The Effingham County Districts

Technology Plan Evaluation

Frit 8132, Spring 2013

by: Stephanie Reid, Vivian Smith, and Sherri Turner

Introduction:

The Effingham County School District technology integration plan was last updated in July 2012. It is a three year plan ending June 2015. Sand Hill Elementary School follows this plan very closely. The teachers, principal, assistant principal, instructional supervisor and the assistant superintendent keep track of student data from the programs being used to remediate and enhance student learning. Teachers show the technology resources being used for student learning in their lesson plans. All classrooms including special education have 21st Century Technology including wireless pads, projectors, projection screens, clickers/crickets/CPS student responders, software and internet access. Some instructional support programs available for teachers are BrainPOP (K-5th), BrainPOP Jr.(K-3), Discovery Education/ Unitedstreaming (K-5th), Georgias Online Assessment System (OAS 1st-5th), Georgia Standards-Learning Village (K-5th), and Microsoft Office Suite (Word 1st-5th, Excel 3rd-5th, Publisher 1st-5th, and PowerPoint 1st-5th). Third, fourth and fifth grade homerooms have permanent time segments scheduled in the resource lab which is required to be used for student use of Study Island and/or Classworks. Study Island, 3rd-5th, practice and review is devoted to GPS math and Math Common Core content and skills. Teachers assign skills in Study Island based on skills taught in the classroom and for test preparation. Classworks, K-5th, is a program used for ELA and Math learning practice opportunities. Our Classworks Implementation Manager who works for Curriculum Advantage, Inc. keeps track of student progress, visits periodically to share student data with the assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, instructional supervisor, and technology teacher. He addresses any concerns and answers questions about any facet of Classworks. CRCT test data is imported at the beginning of the school year which creates individual learning paths for students. Each child works on skills not mastered on the CRCT. As children complete the skills in their individual learning paths, teachers assign new skills for students to practice. Students also have access to Classworks at home which increases their practice time on skills assigned by their teachers. CRCT Coach workbooks (3rd-5th), SRA reading kits (3rd-5th), Write From The Beginning (WFTB) K-5th, Daily Grammar Practice (DGP) K-5th, Daily Oral Language (DOL) 3rd, Daily Reading Practice (DRP) K-5th, and Question of the Day (K-5th) are additional programs used by classroom and resource teachers. Math teachers also use Xtra Math (K-5th), Fantastic Five (2nd-4th), Rocket Math (2nd-5th), Rhymes and Times (3rd), Factivation (3rd-5th), Complete the Puzzle, Chants, Songs, CDs, and games are used in grades K-5th for math facts practice and quick reviews. The Gifted and Talented teacher collaborates with science, reading, and language arts teachers to provide enrichment activities for students in cluster classes in grades 1st-5th.

The Effingham County Districts Rubric

Component Areas

Executive summary:

The executive summary component will be rated a three out of four, when using our rubric to score it. The executive summary, section 3-1 in the Effingham County School District, Technology Integration Plan, dated July 2012-June 2015, details how the Effingham County School System will accept, encourage student achievement, and remain efficient by using technology. The plan lists seven components of the evaluation plan that it will address. First, the technology plan will ensure access to current technology for students, educators, and administrators. According to the executive summary, the school district will add more workstations, replace aged resources, add up-date-technologies for students, educators, and administrators. In addition, the school district will plan to accommodate and prepare for instruction with wireless devices, personal and district-owned devices. Second, the teacher technology will be improved. Teachers will improve student engagements, educational development for students, and increase efficiency of administration tasks. Educators will model how to appropriately use the technology. Third, students will use technology to activate prior knowledge and to be more actively engaged in activities. Educators will use standards and objectives to plan lessons for students. Fourth, the school district will ensure system readiness with technology. They will provide training opportunities for educators by offering conferences, workshops, and training in and outside of the school district. Fifth, the school district will provide adequate technology resources with funding and technology system support. The district will acquire additional funding and resources that maintain the technology system. Sixth, the school administration will analyze technology. The innovation of new technology will be determined based on benefits and cost to the school district. Last, the seventh component, technology will be used to communicate effectively with parents and community involvement. School web pages, telephones with voicemail, and email will be used to communicate effectively with parents. Consequently, the executive summary consists of several components, but fails to list specifics in each component area or types of available technology personnel. It describes current technologies, but does not list the current technologies available. The executive summary continuously mentions the term technology but does not specify the types of technology it will be used or their purposes in order to provide adequate access for students, educators, and administrators. Ultimately, the executive summary can be improved by including more specifics in each component area and by listing the technical support personnel available.

