School Environment Evaluation

Christa Brediger EDTECH 501

Learner Description Our building has a definite divide in technology proficiency. Although, everyone here uses technology to some extent on a daily bases, the major divide falls with integration into instruction among the age demographic. All staff members log onto a computer daily to use email, online management/attendance system, projectors, etc. However, the main age demographic among most building staffs in the district fall at 45 + years, most of the educators have been in the career for awhile. They have experienced teaching without technology resources and feel that implementing technology adds more subject matter to their plate rather than provides way to make lessons more efficient. The two charts below show the comparison between demographics of the district. The first chart shows an entire demographic breakdown, including students and families. The second chart shows the demographic breakdown of building staff.

Rankings

Administrative Filter: Integrated Stage

Our overall, for the Administrative Filter, our building ranks as Integrated Stage of Development. We have a vast amount of technology available including a well used Management System with full time technical support. Due to this, we are heavily encouraged by the district office to utilize these tools often. Over the past couple years, our district has invested in some newer Management Systems. It has taken the staff some time to begin to understand the full capability of the new systems. Therefore, many trainings have been needed so that we are able to use the new systems in their entirety. One of my concerns is not having depth in the trainings. Since we have such a gap in the age demographic, we spend a lot of time covering basic functions of each program or system. Often times this is where the trainings end. Although our administration is very pro-technology, the staff itself struggles at times to fully exercise the technology. We are set up with sufficient tools, it is just learning how to implement them that tends to hold us back.

Policy - Behavioral: Integrated Stage Our building has gone almost entirely paperless. All attendance, grading, goal tracking, and scheduling is done electronically. Although we have a development policy in place along with quality training available, not all staff use this system on a consistent basis. Policy - Resource/Infrastructure: Integrated Stage We have management systems in place for both teachers and students. These systems make it simple for teachers and administrators to maintain student records. They also allow students to track their personal progress. Planning - Behavioral: Islands Stage Group training is available, as stated previously, but usually focuses on a specific project. These trainings are more just suggested guidelines. Each building seems to be on its own page, running programs and systems how they see best fit. The district often poses ideas as group centered, when in reality each building uses the systems slightly different. Planning - Resource/Infrastructure: Integrated Stage Technology is budgeted just as anything else would be. Buildings are equally supplied with technology resources with a target focus in mind for implementation. However, individual buildings are free to use technology as they need fitting under the main focus. Budget - Behavioral: Integrated Stage Tentative long-term budgeting plans have been drafted. Technology planning is a high priority for the district, and several short-term plans have been created. Budget - Resource/Infrastructure: Integrated Stage A technology budget is set and used for upgrades and investments. To ensure that each building has the proper technology to meet their needs, the IT team reviews and approves all purchases. Administrative Information - Behavioral: Intelligent Stage Administrators and staff members use electronic systems on a daily basis. Our administration system is entirely paperless. And all administrators are trained in how to use all systems properly. A full technical response team is designated to each building for additional assistance. Administrative Information - Resource/Infrastructure: Intelligent Stage

All our administration systems are available to administrators and staff members in every building. The IT team makes weekly updates to the system or as often as needed.

Curricular Filter: Islands Stage

Our overall rating for the Curricular Filter is at the Islands Stage of Development. Although our district has open access to many types of technology, our teaching and curriculum is not dependent on it in most areas. Staff members in all buildings are becoming more aware and comfortable with the new technologies available. The resources we have are comprehensive, but what holds us back is our staff knowledge. We are quickly nearing the Integrated Stage as more trainings are being held. So, what holds us back from the Integrated Stage is not our lack of resources necessarily, but more so the know-how and proficiency.
Electronic Information - Behavioral: Integrated Stage Students and staff use technology daily and utilize it to enrich lessons. Although, they are not solely dependent on the technology itself, but it is most definitely prefered in instruction. Electronic Information - Resource/Infrastructure: Integrated Stage Access to technology is available to all students and staff. The biggest issue we run into here is the ratio of devices to students. At most a classroom of thirty plus students will have a set of four computers. Some technologies provide depth while others provide diversity. It is a slow process in combining both. Assessment - Behavioral: Islands Stage Many students and staff use technology in assessment. The use of online testing, clicker polls, and blogging are used on a fairly regular basis by a growing number of teachers. Most, however, prefer paper assessments. Assessment - Resource/Infrastructure: Islands Stage Reporting and assessment tools are available in each building, in minimal amounts. For example, a building may have three sets of clickers to share among sixteen classroom. Or a classroom may have one iPad to share among thirty students. Tools are available, but a lack of consistent access to the tools makes it difficult to utilize them. Paper assessments are prefered. Curricular Integration - Behavioral: Islands Stage

