Denton ISD Technology Plan

Denton ISD Technology PlanPresented by Agustin QuezadaLamar UniversityMay, 2011.

Denton ISD Technology plan, by Agustin Quezada, Cohort 15. Lamar University.1Denton ISD in pursuit of excellenceMission Statement

The mission of the Denton Public Schools, in partnership with home and community, is to provide the best educational opportunities in a challenging yet supportive environment where individuals and cultural diversity are respected, so that our students become knowledgeable and responsible citizens, capable of life-long learning and demonstrate the necessary skills to contribute productively in a complex and ever-changing world.2Denton ISDProfileESC Region: 11City, State, Zip: Denton, Texas 76201Number of Campuses: 33Total Student Enrollment: 23,619District Size: 10,000 24,999Economically Disadvantaged: 39.9% (Denton ISD January 2011 School District Summary).

Denton ISD is located in the DFW area, it is part of the Education Service Center Region 11 and it is a TEA recognized school district.With 33 campuses and a total of 23,619 students enrolled; Denton ISD is one of the fastest growing districts in the area.One of the goals in the near future is to be an exemplary district despite the fact that our district serves a population 39.9% economically disadvantaged.

3Denton ISDTechnology Plan PrioritiesTeaching and Learning

Educator Preparation and Development

Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support

Infrastructure for technology

The priorities for the Denton ISD technology plan are: Teaching and learningEducator Preparation and developmentLeadership, administration and instructional support andInfrastructure for technology4Denton ISD Technology BudgetTechnology Expenditures: $22,555,136Teaching and Learning Budget: $1,944,587Educator Preparation & Development Budget: $201,000Leadership, Administration and Support Budget: $2,316,250Infrastructure for Technology Budget: $18,093,299

The technology budget is divided into the four plan priorities.Teaching and Learning Budget: $1,944,587Educator Preparation & Development Budget: $201,000Leadership, Administration and Support Budget: $2,316,250Infrastructure for Technology Budget: $18,093,299

5Denton ISDTechnology Plan ComplianceReview of No Child Left Behind requirementsE-Rate requirementsTexas Long Range Plan for TechnologySBEC Standards for TechnologyCompletion of teacher and campus STaR Chart surveysReview of core curriculum TEKS and Technology Application TEKS

The Denton ISD technology plan is in compliance with NCLB, E-rate, Texas Long range plan for technology, State Board for Educator Certification standards for technology, STaR chart, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, and the National EducationTechnology Plan.6Denton ISDNeeds Assessment Due to The challenge posed by greater diversity and greater accountability is to enable students with widely divergent needs, skills, and interests to attain the same high standards (Rose & Meyer, 2002, Chapter 1).

The Texas Campus STaR Chart was conducted to analyze the current status of technology in the district and determine future needs.

A needs assessment was conducted to create the current technology plan.Methods as comprehensive needs assessment through online teacher surveys, interviews, campus inventories, and the Texas STaR chart were utilized to create the plan. 7Denton ISDNeeds Assessment (Cont)Items analyzed included: personnel support, professional development, curriculum integration, infrastructure, hardware, software, student achievement, and technology resources.

Findings from this needs assessment enabled us to create the goals, objectives and strategies outlined in the plan.

All the findings from the needs assessment were considered to generate the goals, objectives, and strategies for the Denton ISD technology plan.After the analysis, four main goals were produced. They cover each and every need and are carefully aligned with state and national standards. 8Denton ISDGoalsGoal 1: Administration, Teachers and Students will utilize technology as a integrated tool within the curriculum to create a technology rich environment that will increase student achievement, improve instructional accountability and be provided the necessary resources and support to adequately meet the needs of a fast-growing district population.

This goal contains 8 objectives and many strategies each to ensure the goal is met.An example is:Objective 1.7: Students will be able to obtain specialty certifications in information technology, TV andRadio. Which is supported by:Strategy 1.7.1: HS students will be able to participate in certification classes such as Cisco Academy, A+and other certification programs through the Advanced Technology Complex.

9National Education Technology Plan Compliance for Goal 1Denton ISDs first goal is aligned to the National Education Technology Plan, which states: All learners will have engaging and empowering learning experiences both in and out of school that prepare them to be active, creative, knowledgeable, and ethical participants in our globally networked society (Department of Education, 2010, p. 9).

The Texas Long Range Plan also contains goals that expects all learners to use information and communication technologies to collaborate, construct knowledge and provide solutions to real world problems and situations that are encountered (TLRP, 2006, p. 18).This demonstrates how the first goal is closely aligned with both the national and the state technology plans.10Denton ISDGoals (Cont)Goal 2: Teachers and staff will attain and possess the necessary skill set, through quality professional development, to effectively integrate technology, help to motivate students to learn and be prepared to enter a competitive technology-entrenched society and/or higher-education system.

