My Internship Process: A New Plan, A New Approach - Updating the Technology Plan
Step One: Where to begin?
As a student within the Educational Technology Program at Loyola University, I knew I wanted my internship to focus on both the integration and enhancement of technology within my school and to help or assist my school in an area that needed assistance. When I met with my Technology Manager and explained the requirements and my personal goals for my internship, she stated that my school's technology plan was outdated and needed to be updated. She also said that in order to take on the updating of this task and understand where my school is heading it was important to develop an understanding of 1:1 device programs.
After this first one-on-one meeting I submitted my Internship Proposal stating that I would assist in the updating of my school's Technology Plan and present, discuss, evaluate, and support the elements it contains.
I have included notes from my initial meeting.
Technology Plan Initial Notes
Step Two: How do I get there?
Technology Committee
It was at the recommendation of my Technology Manager that became a member of my school's Technology Committee. She made this recommendation during our second meeting regarding the updating of the technology plan. The Technology Committee was put together by my Technology Manager with the goal of communicating and collaborating in regards to my school's technology purpose, purchase, and implementation. The committee consists of administration, one staff member, outside stakeholders who have backgrounds in technology, a school board member, a member of my school's financial committee, and with my joining, two teachers.
The Technology Committee became a key component of my internship. It was through monthly/bimonthly meetings that I not only gained an understanding of direction my school community wants to go in regards to technology, but I was also able to participate in discussions and share my ideas and thoughts on the integration of technology in the classroom. I also was able to communicate with people who I needed to ask for assistance in updating the technology plan.
I am including an example of one of the committee meeting agendas. I have highlighted part of the agenda where I personally was asked to share an update on the technology plan and discuss both the goals and mission of the plan. Here I was able to discuss how I felt that the goal and mission should be a reflection of those stated in the Strategic Plan that was at the time being published for my school. I led a brief discussion and was given feedback, as well as support for moving forward in updating goals and missions to reflect those stated in the Strategic plan.
IT Meeting Agenda Example
Strategic Planning Committee
At the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year, I was asked to participate as a teacher representative in the Strategic Planning Committee. It was a year long committee that included whole group and small group meetings to discuss and develop goals and action plans.
I knew I needed to accept this invitation and participate in the creation of the Strategic Plan in order to appropriately update the technology plan. Technology was going to be an area focus of the Strategic Plan. It was through the knowledge and insight I obtained during my courses in the Educational Technology Program at Loyola University that I knew that change needs to be clear and cohesive. This knowledge reminded me that if I was to assist in the updating of the technology plan I need to make sure that the goals and missions set in that plan reflected those set in the Strategic Plan. I knew that if they did not, it would show a disorganization and a lack of cohesion within my school.
While updating the Technology Plan, I continually referenced the process used throughout the development of the Strategic Plan and the established goals and action plans within the Strategic Plan.
School Visits, Information Presentations, and Research
"The only source of knowledge is experience," - Albert Einstein
When it comes to the integration and implementation of technology goals and programs, I have learned throughout my courses in the Educational Technology Program at Loyola University that people can learn so much from the experiences of others. Learning from others and the programs they developed and implemented was a personal goal of mine when completing my internship. I value the insight and guidance I can obtain from others. I truly believe that it is through communication that we can improve upon programs that have already been developed and create new programs. Communication and collaboration became key components of my internship.
School Visit
In the spring of 2014, I was invited to visit another school within the Archdiocese to gain knowledge of their technology plan. They have already implemented a 1:1 device program and invited my principal, my school's technology manager, and a teacher representative to come and discuss their journey.
It was my technology manager who passed the invitation onto me to join. She and I agreed that since I was working to not only update the technology plan but helping to provide a teacher's point of view to the new journey my school is taking in regards to technology, it would be beneficial for me to join in visit. I have included a reflection within the blog section of this webpage that provides deeper details.
This visit helped me to better understand what it means to implement a 1:1 device program which in turn helped me better approach the mission and goals of my Technology Plan. I included a reflective blog post relating to the information I obtained from my visit in my Internship Reflection Blog. I have included a direct link to the School Visit post here.
School Visit Reflection Blog Post
iPad Presentation and Information Dinner
This winter I had the opportunity to attend a dinner at a local Archdiocesan high school to learn about their 1:1 iPad initiative. I attended this dinner with two other teachers from my school, my school's principal, and my school's Technology Manager/Director.
I felt it was important that I attended this dinner and information session because in one of the inspirations I want to be reflected in both the mission and goals of my school's Technology Plan and my approach to the integration of technology in learning environments is an understanding of where students will be going in their future, and for my students that future starts with high school.
