Infrastructure for Technology

The infrastructure of a school is the critical element of support for all areas of the Long Range technology plan. Infrastructure is required to provide a quality education to all students so through technology, students can receive an education that is individualized for their learning needs, and an opportunity for success in the workforce and in higher education. Infrastructure of technology major goal is to promote schools to provide 1:1 ratio of computers and students. When individuals have to share computers, the technology revolution ceases. One student is the observer while the other student is progressing the necessary skill. Infrastructure also focuses on using technology to enrich the learning process through video streaming, pod casts, animation, and other components related to distance learning. With the implementation of some components of the Long Range technology plan the state is requiring districts to provide parents with immediate access to data and information essential to the success of the students, such as the online grade books. These online programs allow parents to see their child's grades immediately as well as their attendance. Some schools have a system that allows the parents to see what their child ate for lunch and any books they checked out from the library. I believe for successful implementation, the current technology that is available needs to be sustained through regular maintenance, upgrades, and technical support. As schools increase their dependency on technology, the number of qualified individuals apart of the technical staff to ensure a rapid response is going to be a critical element of the success of this plan. An inclusive support system consisting of the school personnel, parents, students, community and business leaders are needed to provide a stable foundation, so schools are able to allocate 30% of its budget towards the integration of technology in the curriculum for the purpose of increasing student achievement.

Analysis of the Long Range Plan

The Long Range plan specifically identifies the tasks that all stakeholders, teachers, parents, students, community leaders, school officials, state officials must accomplish before the desired gains for student achievement can be obtained. As a future administrator, I noticed how important support and training is essential to the ease of tchnology integration into the curriculum. I will have to make sure I allocate enough funds to allow my teachers the trainings they need to be successful in their preparation of helping students reach their individualized needs. The one-to-one computer ratio for students and teachers is going to diminish much of the schools operating budget, therefore, it is imperative that the partnerships I create within the community are stable. Research has proven that technology increases student engagement, which means that the students are invested in what they are learning. As a result students began to make connections to their lives and take ownership of the learning process.

Assessment of Essential Technology Skills

As someone who is only proficient in the basic functions of software applications, I believe as a principal my strength is the amount of time I use technology, daily. Therefore, I encounter a lot of the fears veteran teachers have with implementing technology into their instructional plan. I am aware of the common mishaps of losing information and being able to retrieve those lost "hidden"files. I am also intrigued by the way technology helps my lessons transition from teacher centered to student centered by getting students involved in the learning process. As a principal I would understand the challenges of learning how to use technology and making it applicable to your lessons. Therefore, I know that training, follow-up, and support are essential for technology integration to be an effective tool used to increase student achievement. My weaknesses as I stated before, is that I am only proficient in basic software functions and self-taught in many of the programs I use. As a result, I do not know the full capabilities of the programs I use. I am unfamiliar with the language used in technology and would have to rely on my staff to create reports and presentations.
As a future administrator, I would like to explore virtual simulations and its impact on student achievement. I believe that students make connections with learning when they are able to experience what is being taught. With much emphasis on student growth, I would like to learn how to design and implement procedures to track trends, set timelines, and review progress for continual improvement. These assessments helped me to realize I need to receive more instruction and professional development on technology in the classrooms, so I can successfully prepare my staff and students to compete globally.