wayne-finger lakes boces atlas conversion strategic plan

Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES Atlas Conversion Strategic Atlas Conversion Strategic

PlanPlan

Strategic Plan RationaleStrategic Plan Rationale

The rationale underlying this The rationale underlying this transition and conversion strategic transition and conversion strategic plan to Atlas curriculum mapping plan to Atlas curriculum mapping software is essential for several software is essential for several reasons. reasons.


Given the complexity of the Given the complexity of the Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES program structure, it is necessary program structure, it is necessary to have a common plan that will to have a common plan that will supply a unified vision and goal. supply a unified vision and goal.


The detailed, but flexible timeline The detailed, but flexible timeline contained in this plan will prove to contained in this plan will prove to be an important impetus to keep be an important impetus to keep us on track and motivated to us on track and motivated to achieve our goal. Without achieve our goal. Without structure, this process can become structure, this process can become overwhelming, lose momentum overwhelming, lose momentum and ultimately fail.and ultimately fail.


The selection of a transition The selection of a transition team of strategic individuals, team of strategic individuals, common to both locations and common to both locations and site specific, is an integral key to site specific, is an integral key to the success of this endeavor. the success of this endeavor.

Transition Leadership Team Role

Key decision making Oversight of the transition to Atlas

Curriculum Mapping Software Adherence to proposed timeline Conflict resolution Point of contact with Atlas

representatives

Transition Leadership Team Members

Our recommendations for a Transition Leadership Team are both general and very specific.

Team OrganizationTeam Organization

FLTCCDawn Larson

WTCCCraig Logan

SystemAdministrator

SystemAdministrator

Bob Smith

Bob Mattick Patrick Bailey

Michael Tiffany Andy McVey

Pete Boldttba as needed(Leonard Hall?)

Jeanne Cosat

FLTCCDawn Larson

WTCCCraig Logan

SystemAdministrator

SystemAdministrator

Bob Smith

Bob Mattick Patrick Bailey

Michael Tiffany Andy McVey

Pete Boldttba as needed(Leonard Hall?)

Jeanne Cosat

Site-Specific Atlas Site-Specific Atlas System AdministratorsSystem Administrators

The choice of site-specific system The choice of site-specific system administrators and their administrators and their subsequent training is an important subsequent training is an important early step. These individuals will early step. These individuals will serve as the site resource for Atlas serve as the site resource for Atlas communication, software questions communication, software questions and trouble shooting.and trouble shooting.

Transition Leadership Team Transition Leadership Team TrainingTraining

The training of the entire Transition The training of the entire Transition Leadership Team is necessary for staff Leadership Team is necessary for staff modeling and gaining a deeper modeling and gaining a deeper understanding of the Atlas mapping understanding of the Atlas mapping process and curriculum map elements. process and curriculum map elements.

Team training should take place Team training should take place before any other groups are trained so before any other groups are trained so we as a team can exhibit confidence, we as a team can exhibit confidence, knowledge and effectively lead the knowledge and effectively lead the transition.transition.

Identification of Program ListsIdentification of Program Lists

It is crucial that we create a It is crucial that we create a comprehensive list of CTE programs comprehensive list of CTE programs offered at both Wayne Technical and offered at both Wayne Technical and Career Center and Finger Lakes Career Center and Finger Lakes Technical and Career Center. Technical and Career Center.

From that list, inventory all formats From that list, inventory all formats (Mapster, Excel, Word, bound copies, (Mapster, Excel, Word, bound copies, etc.) of current curricular maps and etc.) of current curricular maps and collect in a central location. collect in a central location.

These formats have to be pulled These formats have to be pulled together for upload by Atlas onto together for upload by Atlas onto the website before we can utilize the website before we can utilize the software. the software.

For those programs that need a For those programs that need a curricular map, but none exists, curricular map, but none exists, Atlas can create a working Atlas can create a working template to facilitate the process. template to facilitate the process.

Identification of Program ListsIdentification of Program Lists

Program Naming and Program Naming and StandardizationStandardization

This list can also be used to This list can also be used to determine which programs can be determine which programs can be standardized and centralized under standardized and centralized under one single Atlas map. This will one single Atlas map. This will significantly decrease the amount significantly decrease the amount of work required by all involved. of work required by all involved.

If programs are site-unique, they If programs are site-unique, they will be required to have site-specific will be required to have site-specific names on the Atlas website.names on the Atlas website.

