Instructional Technology Leadership

Technology Improvement Plan

Angela Blocher
The areas of concern and improvement identified in my current conditions report require more

time, effort and a deeper understanding of technology integration. Our district and school are

strong supporters and advocates for implementing technology as a primary tool for instruction.

We have the devices, support, resources and availability. Our greatest need is changing the

mindset, attitude and convenience of utilizing technology as an effective and efficient

instructional tool. In order to support our staff with professional development, developing and

generating a vision with explicit and attainable goals, and identifying appropriate tools to support

our goals with accountability measures, we need time more than anything. Along with dedicating

and committing to an increased amount of time to support our staff, we also need exemplar

teachers and coaching staff to provide demonstrations and examples of what technology

integration can look like with the right mindset and training.

The following improvement plan is organized and presented as a long range plan to provide the

support needed to help our staff begin to make the shift from viewing technology as a tool

strictly available to enrich and remediate, to a tool that assists and supports daily instruction as

much as paper and pencil. The plan consists of a yearlong professional development schedule,

sample resources to investigate, observations, and collaborative meetings. Along the way data

would be collected to gauge and manage the process and continue to modify and adjust as

needed. The plan is presented in chart in chronological order representing each month of the

school year, purpose for professional development sessions, identifying its connection to the

conditions synthesis report, resources to consider, staff participants and potential cost, if

necessary. This format is consistent with the yearly expectation for professional development

planning at my school.
 Technology
Month Purpose/Focus/Plan Staff Resources/Cost
Plan Identifier
1. Organize a technology 1. Grade level 1. One full day
committee to chairs, or two half-days
collaborative develop a principal, asst. for planning.
school-wide vision for principal, Ideally this time
technology integration curriculum would be in
and set forth short term coach, addition to our
and long range goals for technology back-to-school
implementation with coach, media, district
accountability measures technology professional
and data collection trouble development
methods. Identify one or shooters, sessions.
two digital tools for digital learning Sample
school-wide use with lab instructor vision/goal
expectations of use. 2. All school statements from
2. Roll-out vision/goals staff other
to staff at first faculty districts/schools.
meeting. Solicit ISTE standards
classroom teachers as for all
exemplar model stakeholders.
classrooms for support. 2. Visual
presentation of
Vision/Goals/P vision/goals,
August
lanning handout for
each member
present, video to
support the
purpose of
shifting ones
mindset.
https://www.ted.
com/talks/carol_
dweck_the_pow
er_of_believing
_that_you_can_i
mprove
Teacher or
coach highlights
school-wide
digital tools for
implementation.
Include grade
level or grade
bans training for
tools during
 district back-to-
school
professional
development
schedule. Also,
include the need
for predictable
structures
regarding
effective use of
technology for
both teachers
and students.

