Technology Action Plan for EDLD 5352

I used many different sources of information in order to gain insight into the needs of my school for staff development on technology. The first thing that I used was the STaR chart. The STaR chart shows that the area in which we have the greatest area of need is educator preparation and development. This means that I need to find staff development that will help these teachers to become more comfortable with technology and understand its uses. I also looked at the district's technology plan. This plan determined need for the school district. According to this plan our school district has a need for, " professional development experiences with support to integrate all aspects of technology into instruction, technology vision and planning, technical support, instructional technology staff, and effective use of the technology budget. " (Giddings ISD Technology Plan, 2009-2012). A third thing that I used to determine needs for technology staff development is the fact that I personally know that in the eleven years that I have been in the school district we have not had any type of staff development on using data, especially as it applies to assessment.

I determined that since the school district attempted previously to lead one day sessions on technology introducing several technology tools in one day and this was not successful, I would like to alter the way that this professional development is presented. Instead, I would like to first establish a need for this professional development by introducing the staff to the STaR chart, technology plan, improvement plans for both the school and the district since many of our teachers are not aware of any of this and what it means. Then I would like to spend one half day staff development in technology training every six weeks. This would give the teachers time to be introduced to the technology tool, use it in a professional development setting, and then give them time to use it in their classrooms. I feel that this would especially work well with our new school year calendar that we have established for next school year that puts staff development throughout the school year instead of all at the beginning or end of the school year as in past years. As a part of this professional development I would like to have the teachers design a lesson for their grade level using the technology tool and then as administrators look at lesson plans and do walk through observations there would be an expectation of use of the technology tool for that six weeks being used at least once. Then, at the next professional development I would give the teachers an opportunity for reflection on how the lesson went and any problems or questions that they had so that the staff could collaborate on problem solving ways to improve the use of the tool. This would also give the staff a chance to see and hear about how the technology tool had been used in different grade levels and hopefully give the teachers more ideas of ways they could incorporate the tool into their classroom setting.

Giddings Independent School District Technology Plan. Giddings Independent School District. 2009-2012.

Texas STaR Chart. Accessed March 17, 2011. http://starchart.esc12.net/

Introductory Professional Development Session:

Place: Cafeteria Date: August 15, 2011 Time: 8:00 a.m.

**This will be a part of the regular faculty meetings that occur that establish procedures/expectations for the school year.

Action	Rationale	Person Responsible	Materials	Time
Review norms	Establish an environment in which teachers can communicate their thoughts and ideas without fear.	Terry Boyd	Posted list of norms	1 minute
Introduce STaR chart data, district technology plan, campus and district improvement plans to teachers and explain rationale for technology professional development as well as format.	Introduce teachers to data used to determine need for professional development, communicate format and expectations of professional development and use of technology tools for the school year.	Terry Boyd will explain the data. Charlotte Penn will explain the expectations of technology use, what she will be looking for in evaluations, and the assessment rubric.	STaR chart data; District Technology Plan; Campus Improvement plan; District Improvement plan; schedule of professional development sessions; copy of expectations for classroom use of tools; copy of evaluation rubric to be used for assessment of use of tool	14 minutes

First session of Technology Professional Development: Data from AEIS/AYP/Eduphoria

Place: Computer lab Date: August 16, 2011 Time: 8:00 a.m.

