DAILY INSIGHT: 7 Critical Questions for Tech Planning

By Nancy Caramanico, CIO Advisor

“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.”

—Anatole France (French writer)

It is important to get input!
Talk to administrators, teachers and parents. Find out what their challenges, needs and suggestions are. Talk to students. Student insight is critical to the process.
Get Data. Look at data sources such as student information systems, assessment systems and more. Use Electronic Surveys to collect additional data and generate illustrative reports.

2. What is Most Important to Us?

What is the school's mission?
What is the school's vision?
What are your academic goals?
How can technology help the school to reach these aims?
How is technology changing how and when we learn and work?

3. What can we do?

Consider Emerging Technologies.
Read studies such as the yearly publicized Horizon Report
Follow rapidly evolving online and mobile lifestyle trends such as those summarized in Pew Internet and American Life Project
Read the US National Education Technology Plan released in October 2010
Look at successful models of classroom innovation.

4. What must be included?

View the Technology Planning guides set forth by Universal Services Fund, Erate
the School Technology Planning council for example.

5. What are the components of a well constructed goal? Remember that each goal that you set should follow the SMART rule as outlined by Harvard Business School. The should be:

Specific - What exactly will be accomplished. Who is responsible?
Measurable - How will you know it has been achieved? What can you measure?
Attainable - Can it be achieved? Does it fit in well with other goals?
Realistic - Is it doable? Can this be accomplished give your resources, commitment?
Time Trackable - When will it be completed? Are incremental completion dates? What are they?

6. How will we communicate the plan?

Publicize the plan. View a 3 Year Technology Plan Summary created for the schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Distribute a plan summary to all schools, boards and teachers.
Foster enthusiasm and partnership in achieving goals from your school community and the community at large.'
Use various communications channels to discuss - Social Media, Web, Email

7. What needs refining? Periodically evaluate and refine your goals and your plan.

Plan regular meetings of a planning committee
Be willing to adapt and revise the plan based on changing factors
Update stakeholders on a regular basis on the progress of the plan.

These are some critical questions. What ones would you add? Envision a future where your students and school realizes the promises of a new digital age, one infused with the right uses of technology for teaching and learning. Ask the right questions. Related Links: