Core Elements of a Technology Plan

 1. Clear Goals/Realistic Strategy

The tech plan must establish clear goals and a realistic strategy for using telecommunications and information technology to improve education or library services.

Specific goals for using technology should identify:

•  Improvement that should occur from the use of technology by students, teachers, parents, and/or library patrons
•  Achievements and/or successes that can be attained using technology
•  Increased staff and student/library patron competency with using technology
•  Additional Internet and/or telecommunication options for classrooms or public areas of a library
•  Accessibility to technology

Realistic strategies should identify:

•  How the school or library will develop and integrate the technology (e.g., how many computers will have Internet access)
•  Standards required for implementation of the technology
•  Technology needed for the future to maintain or enhance the current instructional or library environment

2. Professional Development

The tech plan must have a professional development strategy to ensure that staff know how to use these new technologies to improve education or library services.

Describe and list the professional development activities required of staff to train properly on the technology in the school or library

•  Training is more than just how to turn on the computer
•  Identify person or group in charge of planning and coordinating staff training
•  Verify current levels of training

Details of training

•  Methods of training to be used (classroom, seminars, Train-the-Trainer, etc.)
•  How training supports the curriculum or library usage goals
•  Documentation of training (sign-in sheets, computer lab logs, lists of in-service activities, etc.)

3. Needs Assessment

The tech plan must include an assessment of the telecommunication services, hardware, software, and/or other services that will be needed to improve education or library services.

Provide a status of the existing technology, such as:

• Telephone system
• Building Infrastructure (e.g., electrical capacity, cooling system)
• Computer hardware and software
• Internet access
• Staff training

Based on the current technology, describe new technology needs, such as:

• Adding a firewall or replacing servers
• Adding upgrades to phone system
• Adding network switches
• Adding cable drops
• Installing a new network
• Classroom/lab materials

Describe maintenance needed for new and existing equipment

• How often will the technology be serviced? (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly, etc.)
• What are the characteristics and capabilities of the equipment? (e.g., age, model, year, memory, etc.)

4. Budget

The tech plan must show how the school or library will:

•  Pay the non-discount share of the cost
•  Acquire and support the necessary resources (computers, training, electricity, software, etc.) needed to make effective use of the discounted services.

Include specifics about budgeted items and the sources of funding.  For example:

•  Salaries (general school fund)
•  Telephones (E-rate funding and general school fund)
•  Desktop software (state funds)

Budgets can be projections

•  Budgets should be based on reasonable expectations of receiving funding and incurring expenses

5. Evaluation

The tech plan must include an evaluation process that enables the school or library to monitor progress toward specified goals and make mid-course corrections in response to new developments and opportunities as they arise.

Evaluation process should describe:

• How frequently the tech plan will be evaluated
• The person(s) responsible for updating the plan
• How progress toward the goals and objectives will be measured or monitored
• If and how goals were met
• Any unexpected outcomes
• Any new needs that emerged
• Any goals that are no longer relevant