Study the issues and links below to prepare your input to the technology plan. Your recommendations should be broad but include all stakeholders - students, families, teachers, administrators and community. You should recommend policy, equipment guidelines, curriculum requirements, benchmarks or standards. You can include action plans and implementation standards if desired. Remember that you must justify your recommendations with data from the readings.
A table is a good way to present information in a logical, easily readable format. There is a downloadable table template in the Documents section.
1. Marketability What do students need to know? The committee can choose to adopt standards from another source.
What are the current demands of the workplace?
Would industry/commerce be attracted to our area based on the expertise/ability of our available work-force?
Will standards or benchmarks be embedded in the curriculum?
What accountability is necessary to see that standards are met?
2. Digital Divide Identify areas of concern for inequities facing student's use of technology based upon criteria such as race, socio-economic levels, and culture of families.
· Is there affordable access to Internet/Phone/TV in rural areas?
· Is what is available actually accessible by all, i.e. “is language a barrier? Is reading level a barrier? Is experience or technical ability a barrier?”
· What resources are available to poor or disadvantaged families outside of school, if they do not have technology at home?
· Is access to technology in the school equitable?
2. Distance Learning Are we involved in Distance Learning opportunities for our students/community? Should we be? What opportunities are available?
3. Confidentiality What
needs to be done to protect confidential student information?
Who should have access to it? Is
parent-teacher e-mail safe? Should transcripts/grades be
available online?