:30 p.m.
Specialist (receives work
orders in the school based a. If yes, how long 1. Yes, about 2 years
on software and general
did the warranty 2. Pens, document
maintenance, determines
of issues need to be last? cameras
forwarded to District
2. What pieces of equipment 3. Boards
specialists)
from the Promethean 4. Light bulbs and older
systems has been the equipment like the
faultiest? pens and slates are
3. Which piece from the hard to find or pair up
Promethean systems is the 5. Yearly paper
most expensive to replace inventory done by the
or fix? asset person in the
4. Are there any pieces that building
are hard to find?
 5. Is there a system in place 6. Yes, but we do not
(online datasheet) to give have the funding
you a heads up when a available
piece of equipment has 7. No, it has to be
reached the end of its contracted because of
warranty or has reached a copywrite
milestone such as 10
years?
6. Have you thought about
alternate equipment for
the school?
a. If yes, what things
have you looked
into?
7. Have you looked into
software to help you
organize the technology
data in your building?
a. If yes, what
programs have you
considered?
Target Questions – 1. Did all equipment come Monday, October 22, 2018 at
Technology Account
with a warranty? 1:30 p.m.
Holder (technology work
orders are filtered through b. If yes, how long 1. Yes, about 2 years
an account held by this
did the warranty 2. Converter box,
individual)
last? projector bulbs, pens
2. What pieces of equipment 3. Board itself
from the Promethean 4. Pens (recently they
systems has been the have to be ordered
faultiest? overseas)
 3. Which piece from the 5. Asset Tag on the
Promethean systems is the actual equipment
most expensive to replace 6. Yes, Smartboards
or fix? 7. No
4. Are there any pieces that
are hard to find?
5. Is there a system in place
(online datasheet) to give
you a heads up when a
piece of equipment has
reached the end of its
warranty or has reached a
milestone such as 10
years?
6. Have you thought about
alternate equipment for
the school?
a. If yes, what things
have you looked
into?
7. Have you looked into
software to help you
organize the technology
data in your building?
a. If yes, what
programs have you
considered?
Identified Deficit Having reviewed the inventory from the school and asked

several questions to those in charge of the equipment, storage and

overall inventory; I have come to the conclusion that the school is

 in need to a system that will help them digitally monitor their

warranties and service notes more efficiently. As of right now, the

school sends all major service repair requests to the District who

then reviews the request and send out their specialist for the

equipment. At the school level, these requests are filled and then

no longer reviewed. The technology specialist says that broken

devices are often still kept in the classrooms and notes are made

on paper inventories that are filled out at the end of each school

year by the classroom teachers. No software is kept that logs all

the equipment along with their warranties and dates of service.

It seems to me that the school could benefit from a software

program that allows them to track all equipment in the school (not

just on paper) and that would also allow them to note when

repairs were made and the extent of these repairs. I feel that this

piece of information could be important especially when the times

comes for them to be making requests to the District to replace

something such as a Promethean Board.

Goal My overall goal for this school is to find a software program that

will help them track their schools technology equipment; rather

than using a paper pencil method, so that they will have an easier

time of locating equipment as well as be more aware of ending

warranties and keep a list of needed repairs to equipment over the

years.
Assignment 5

Based on the information that was gathered at my school, the real issue within the

establishment in relation to their technology is that their equipment is becoming out of date

which is causing the influx of work orders. Other then yearly paper logs there is no method in

place for tracking equipment and its fixes and it also creates an issue in that many of the older

models are not compatible with newer software and additional equipment. The need for these

technologies in the classroom can be justified in multiple texts including Koster, Volman and

Kuiper’s article on how several schools in their study concluded the daily need of technology

and how it’s a regular part of their teaching now.

Technology provides us with a means of being more productive as well as proficient and

schools can benefit from this as well in their classrooms. Administrators need to be aware of the

awesome potential of technology in their schools (Connor, Farley & Wise 2010) but they also

need to be aware of the age limits on these machines. In the article from Kowch, he speaks about

how technology change is the prime reason for issues within organizations and this trickles down

and affects all employees within the establishment. When things begin to not work properly, it

affects everyone eventually and in a school this in true in that items might now need to be

borrowed until technology is fixed or replaced and students can fall behind by not having much

needed resources available to them. That being said, administration should not go out and buy

just anything to fix the problem. Items must be compatible and staff needs to be able to

manipulate and utilize equipment to the fullest potential for student benefit. This is related in the

article by Puranam, Singh and Zollo who talk about utilizing what you are given while not

disrupting the workplace. So again, administrators need to be careful in how they go about

acquiring technology and how they plan to maintain their technology so that students will be up
to date and familiar with future computer systems. This concern was voiced by Udo Jahn in his

article on The Education Gap. From his perspective, he was experiencing students coming into

his work and learning environment who were grossly unprepared for the technology and

equipment that are used in the real world. Students had been trained on inferior machines and

such that were of no benefit and are outdated. Schools need to make more efforts to keep

equipment up to date and relevant to today’s learners rather than looking for a bargain on items

with outdate themselves in just a few years.

