Technology Action Plan

Action Plan:

The STaR showed that our greatest weakness was Teaching & Learning and Educator Preparation & Development. I would have to agree with this being my school’s weakness. We do not have enough training before the year begins on the technology components and standards that we are expected to teach. It is difficult for us to use the technology if we don’t have the knowledge to do so. I would plan to train teachers in various technology applications so they can use these throughout the year.

Our purpose: To improve to our use of integrating technology into all curriculums at Mesquite High School.

Objective: To develop a curriculum where students can learn to problem solve using technology and be able to connect different subject areas through real life concepts.

Grade level: 9-12

Facilitator's name: Chris Anderson

Community members: All core departments with corresponding elective teachers assigned to departments to be able to discuss findings.

Action Plan: What all administrators, teachers, and students need to address over periods of time.

1) Develop goals for technology- This can be done at the beginning of the year during staff development days. These goals should relate to what the campus goals are for the year and should be stated in the Campus Improvement Plan.
*Each staff member will state a goal and post on the bulletin board during staff development and will give a brief description of the technology goal they hope to achieve.

2) Attention getter- Show student participation and lower discipline problems when students are engaged in lessons where technology is being used to problem solve. Watch short video through Youtube to give teachers an understanding of how technology impacts the classroom.

3) Gather ideas from staff members- To give a few examples of technology lessons that could be included in the integration. Members will give a brief description of their activity that could be included in the new integrated curriculum.

4) Gather ideas from students- Students are usually up to date on the latest technologies that are being offered and if schools really want to assess student’s knowledge and become comfortable with technology. Students can address what ways technology increases their learning and how they actually comprehend certain concepts and retain the information learned through technology.

5) Use data- There are many resources within the district that show school data and where areas of need are. It is important to use data to create focus areas within subjects and find ways they can be integrated. What technology could help these subject areas achieve higher success ratings for the student’s.

6) Evaluation/Reflection- Staff members need to meet monthly to discuss what new technology they have integrated into their classrooms and if they found success using any certain tools.
A good activity to use with the staff is to hand out 4 note cards to each staff member at the end of each semester or six weeks and have them write down on one card what they learned, on another what they think will be successful, what they still need want to know, and on the last card how could they use is this in their classroom.