Curriculum is much more effective when technology is implemented, however, none of the curriculum is dependent on technology. The curriculum does offer a variety of ways to use technology, although as stated before, none of the lessons are solely dependent on the technology. Curricular Integration - Resource/Infrastructure: Integrated Stage Technology and related resources are available for most curricular areas. The district has a management system that allows teachers to share technology ideas for specific content areas. Staff members are highly encouraged to share ideas on My Big Campus. Teacher Use - Behavioral: Islands Stage Teachers use technology on a daily basis for attendance, grading, planning, etc. However, what sets our building at the Islands Stage is our lack of technology integration with our students. This is largely connected with the demographics divide stated in the Learner Description. Teacher Use - Resource/Infrastructure: Intelligent Stage All teacher have equal access to technology devices within their buildings. Each building is allowed technology upgrades and additions as needed (and of course as corresponds with the budget). Student Use - Behavioral: Islands Stage The students do use technology as often as possible. Our biggest struggle is the student to device ratio. Students have 24/7 access to teacher blogs and social networking (Edmodo or My Big Campus). The elementary buildings have one lab to share among 400 plus students. Student Use - Resource/Infrastructure: Intelligent Stage All students have consistent and regular access to technologies in their buildings. Although our student to device ratio is large, if a student needs access to a technology device, they will consistently be able to receive it at some point throughout the day.

Support Filter: Islands Stage

As an overall rating, we are placed at an Islands Stage. We have a strong core team in the technology department who have an organized plan with where they want to see us move

technologically in the next few years. However, few of the teachers and administrators are involved in this process currently. Although this technology planning team does a decent job with communicating their ideas, rarely are other groups (like teachers, parents, administrators, etc) asked for input. Fortunately, the department has begun to form a larger team within the last couple months. This team now is including teachers from each building, as well as administrators. We are taking steps in the right direction, although, we still have a journey ahead. Stakeholder Involvement - Behavioral: Islands Stage All buildings are aware of the changes that are being made in our technology department. Many staff members are aware of the technologies either currently available or soon to be available, but they do not participate in the implementation process as much as they could. Stakeholder Involvement - Resource/Infrastructure: Emergent Stage We are in the process of forming a larger planning team. Up until now our technology team has been a smaller group mainly at the district level. This year we have begun to integrate a team of teachers and administrators with this team. As we progress forward I see us moving into the Islands Stage soon. Administrative Support - Behavioral: Islands Stage As mentioned before, it is just recently that administrators are being included in the implementation process of our technology plan. Currently, administrators have been very supportive and energetic with the information they have been given. Administrative Support - Resource/Infrastructure: Islands Stage There are usually two formal technology updates/meetings that happen each year. Again, as stated before, the technology team is currently working on expanding its team to involve more employees.

Training - Behavioral: Integrated Stage When technology trainings are provided, most staff members are excited to attend. More in depth trainings are definitely needed. Training - Resource/Infrastructure: Islands Stage

Training is available by limited personnel upon request. Within the last year we have seen an increase in training availability as our tech department continues to expand. Technical/Infrastructure Support - Behavioral: Intelligent Stage All of our staff know how and who to contact with technical questions. We now have a tech representative for our school at the district office who focuses especially on our needs. Technical/Infrastructure Support - Resource/Infrastructure: Intelligent Stage All buildings in our district have full-time personnel to address our specific technical needs. As mentioned before, the tech department has recently expanded this year and has added more support teams for each building. This has moved us from the Integrated Stage to the Intelligent Stage.

