Tech Use Planning Overview

Effective technology planning can be looked at as determining the need and the how it is going to make everyone more productive, making it, "output based, not input based." See says that just like you figure all the costs of everything into a business’ budget, do the same for technology. Plan the budget around the technology and make sure it is for a short duration so it can be rethought if tech changes.

The National Education Technology Plan is an effective and powerful resource for technology use planning because it is giving districts the go ahead to invest in technology. The technology plan is pushing for innovation using technology so districts can’t ignore this. We can use this to leverage our cause when facing the school board. In my VoiceThread from last week I quoted the NETP, it wants to create “lifelong learners” “calling for a revolutionary transformation” “powered by technology” “by bringing state-of-the art technology into learning to enable, motivate, and inspire all students.” The NETP recognizes the need to bring collaboration and practical life skill applications into our classrooms, our districts need to focus on this as well.

I agree with See regarding technology plans needing to be short term. Technology changes so fast. Look at what happened in this class. The instructor went from using Xtranormal and then it was suspended and he had to use another. This is always happening. It happens with equipment and all applications of technology.

I find that "effective technology plans focus on applications, not technology," true as well. Why do you want to spend thousands of dollars on Microsoft Office when you could get the same applications using Google Apps for Education. Why do you want to spend twice as much on Apples when you can do the same things using Chromebooks. It is just a name.

I have been on the outskirts of tech planning. I have not had any real, practical experiences yet. We have tried to convince our tech department that Chromebooks would be a good answer, however, for whatever reason, they won’t approve them. I am hoping to get more involved with the tech planning this year. See pointed out how technology that is bought just because, ends up on a storage shelf somewhere. I have seen this first hand this year and was disgusted by it. Things like this happen when someone needs to spend $500,000 before such and such date. This does not help our staff or our students.