You're preparing next year's budget. Funds are tight and student achievement is flat. At the last school board meeting there was a debate about how the district has not spent its money wisely on technology. The legislature wants to buy every 7th grader a laptop. You feel that you are once and again between the proverbial "rock and a hard place." The Board has requested that you respond to the following questions at the next meeting.
Based upon what you are considered via this website, how would you respond to the following questions?
What has been the impact of technology on learning since we bought all of these computers?
Why do we just keep buying more and more computers?
How does the faculty use technology? What do we expect them to do with it?
Do you favor having all of the 7th graders with a laptop?
What is our technology plan anyway?
You've just completed the state-mandated Data-Driven Leadership (DDL) and Evaluator Approval classes. You passed! You viewed the power point slides, participated in the group work, did the site-based activities, and now are thinking about the role of technology in terms of your work as a school administrator and the demands placed upon your teachers.
How could technology and a district information service plan help you and your teachers? What would need to be done?
You're technology director has just left the district. You're frustrated and frankly unsettled by her departure. You don't feel like you have a great grasp of technology but know it could help you and your teachers.
How would you proceed? Who could you call to help you? How would re-write the job description? What questions would you ask each and every candidate?
Your district's web site is designed and maintained by a class of students. It is great! The kids and the parents love it and it is really preparing them for the world of work. You would like to have the site become more useful and supportive of the school improvement process.
What are your options?
You need a student information system (SIS) as described in this web site. You really wish there was a common statewide SIS system, but are worried that about the time your district purchases its own SIS the state will adopt a different system with incompatible features.
What do you do? Who do you contact to help you think through this dilemma?
