tkt8763-01: Technology Plan Critiques-08 September 1999

[Christopher & Raydene Wolney <wolney@ebicom.net>]

Hi all,

Dr. Anderson has asked that we relate to the online students what we 
discussed in class today. We discussed technology plans and cited 
similarities, differences, strengths, and weaknesses. So collectively from 
the class are the following:

Similarities:
-Mission and Vision Statements
-Acknowledgments
-Executive Summary
-Good ideas but not follow up (Goals but not refinement)
-Budget information was lacking (forward cost projections specifically)
-Demographics (typically non-existent)

Differences:
-Special needs programs
-Plan layouts varied
-Training of technology users and administrators
-Evaluation and refinement of plan
-State plans vs. local plans (broad and lofty goals vs. specific and 
concrete plans)

Strengths:
-Priorities for budgeting and purchasing automation
-Charts and graphs used in some site made plan understandable
-Implementation of technology into different grade levels and school areas 
(i.e. Chemistry, English, Social Studies, etc.)
-Action plan (how technology was going to be implemented)

Weaknesses:
-Specifics of Mission Statements
-Special needs were not addressed well
-Fine Arts implementation

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Other topics we discussed:

Kevin Trudeau: He studied memory and memory techniques. He discussed how 
people use certain tricks to memorize items. He linked this back into 
Technology Plans. People have certain ways they plan and their plans may 
work for them. For example, technology plans are supposed to have say a 
separate mission and vision statement. If a plan doesn't but the technology 
committee can explain why their mission and vision statement is as written 
then that is fine. As long as the plan is understandable, it is OK. 
However, if we as technology consultants can show committees how to write 
better plans which are more precise and concise, then committees may want 
to adopt our guidelines.

Stewardship: Specifically this means how the technology is going to be used 
to the best advantage for all concerned. We get what we pay for was the 
motto of choice. Also a stitch in time saves nine kept popping up in my 
mind. Discussed was printers and the waste of paper. Would it be wise to 
invest in a program that caused the terminal to bring up a print preview 
screen so the user can preview how the printer will print the document. 
Maybe if we invested in this program we could save money on paper. The 
purpose here is stewardship which is making people understand the 
importance of technology and how they are going to take ownership of their 
plan, implement their plan, and refine their plan.

Front Matter, The stuff in the front. Specifically, the items which should 
be in the front of the technology plan. Things that should be in the front 
are acknowledgments, tables of content, and executive summaries, and list 
of committee members.

Hamlet was discussed but I lost track (To be or not to be).

Implementation of technology into different grade levels and school areas 
(i.e. Chemistry, English, Social Studies, etc.), While generally recognized 
as a strength, it should be examined whether or not such specificity needs 
to be in a technology plan. Again, it depends on the level and purpose of 
the plan. A local plan may be very specific while a state plan may be more 
vague.

The key to technology planning is the acronym PIE-Plan, Implement, and 
Evaluate. Or it can be PDR-Plan, Do, and Refine. The importance is not the 
acronym but the concept. Every implementation of technology must be planned 
first and foremost. Secondly, it must be implemented. During the 
implementation of the plan, it must be constantly evaluated and refined. 
Technology itself is always changing and the way it is being implemented 
must be constantly evaluated for potential change.

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The Technology Maturity Model (TMM): A model for establishing benchmarks 
that evaluate both the resources available and how well the resources are 
used. The TMM was created by Chip Kimble. Techbuilders allows a 
organization create a plan and compare the plan with other similar plans. 
TMM help in PIE (Planning and more importantly Implementing and probably 
most important Evaluating and Refining).

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People to know and things to look up.

Find Phillip Cartwright: I believe he can be found at 
http://contract.kent.edu/change/

Find Joe Moreau: I could not find in the time I typed this

Find the difference between the noun and verb version of a Technology Plan. 
The noun is the document itself while the verb is the implementation and 
evaluation of the technology plan

Keep posting book reviews.

Look at technology plans for private schools.
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I believe I may have captured only 10% of the discussion and probably only 
retained 10% of what I captured and unfortunately only typed 10% of that. 
This is my cut at what was discussed tonight.

Chris Wolney
******* TKT 8763 Seminar in Planning for Instructional Technology  *******
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