Prioritization and Prioritization and Submission of Curricular Submission of Curricular

MapsMaps

It is important to prioritize the It is important to prioritize the upload of curricular maps because upload of curricular maps because the process can be time consuming. the process can be time consuming.

Priority should be given to programs Priority should be given to programs currently seeking approval or slated currently seeking approval or slated for reapproval in the upcoming for reapproval in the upcoming academic year.academic year.

Back-Up and Recovery PolicyBack-Up and Recovery Policy To eliminate inadvertent data loss, To eliminate inadvertent data loss,

the team needs to verify the Atlas the team needs to verify the Atlas company policy for data integrity, company policy for data integrity, back-up and recovery. back-up and recovery.

Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES Leadership Transition Team should Leadership Transition Team should also institute a process for periodic also institute a process for periodic data back-up overseen by the site data back-up overseen by the site system administrators as an extra system administrators as an extra security measure. security measure.

Atlas Data Upload Atlas Data Upload Verification and ReviewVerification and Review

After the Atlas upload of individual After the Atlas upload of individual curricular maps it is imperative that curricular maps it is imperative that program specific staff verifies and program specific staff verifies and reviews the results of the upload process. reviews the results of the upload process. The instructors will look for accuracy and The instructors will look for accuracy and maybe more importantly standard maybe more importantly standard alignment with the original curriculum alignment with the original curriculum map. It is unknown at this point if any map. It is unknown at this point if any standard alignment discrepancies will standard alignment discrepancies will arise, but early detection can lead to arise, but early detection can lead to feedback to Atlas to correct any need for feedback to Atlas to correct any need for standard additions or modifications.standard additions or modifications.

Faculty TrainingFaculty Training We feel faculty training should be We feel faculty training should be

limited to those instructors who will limited to those instructors who will be integral to the curricular mapping be integral to the curricular mapping process. This should limit the training process. This should limit the training to CTE teachers and academic to CTE teachers and academic instructors who are associated with instructors who are associated with the essential and related integration. the essential and related integration.

Additional individuals can be added if Additional individuals can be added if deemed necessary by the Transition deemed necessary by the Transition Leadership Team.Leadership Team.

Assign and Register Staff Assign and Register Staff to Atlas Curriculum Mapsto Atlas Curriculum Maps

As per Atlas procedure, we will be As per Atlas procedure, we will be obligated to assign instructors to obligated to assign instructors to their associated maps using Atlas’s their associated maps using Atlas’s Faculty Program Assignment CTE Faculty Program Assignment CTE Roster. Roster.

Administrators are suggested to Administrators are suggested to have read only access. have read only access.

Assign and Register Staff Assign and Register Staff to Atlas Curriculum Mapsto Atlas Curriculum Maps

We are encouraged to list groups We are encouraged to list groups of teachers for collaboration and of teachers for collaboration and consensus on site-standardized or consensus on site-standardized or multiple class programs. multiple class programs.

We also would list teachers who We also would list teachers who are solely associated to specific are solely associated to specific maps. maps.

Atlas Trouble-ShootingAtlas Trouble-Shooting It would be productive to develop an It would be productive to develop an

internal process to identify, report internal process to identify, report and resolve any problems with the and resolve any problems with the Atlas software or website that might Atlas software or website that might arise as staff begin to construct or arise as staff begin to construct or edit their specific curricular maps. edit their specific curricular maps.

It is important for staff to recognize It is important for staff to recognize a single point of contact for any a single point of contact for any communication directly with an communication directly with an Atlas representative to reduce Atlas representative to reduce redundancy and confusion.redundancy and confusion.

Strategic Plan TimelineStrategic Plan Timeline

Strategic PlanDeveloped

July August September October November December January February MarchJuly August September October November December January February March

Technical & Career Center Principals Strategic Plan

Approved

7/24 8/14

Transition Leadership Team Identified

8/21

9/3

Transition LeadershipTeam Trained

8/3

Liaisons/RepresentativesIdentified

9/3

Data Integrity, Back-up, & Recovery Process Shared

Atlas11/10

CTE & AcademicTeachers Trained

Transition Leadership Team

8/28

Program ListDevelopedby Site

Curriculum MapInventory by Site

10/2

9/11

Programs Prioritizedfor Map Upload

9/18

National/Industry StandardsIdentified & Submitted to Atlas

Curriculum MapsSubmitted for Upload

10/16

WFL Back-upProcess Developed

11/3

Curriculum Maps Uploaded/Map Templates Created as Needed

11/3

National/Industry Standards on Website

10/30

System Administrator – Atlas Communication & Troubleshooting

CTE & Academic Teachers Review/Update UploadedCurriculum Maps or Build Curriculum Maps from Templates

1/26CTE & Academic Teachers

9/18

National/IndustryStandards Identified

Strategic Plan Strategic Plan RecommendationsRecommendations

(Administrative)(Administrative)

The recognition of the importance of The recognition of the importance of administrative commitment and administrative commitment and support. support.