1. Weekly PLTC Grade level 1. Time during

meeting ever teams, planning
Wednesday during curriculum sessions every
planning with each grade coach, first
level discuss the impact administration, Wednesday of
of the tech. vision and tech coach, as each month.
goals specific to each needed, digital Time during
grade level. Revisit learning lab monthly faculty
digital tools identified for instructor, meeting or
school-wide use. when request an
Brainstorm past tech available. additional
resources utilized and meeting each
their effectiveness. month strictly
Considerations for for professional
Vision/Goals/
growth, modification or development.
Planning
changes in current digital 2. Seek
September
tools. Establish an assistance from
Professional
understanding that the textbook
Development
first PLTC meeting each adoption
month will set a goal for publishers for
tech use within that onsite
month with professional
accountability/data development
measures identified by training and
tech. committee. What support, as long
will this look like for our as it is cost
classrooms this month? effective.
What support from
coaches are needed?
Results will be shared at
the onset of next months
meeting.
 2. Professional
development during the
second week faculty
meeting with a focus on
support requests from
PLTC meeting. Highlight
a current tech tool
required, i.e. content area
text adoption digital
resources and/or staff
members tech tool,
demonstrated by staff
member and not the
coach.
3. Coaches and
administrative staff
conduct informal
observations to monitor
and support
implementation of
technology integration as
identified by each grade
level and in conjunction
with school-wide
vision/goals. Look
specifically at
implementation of
school-wide tools. Begin
to identify exemplar
teachers as model
classrooms.
1. First Wednesday Grade level 1. Time during
PLTC meeting. Report teams, planning
out results of curriculum sessions every
implementation from coach, first
prior month. Reflect. administration, Wednesday of
Professional
Modify and adjust as tech coach, as each month.
Development
needed. Identify new needed, digital Time during
October goal, focus and/or tool, if learning lab monthly faculty
Accountability
needed, for next month. instructor, meeting or
Coach or administrator when request an
Goals/Planning
shares observations. available. additional
Discuss and reflect. Parents, meeting each
Solicit additional support students and month strictly
or resources needed from community for professional
coach. If needed, coach members. development.
 will offer to assist by 2. Financial
demonstrating support if
technology integration needed for
or, offer to cover a additional
teachers class so he/she digital tools
can observe another identified by
teacher and the grade levels.
utilization of digital 3. Schedule and
resource. plan a family
Faculty meeting curriculum night
demonstration/highlight with a focus on
of a digital tool from the technology.
required school-wide
tools or classroom
teacher. Showcase a
school or classroom
(video), that effectively
utilizes digital tools and
technology integration.
Highlight current digital
tools during yearly
curriculum night and
open house.
Continue with monthly Grade level 1. Time during
PLTC agenda regarding teams, planning
technology integration. curriculum sessions every
Reflect on current and coach, first
past use of digital tools. administration, Wednesday of
Share data and student tech coach, as each month.
surveys. needed, digital Time during
November/
During faculty meeting, learning lab monthly faculty
December Professional
present additional instructor, meeting or
(These are Development
example of staff when request an
short
implementation and available. additional
months so Goals/Planning
solicit a team to visit Technology meeting each
we typically /Accountability
another school in a Committee month strictly
combine our
nearby district that has members for professional
sessions Tech.
exhibited an effective development.
during this Integration
digital tool integration. 2. Research,
time)
Assess effectiveness and identify and
comfort level of school- contact a school
wide mandated digital with similar
tools. demographics
Technology committee and support for
meets to discuss current a team to visit
state of implementation. and observe
 Reflect on the process classrooms in
and modify and adjust as action.
needed. Discuss results 3. Research
of tech implementation additional
and next steps. resources
requested by
staff to present
at a faculty
meeting as well
as additional
resource
deemed
necessary from
classroom
observations.
Continue with monthly Grade level Time during
PLTC agenda regarding teams, planning
technology integration. curriculum sessions every
Reflect on current and coach, first
past use of digital tools. administration, Wednesday of
Share data and student tech coach, as each month.
surveys. needed, digital Time during
During faculty meeting, learning lab monthly faculty
present additional instructor, meeting or
examples of staff when request an
Professional implementation. Staff available. additional
Development members who visited the meeting each
exemplar school will month strictly
Goals/Planning report out as a team their for professional
January
/Accountability observations and development.
recommendations. Research
Tech. Begin to solicit project additional
Integration for the district resources
technology fair. requested by
Additional professional staff to present
development at a faculty
opportunities will be meeting as well
scheduled as they arise. as additional
resource
deemed
necessary from
classroom
observations.
Professional Continue with monthly Grade level Time during
February Development PLTC agenda regarding teams, planning
technology integration. curriculum sessions every
 Goals/Planning Reflect on current and coach, first
/Accountability past use of digital tools. administration, Wednesday of
Share data and student tech coach, as each month.
Tech. surveys. needed, digital Time during
Integration During faculty meeting, learning lab monthly faculty
present additional instructor, meeting or
examples of staff when request an
implementation. available. additional
Additional professional meeting each
development month strictly
opportunities will be for professional
scheduled as they arise. development.
Research
additional
resources
requested by
staff to present
at a faculty
meeting as well
as additional
resource
deemed
necessary from
classroom
observations.
Reflect on current and Grade level Time during
past use of digital tools. teams, planning
Share data and student curriculum sessions every
surveys. coach, first
During faculty meeting, administration, Wednesday of
present additional tech coach, as each month.
examples of staff needed, digital Time during
Professional
implementation. learning lab monthly faculty
Development
Additional professional instructor, meeting or
development when request an
Goals/Planning
March opportunities will be available. additional
/Accountability
scheduled as they arise. meeting each
month strictly
Tech.
for professional
Integration
development.
Research
additional
resources
requested by
staff to present
at a faculty
 meeting as well
as additional
resource
deemed
necessary from
classroom
observations.
Reflect on current and Grade level Time during
past use of digital tools. teams, planning
Share data and student curriculum sessions every
surveys. Reflect on the coach, first
yearlong goals, status of administration, Wednesday of
implementation, tech coach, as each month.
suggestions for changes, needed, digital Time during
revisions, etc. Choose a learning lab monthly faculty
staff member(s) from instructor, meeting or
each team to showcase when request an
Professional during final faculty available. additional
Development meeting next month. meeting each
month strictly
Goals/Planning for professional
April
/Accountability development.
Research
Tech. additional
Integration resources
requested by
staff to present
at a faculty
meeting as well
as additional
resource
deemed
necessary from
classroom
observations.
During the end of year Grade level Faculty meeting
faculty meeting designed teams, scheduled.
to reflect and share the curriculum Integration
Professional
past years performances, coach, surveys
Development
include an opportunity administration, developed
May for each grade level to tech coach, as thorough
Goals/Planning
highlight their best needed, digital Google.
digital tool usage with learning lab
data and accountability instructor,
measures included. when
available.
 Schedule an end of year Technology
meeting for the committee
technology committee
for final reflections and
plans for the following
school year.
Develop and distribute a
teacher and student
survey to collect
additional data regarding
tech implementation.
Identify key areas for
improvement, support
and enrichment.

The technology plan represents a more holistic view of improvements. There are areas with

unspecified or simplified plans for professional development and digitals tools. This allows for

flexibility and teacher voice in the process. I could very easily impress upon my staff what I

believe they should and should not do but we do not support our staff in this manner. We are not

a district that instructs around programs and mandates for methods of teaching. We need to allow

for teachers to participate in the process so they are more apt to develop a mindset for growth,

motivated to perform and vested in the process. There are some additional approaches I would

suggest, such as, teacher blogs to collect reflections and sharing of ideas and events like

Edmodo, opportunities to manipulate digital resources for a first-hand experience, support videos

collected along the way (see below), consultants, and individual coaching support for those least

likely to embrace technology integration.

We are fortunate to have the equipment, devices and budget to support these tools, we just need

to readjust our mindset and find the joy and convenience in digital resources.
 Additional Support Videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgLNRKQR3AI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj7QQM-ZMWc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0TbaHimigw

https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/potential-energy-problem-solving-with-technology