Six-Step Process in Creating a Technology Plan
Step 5: Develop and Implement Action Plans and Timelines
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| 5 Develop and Implement Action Plans and Timelines | ||
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4 Goals and Objectives |  |
| CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION |
INTRODUCTIONAction Plan development is a process that helps organize the activities, timeline and evaluation of the project. Follow the TFA organizational outline. Each TFA has at least one goal. Each goal has one or more objectives. Systematically identify each objective and brainstorm activities that will help you master that objective. Prioritize the activities and choose several for each objective that are realistic and doable with your staff and facilities.
Developing, Implementing and Evaluating Action Plans Richard Yonker, Director of Technology, Bowling Green R-I School District Once a district’s short and long-range goals and objectives are defined, it is time to concentrate on developing and implementing action plans to meet those goals and objectives. If the technology committee was realistic in establishing goals, this next step should flow naturally and need not be the most difficult. This part of the overall plan is where things HAPPEN!! Before writing this part, know your district’s needs/resources and your faculty talents well. It is extremely important to keep CSIP and tech plan goals/objectives in mind at all times. All mentioned activities and action steps should relate directly to a stated goal in one if not both of these documents. Don’t initiate activities or purchases that do not relate to what your district is trying to accomplish. If, when developing an action plan, you think of activities, purchases, etc. that do not relate to a stated goal, you might need to revisit your goals and objectives and modify them accordingly. In helping to guide you through your steps, it might be helpful to consider organizing your work in table form with headings:
Below each action step, BE SPECIFIC as to what action will take place. Leave no doubt as to what it is that will take place, be purchased, etc. Also, be specific as to when the action will be undertaken and who is responsible for that action. When completed, it should be very easy to “check off” completed action steps and thus to know exactly where you stand in accomplishing your goals. Your table might appear as below:
Key to your success is a usable and well-organized evaluation form to be used for all of your action steps. This should be a straightforward document including the action taken, date completed and the effectiveness of the action step. A folder should be kept with copies of all such evaluations and reviewed often. If your committee finds that a particular activity/purchase was extremely effective, this documentation will be evidence to this and will no doubt help in future planning of similar activities. To be effective, your plan MUST address faculty/staff training (Professional Development) as well as specific action steps integrating technology into the learning process. A plan concentrating only on hardware/software purchases is very much lacking in overall effectiveness and will not serve your district well. Key to all steps is technology involved in the learning process. Little will be accomplished if “things” are the key issue and not “kids”. Action plans, when completed, should allow teachers to teach more effectively and create positive results throughout the district. So, PLAN on being successful and great things will HAPPEN!! |
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| INTRODUCTION GUIDING QUESTIONS RESOURCES DOWNLOADABLE TEMPLATES SCORING GUIDE |
GUIDING QUESTIONSWhat methods and strategies will be used to close the gaps in each of the five Technology Focus Areas (TFAs)?
Does the Action Plan provide guidance to assess needs, establish the timeline, project estimated costs, and track overall plan progress? The Action Plan should address each of the five Technology Focus Areas (TFAs)?
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RESOURCESTechnology Planning Guides Basic Principles of Technology Planning. North Central Regional Technology in Education (NCRTEC) Consortium, North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL).
Planning into Practice: Resources for Planning, Implementing, and Integrating Instructional Technology Southeast Initiatives Regional Technology in Education Consortium (SEIR*TEC), 2000.
Technology @ Your Fingertips: A Guide to Implementing Technology Solutions for Education Agencies and Institutions. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 1998 & 2001. Technology in Schools: Suggestions, Tools and Guidelines for Assessing Technology in Elementary and Secondary Schools (pdf). Technology in Schools Task Force, National Forum on Education Statistics, 2002.
Using Technology in Missouri Schools - A Planning Guide. Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 1994. Hints from Missouri Educators Evaluating Action Plans. Kathel Cooper, Jefferson City Public Schools, Jefferson City, Missouri, 2000. How to Develop, Implement, and Evaluate Action Plans. Becky Klein, Raymore Peculiar R-II School District, Raymore, Missouri, 2001. Trade Journal Articles Running a Successful Technology Campaign: A Political Primer. Jerry Crystal. TechLEARNING, June 2001.
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DOWNLOADABLE TEMPLATES
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| INTRODUCTION GUIDING QUESTIONS RESOURCES DOWNLOADABLE TEMPLATES SCORING GUIDE |
SCORING GUIDEClick here for Tech Plan Scoring Guide (doc)
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