Necessary to foster the commitment Necessary to foster the commitment and establish the motivation of the and establish the motivation of the Transition Leadership Team. Transition Leadership Team.

There will be necessary requests of There will be necessary requests of time and resources that must be time and resources that must be recognized if our transition is to be recognized if our transition is to be expeditious, smooth, and complete.expeditious, smooth, and complete.

Strategic Plan Strategic Plan RecommendationsRecommendations (Transition Leadership Team)(Transition Leadership Team)

The importance of the Transition The importance of the Transition Leadership Team cannot be Leadership Team cannot be underestimated. All members underestimated. All members must be committed, trained, must be committed, trained, motivated, and understand the motivated, and understand the importance of this endeavor. importance of this endeavor. Without these qualities, it will be a Without these qualities, it will be a difficult sell to all involved staff. difficult sell to all involved staff.

Strategic Plan Strategic Plan RecommendationsRecommendations (Transition Leadership Team)(Transition Leadership Team)

This includes the system This includes the system administrators, who must be administrators, who must be chosen, based on their level of chosen, based on their level of allegiance to this project. They will allegiance to this project. They will serve as a primary resource for all serve as a primary resource for all staff involved in addition to the staff involved in addition to the primary liaison between staff and primary liaison between staff and Atlas. This latter role is crucial to Atlas. This latter role is crucial to avoid miscommunication with the avoid miscommunication with the Atlas representatives.Atlas representatives.


(Curricular Map Collection(Curricular Map Collection It is highly recommended that the It is highly recommended that the

collection of existing maps from both collection of existing maps from both Wayne and Finger Lakes sites begin Wayne and Finger Lakes sites begin immediately after the establishment and immediately after the establishment and meeting of the Transition Leadership meeting of the Transition Leadership Team. Team.

This will allow the team to establish a This will allow the team to establish a library of maps, which serves three library of maps, which serves three purposes. purposes.

1)1) It allows us to determine where possible It allows us to determine where possible gaps exist, gaps exist,

2)2) Serves as a central repository for submission Serves as a central repository for submission to Atlas for upload to Atlas for upload

3)3) Serves as a central repository for entry into Serves as a central repository for entry into our own back-up system. our own back-up system.


It is advisable to train all CTE and It is advisable to train all CTE and academic instructors academic instructors simultaneously. If training is done simultaneously. If training is done otherwise, it could cause a otherwise, it could cause a significant increase in the time significant increase in the time needed to complete the transition needed to complete the transition along with a loss of focus and along with a loss of focus and momentum.momentum.


Finally, it is recommended that the Finally, it is recommended that the timeline set forth above be adhered to as timeline set forth above be adhered to as closely as possible. closely as possible.

Delays and setbacks are inevitable, Delays and setbacks are inevitable, however, a flexible timeline is essential to however, a flexible timeline is essential to the accomplishment of any project. We the accomplishment of any project. We have utilized the 2009-2010 Wayne-Finger have utilized the 2009-2010 Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES Instructional Calendar to Lakes BOCES Instructional Calendar to develop our timeline along with our develop our timeline along with our understanding of the time needed for understanding of the time needed for training and the map upload process.training and the map upload process.


After recognizing that there was a After recognizing that there was a written, monetary commitment to written, monetary commitment to Atlas, we realized our obligation to Atlas, we realized our obligation to make full use of its capabilities to make full use of its capabilities to enhance instruction, improve enhance instruction, improve standardization of programs where standardization of programs where applicable, identify gaps in content, applicable, identify gaps in content, skills, and assessment and provide skills, and assessment and provide data needed for program data needed for program development, modification or development, modification or enhancement. enhancement.


We also recognize that to avoid We also recognize that to avoid the pitfalls of previous mapping the pitfalls of previous mapping endeavors, a clear, concise, endeavors, a clear, concise, workable strategic plan is essential workable strategic plan is essential to success.to success.

Written and Presented by:Written and Presented by:

Jeanne Cosat Jeanne Cosat & &

Michael TiffanyMichael Tiffany

wayne-finger lakes boces atlas conversion strategic plan

Documents