Summary of Huntsville ISD Technology Plan

Summary of Huntsville ISD Technology Plan
The Huntsville ISD Technology Plan is a very comprehensive document that begins with a declaration of what technology is, what technology should do, and finally, how technology will be embraced by all stakeholders in the organization. This clarification ensures that all readers of the document, and more importantly those involved in implementing the plan, have a clear understanding and a common definition from which to begin implementation of the plan.
The goals of this plan are noble in effort and clear in design. First and foremost, is the recurring theme throughout all educational initiatives, to increase student achievement. Hunstville ISD however, added an additional component to this resolute goal, to narrow the gap between all subgroup populations. This to me adds a fundamental issue of equality intended to be directly addressed through technological integration.
Strategies included in the technology plan are as follows:
Technology Acquisition Plan (TAP) was developed to address teacher technology competencies
Administrative Directives to Teachers to ADD Technology into Classroom Instruction
Technology Trainings for All New Equipment Purchased
Availability/Employment of Five Instructional Technologist
A significant portion of this plan is dedicated to specifying and clarifying the critical need for effective and sustained professional development for administrators, teachers, and staff members. Strategies for professional development include:
Staff Development is Ongoing and Systematic
All staff members are provided with technology trainings that promote progress from functional computer use to advance levels of proficiency
Trainings and Workshops will include examples of model lessons that demonstrate integration of technology in the content areas
The Technology Director will be responsible for the evaluation of the progress of this plan that will include formative and summative assessments that will be communicated to the Superintendent at mid-year and at the end of the budget year.
Budget resources include:
· Software is purchased at the campus level through site-based budgeting procedures
· Teaching and Learning
· Educator Preparation and Development
· Administrative and Support Services
· Infrastructure for Technology
Ongoing evaluation will be formative assessments that ask the following questions:
Are we meeting our defined objective?
Are the activities listed in the plan adequate to meet the objectives?
What changes should be made in the technology plan?