Technology and Leadership

in School Settings: Session 4

Kathy Schrock
kathy@kathyschrock.net
Spring 2007
Class Web page
http://kathyschrock.net/techleadership/

©2007. Kathy Schrock. All rights reserved.

Itinerary: Session 4
 Discussion of technology self-assessment
 Presentation of use of technology in your
district for personal productivity
 In a group, investigate one of three online
technology integration models and report on it
to the rest of the class; use Google Docs for
collaborative creation (experts share)

©2007. Kathy Schrock. All rights reserved.

Questions from session 3?
Technology Self-
Assessment Discussion
Tech self-assessment notes

©2007. Kathy Schrock. All rights reserved.

Discussion of use of
technology in your district for
personal productivity
PPT on Personal
Productivity
 PRODUCTIVITY
Submitted by Cheri Armstrong, M.Ed. Chatham Elementary School March 19, 2007
 Current Technology
• iPASS
lll.A. Educational leaders • iFIPS
model the routine, intentional, • TechPath
and effective use of
technology. • chatham.k12.ma.us
• email
lll.E. Educational leaders • laptops, COW,
maintain awareness of AlphaSmart, labs
emerging technologies and • podcasts
their potential uses in
education. • wikis
• local access tv
• Nextel
 COMMUNICATION
The most effective technology to improve
productivity for our school district is the
enhanced communication and accessibility to
information via the internet. Almost all
communication is by email, and our website has
a school-wide calendar and up-to-date
information regarding school activities and
events. All teachers have their own laptops and
are able to obtain information about their own
students through iPASS.
 iPASS and Its Uses
iPASS (Pupil Administrative Software System)
http://www.imgsoftware.com/html/software/pass.html
“iPASS is a comprehensive, completely integrated, browser-based student
administrative software solution that will transform any school or district into an
educational gateway. Opening new avenues of information and communication
between Parents, Teachers, Students, Administrators, and the community.”

• demographic data
• attendance
• spreadsheets created by selected criteria
• grading
• report cards
• secure accessibility
The use of Technology to
Improve Productivity
 How Technology is being used to increase
productivity:

• Emails are being used to improve communication

• Esped- organizes special education information
• Increases ability to effectively increase learning for individual children
• Reinforces academic skills when time is limited
• Teach technological skills in conjunction with academic skills
• Generates formal evaluation reports
 The Process of Analyzing Data:

• DIBEL scores and other reading scores are generated

• Lexia scores are also generated to see areas of need or success for
individual children
• Computer generated report cards- individual reading levels
• Attendance records are more accurate
 Challenges:

• Every building within a district has equal access to computers and certain
programs

• Need to teach keyboarding at earlier grades

• District needs to continue to provide more professional development in the

area of technology

• Other challenges
Increasing Productivity Through the Lens of
Technology at Wixon Middle School
by: Krista L. Connelly

More Efficient Communication

◗ Use email instead of paper notices, memos,
professional development handouts etc.
◗ Create a school site or bulletin board for
daily announcements that need to be in print
- teachers and students can go to the
location during the day to read
announcements
Upgrade Computers for Students and
Staff
◗ Inconsistent type of computers around the school
with the exception of the computer labs which are
equipped with the same Dell computers
◗ Improve productivity because the teachers and
students would be more apt to use them if they
were up to date and worked well - frustration is
frequently a factor
◗ Complain about technology when we do have it
and complain about technology when we don’t
have it or it isn’t working!
Increase Building-based Professional
Development
◗ Let’s learn how to use the technology that
we do have
• AverKeys/Television combination
• Interactive whiteboards
• Digital cameras - video cameras
• Scanners
• Email….How do I check my email?
 Supportive Learning Communities
AGS 738 Technology and Leadership in School Settings
Mike Moore

In general, how is technology used in your workplace to improve

productivity?

Both attendance and grading, which includes the production of progress

reports and report cards are used. As of fourth term 2007 parents of
students will be able to access their child’s grade and we will no longer
be required to do progress reports. Staff members are also able to
access common folders on the local area network (LAN) to share
different resources. Phones and voice mail have also helped increase
communication with parents and staff members.

What process is used to select technologies designed to improve

productivity?

To my knowledge most technologies that the district currently used are

selected by the district technology coordinator with the approval of the
superintendent. Because of consent exposure to the classroom and
each of the buildings our coordinator is very connected to what is and is
not working in the district. There is also an open door policy in regards
to meeting with the coordinator about technology concerns and getting
advice.
How is technology used in your workplace to collect such data as
attendance, test scores, grades, expenses, etc.?

