ITEC

7410: SIP Plan/Technology Plan Analysis

Name: Iliana Lourie Semester: Summer 2016

School Improvement Plan Analysis:

What is your schools mission/vision?
The purpose of Tianjin International School (TIS) is to provide a well-rounded
education for expatriate children in a maturing environment. The schools vision for
students and staff is to be lifetime global citizens of truth, integrity, service and
excellence who positively influence society.
What are the targeted areas for improvement (ex. fourth-grade math, improved
LA scores for ESOL population, etc.) and the specific goals related to this
improvement area that are set forth in the SIP (ex. % gain in CRCT scores)?
TIS is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and
was recently visited by a committee to assess school performance. There are four
areas of focus that were identified by the visiting committee as needing further
development. These areas include Professional Development, Assessment, and
Curriculum. In Professional Development, the goal is to establish norms and
expectations in order to maximize use of technology resources and embed
innovative uses of technology in classroom instruction in all divisions. For
Assessment, the goal set by TIS is to implement a systematic review process in order
to evaluate programs, instructional strategies, and assessment methods toward
improved student learning. This includes the evaluation of technology platforms and
their impact on student learning. In Curriculum, TIS will develop school-wide norms
and expectations on how teachers will use technology in their classroom instruction.
This will be accomplished by using the SAMR model and assessed through student
and teacher feedback.

 How does your SIP address the needs of diverse populations regarding digital
technology equity for low SES and gender groups (ie. females) and assistive
technology for disabled learners? If it does not, what are your recommendations?
TISs current School Improvement Plan does not address the needs of diverse
populations regarding digital technology equity. TIS adopted a one-to-one program
several years ago and the student bodys SES is not diverse, being predominantly
affluent. This makes it possible to make devices, including MacBooks and iPads, part
of the tuition cost. However, I do have recommendations for availability of assistive
technology. Currently, the IT department is able to load various programs into the
students devices that contribute to their learning. It would be beneficial to research
assistive technologies that could be provided to students according to their need. In
turn, these technologies could be provided to the students through the school.
How is technology included in the SIP? In what ways is student technology literacy
included as a goal in your SIP? If it is not, what are your recommendations?
Technology is a major element of the School Improvement Plan. Implementation of
a plan is currently at its beginning stages focused on the research and development
of school-wide norms and expectations on teachers and their use of technology in
the classroom. The SIP is vague involving student literacy, but it makes mention of
the need for student training. I think as the plan gets implemented, new focus will
emerge that will need to address technology literacy more specifically.
Why is technology is addressed (or not addressed!) as it is?
As a member of WASC, the school must work toward improvement goals to
maintain its accreditation. Last Spring, a WASC committee visited the school to
assess the progress it had made from the previous committee visit. In their
weeklong observations, they reported that although technology is present
throughout the school, it is not used effectively in a consistent manner. This became
a critical area of focus in their report in which it was stressed that TIS should
establish norms and expectations that would maximize the use of technology
resources and embed innovative uses in classroom instruction.

 Are you pleased with the current treatment of technology-related issues in the
SIP? Why or why not?
Currently, the SIP is presenting technology goals in its developing stages. I am
pleased with their awareness of the need of assessing the use of technology and
eagerness to engage in research and focus on student learning. Also, I like the
importance placed on school-wide agreement. There is still a need for a well-
developed system that can evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the current
implementation of technology.
Would you like to see technology issues represented differently in future SIPs?
Why?
I would like technology to be represented as a tool that amplifies current practices,
whether they are effective or not. Many of the issues with technology in our school
derive from teachers and their unwillingness or fear to implement technology. Many
of these teachers have outstanding pedagogy, but have not taken the step to
enhance it with technology. Technologys ability to enhance needs to be highlighted.
What are your first thoughts of how technology could contribute toward achieving
the mission/vision/goals set forth in your school improvement plan?
When I think about the goal of lifetime global citizen section of the vision, I know
technology can an excellent tool to drive this goal. Technology provides a platform
not only to teach students to continue to learn and access any information, but also
to connect with people from around the world.
How might technology be integrated more effectively into your SIP in the future?
As I look at our current SIP, I realize it lacks direction and focus. I think resources like
the ones found on ISTE for the essential condition for implementation of technology
transformation are extremely beneficial and necessary.

District Technology Plan Analysis:

(Note: Most districts do have a plan. Contact district-level personnel for a copy if
needed.)
I am currently not working with any district, but I will be returning to Hall County
Schools after my two years in Tianjin.
What are the three main curriculum goals in your districts technology plan?

The system will increase access to technology to students.

The system will increase the use of Instructional use of technology.
The system will enhance and maintain a high level of system readiness for technology.

What strategies are outlined for achieving these goals
Ensure every new classroom is provided with the most up to date technology available,
invest in current technologies, and provide increased access to technology.
The system will provide technology resources for students that will provide enrichment
and remediation.
The instructional personnel will participate in technology integration training to improve
and support classroom instruction that will model and implement technology
integration into the standards-based classroom.
They system will continue to offer a non-traditional school setting and provide the
necessary technology resources to support students at risk.
Establish efficient business practices for completion of technology initiatives, and
establish a rotational method to refreshing existing devices.
Does the plan seem achievable over the designated timeline? Why?
I think this is a plan that can definitely be achieved over the designated timeline. I was able
to observe the initial implementation of it and it was moving quite smoothly and quickly.
Student access to technology was a primary focus, but also teacher training was also
observed.
In what ways would you like to see the plan improved?

Although I can see many effective methods for evaluation, Im concerned that there is no
specific way to measure the effect on student learning. The plan does provide important
methods that hold teachers accountable for implementation, but the effectiveness of this
implementation is not properly addressed.
What could you, in your current or a future position, do to help support implementation
of the plan?
In the future, I hope to come back as a classroom teacher and instructional coach. I think its
important that an instructional coach maintains a connection in order to better understand
the needs of the teacher. As I implement technology, I can establish methods to assess its
impact in my own classroom. Teachers who struggle with implementation can benefit
greatly from a model to follow.
How does the plan address the needs of diverse populations regarding digital technology
equity for low SES and gender groups (ie. females) and assistive technology for disabled
learners? If it does not, what are your recommendations?
One of the plans main goals is to make technology accessible to all students. Another
important element is the integration of non-traditional school settings that utilize computer-
based instructional curriculum programs.
In what ways does the plan tie-in to your local SIP?
My current school is not in Hall County and it is not part of any Georgia school district.
However, there is a trend showing the need for teacher training in effective ways to
implement technology. Additionally, both plans include student learning as a focal point of
their goals.

School Tech Plan Status:

(Note: Most schools will not have a tech plan. In this case students can only answer
question one and maybe elaborate on why there is no plan and if there ever was a
history of tech planning at that school at all.)
Is there a technology plan that is separate from the SIP at your school? If so, when
and how was it created?

Our school does not currently have a separate technology plan. The technology goals have
always been integrated into the school improvement action plans. One of the reasons
technology goals have not led to a separate plan is mainly due to how technology is viewed.
Technology is not seen as a stand-alone tool, but rather, as one of the many areas in a
teachers pedagogy that a teacher needs to adopt in order to meet students needs. For this
reason, it is addressed with all the other areas that need to be strengthened.