Technology Standards in Marion

Currently I am in the process of redeveloping or technology plan. Our new tech plan is due in January 2008. I spent last month working on the development of certain aspects of the technology plan. The new tech plans all have to link to the state technology standards.

One of the components of our new technology plan will be to provide professional development for all of our staff members to incorporate the new technology standards into their current curriculum maps. As an administrator I would like to see the tech standards fit seamlessly into their current curriculum. We will also look at implementing a peer mentoring system in our building. I will be mentoring one teacher from each building on the incorporation of the standards into their lessons. These teachers will mentor other teaches in the building until every teacher is fully implementing the state technology standards.

When I looked at our old technology plan from 2005, there was no mention of meeting any standards. With our new plan we will strive to meet the state standards and also the ISTE standards. We are attempting to put in many new technology tools for our staff to use. We just purchased six new Promethean boards last week to implement into the classrooms. These are a great tool to use and meet the state technology standards.

I think the thing that is the most positive is that the state tech standards can be incorporated into the classroom very easily. These are not something more to do for teachers. The only downfall is that as a district you need to make sure that you give your staff the right technology tools to use in the classroom.