X2 online program is used for attendance, test scores and grades.

The front office uses Excel to track debits and credits related to the
school finances.

How is technology used in your workplace to analyze the data

collected?

X2 has the capability to generate different statistical analyzes for

different tests and assignments for teacher use. Others in the
building will also create spreadsheets to help analyze different data.

How is technology used to support communication and collaboration

among members of the school community?

As mentioned before, staff members can use e-mail, voice mail and
different common folders on our LAN to share work. Also, many staff
members have their ETUD’s (effective teacher unit designs) placed in
different common folders so that any teacher that has access to that
folder would be able to use it as a resource for their lessons, share
new methods and add/delete information as needed.
Which of the uses described above work well and need to be retained?
retained

• X2 – great software, just needs more time for staff to buy in and
increase comfort level.
• Staff use of LAN and common folders containing subject resources.
• Cell phone/walkie-talkie system (more time needed for comfort level).

Which of the uses described above do not work well and need to be
modified or stopped?
stopped

The technology tools that are currently in place are all working well.
Time and training is always the issue with most staff. X2 did not work
well at first because of the lack of trained personal in the building that
could help other staff members with individual problems.

What challenges do you face in providing a learning community where

faculty and staff use technology for improved productivity?
productivity

• Many of the new technologies fail in our building fail because of lack
of time and/or training.
• A new technology is introduced and before the entire staff can
become familiar with it the district will switch to something else.
• With a staff of 60 and one computer teacher trained in X2 it becomes
a huge responsibility for the trainer. There should be some criteria in
place that allocates a certain number of trainers per staff members or
provides weekly release time for the trainer to adequately address
 REFLECTION

USING TECHNOLOGY TO BE
PRODUCTIVE-
BOB O’NEILL
• QUESTION- In general, how is technology used in your work place to
improve productivity?
• Assessment
• Data collection
• BPS Announcements

• QUESTION- WHAT PROCESS IS USED TO SELECT NEW

TECHNOLOGIES?
• IT Department requests funds to purchase a particular piece of
technology.
• Approval of funding
• Schools and teachers are selected for a pilot program
• Analyze feedback
• Purchasing Department purchases technology.
• QUESTION- HOW IS TECHNOLOGY USED TO COLLECT AND ANALYZE DATA IN
YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT?
• Technology is not used to collect attendance in the middle schools.
• Expense reports are done by hand, in the middle schools.
• I do the computer and print supplies budget by hand.
• All final reports are generated by data collection personal.
• Technology is used to analyze MCAS scores and reports are generated to guidance
and teachers.
• Technology is used in mini assessments of students work
• Technology is used to generate data driven tests focusing on students particular
weakness.
• Edusoft.
• Technology is used to collect and report student discipline records
• Technology is used to collect and rank students academic performance
• QUESTION- WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE IN PROVIDING A
LEARNING COMMUNITY WHERE FACULTY AND STAFF USE
TECHNOLOGY FOR IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY?

• Breaking old habits

• Challenge to change by older teachers
• User intimidation
• Cost of training
• Teaching to the data, is sometimes hard to sell to teachers.
• Learning curve for users, different levels of abilities
• Total staff buy into technology vision and philosophy
 Improving Productivity
Use of Technology to collect and interpret Data in guiding
curriculum decisions
School Brains©
MCAS Analysis – Test-Wiz ©
(Use of these pieces of software vary from
school to school and from teacher to teacher)
Use of Technology to collect and interpret data in tracking
non curriculum information (attendance, expenses, etc.)
School Brains©
MUNIS © (administrative payroll and expense program
Use of Technology for communication and collaboration
Novell © (GroupWise)
Web Based Communication tools
School Web Sites, School Wikki pages
Shared Teacher-Created CD-R based lessons
EdLine ©
 Improving Productivity
Technology Selection Process
School Administration and Technology Leader

Model the Appropriate Use of Technology

Short Instructional Sessions on the use of both
hardware and software. Presented by the
technology Director

Mostly focused on Classroom Instructional tools

Not software environments such as spreadsheets,
databases, mail tools, copyright laws, etc.

