Module 5 Forum 

For my podcasting technology plan, I can see both strengths and areas for improvement. One weakness is that it does not have a way to collect qualitative data. Whitehead, Jensen, and Boschee (2013) explain that evaluation tools should gather this type of information to capture the experiences and perceptions of students and teachers, not just numbers (p. 233). Without this, we might miss important feedback that could improve the program. Another gap is the absence of school-business partnerships, which the authors highlight as an important component for strong technology plans (p. 233). These partnerships can increase resources and provide students with authentic, real-world experiences. One way to address this could be by piloting the program with high school or FBLA students who could connect with local businesses to help develop the business aspects of the project.

On the strength side, the plan does use student learner outcomes to measure success, which helps ensure the technology is directly tied to learning goals (Whitehead et al., 2013, p. 233). It also includes a technology task force, which provides oversight, diverse perspectives, and shared responsibility for implementation and improvement (p. 233).

The Technology Maturity Benchmarks Rubric is an excellent planning tool because it covers all the major areas of a strong technology plan, including policy, planning, budgeting, administrative information, electronic information, assessment, curriculum integration, teacher use, and student use (Whitehead et al., 2013, pp. 235–258). The rubric also outlines stages of development from “Emergent” to “Intelligent,” which allows schools to see where they currently stand and set realistic goals for progress. This makes it possible to identify strong areas as well as gaps, then prioritize what to address first. Using the rubric helps ensure the plan is balanced, sustainable, and always aligned with student learning needs.

References:

Whitehead, B. M., Jensen, D., & Boschee, F. A. (2013). Planning for technology: A guide for school administrators, technology coordinators, and curriculum leaders (2nd ed.). Corwin.