Action		Rationale	Person Responsible	Materials	Time
Review norms		Establish an environment in which teachers can communicate their thoughts and ideas without fear.	Terry Boyd	Posted list of norms	1 minute
Review rationale for professional development sessions.		Establish purpose for professional development for increased learning from staff members.	Terry Boyd	none	3 minutes
Introduce AEIS charts and explain how to use them and determining AYP. Practice finding information of AEIS chart as whole group explanation.		Give explanation to teachers to provide guide for use. Give teachers practice using data in whole group setting so that they can visually see the process and how the chart is used.	Terry Boyd	PowerPoint presentation on AEIS and AYP; AEIS charts (individual copies) Elmo	15 minutes
Divide into groups of teachers and practice using charts to answer specific questions in small group setting for collaboration on using charts.		Give teachers practice in finding information using AEIS chart in a small group setting to diminish fear of using alone.	Terry Boyd **counselor, principal, assistant principal, and I will walk around and offer assistance and answer questions as needed.	AEIS charts questions to answer on charts; pens/pencils; calculators	15 minutes
Come back together in a whole group to discuss answers to questions and to reflect on process.		Give teachers validation of work and give time to reflect on the data, its use, and the process of using data.	Terry Boyd	Answered questions from AEIS data; Elmo; AEIS charts	10 minutes
Break time-		Give teachers a break so that they can rejuvenate and meet their needs as well as give presenters time to change focus of session.	Terry Boyd	none	5 minutes
Introduce Eduphoria software that is newly purchased for our campus. Explain uses; give guided tour of program; answer any questions.		Give teachers an overview of the Eduphoria program so that they understand the uses of the program as well as learn where to find information on the site.	Terry Boyd	Computers; Printout of Eduphoria information; Step by step instructions for Eduphoria	30 minutes
Give teachers in groups of 2-3 tasks to accomplish using Eduphoria and a preset made up class of students. Have teachers complete activity together.		Give teachers practice in finding information using Eduphoria as well as in using Eduphoria in their classrooms.	Terry Boyd	Computer; Printout of Eduphoria information; step by step instructions for Eduphoria; questions/tasks for teachers to answer and accomplish using Eduphoria.	1 hour
Have teachers come back together and reflect on their experience. Guide teachers through determining uses for Eduphoria. Remind teachers of rubric and expectations for use. Give teachers first "assignment" of using Eduphoria for getting baseline scores for use in determining RTI and tutoring for beginning of the school year.		Give teachers time to reflect, give them a purpose and an expectation for use of this program in their classrooms. Establishing a set expectation "assignment for the first tool will also give the teachers an example of what is expected as far as setting plans for use of future tools that are introduced.	Terry Boyd	Questions/tasks that teachers completed using Eduphoria; computers; individual copies of "assignment" in writing and rubric to be used for assessment.	15 minutes.
Have teachers fill out evaluation of session.		Give teachers a voice as to what worked or did not work in the professional development to monitor whether or not the format or any part of the professional development needs to change for if it is working well.	Terry Boyd will explain the process of evaluating and the evaluation form. Teachers will fill out forms as an evaluation.	Evaluation forms for professional development sessions.	3 minutes

Second session of Technology Professional Development: SMART board and SMART tables

Place: Computer lab/individual classrooms Date: September 28, 2011 Time: 1:00 p.m.

Action	Rationale	Person Responsible	Materials	Time
Review norms	Establish an environment in which teachers can communicate their thoughts and ideas without fear.	Terry Boyd	Posted list of norms	1 minute
Review last professional development session and give time for each grade level to report on use of Eduphoria in the classrooms over the six weeks.	Give time for reflection to gauge where teachers are on their acceptance of the technology tool and to give an opportunity to have grade levels give examples of how they used Eduphoria; what they thought about it; and other ideas for use in the future.	Terry Boyd will lead the discussion and the teachers will reflect on their learning.	none	12 minutes ( 3 per grade level)
Introduce SMART board and SMART table. Explain uses and give guided tour of tools as well as sites for gaining resources for the use of these tools. Included in this will be steps showing how to access lessons that have already been made as well as create lessons.	Give teachers an overview of SMART tools that we have available on our campus so that they understand the uses of them, learn how to maneuver around them and the site with resources as well as how to create documents for use with both tools.	Terry Boyd	SMART board; SMART table; Printout of step by step directions for accessing site with lessons that have already been made and using tools for the SMART products. Computer; Elmo	20 minutes
Send teachers to classrooms in grade level groups to find a lesson that has already been made that they want to show the campus and to create a lesson on something that is in their TEKS.	Give teachers practice in finding lessons that have already been made and tools they can use with SMART products as well as in creating lessons for use that they can use in their classrooms.	Principal, assistant principal, technology teacher,and I will walk around and offer guidance/assistance as needed for teachers working in their classrooms.	Classroom SMART boards; classroom SMART tables; Flash drives will be used for sharing; lesson plan format for documenting lessons found and created	2 hours
Have teachers share their lessons they found and created. Have them come back together and reflect on their experience.	Give teachers time to share what they have learned and give ideas to others of ways they can use this in their classrooms.	Terry Boyd Teachers of grade levels will make presentations using SMART products.	SMART board; SMART table; flash drives; Elmo; lesson plans filled in by teachers	12 minutes ( 3 minutes per grade level)
Review rubric and expectations for use of technology tool in the next six weeks of school as well as documentation in lesson plans.	Set an expectation and remind teachers of how their use will be evaluated.	Terry Boyd	Rubric for assessing	1 minute
Have teachers fill out evaluation of session.	Give teachers a voice as to what worked or did not work in the professional development to monitor whether or not the format or any part of the professional development needs to change for if it is working well.	Terry Boyd will explain the evaluations. Teachers will fill out the forms	Evaluation forms for professional development sessions	3 minutes

Third session of Technology Professional Development: web conferences

Place: Computer lab/individual classrooms Date: November 2, 2011 Time: 1:00 p.m.