Another reason I wanted to attend this dinner and information session was because the high school who was hosting had had great success with the implementation of the 1:1 device program, which is another goals set forth by my school's Technology Plan.
This visit helped me to not only better understand what the benefits of a 1:1 device program and the responsibility it is to take on the implementation of a 1:1 device program, but also reinforced that I needed to keep teachers and students as a main focus while updating the mission and goals of the Technology Plan.
I have included a reflection and notes from this event within the blog section of this webpage that provides deeper details. I have provided a direct link to the post here.
iPad Dinner Blog Post
Outside Research - National and Local
One area that both of the visits I attended as stated above did not fully address was the actual technology plans they used as a foundation and starting point for the programs they implemented. It was important to me that I gain an understanding of what other technology plans looked like and how they reflected the actual programs that were in place in the given school.
I focused my research on two local examples and one national example. I wanted to gain an understanding of both the format and language used by others in technology plans. I presented the information I found at a Technology Committee Meeting and used my research as a reference point throughout my internship.
I am including the Outside Research Overview I used as a resource when I presented this information at a Technology Committee Meeting.
Outside Research Overview
Step Three: It begins with a mission and is put in action through goals using the necessary tools.
Technology Plan Mission Statement
When I was given the original mission statement of the original technology plan two things stood out to me. One, the mission statement was written in 2011. Two, the mission statement was very long. These two elements became key focuses of mine during my development of the mission statement. My knowledge obtained from my work with the Strategic Planning Committee became what I am referring to as my third focus.
I knew the mission statement need to include the ideas of others and be a creation rooted in collaboration. I also knew that a lot has happened both in the world regarding technology, as well as within my school community.
To fulfill my personal goals of creating a mission statement that supports the culture of my school and the ultimate plan put in place by the Strategic Plan, I spoke with the creators of the Strategic Plan and my school's Technology Manager. It was agreed that the Technology Plan's mission should support the ideas presented as goals of the technology section of the Strategic Plan. I then presented the mission to my administration. I feel the mission statement presented in the updated technology is a representation of collaborative ideas with a clear focus on moving forward in the area of technology within my school's community.
Technology Plan Goals
The Technology Plan goals that were in place in the original Technology Plan were outdated. They no longer supported the idea of progression in the area of technology within my school. I wanted to ensure that goals I included in the updated technology reflected the action plan included in the technology section of my school's Strategic Plan, were easy to be understood and implemented, and reflected collaboration. I also needed to meet the expectation set by my principal to keep the goals clear and easy to be understood by readers/users of the Technology Plan. To achieve these components, again I used the creators of the Strategic Plan and their stated action plan within the Strategic Plan. I also discussed the goals of the Technology Committee with my Technology Manager/Director. I also was able to use the ideas and feedback given to me by colleagues and Technology Committee members, as well as administrators.
I feel the goals stated in the updated technology plan showcase how my school plans to continue to integrate technology and create a true 21st century learning environment for our students.
I have included the updated Technology Plan Mission and Goals.
Updated Technology Plan Mission and Goals
Technology Plan Technology Components
In order to implement a technology plan and create an environment that supports the successful implementation of technology within a school, there needs to be an established understanding of the technology components within the school and a reflection on how they support the technology resources available. When I was given the outdated technology plan, the Technology Component section was an area that was clearly in need of updates. It no longer reflected the technology resources my school had and the back office that had been created.
The technology components are managed by the technology department within my school, my Technology Manager/Director and a Technology Assistant. It was through meetings with them that I gained an understanding of what back office support entailed and their necessity to the running of technology within an organization. The Technology Component section provides the following overview to allow for an understanding of what technology is supported by the components listed in the section, "The technology was designed to accommodate a staff of 100 +/- and a student population that fluctuates between 560-600 students." It was important to update and keep this section in the Technology Plan. It provides an understanding of the technology program that the plan I have worked to update through this internship will support.
I have provided the updated Technology Plan Components.
Updated Technology Plan Components
Step Four: Once you have goals, you need to make a plan to achieve them.
Technology Plan Professional Development
It has been through the leadership courses I have taken in accordance with the Educational Technology Program at Loyola University, that I have come to understand that professional development is a key component to the success of reaching any goals and fulfilling a mission within a school. Technology is an area that requires a school to be aware of the needs of its staff, as well as the support needed to reach and sustain a goal.
Upon looking at the original Technology Plan, one could easily spot areas that needed to be updated. Goals set to be achieved in the 2008-2009 and 2010-2011 school years were stated, as well as the use of many programs that we have now mastered and use on a daily basis. The Technology Plan's Professional Development component needed to reflect where my school is currently and what plans it has in place to support its staff in order to fulfill its mission and reach its goals.
