East Chambers ISD Technology Plan 2008-2011

The technology planning committee consists of Scott Campbell, Mitchell Long, Vicki Bauer, Steve Franzen, Lou Ann Rainey, Claudia Valastro, Faye Gardner, Gena Campbell, Melissa Kelley, Kandy McBride, Sylvia Menard, and Paula Pratt.  The committee identified the following actions for the next three years:

• Improve student academic achievement through the use of technology
• Integrate technology skills and use into various content areas
• Provide technology and learning opportunities to the community and parents
• Improve teacher/administrator skills in using technology in instructional settings
• Improve technical support of District equipment and software
• Increase the role of administrators in implementing technology at the building level
• Improve technology infrastructure for East Chambers ISD
• Secure funding for meeting technological needs for East Chamber ISD
• Provide documentation that technology is making a positive impact in classrooms

The technology director was appointed to develop a process for writing the campus technology plan.  Participants along with the technology director included the superintendent, campus principals, campus teacher representatives, and two librarians.  Specific needs analyzed included infrastructure, hardware/software, professional development, student achievement, instructional/technological resources and technical support.  Once the draft was complete the questions below were discussed

    Does the Plan:

• satisfy the five requirements needed for E-Rate?
• satisfy the twelve requirements of NCLB?incorporate recommendations from the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology?
• meet the Title II requirements for budgetary commitments?
• include researched-based suggestions?

Following the discussion, final edits were made to the plan, and it was submitted to TEA.

To assist in the monitoring of the evaluation plan, the technology director will schedule a minimum of one meeting per semester with each building administrator to discuss the district and campus plans to his/her campus.  In addition, he will meet weekly with the principals and other administrators to discuss progress toward the annual goals, schedule of events, concerns, and plans for action.  The Director will meet with the District Technology Committee once in the fall and once in the spring to update/revise the plan for the year and make recommendations for revisions for the following years of the plan.  Once each semester, the Director will send a report of the meetings and progress of the plan to the Superintendent.

As for the evaluation method, the building principal and teachers will be responsible for documenting that technology is being integrated into the classrooms.  The Texas STaR chart will also be used as an evaluation tool.  Teachers will be sent a survey that will allow them to express their perceptions of how technology is improving their teaching, how is has allowed their students to meet state standards, and what specific software and technology tools they have used.