Action	Rationale	Person Responsible	Materials	Time
Review norms	Establish an environment in which teachers can communicate their thoughts and ideas without fear.	Terry Boyd	A posted list of norms will be hung up to be referenced.	1 minute
Review last professional development session and give time for each grade level to report on use of SMART table and SMART board in the classrooms over the six weeks.	Give time for reflection to gauge where teachers are on their acceptance of the technology tool and to give an opportunity to have grade levels give examples of how they used the SMART board and SMART table; what they thought about it; and other ideas for use in the future.	Terry Boyd will lead the discussion and the teachers will reflect on their learning.	none	12 minutes ( 3 per grade level)
Introduce web conferences. Explain some uses and give guided tour of tools as well as how to use this tool. Especially explain web camera and microphone. Give resource list of places or people to use web conferences with in class.	Give teachers an overview of web conferences so that they understand the uses of them, and learn how to maneuver around them	Terry Boyd	Computer; web microphone and camera; step by step instructions on using web conferencing tools	20 minutes
Send teachers to individual classrooms to have them access a web conference for the campus.	Give teachers practice in using web conferences and in participating in web conferences.	Principal, assistant principal, technology teacher, and I will walk around and offer guidance/assistance as needed for teachers working in classrooms.	Individual computers with web cameras and microphones	2 hours
Have them come back together and reflect on their experience. Have teachers meet in their grade level to come up with an idea of a way they can use a web conference in the school between classes as well as using a resource list to find another way they can use web conferencing.	Give teachers time to share what they have learned and give ideas to others of ways they can use this in their classrooms. Give teachers time to work together to plan use of web conferencing for the six weeks.	Terry Boyd	Lesson plan template	12 minutes ( 3 minutes per grade level)
Review rubric and expectations for use of technology tool in the next six weeks of school as well as documentation in lesson plans.	Set an expectation and remind teachers of how their use will be evaluated.	Terry Boyd	Rubric for assessing	1 minute
Have teachers fill out evaluation of session.	Give teachers a voice as to what worked or did not work in the professional development to monitor whether or not the format or any part of the professional development needs to change for if it is working well.	Terry Boyd will explain the evaluation. Teachers will fill out the forms.	Evaluation forms for professional development sessions.	3 minutes

Fourth session of Technology Professional Development: blogging

Place: Computer lab Date: January 3, 2011 Time: 8:00 a.m.

Action	Rationale	Person Responsible	Materials	Time
Review norms	Establish an environment in which teachers can communicate their thoughts and ideas without fear.	Terry Boyd	A posted list of norms will be hung up to be read.	1 minute
Review last professional development session and give time for each grade level to report on use of web conferences in the classrooms over the six weeks.	Give time for reflection to gauge where teachers are on their acceptance of the technology tool and to give an opportunity to have grade levels give examples of how they used web conferencing; what they thought about it; and other ideas for use in the future.	Terry Boyd will lead the discussion and the teachers will reflect on their learning.	none	12 minutes ( 3 per grade level)
Introduce blogging. Explain some uses and give guided tour of tools as well as how to use this tool. Especially go over safety issues that need to be discussed with individual students.	Give teachers an overview of blogging so that they understand the uses of them, and learn how to maneuver around them as well as create them.	Terry Boyd	Computer Step by step instructions on accessing blog site, setting up account, updating blogs, etc.	20 minutes
Send teachers to individual computers to have them set up a blog and give them an assignment for their first blog.	Give teachers practice in using blogs.	Principal, assistant principal, technology teacher, and I will walk around and offer guidance/assistance as needed for teachers working on individual computers.	Individual computers	2 hours
Have them come back together and reflect on their experience. Have teachers meet in their grade level to come up with an idea of a way they can use a blog in the school between classes as well as using a resource list to find another way they can use blogging.	Give teachers time to share what they have learned and give ideas to others of ways they can use this in their classrooms. Give teachers time to work together to plan use of blogging for the six weeks.	Terry Boyd	Lesson plan template	12 minutes ( 3 minutes per grade level)
Review rubric and expectations for use of technology tool in the fourth six weeks of school as well as documentation in lesson plans.	Set an expectation and remind teachers of how their use will be evaluated.	Terry Boyd	Rubric for assessing	1 minute
Have teachers fill out evaluation of session.	Give teachers a voice as to what worked or did not work in the professional development to monitor whether or not the format or any part of the professional development needs to change for if it is working well.	Terry Boyd will explain the evaluation. Teachers will fill out the forms.	Evaluation forms for professional development sessions.	3 minutes

Fifth session of Technology Professional Development: PowerPoint

Place: Computer lab Date: February 23, 2011 Time: 1:00 p.m.

