EdTech 501 Technological Maturity Evaluation Institution-South Michigan Institute of Technology and Engineering

Patrick Stier

South Michigan Institute of Technology and Engineering is a rural district. We are a public school district created by a small group of parents unhappy with the local school district in the 1960s. Our district is split by two counties, 1 town and 3 townships with another school district. Numbers in 2000 Total population - 8,761 Median Household Income - $39,469 Per Capita Income in 1999 - $ 17,634 2010-2011 School Year Number of Schools - 4 (2 elementaries, 1 high/middle school, 1 Alternative Education School) Students (K-12) - 1693 High School -Students -412 Amer. Ind./Alaskan - 10 Asian/Pacific Islander - 6 Black - 55 Hispanic - 64 White - 277 Free/Reduced Lunch Eligible - 75% School of Choice-18% Current Technology: Each of the elementary schools and the alternative school have a computer lab. The high/middle school has 6 computer labs and one mobile computer lab. Each classroom has a tv with dvd/vcr, media projector and Mobi Mobile Interactive Whiteboard. Each building in the district has multiple CPS Student Response Systems for use by staff and students. Gradebooks for the district are online and viewable at any time by parents and students. Each staff member is issued an email account and required to keep an up to date website. A staff members website must include the weekly classwork, homework and goals. Along with the site based curriculum students can also take online courses or participate in the Michigan virtual high school. As part of the MERIT curriculum, the State of Michigan currently requires all students in the state to participate in an online learning experience. The state defines this as "a structured learning activity that utilizes technology with intranet/Internet-based tools and resources as the delivery method for instruction, research, assessment, and communication." The learning experience can be part of classes in the MERIT curriculum or as a separate online class. Courses looking to receive credit as an online learning experience must provide an outline to the local board of education for approval. Student data such as demographic, disciplinary and academic is stored in and data warehouse with easy access for staff and administration. Student testing results from midterm and of the year along with NWEA testing is stored in the warehouse which allows for teachers to track student progress from year to year or transfer it to a new site if the students transfers to a new school in Michigan. Administrative-The Administrative Filter is composed of Policy, Planning, Budget and Administrative Information criteria. High levels of maturity in this area are most reflective of resource availability and the

behaviors of Administrators and Staff. This is indicated in the Maturity model Impact table. Projects that focus on this area will impact Administrators and Staff the most. Policy Behavioral-Integrated-The technology in the district used in a large amount of classrooms throughout the district. I believe this is due to the large amount of staff who have grown up with technology. Resource/Infrastructure-Intelligent-Each year the computer and technology policy is revised and approved by the local board of education. A signed copy is required to be on file for each student and staff member before they are allowed to use any technology. Planning Behavioral-Intelligent-The district and school technology planning is part of each monthly department meeting. Resource/Infrastructure-Integrated-The Technology plan is being revised to include a formal review process but the current one does not include this. Budget Behavioral-Islands-The technology budget is a high priority but the resources for the budget happen with the sacrifice of other needs. Resource/Infrastructure-Integrated-As stated above the technology budget is a high priority but the resources for the budget happen with the sacrifice of other needs, if a department needs something it becomes a line item in that departments budget. Administrative Information Behavioral-Intelligent-Gradebooks and attendance are taken online daily. Resource/Infrastructure-Intelligent-Each teacher has computer in their classroom for the above activities. Curricular-The Curricular Filter is composed of Curriculum Integration, Assessment, Teacher Use and Student Use criteria. High levels of maturity in this area are most reflective of resource availability and the behaviors of Teachers and Students. Teachers indicated in the Maturity model Impact table. Projects that focus on this area will impact Teachers and Students the most. Electronic Information Behavioral-Integrated-Students and Staff use computer labs at minimum once per week per class depending on schedule and lab availability. Resource/Infrastructure-Integrated-Computer labs are the most common electronic information resources used with access being limited to lab time allowed by schedule and instructor. Assessment Behavioral-Islands-With the large amount of computer labs and other assessment tools such as CPS Student Response Systems the technology is under used by staff and students. Resource/Infrastructure-Islands-The reporting and assessment tools available are outdated and lack depth. Curriculum Integration

