Is Technology Making a Difference? Update 4

These checklists are based on what I call the Johnson Hierarchical Technology Planning Model that looks something like this:

A more complete explanation can be found here.

Anyway, over the next 5 days or so, I will be putting my checklists for each level of planning on the Blue Skunk. I invite readers to please add, delete and/or comment to these.

Established Infrastructure
The district will have a reliable, adequate, cost-effective, and secure technology infrastructure that supports the learning, teaching, and administrative goals of the district. Indicators of success:

Effective Administration
The district will use technology to improve its administrative effectiveness through efficient business practices, communication, planning and record keeping. 

Extensive Resources
Technology will be used to provide the most current, accurate and extensive information resources possible to all learners in the district and community in a cost effective and reliable manner at maximum convenience to the user.

Enhanced Teaching
All district teachers will have the technology training, skills and resources needed to assure students will meet local and state learning objectives and have the technological means to assess and record student progress.

• Basic professional productivity skills for all teaching staff
• Basic Internet skills for all teaching staff
• Professional growth targets for teaching staff related to improving instructional practice
• Understanding policy and ethical practices regarding technology use by teaching staff
• Assessments to measure status of teaching staff competencies in technology
• Formal training opportunities for developing technology skills
• Just-in-time training opportunities for developing technology skills
• On-going mentoring, trouble-shooting and assistance for staff when developing technology skills
• Technology skill evaluation as a part of teacher evaluations
• Technology skills assessment as a part of hiring process
• Access and training in electronic gradebook use
• Access and training in curriculum system use
• Access and training in dataming/ warehousing drill down capabilities for individual students and groups
• Access and training in student information system use for grade reporting and attendance
• Access and training in creating on-line information for parents, students and the community
• Access and training in creating distance learning opportunities (web-based and/or interactive television) for students
• Other?

Empowered Learners
All students will demonstrate the mastered use of technology to access, process, organize, communicate and evaluate information in order to answer questions and solve problems.