Tech+Standard+7

Technology Facilitator Standard VII: Procedures, Policies, Planning, and Budgeting for Technology Environments



**__Self-Assessment__** As a technology leader and a Tech Committee member on my campus I am familiar with TF/TL VII, Procedures, Policies, Planning, and Budgeting for Technology Environment. Each year the committee receives technology needs requests from the staff and it has been the committee’s responsibility to set priority for technology purchases. In recent years with decrease in the budget it has been very important to set priority on long term investment. Even though our campus is in the midst of modernization with each classroom being equipped with Internet access and teaching tools there aren’t enough student computer stations to reap the benefit. “Despite these achievements, lack of access to technology is still perceived as a common obstacle to implementing technology for instruction. In fact, in a 2006 random national survey of 1,000 teachers, over half (55%) of teachers indicated that insufficient access prevented them from fully integrating technology into the curriculum.” (Williams & Redish, 2009, p.148) This statistics is similar on our campus. One of the solution was to create computer lab carts that teachers could checkout. Each cart is equipped with twenty laptops with wireless capacity. We found that laptops were more cost efficient than workstations. They have become smaller and cheaper. Even so the equipments are inadequate. An ideal situation would be to provide one computer per student. “The missing technological element is true one-to-one computing, in which each student has a device he or she can work on, keep, customize, and take home. For true technological advance to occur, the computers must be personal to each learner…Any ratio that involves sharing computers -- even two kids to a computer -- will delay the technology revolution from happening.” (Prensky, 2008, pp. 7-8) **__Learn as a Learner__** Since I’ve been teaching Graphic Design and Animation for the last six years I’ve learned to maintain a computer lab. I’ve learned and teach the infrastructure of LAN network to my students as well as to staff members. Most home computer users are unfamiliar with location of file storage. I have encountered many students and staff who were unaware of where they were saving their files. They have also on many occasions have printed their documents to other locations instead of the local printers. In my class one of my first lesson is to teach my students my network and storage locations. I recall when I first started this job that there wasn’t a professional development dedicated to teaching the staff about the technology infrastructure. I learned it through other teachers. Since I’ve worked in computer industry it was not difficult to understand. I was already familiar with network system. However, I can imagine veteran teachers who get frustrated with technology with a simple issue such as file storage. I’ve learned that once they understand simple concepts they are more open to learning new things. **__Lifelong Learning Skills__** As our campus move toward modernizing with technology, storage will become an issue. We have already came across the issue of lack of storage as more and more students and staff are keeping digital documents instead of paper copies. In my Animation and Graphic Design classes we use large amount of storage. Some projects have use up to two gigabytes of storage and with 150 students our network storage is running out of capacity. If every teacher is expected to incorporate technology into his or her curriculum the technology capacity must support it. The future of computing and storage seem to lie in cloud computing option. “Cloud computing has already transformed the way users of the Internet think about computing and communication, data storage and access, and collaborative work. Cloud-based applications and services are available to many school students today, and more schools are employing cloud-based tools all the time. Now schools are looking to outsource significant parts of their infrastructure, such as email and backups, to cloud providers.” (The New Media Consortium, 2011, p.6) Additionally, transitioning to cloud computing makes better financial sense than purchasing expensive server hardware.

References Prensky, M. (2008). Adopt and adapt: Shaping tech for the classroom. Edutopia: The George Lucas Educational Foundation. The New Media Consortium. (2011). //The NMC Horizon Report: 2011 k-12 edition.// Retrieved August 30, 2011, from New Media Consortium: [] Williamson, J., & Redish, T. (2009). ISTE's Technology Facilitation and Leadership Standards: What Every K-12 Leaders Should Know and Be Able to Do. Eugene: International Society for Technology in Education.


 * **VII.** || **Procedures, Policies, Planning, and Budgeting for Technology Environments** ||
 * || Educational technology facilitators promote the development and implementation of technology infrastructure, procedures, policies, plans, and budgets for PK-12 schools. Educational technology facilitators: ||
 * A. || Use the school technology facilities and resources to implement classroom instruction. Candidates: ||
 * || 1. use plans to configure software/computer/technology systems and related peripherals in laboratory, classroom cluster, and other appropriate instructional arrangements. ||
 * || 2. use local mass storage devices and media to store and retrieve information and resources. ||
 * || 3. discuss issues related to selecting, installing, and maintaining wide area networks (WAN) for school districts. ||
 * || 4. model integration of software used in classroom and administrative settings including productivity tools, information access/telecommunications tools, multimedia/hypermedia tools, school management tools, evaluation/portfolio tools, and computer-based instruction. ||
 * || 5. utilize methods of installation, maintenance, inventory, and management of software libraries. ||
 * || 6. use and apply strategies for troubleshooting and maintaining various hardware/software configurations found in school settings. ||
 * || 7. use network software packages to operate a computer network system. ||
 * || 8. work with technology support personnel to maximize the use of technology resources by administrators, teachers, and students to improve student learning. ||
 * B. || Follow procedures and guidelines used in planning and purchasing technology resources. Candidates: ||
 * || 1. identify instructional software to support and enhance the school curriculum and develop recommendations for purchase. ||
 * || 2. discuss and apply guidelines for budget planning and management procedures related to educational computing and technology facilities and resources. ||
 * || 3. discuss and apply procedures related to troubleshooting and preventative maintenance of technology infrastructure. ||
 * || 4. apply current information involving facilities planning issues and computer-related technologies. ||
 * || 5. suggest policies and procedures concerning staging, scheduling, and security for managing computers/technology in a variety of school/laboratory/classroom settings. ||
 * || 6. use distance and online learning facilities. ||
 * || 7. describe and identify recommended specifications for purchasing technology systems in school settings. ||
 * C. || Participate in professional development opportunities related to the management of school facilities, technology resources, and purchases. Candidates: ||
 * || 1. support technology professional development at the building/school level utilizing adult learning theory. ||