Goal number 2 has 4 main objectives: to provide high quality, on-going professional development, to provide training to develop a cadre of teachers who will become digital mentor/leader at their campuses, to standardized technology support and training to create information specialists, and to provide opportunities for teachers and staff to network with peers and colleagues to learn new ideas. Strategies to attain this goal and its objectives range from offering a variety of delivery methods for on-going training (Online, CBT, distance education, face-to-face) to attending state and national conferences focusing on educational technology.11National Education Technology Plan Compliance for Goal 2This goal is related to the teaching goal of the NETP, which states that Professional educators will be supported individually and in teams by technology that connects them to data, content, resources, expertise, and learning experiences that can empower and inspire them to provide more effective teaching for all learners (Department of Education, 2010, p. 39).

The TLRP has a goal that also states teachers should exit educator preparation programs knowing how to use technology effectively in the teaching-learning process as demonstrated by the SBEC Technology Applications Standards (TLRP, 2006, p. 24).

12Texas Long Range Technology Plan Compliance for Goal 2 (Cont)The TLRP has a goal that also states teachers should exit educator preparation programs knowing how to use technology effectively in the teaching-learning process as demonstrated by the SBEC Technology Applications Standards (Texas Education Agency, 2006, p. 24).

13Denton ISDGoals (Cont)Goal 3: Denton ISD will provide appropriate access to information and resources for parents and other community members to help foster an environment of open communication and involvement.

Goal 3 has to do with connecting with parents, community, and stakeholders to foster an environment of open communication. The three objectives in this goal help parents and the community to stay informed through the Internet, connect to materials in the schools, universities and city libraries, and increase cooperation between city, university, and Denton ISD school libraries.

14Denton ISDGoals (Cont)Goal 4: Infrastructure Goal: Denton ISD will provide adequate technology infrastructure to meet the instructional needs of students, teachers, and administrators that will allow them to succeed in an ever-changing environment.

The NETP requests that All students and educators have access to a comprehensive infrastructure for learning when and where they need it (Department of Education, 2010, p. 51).

The fourth and final goal deals with infrastructure needs. Infrastructure is fundamental for the Denton ISD technology plan to work, because infrastructure is needed to meet the instructional needs of its students, teachers, and administrators; this is why 80% of the technology budget is destined to strengthen the technology infrastructure.

The TLRP recommends that every single person in a district has equitable access to all e-learning technologies through ubiquitous broadband resources 24/7 for all users (TLRP, 2006, p. 36).15Denton ISDEvaluationEvaluation will be ongoing and continuous. Budgets, strategies, and objectives will be updated annually based on feedback from formal and informal evaluations (i.e. online surveys, teacher appraisals, TAKS results, staff development evaluations, etc.) Annual updates to the campus STaR chart will document the progress of the district on a campus-by-campus basis in the four broad areas evaluated within the document.

Denton ISD technology plan includes an evaluation process to constantly monitor progress and success. Objectives and strategies will be updated annually based on feedback, surveys, and the annual STaR chart to ensure the Denton ISD technology plan goals are successfully met.

16Denton ISDNational Educational Technology Plan All of the Denton ISD goals are aligned with the NETP.Infrastructure goals are planned to target students and teachers needs.All the goals are focused on providing the best technology experience for all the parties involved in the education of our students.

Denton ISDTexas Long Range PlanThe goals established by Denton ISD also comply with the Texas Long Range Plan.

Alignment on the state and district goals, along with the national goals will help our students get the instruction and support needed to thrive in the 21st Century.

Denton ISDRecommended adjustmentsEven when connectivity is provided in each and every classroom in Denton ISD, computer ratio should be 1:1 in the near future.

A goal should also include a sustainable development model to reuse, recycle, and recondition technology equipment by our own students.

Infrastructure is the area with the most resources allocated. Hopefully by recycling and reconditioning equipment expenses in new hardware will be directed into buying enough computers to lower the student-computer ratio from 3:1 to 1:1.19Denton ISDRecommended adjustments (Cont)Networking installation and expansion could be done involving students taking technology courses.

Freeware and shareware should be considered as part of the resources available for students and staff.

Student involvement is a key component to reach the goals, besides the cost-related benefit of having interns, the practice and the ownership students will experience is one of the greatest benefits. The sense of belonging will foster better involvement in the future when the students become parents and send their kids to a district they trust and love.20Denton ISDFinal ThoughtsOur technology plan is very well rounded and as long as we keep monitoring and reviewing the objectives and strategies, we will meet the Texas Long Range Technology Plan objectives in 2020.

ReferencesDenton ISD. (2010). Denton ISD January 2011 School District Summary. Retrieved on May 12, 2011, from http://loving1.tea.state.tx.us/lonestar/Reports/Summary2010/District/AAG1-DIST-SchoolDist-PDF-en-us-061901.pdf

Department of Education. (2010). National Education Technology Plan. Retrieved on May 12, 2011, from http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/netp2010.pdf

Rose, D., & Meyer, A. (2002). Teaching every student in the digital age: Universal design for learning. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Available online at the Center for Applied Special Technology Web site. Chapter 1. Retrieved on May 12, 2011, from http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/ideas/tes/

Texas Education Agency. (2006). Texas Long Range Technology Plan. Retrieved on May 12, 2011, from http://www.tea.state.tx.us/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&ItemID=2147494561&libID=2147494558