Technology mission and vision:

The Effingham County School Districts component for its technology mission and vision will be rated a four, when using our rubric to score it. The districts technology mission and vision is present and includes the system's technology mission statement. The school system's technology vision has identified areas, technological benefit(s) and how to achieve each one. The Systems Technology Mission Statement and Vision Statement can be located in section 6-1 in the Effingham County School District, Technology Integration Plan, July 2012-June 2015. The Effingham County School Districts mission declares its mission will attempt to engage, challenge, and nurture learners for college. Its vision will focus on instruction. Educators will incorporate lessons tailored to student interests. Student will be engaged with technology. They will utilize technology to solve problems and increase skills in content areas. Students will participate in self-directed lessons and independently utilize technology. The Effingham Countys mission claims educators and administrators will have appropriate technical tools to communicate, report, and provide assistive technology when necessary. In addition, parents will have access to the districts and local schools websites for student information, school, and community information. Ultimately, the Effingham County School technology mission and vision appropriately supports and claims their hardware, software, and network will meet the administrations and students educational goals. The Effinghams technology mission supports integrating technology and continuous professional development for administrators, educators, and support personnel.

Student needs:

The Effingham County School District component for its student needs will be rated a four, when using our rubric to score it. The student needs are present, are linked to state test data including CRCT and GHSGT. The student needs includes the students performance goals for each individual school within the county. The Effingham County School Districts Student Needs can be found in Section 5-1. The school district uses data from the Criterion Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT), Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT), and each schools Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) to assist with determining student needs. The school district declares that the AYP is essential with accommodating students needs. In addition, the Effingham County School District claims it uses AYP as a yearly tool to display student activities and achievements. AYP requires schools in the United States to maintain students academic success. It mandates test participation in Mathematics and Reading/English Language Arts, academic performance, and a secondary indicator.

Goals and realistic strategies for using telecommunications and information technology:

The Effingham County School Districts component for goals and realistic strategy for using telecommunications and information technology are present, but not measurable. This component area was rated a three, when using our rubric to score it. The Effingham County School Districts goals and realistic strategy for telecommunications and information technology can be found in Section 8-1 to 8-6. Many of the goals listed in the evaluation plan are measurable, but not all. How can the Effingham County School District measure communication between school and home? The plan does not explain how communication is measured or how accessible computers are with students. Last, this area of the evaluation plan does not describe how the evaluation plan is safe. The strategies listed in the component fail to explain enough details about how the goals will be obtained.

Professional development Strategy:

The Effingham County School Districts component for its professional development strategy will be rated a two, when using our rubric to score it. The districts professional development strategies for the districts technology plan can be found in Section 10-1. Professional development strategies are present, but resources and incentives are not identified. The district declares its commitment to provide high quality professional development. The only professional development strategies listed in this component are about summer classes and independent courses offered for educators. Nevertheless, the professional development strategy component does not list any incentives for educators. No incentives, such as professional learning credits are offered. Last, the evaluation plans professional development strategy does not specifically list point of contacts or resource personnel which will assist and provide training for administrators and educators.

Assessment of telecommunication services, hardware, software, and other services needed:

The Effingham County School Districts component for its assessment of telecommunications services, hardware, software, and other services will be rated a four, when using our rubric to score it. The districts telecommunications services, hardware, software, and other services can be found in Section 7-1 to 7-3. The assessment of telecommunication services is present and hardware, software, and other services are identified. This component describes each school in the district with the following: each schools network system with 100Mbps connectivity, with Gigabit and Backbone. Also, each school has 1Gbps fiber connectivity and backbone speed of 1Gbps. The author claims a wireless network will be considered. In addition, the district has a telecommunication system with a Firewall and AT&T router. The Effingham school districts technology plan lists the hardware survey results: 3,096 modern computers, 37 school based servers, 15 additional servers for email, web, SIS, professional development, general file and print servers. Software/applications mentioned: 98% school computers run MS Windows with 2% being Apple McIntosh computers. Educators utilize programs such as: SchoolPad, MOBI, and a Promethean Board. Parents have access to the schools classrooms webpages and websites. Parents may use the program, Infinite Campus SIS to review their childs attendance, assignments, grades, and criteria account.

Budget Resources:

The Effingham County School Districts component for its budget resources will be rated as a three, when using our rubric to score it. The districts budget resources can be located in section three and eight in the districts technology plan. The Executive Summary of the Effingham school districts technology plan does not list the monetary amounts for the various programs. The Executive Summary of the technology evaluation plan gives a more general summary of its budget. However, the Goals and Benchmark component provides a more detailed table which assesses the goals and strategies of the schools technology plan, along with the monetary amounts. The budget funds identified in section three of the plan from funds: Splost, E-Rate, general funds, Title I, and Title IIA. The Goals and Benchmark component should mention adequate funding, but fails to name the agencies responsible for distributing the funding.

Ongoing Evaluation Process:

The Effingham County School Districts component for its ongoing evaluation process will be rated as a two, when using our rubric to score it. The districts ongoing evaluation process is not evident when reviewing its technology plan. The technology plan mentions it has an ongoing evaluation process, but does not explain what the evaluation process is. Nevertheless, the Goals and Benchmark component of the districts plan claims that the technology plan is a live document. Individual school goals may be evaluated and adjusted to standardized test results. In addition, the Goals and Benchmark component of the plan includes evaluation elements. Ultimately, caution and careful selection of professional development, hardware and software are essential to ensuring adequate technology skills and the safety of students, educators, and administration staff.