Behavioral-Islands-Curriculum is required to be dependent upon technology due to the district improvement plan but use of technology lacks in diversity. Resource/Infrastructure-Integrated-Technology and other resources are available for most areas by computers or related equipment Teacher Use Behavioral-Intelligent-All staff have email, a website and online grade books along with computer presentations and daily announcements via the school network. Resource/Infrastructure-Intelligent-All staff have access to technology in their work area or classroom. Student Use Behavioral-Islands-Student use of technology consist mostly of computer usage for research. Resource/Infrastructure-Integrated-Due to new state curriculum standards students use computers and related technologies multiple times a week. Support-The Support Filter is composed of Stake holder Involvement, Administrative Support, Training, and Technical; Infrastructure Support criteria. High levels of maturity in this area are most reflective of resource availability and the behaviors of Teachers and Support Staff. Projects that focus on this area will impact Teachers and Support Staff the most. Stakeholder Involvement Behavioral-Emergent-Each department head is aware of the planning but in order to be engaged in the process you must be part of the current technology committee which is appointed by building administrators. Resource/Infrastructure-Emergent-The groups represented in the planning are those selected by building administrators. Administrative Support Behavioral-Integrated-Administrative involvement and approval is required to go forth with any type of technology upgrade. Resource/Infrastructure-Island-Once administration has approved the upgrade or implementation of technology it is up to the staff to follow through with the feat. Training Behavioral-Integrated-Technology training is done formally monthly with weekly tutorials and videos sent to staff by the technology director. Resource/Infrastructure-Island-Training is provided by the technology director only. Technical & Infrastructure Support Behavioral-Integrated-The majority of staff members use support of the technology department and peers. Resource/Infrastructure-Intelligent-There is a district wide technology department to all technical support needs. Connectivity-The Connectivity Filter is composed of Local Area Networking, District Area Networking, Internet Access and Communication Systems criteria. High levels of maturity in this area are most reflective of resource availability and the behaviors of all segments of the institution, including the community. Projects that focus on this area will impact all segments of the institution. Local Area Network

Behavioral-Intelligent-Phone, video conferencing and data systems are available in the high/middle school Resource/Infrastructure-Intelligent-Depending on the need of staff, network can expand to help with more taxing applications. District Area Networking (WAN) Behavioral-Integrated-The district wide network is data only with more resources available at high/middle school. Resource/Infrastructure-Integrated-The district wide network is dedicated high speed lines for data. Internet Access Behavioral-Integrated-All staff and most students use the internet frequently with many computer labs in the district. Resource/Infrastructure-Intelligent-Each location is the district has internet access including wireless access. Communication Systems Behavioral-Intelligent-Email is primary source of communication outside of live interaction by staff and administration to each other, students and parents. Resource/Infrastructure-Integrated-Email is available to staff and students by public computer labs or wireless connectivity. Innovation-The Innovation Filter is composed of New Technologies and Comprehensive Technologies criteria. High levels of maturity in this area are most reflective of resource availability and the behaviors of Teachers and Students. Projects that focus on this area will impact Teachers and Students the most. New Technologies Behavioral-Islands-In order to receive new technology a staff member must find and experiment with it on their own. Resource/Infrastructure-Islands-Same as above, a staff member must find and implement it on their own. Comprehensive Technologies Behavioral-Integrated-There are many technologies for staff and students but lack of training with the technology has lead to it not being used to its potential. Resource/Infrastructure-Integrated-There are many technologies for staff and students but lack of training with the technology has lead to it not being used to its potential.

Summary
The South Michigan Institute of Technology and Engineering is in a unique situation. I would put them on the lower end of integrated overall. The institute has a large amount of technology and infrastructure in place but is currently lack planning as to how put the technology to the proper use. Many instructors are currently finding it hard to use the technology without help from a knowledgeable person to train them ahead to time or sometimes during the use of the technology. The training program in place is mostly show and tell without hands on use.