Based on the deficit as well as the personal preferences mentioned by the technology

persons at the school, there are several things that can be done to remedy the situation. After

looking at several options of interactive whiteboards and the differences between them from the

Our ICT article, the various pieces of equipment used in interactive boards can add up and cause

a lot of cost as well as mean many different pieces that can break and need replacing. A smarter

option that could be a BrightLink Interactive display that only requires a projection and no pen or

extra board mount. This can save teachers board space as well as not require the use of a pen for

interactions. There are models that run up to three thousand which is comparable to the amount

spent on the current boards and materials in the school, or there are cheaper models that require a

pen but you still do not have to buy a separate board. The materials needed are fewer and the

lightbulbs last longer than in the schools current interactive boards. Another option that should

be considered by the school administration is a system that would allow for the technology

specialist to interface with the rest of the staff in terms of reporting technology issues and

keeping a record of all the times a piece of equipment was serviced. Some programs such as that

from eVisions can be purchased at the District level so that all equipment in the schools can be

logged and tracked. This way when an administrator wants to know why certain pieces of
equipment are wearing down, they can access the information easily and without the current

specialist tracking down the paperwork to show the number of times it has had to be fixed or

when the warranty failed. A simpler solution at the school level would be to purchase a software

package that can be loaded onto the computer(s) of the technology specialist such as

MyDataBase and this would allow her to store information on each piece of equipment and

create manageable reports that can be forwarded to administration when needed. Teachers can

send information that can then be entered by the specialist for later retrieval and reporting.

Altogether, there are several options available for the school to look into. Organizing

their information into sharable documents for administration would be a good first step to take so

that when the time comes for replacing equipment or having it serviced there is a places to keep

record of it that would be easily retrievable later on. Another option would be to look into

interactive systems for the future that require less equipment to maintain and allow for easy

management by the teachers and staff that would use the systems. There are many new devices

available now that do not come with the implications that were experienced with the previous

and current equipment. All options would be a good fit the school to look into.
Assignment 6

Current State Steps, Processes and Desire State

Products Discovered in the
Research Process
Equipment is getting to be Based on the articles that Find both an alternate method
over 10 years old and there is were read, there are two of tracking school equipment
no reliable system in place for approaches that can be taken as well as find products that
tracking equipment to aid this school: are newer and require less
electronically to keep up with 1 – Purchase a database maintenance.
maintenance, warranties, etc. system that will allow the
technology specialist to either
keep a running record of the
equipment at the school and
can be easily accessed when
needed; or, convince the
school to purchase a system
that all teachers can access
when they need to inform the
school about a technology
issue.
2 – The school should
consider looking into
replacing the current
Promethean equipment in the
classrooms (in phases) with
higher quality machines that
require less parts and
therefore will not require as
much maintenance.

At present, McDonald Elementary School faces the issue of older technology that is

quickly outdating itself and they are in need of a new management system to track all the work

orders and also suggestions of other potential interactive equipment that in the long run will not

cost them as much to maintain. The goal is to offer suggestions of new technology that will allow

the technology specialist as well as school administrators to monitor the maintenance of their

devices and let them further plan ahead for when their equipment begins to wear down and

warranties expire.
 McDonald Elementary School is currently facing the persistent issue of necessary

equipment wearing down and overall costing the school time and money in efforts to fix the

issues. This is causing the teachers in the building to either not have the necessary teaching tools

readily available for lessons or they are faced with equipment only half working. Some of these

issues include:

1. Promethean lightbulbs burning out quickly

2. Promethean pens becoming discontinued by the distributer and alternatives are
not offered by the company
3. Poor quality of images on screens
4. Sound systems not working properly with the Promethean system
5. Other current technology is not compatible with the Promethean system
6. The Promethean systems are all past warranty
7. Information on any technology equipment is kept on paper and updated once a
year by teachers in their classrooms
8. Readily available technology information is not stored on a shared database for
administration to access when needed
Based on the research gathered, the school would do well to begin the process of

replacing their current interactive boards with higher quality machines that cost about the same

as the previous systems but will require less maintenance and less bulky pieces. Space is always

a concern in classrooms by switching to a touch projector, teachers would maintain their

whiteboard space and not have to worry about a pen. This system is estimated to be cheaper than

the whole bundle from Promethean they purchased up to ten years ago but there are also

variations to the projectors available so price is negotiable. Another things for the school to

consider is purchasing a database for the tracking of all of their equipment in the building. While

the paper and pencil method has worked well, it would be beneficial for the school to consider

consolidating their information so that when needed, data can be pulled and printed on one

particular item and presented when needed to administration.

 Depending on what the school wants to invest in, a good solution would be for them to

look more into the Epson Projector systems. These machines are comparable cost, offer less

equipment to maintain, high quality, compatible with most software and external hardware and

allow teachers to maintain learning space on their boards when not in use. In addition to these

systems, McDonald might also want to consider a simple program such as MyDataBase to begin

an electronic tracking system of all of their school technology equipment so that administration

can present data to the District on the quality and condition of their devices when it comes time

to petition for funding to purchase higher quality equipment for the classrooms such as the Epson

projector systems.