District Policy documents describing the appropriate use of

student data, district e-mail, and internet use

Informal collaboration among some teaching staff

 Improving Productivity
What is working?
Novell Groupwise is probably the one area of technology that is utilized
by the majority of school personnel.
At MMEHMCPS the staff training is expanding teacher knowledge of the
array of potentially powerful tools that are becoming available to meet the
wider range of student needs found in the classroom today
What needs to be modified?
The use of the School Brains © software which is meant to inform instruction
through analyzing assessments and other student data is not widespread.
classroom teacher ability to create web pages or “wikkis” are limited.
Current Challenges
As always, funding issues loom over all progress toward improving the
use of technology in education. Teacher reluctance to get the necessary
training to become proficient at utilizing available technological resources
is also problematic. Contractual constraints and inadequate professional
development time interfere with providing the depth of instruction that is
needed.
 AGS738 Technology and Leadership in the School Setting
Productivity and Professional Practice

Standard III: Educational leaders apply technology to enhance their professional

practice and to increase their own productivity and that of others.

III.A. Educational leaders model the routine, intentional, and effective use of technology.

 Identify those technologies that are most helpful for your daily work.
 Share information about technologies with staff through articles, PLCs, electronic
newsletters, and professional development.
 Make appropriate use of technologies on a daily basis.
 Offer incentives for staff to improve their technology skills.

III.B. Educational leaders employ technology for communication and collaboration among
colleagues, staff, parents, students, and the larger community.

 Develop lines of communication between district office, staff, and the larger community.
 Publish and distribute information with technology.
 Develop an action plan and timeline for implementation.
 Obtain and respond to regular feedback to evaluate technology-based communication.
III.C. Educational leaders create and participate in learning communities that stimulate,
nurture, and support faculty and staff in using technology for improved productivity.

 Model positive technology use to staff.

 Have clear expectations for self and others.
 Provide professional development opportunities for all staff to use and
evaluate technology for improved productivity.
 Develop a plan that addresses any potential obstacles.

III.D. Educational leaders engage in sustained, job-related professional learning using

technology resources.

 Evaluate staff needs to determine appropriate use of technology.

 Provide professional development to all staff at all levels.
 Meet with individuals to establish professional growth plans or goals.
 Provide regular evaluation and monitoring of technologies in place.
III.E. Educational leaders maintain awareness of emerging technologies and their potential
uses in education.

 Recognize that effective technology use requires ongoing education.

 Regularly choose an area of technology use for potential skill improvement.
 Seek advice from the experts in the field.
 Self evaluate your choices to determine if the particular technology benefits your work.

III.F. Educational leaders use technology to advance organizational improvements.

 Research and collect data to determine what areas can improve with the use of technology.
 Chooses appropriate technology to implement based on research.
 Develop an action plan and timeline for training and implementation.
 Establish procedures for evaluation and modification of technology use.

©2007. William Sheehan. All rights reserved.

 PRODUCTIVITY

How/What technologies are used?

~ PLATO Labs, Computer Labs,
Alphasmarts, Smartboards
~Some digital cameras
Technology & the Professional

Grade Quick: Daily attendance, Overview of class

assignments, Grades in percents (tech-based
lesson/teacher book).
ESPED: IEPs, Progress Reports, District
Report/Analysis, Reasons for Enrollment, Income
Status. This is only for students on Education
Plans.
MASSCue: Computers Using Educators for
professional development opportunities,
Technology-based programs, Links, DOE.
Technology & the Community
Email is used as a means of communication
amongst staff, parents, administrators, etc.
Not all classrooms are “fully equipped” with
appropriate technology (2 computers with Internet
options for a class of 13 students, no smartboard,
etc.).
Technology can be used by students to research
(based on class themes), manufacture (Word
documents, collages, etc.), and manage files.
Realistic (high) expectations should be set.
Online Technology Integration Models
1. GMOTT and The Knowledge Loom
http://www.knowledgeloom.org
2. McREL: Building Better Instruction
http://www.mcrel.org/topics/products/236/
3. Nichols Technology Integration Model
http://www.teach-nology.com/tutorials/integrate/print.htm
4. Integration of Technology in Education
http://www.cofc.edu/bellsandwhistles/research/integration.html
5. TIE Technology Integration Model
http://www.tie.net/jdp/TIMInstUnitTemplate.pdf
7. Engauge: Effective Teaching and Learning Practices
http://www.tie.net/jdp/TIMInstUnitTemplate.pdf

©2007. Kathy Schrock. All rights reserved.

HW for session 5…
 Making Tech Standards…read chapter 4
 Investigate the budget line items (pages 81-
83) for technology for your school and create
a PPT presentation (due 3/25 in the morning)

©2007. Kathy Schrock. All rights reserved.

Questions or concerns?