Technology Budget Proposals

Question Three

The lowest amount requested was $13,125 The most requested was $76,000 The average amount requested was $32,866

Money, money, money

Some proposals were primarily narrative Some relied heavily on charts Some took a hybrid approach

We took a few different approaches to the same task

In today’s rapidly changing world, access to electronic sources of information is a basic educational requirement. Successful students use technology to support all stages of the research process: email and online discussion forums to identify and clarify problems; electronic catalogs, websites, and databases to find and evaluate information; and word processing and presentation software, as well as blogs, wikis, and other social media to use, synthesize, and share information (Einsenberg, 2008, p. 45).

Narrative approaches

Information literacy services and instruction must be “essential components” of media center programs and integrated into the school’s curriculum to ensure students have the critical thinking skills they need to be successful in the 21st century. Yet with only three computers in the school’s media center, our school is woefully unprepared to help students understand and use an information problem-solving process …

Narrative approaches

We also saw some effective charts!

School principals might appreciate the at-a-glance nature of charts

Grant committees might require a narrative, with extra attention to avoiding professional jargon

The needs of the intended audience should drive the approach

Everyone asked for enough computers (either mobile lab or desktop) for a whole class set

Everyone stressed the need for Internet access

But, there was a great deal of consensus, too

In all, we asked for a lot of stuff

Computer cart of laptops or desktops (30)

Subscription databases Interactive white board Networked printer(s) Software: presentation

(e.g., Office) and statistical

Computer web cams Headsets

Microphones ELMO document cameras Computer desks and

chairs Extra staff time Maintenance costs Miscellaneous items

(cords, labels, storage) Video camera

Were databases part of the proposal? Were tables and chairs available? Laptops or desktops? How much do these things actually cost?

We’re still thinking through many of the details

It’s not enough to teach students to be technology literate, they have to be information literate.*

But one overwhelming consensus informed each of our proposals

* “Moving from teaching isolated computer skills to helping people learn integrated information and technology skills is not just a good idea – it’s essential if we are to put users in a position to succeed in an increasingly complex and changing world” (Eisenberg, 2008).

Thanks for a great discussion!