Summary The evaluation of the May 2012 Effingham County Technology Plan consisted of the following component areas: review of previous technology plan, executive summary, planning process, student needs, technology vision and mission, current reality and gap analysis, goals and benchmark, communications and marketing, professional development, interoperability and redeployment procedures, CIPA compliance, and Internet safety. The rubric utilized in the evaluation of the technology plan focused on the following components, with strengths and weaknesses: executive summary, technology mission and vision, student needs, goals and realistic strategy for using telecommunications and information technology, professional development strategy, assessment of telecommunication services, hardware, software, and other services needed, budget resources, and ongoing evaluation process. The level of comprehensiveness rated the components on a range from 1 to 4. A score of 1 reflected the evaluators analysis of a specific component as either unclear or absent. A score of 2 represented an unacceptable rating; however, one facet of the component had been minimally met in the evaluation plan. A score of 3 demonstrated the majority of the components acceptability, and a score of 4 showed that the evaluated component of the technology plan deemed 100% acceptable as defined by the rubric. The overall assessment of the Effingham County Technology Plan revealed a score of 3 in goals and realistic strategy component for using telecommunications and information technology. Effective use of telecommunications and information technology with defined, realistic goals included multiple technologies, such as the Voice Over IP network and Infinite Campus. The goals were both present with strategies, benchmarks, evaluation, funding, and responsibility identified. Most goals identified are measurable and will need reevaluation to improve these areas.The Executive Summary received a score of three because available technical support personnel are not listed and their area of technical expertise have not been identified. Current technologies are mentioned, but not specified as to which equipment is being used for instructional and administrative purposes. The executive summary can be improved by including more specifics in each component area and by listing the technical support personnel available.The next component of the evaluation, professional development, revealed a score of 2. The Professional Development Plan was missing key information, resources and incentives, which is a requirement of the overall technology plan. Similarly to the professional development component, the ongoing evaluation component scored low and only received a score of 2 on the overall assessment. The evaluation instrument and details of the ongoing evaluation are not identified in the plan. Out of the overall analysis, these components scored the lowest. In both cases, the technology plan lacked necessary information for professional development and ongoing evaluation.Budget resources were also evaluated. The overall assessment of the budget resources component scored a 3 on the technology plan evaluation rubric. A score of 3 was given to this component, because the budget is present without specific funding identified. According to the rubric, funding can be identified as Splost, E-Rate, general funds, Title I, Title IIA. In addition, a score of 3 was given, because the budget funding listed no funding was needed, training by staff for PLU credit, and no funding required. Also, the goals and benchmark component lists strategy: provide training opportunities through an annual technology conference within the district. However, its questionable that no funding will be required for such training. Consequently, the technology plan did not earn a score of 4 due to questionable lack of funding for professional training nor does it elaborate how to request or receive the funding listed on the Goals and Benchmark chart. Finally, a score of 4 was given to the assessment of telecommunications, hardware, software, and other services needed. This component received the highest possible level of comprehensiveness. The Effingham County School Districts technology plan describes and provides adequate telecommunication services. The district is presents adequate hardware, software, and other services. The following are identified: 10Mps connectivity, with Gigabit, Backbone Gbps fiber connectivity, backbone speed of 1Gbps, a telecommunication system with a Firewall and AT&T router. In addition, the school districts technology plan lists hardware: 3,096 modern computers, 37 school based servers, 15 additional servers for email, web, SIS, general file and print servers. Also, the Effingham County technology plans mission, vision, and student needs was given a score of a 4. These components support and meet the administrations and students educational goals. The hardware, software, and network systems assist students, administrators, educators, and support personnel with participating in self-directed lessons and with using technology independently. Ultimately, the students, administrators, educators, and personnel will use appropriate technology to communicate ideas, interact, and report concerns.The overall evaluation demonstrates the technology strengths that Effingham County displays in implementing, funding, and monitoring technology to support student achievement. The evaluation plan carefully breaks down information by schools in the district to better aid in improving any deficits. Assessments and graduation rate are analyzed in the technology plan and focus is given in each area to utilize technology to improve academics. Furthermore, the plan details actions, strategies, interventions, and programs, which are used to facilitate learning. The district carefully tailors their unique demographics to the implementation of technology.Another unique attribute specific to Effingham County is the rapid increasing population of students. Anticipated funding has been forecasted and allocated to meet the future influx of students. The evaluation of the budget resources component reflected the districts acceptable rating, although minor weaknesses were noted.The Effingham County Technology Plan provides acceptable components, with a few areas which need improvement, specifically professional development and the ongoing evaluation. Although the district has a rapidly growing student population, the county does not have a situation unique in nature to negatively affect the technology plan. Therefore, improvement of the technology plan will expect to satisfy a future evaluation, thereby having a positive outcome on student performance through an efficient technology plan.