Connectivity Filter: Intelligent Stage

Local Area Networking (LAN) - Behavioral: Integrated Stage Staff use limited data most of the time. This is not because the district has limited access, but rather because the staff is still in the process of learning how to use new devices that allow them more sophisticated use of the LAN. Local Area Networking (LAN) - Resource/Infrastructure: Intelligent Stage The district has made all necessary updates to provide fully functioning LAN for the staff. Connectivity meets the needs of the staff in the building. District Area Networking (WAN) - Behavioral: Integrated Stage As stated before, staff use is limited to data most of the time. Again, this is not because we have limited access, but rather because some staff is still learning how to fully use the Network. District Area Networking (WAN) - Resource/Infrastructure: Intelligent Stage The WAN connection across our district is fully capable to meet any and all needs of the staff members. We have full access to high-speed lines, voice, video, data, etc.

Internet Access - Behavioral: Intelligent Stage Most staff use internet daily in either preparation or actual teaching, if not both. Students interact daily with My Big Campus, a management system for teachers and students. Internet Access - Resource/Infrastructure: Intelligent Stage Each building has direct internet access at any location. Wifi is available, although it is password protected so that students may not access their mobile devices during instruction time. Although, at least one internet ready computer lab is available for use in all buildings. Communication Systems - Behavioral: Intelligent Stage E-mail is used on a daily bases to communicate with other staff, students, and parents. Many, if not all, staff and students at the secondary level use social networking such as My Big Campus for daily communication as well. Communication Systems - Resource/Infrastructure: Intelligent Stage E-mail is available to all staff and students. Most chose to use My Big Campus for easier communication and networking among other students and staff.

Innovation Filter: Integrated Overall our rating for the Innovation Filter is at the Integrated Stage of Development. As stated multiple times throughout this summary, our district has made some pivotal changes technology-wise. We have invested into Smartboards, iPads, document cameras, microscopes, etc. The most difficult hurdle is getting everyone on board to utilize these resources on a daily basis. Progress has certainly been made, which is what sets us apart from the Intelligent Stage.
New Technologies - Behavioral: Integrated Stage New technologies are constantly being offered to buildings. Most staff members are on board to try out these new devices and programs. New Technologies - Resource/Infrastructure: Integrated Stage

New technologies are very accepted among the staff, the biggest issue I see is consistent implementation. Staff members are eager to learn, although, they are not confident enough to use new devices in daily teaching. Unfortunately, without practice and exposure, one cannot build proficiency. Comprehensive Technologies - Behavioral: Integrated Stage The technology available to us is very comprehensive, however what sets us apart from the Intelligent Stage is the lack of video conferencing. I am unaware that we have any video conferencing abilities at this time. Comprehensive Technologies - Resource/Infrastructure: Integrated Stage Currently, the resources available to staff members have great potential. For example, our last large investment was in iPads. Funding allowed for each teacher to have an iPad for classroom use. Multiple staff members have come across apps that would be valuable for students to use, however, it is difficult to do so when a class of 30+ students is sharing a single iPad.

Conclusion After reflecting over each Filter, it is clear that our district is at an overall rating of Integrated Stage of Development. We have made so many changes within the last three years, that it is exciting to finally see the shift trickling down into individual buildings and classrooms. Although, we still have yet a ways to go, both staff and students are feeling encouraged with the direction we are heading. We have consistent access to new technology devices and applications, and it is now up to staff members to begin utilizing these tools daily. With various trainings being increased at each building, more and more staff are being prepared in how to use iPads, document cameras, blogs, in-district networking, etc. The tech department is working diligently to continue upgrading our systems as needed. The overall attitude towards accepting these new tools has become more positive among staff. It is evident that all personnel in the district are becoming more comfortable with our technology plans for the future.