In order to appropriately update the Professional Development component, I needed to meet and work with my school's principal. A reflection of our meeting, as well as notes and ideas shared can be accessed in my Internship Reflection Blog.
I feel that my experience within Loyola University's Educational Technology Program truly helped me to understand what quality professional development is and why it is crucial to any Technology Plan.
I have included the updated Technology Plan Professional Development, as well as a direct link to the blog post.
Updated Technology Plan Professional Development
Professional Development. A Meeting with Administration Blog Post
Technology Plan Strategy
The original technology plan included a section devoted to showcase the strategies my school uses and planned to use to implement the mission and goals stated in the original. During discussions with my Technology Manager/Director, it was decided that this would remain a component of the updated technology plan, but was in need of updates and revisions.
It was my experience within Loyola University's Educational Technology Program that made me know that I needed assistance in the discussion of what new strategies my school planned to use to implement the integration of the updated mission and goals of the technology plan. I knew that it would be my principal who would be a key component to the success of strategies used, so it make a necessity to meet with her to discuss the strategy component of the updated technology plan.
My principal informed me that the strategy she wanted to make sure that was clearly stated in the updated strategy component was that within my school the administration, faculty, and staff approach technology with the understanding that we "challenge ourselves to look past what we are currently doing and look for the best parts of what is available and use them to support student learning in the 21st century." One of the ways she plans to employ this statement is by creating relationships with other schools and organizations. The creation of these relationships is reflected in both the professional development and strategy sections of the Technology Plan. I have included a reflection of my meeting to discuss the strategy component of the Technology Plan within my Internship Reflection Blog.
The strategy component of the technology plan provides an overview of how my school will implement the integration of the technology plan's mission and goals to ultimately create a 21st century learning environment that supports student learning and community collaboration.
I have included the updated Technology Plan Strategy, as well as a direct link to the blog post that shares my reflection of the meeting and discussion pertaining to the update Strategy.
Updated Technology Plan Strategy
There Needs To Be A Strategy Blog Post
Step Five: But wait, what if something needs to be changed?
Technology Plan Evaluation
One necessary component of a change process is to be sure that the change is creating the desired outcome and is continually being evaluated and modified to fulfill its goals. It was important to me to include a section within the updated Technology Plan that provided an clear overview of the flexibility of the plan. This section is the Technology Plan Evaluation Process section.
The Technology Plan Evaluation Process section reflects the philosophy that any change that is made within the my school as a result or reflection of the updated Technology Plan should be able to be evaluated and/or changed with the approval of the principal or Technology Director. I was able to write a blog post highlighting how I personally feel about the Evaluation Process section of the Technology Plan, and its importance regarding the overall change process.
I have included the updated Technology Plan Evaluation Process. I also included a direct link to the blog post that highlights my reflection of the Evaluation Process section, "If we change, what will we notice?"
Updated Technology Plan Evaluation Process
If we change, what will we notice? Blog Post
Step Six: The Plan.
Throughout my internship I updated sections of the my school's Technology Plan. The updated Technology Plan was published using Microsoft Office Word 2010. It can be shared electronically as a PDF. Hyperlinks within the document provide easy of access to any of the given sections.
I have included the updated Technology Plan.
Updated Technology Plan
Step Seven: The Plan is There, But How Will They Know? Providing Teachers the Technology Plan
Technology Plan Teacher Presentation
It was through my experience within the Educational Technology Program at Loyola University that I learned the power of providing appropriate professional development and communication. I have been employed at my school for 7 years. During my time there, the technology plan was never once discussed at a meeting or components shared with teachers. It was only through projects within courses during my program and this internship that I gained an understanding of the original technology plan.
It was important to me that the updated technology plan was clearly provided to faculty and staff. I wanted to make sure that teachers were aware of the mission and goals of the technology plan, as well as the reason behind the professional development they partake in and strategy connection to some of the expectations that are placed on them as an educator within my school. I believe that the buy-in that comes from providing information and making connections between expectations and goals can truly facilitate the implementation needed to fulfill the technology plan's mission and reach the goals set within the Technology Plan.
I wanted my presentation to be easy to follow and also able to be viewed by others individually or as part of new teacher orientations at my school. For these reasons, I used PowerPoint as the platform for my technology plan professional development presentation.
I have included the presentation. I have also included a reflection of why I feel it is important to make teachers aware of the technology plan in my Internship Reflection Blog.
Technology Plan Professional Development Presentation for Teachers