As your team considers student goals and actions that would be appropriate for the various grade levels in your district, it is important that they not only look at technology use goals, but also focus strongly on student achievement goals which will address how technology will be used within your district to facilitate student achievement.

One word of caution when developing goals and actions in this element of your plan . . . don't go overboard. There is a tendency to create so many goals and actions that, practically speaking, you set yourself up for failure before you even begin. You should look at setting up from 4 to 8 goals at each benchmark grade level (Common benchmark levels are grades 4, 8, and 11. Some individual elementary schools set the grades at 3 and 5(or 6)). Setting 1 to 3 actions for each goal will probably be plenty. This is only a suggestion, it is not a hard and fast rule. Many districts and schools will vary from this.

The Iowa Department of Education has given some guidance for developing goals in this area in the Technical Assistance Guide published for the Fall of 2001 for helping with the requirements of Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP). development and evaluation.

Your team can also get ideas on how to structure these goals and actions, and what goals and actions would be appropriate at what grade levels, by taking a look at some technology plans from other schools who have developed successful CSIPs and technology plans.

One of the best, and highly recommended methods to develop student goals and actions is to take a look at the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) as developed by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). To order "NETS for Teachers" or "NETS for Students: Connecting Curriculum and Technology" books, call (800 336-5191).

An overview of the NETS elements can be found on the World Wide Web at http://cnets.iste.org/index2.html

The portion of your student goals and actions dealing with student achievement must also be included in your district's CSIP.

In the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan Requirements: Fall 2001 Technical Assistance Guide  put out by the Iowa Department of Education, one of the Checklist items describes what is needed in the technology plan, and likewise in the district's CSIP:

CSIP Checklist Item #42

42. Technology is incorporated into the total educational program
281-IAC 12.2

Meets Evidence of Requirement Criteria
The expectation will be met for requirement #42 if the CSIP contains information describing that technology is incorporated into the total educational program. How the district chooses to incorporate technology into the total educational program is a local decision.

Examples:

  • Teachers and students in the XYZ School District use technologies to expand classroom resources, improve student products, research and presentations. It is used to increase communication with and the involvement of community and parents
    in the students' learning.

  • XYZ School District students participate in engaging activities that involve problem solving, collaboration, resource management, and other SCAN skills at least once a semester. Activities are closely linked to district standards and benchmarks.

  • XYZ School District students PK-12 have access to the Internet in their classrooms. These classroom computers are networked with other computers and peripherals.

Taken from the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan Requirements: Fall 2001 Technical Assistance Guide  - Iowa Department of Education.

CSIP Checklist Item #43

43. Technology is used to meet student learning goals
281-IAC 12.5(10)

Meets Evidence of Requirement Criteria
The expectation will be met for requirement #43 if the CSIP contains information describing that technology is used to meet student learning goals. How the district uses technology to meet student learning goals is a local decision.

Examples:

  • XYZ School District will continue to assess and update the incorporation of technology to meet all teachers’ needs in the implementation of reading strategies.

  • Teachers and students in the XYZ School District will use technologies to improve problem solving skills in K-12 mathematics.

  • Teachers and students in the XYZ School District use appropriate technologies for a variety of purposes in an engaging problem-solving environment (e.g., science, social studies, and reading).

Taken from the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan Requirements: Fall 2001 Technical Assistance Guide  - Iowa Department of Education.

CSIP Checklist Item #44

44. Technology utilization shall focus on the attainment of student achievement goals for academic and other areas.
Iowa Code Section 295.3

Meets Evidence of Requirement Criteria
The expectation will be met for requirement #44 if the CSIP contains information describing technology utilization focused on the attainment of student achievement goals for academic and other areas. How the district chooses to use technology to improve student achievement is a local decision.

Examples:

  • Reading: Teachers in the XYZ School District will use technology to measure, individualize, and monitor student progress to increase the percentage of students proficient in reading.

  • Mathematics: Teachers in the XYZ School District use technology to measure, individualize, and monitor student progress.

Taken from the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan Requirements: Fall 2001 Technical Assistance Guide  - Iowa Department of Education.

Sample Goals

  • Promote the integration of technology into the curriculum.

  • Develop the ability for students and staff to share information globally.

  • Create a safe computing environment for students and staff by undertaking action to implement internet filtering.

  • Use developmentally appropriate multimedia resources (e.g., interactive books, educational software, elementary multimedia encyclopedias) to support learning.

  • Use telecommunications efficiently to access remote information, communicate with others in support of direct and independent learning, and pursue personal interests.

Sample Actions

  • Integrate videoconferencing into the curriculum by outfitting one computer in each sixth grade classroom with a web cam and iVisit software.

  • Implement Internet filtering on district computers by using the N2H2 filter provided at the AEA level.

  • Purchase and install HyperStudio 4 software on all computers in the middle school lab and classrooms.

  • Train sixth grade students and staff in the use of AOL Instant Messenger so that multi-school debates may be held between students from our district and students from other districts around the country.

Links