Action	Rationale	Person Responsible	Materials	Time
Review norms	Establish an environment in which teachers can communicate their thoughts and ideas without fear.	Terry Boyd	A posted list of norms will be hung to be read.	1 minute
Review last professional development session and give time for each grade level to report on use of blogging in the classrooms over the six weeks.	Give time for reflection to gauge where teachers are on their acceptance of the technology tool and to give an opportunity to have grade levels give examples of how they used blogging; what they thought about it; and other ideas for use in the future.	Terry Boyd will lead a discussion and the teachers will reflect on their learning.	none	12 minutes ( 3 per grade level)
Introduce PowerPoint; Explain some uses and give guided tour of tools as well as how to use this tool. Especially go over ethical use of materials found on the internet that need to be discussed with individual students.	Give teachers an overview of PowerPoint so that they understand the uses of them, and learn how to maneuver around them as well as create them.	Terry Boyd	Computer Step by step instructions on accessing PowerPoint program, accessing images, changing the look of a PowerPoint, etc.	20 minutes
Send teachers to computers in groups of 2-3 to have them create a PowerPoint to use in their classrooms.	Give teachers practice in using PowerPoint.	Principal, assistant principal, technology teacher, and I will walk around and offer guidance/assistance as needed for teachers working on individual computers.	computers	2 hours
Have them come back together and reflect on their experience. Have teachers meet in their grade level to come up with an idea of a way they can use a PowerPoint in the school to teach students as well as having students create PowerPoint as an assignment.	Give teachers time to share what they have learned and give ideas to others of ways they can use this in their classrooms. Give teachers time to work together to plan use of PowerPoint for the six weeks.	Terry Boyd	Lesson plan template	12 minutes ( 3 minutes per grade level)
Review rubric and expectations for use of technology tool in the six weeks as well as documentation in lesson plans.	Set an expectation and remind teachers of how their use will be evaluated.	Terry Boyd	Rubric for assessing	1 minute
Have teachers fill out evaluation of session.	Give teachers a voice as to what worked or did not work in the professional development to monitor whether or not the format or any part of the professional development needs to change for if it is working well.	Terry Boyd will explain the evaluation. Teachers will fill out the forms.	Evaluation forms for professional development sessions.	3 minutes

Evaluation of professional development:

In order to evaluate the professional development that was done over technology over the school year there will be evaluation reports done at the end of every session. This evaluation will ask the teachers to give their opinion of the staff development. It will ask what they learned that they found beneficial, what they would improve upon, and how they intend on using what they learned in the future.

Another form of evaluation of the professional development will be whether or not the teachers are successful at using the technology tool that was introduced in their classroom. If the teachers are not using the technology tool, or are using it incorrectly, the professional development will need to change to improve use of the technology tool and the understanding of the teachers.

A third form of evaluation will be when the teachers fill out the STaR chart the next time to see if their rating of the campus and of themselves has increased from what it was previously.

A fourth form of evaluation will be when the campus and district improvement plans show evidence of understanding of the importance of technology professional development and resources set aside for the development of this important component of education.

Evaluation of technology use:

The use of the technology tool that is introduced in the professional development will be evaluated by evidence in lesson plans and in walk through observations conducted by the principal and the assistant principal. Part of what they will be looking for will be how successfully the teachers chose the correct tool in their lesson plans for the purpose of the assignment or learning instead of just choosing it to get a check on their to-do list.

Another form of evaluation will be when the teachers fill out the STaR chart and change their rating of the campus and of themselves to a higher level than they previously rated themselves.

A third evaluation tool will be whether the campus and district improvement plans begin to show more evidence of understanding of technology use and the importance of integration of technology into all areas.

Evaluation of gathering/analysis/use of data:

The gathering, analysis, and use of the data from technology sources will be evaluated in professional learning communities and in RTI meetings with how the teachers use the data available to them to guide their instruction.

Another evaluation tool will be whether or not the campus and district improvement plans show evidence of understanding of the importance of technology in data collection, disaggregation, and use.

Evaluation of integration of technology:

The integration of technology will be evaluated by looking at lesson plans for evidence of integration as well as how well the teacher used the technology in his or her lesson plans.

Another form of evaluation will be when the teachers fill out the STaR chart the next time to see if their rating of the campus and of themselves has increased from what it was previously.

Evidence of integration of technology will be when technology becomes more of a buzz word that is found in all aspects of the school day. The students and teachers will naturally use technology to accomplish tasks and the important documents of the district and campus such as the technology plans and improvement plans for the campus and district will show an effort is being made to integrate technology into all areas, provide funding for technology, and time for teachers to use technology. Evidence would also show that the district is doing what it can to maintain the infrastructure in the district to make technology integration easier and less frustrating for everyone involved.