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What is Technology Use Planning
I would define technology use planning as developing a blueprint for accomplishing an educational vision that incorporates the effective use of technology. Technology use planning should be more than a document created by one person and given to teachers and administrators as a list of rules or expectations. The planning process should include multiple participants with different perspectives in order to put together a plan on which all participants agree.
The National Technology Plan as an Effective Resource
This document is an excellent resource to use in forming an effective technology use plan. The National Plan provides an example of a goal based strategy that focuses on the learner. It encourages the development of new and better processes. I think the National Technology Plan provides an excellent overarching view of national trends and concerns relating to the use of technology in learning. These ideas can be customized to meet the needs of any school district or learning institution.
Tech Use Plans - Long Term vs. Short Term
I think we should break technology use planning into two parts when considering time frame: goals and strategies to accomplish the goals. It is okay to set longer term goals for technology as long as they revolve around what we want to accomplish with the use of technology instead of what technology we will use. How to accomplish the goals centers more around what technology resources will be available. Since equipment brands, forms and specs change so rapidly, a shorter term plan is required. Most importantly we should use technology to accomplish our goals instead of letting the technology dictate our decisions. Any technology use plan should be fluid and flexible.
All About Application
I definitely agree that technology use planning should be focused on application and not on the technology itself. As stated above, technology will always change at a rapid pace. This cannot handcuff the overall vision. Having a plan that is based on application will also allow for more flexibility. This flexibility will increase the odds of developing a successful plan that can have many variables including budget and skill level.
Personal Experience
I have not been involved in creating an actual technology use plan. I have seen attempts at technology planning by others at our school. Unfortunately, the outcomes that I have seen so far have not been great. I think a couple of weaknesses have attributed to these poor outcomes. I have seen decisions that are made based on the latest trend or available device. Secondly, I have not seen a good professional development plan to go along with the implementation of new technology. Many professors have not embraced the use of new technology because they don’t have the knowledge or skills to make the most of the tools. These are factors that I will keep in mind when I am involved in technology planning.image source: http://farm1.staticflickr.com/125/405736696_89e1f4604a.jpg
