Washington State K12 Educational Technology Plan

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Washington State K-12 Educational Technology Plan

• NCCE 2003
• Dennis Small, Office of Superintendent of Public
  Instruction

2
Overview

• Key Points to Consider
• Definition of Educational Technology?
• Current state of educational technology in
  Washington
• K-12 Educational Technology Plan
• Recommendations and Next Steps

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Key Points

• Question is not whether but how educational
  technology should be used to improve student
  achievement
• Computers are better, faster, cheaper
• Almost all schools (99) are connected to the
  Internet
• Increasingly, students have access to computers
  for instructional activities
• Computer and Internet use at home has risen
• Schools may be the great equalizer in terms of
  computer and Internet access for students who
  dont have sufficient access at home or in
  community

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Key Points (continued)

• Poorly trained teachers not able or unwilling to
  capitalize on available technology
• Restricted use of the Internet due to district
  policies
• Poor or non-existent classroom connections
• High maintenance costs for existing
  infrastructure
• High investment costs for updates and
  improvements
• Lack of critical network staffing support

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What is Educational Technology?

• Education requires the knowledge and skills to
  use technology, and equitable access for all
  students
• Educational technology includes people as well as
  electronic tools
• The human element
• Skilled teachers proficient in technology
  applications, network support, and district
  leadership
• Knobs and buttons
• Hardware, software, the Internet, handheld
  devices, digital cameras, printers, etc.

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Schools are Connected
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Educational Technology and Student Achievement

• Contributes to high performing schools
• Contributes to OSPIs strategic planning
  objectives
• Infuses effective teaching practices with
  real-life applications
• Provides immediate access to relevant and current
  information
• Supports curriculum, instruction, and assessment
  practices

8
Support for Educational Technology

• K-20 Network for Internet access and
  videoconferencing
• Educational Technology Support Centers
• Federal flow-through funds
• Competitive educational technology grants (Title
  II, D)

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Educational Technology Funding

• Derived from local, state, and federal sources
• In 2000 per-pupil spending averaged 120 (based
  on Technology Alliance survey)
• Wide variation in district per-pupil amount (8
  to 667)
• Significant variation in how districts account
  for and expend technology dollars
• No comprehensive statewide survey data available
  at present

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School Technology Funding Sources
Source Technology Alliance (1998)
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Where Technology Dollars Go

• Most funding devoted to hardware and software
  (over 80)
• 14 of funding goes to professional development
  (training, mentoring, etc.)
• Technology experts suggest that 70 should go to
  professional development, 30 to equipment--just
  the opposite

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How Students Use Technology

• Computer/Internet use in labs, libraries, or
  classrooms
• Distance learning via Internet or other means of
  communication
• At home for schoolwork, games, Internet, chat,
  and e-mail

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The Bottom Line

• Promises and difficulties in gauging the effect
  of educational technology on student achievement
• Teachers must be adequately trained
• Students must be supported at home as well as in
  school
• Educational leaders must develop appropriate
  policies for Internet use and computer
  applications
• Schools must have the network staffing support to
  administer programs
• Educational technology must complement an
  instructional objective rather than be an
  unwelcome intrusion

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Educational Technology Plan

• Required by state education reform and federal
  (ESEA) laws
• Educational Technology Advisory Committee (ETAC)
  also required by 1994 legislation, which names
  organizations that must be represented
• Superintendent of Public Instruction appointed
  most of current members in August, 2001
• Includes students, business representatives,
  legislators, Governors staff, and educators

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Key Elements of Educational Technology Plan

• The plan links educational technology to
• Characteristics of High-Performing Schools
• EALRs
• OSPI strategic plan and information technology
  initiatives
• ESEA, especially No Child Left Behind
  requirements in Title II, Part D

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Key Elements of Plan (continued)

• Complements Governors Digital Education
  Initiative
• Fits with other statewide educational technology
  initiatives
• Learning Space
• Teacher Leadership Project
• No Limit Project
• Extensive bibliography with large body of
  research on best practices with educational
  technology

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Recommendations Process

• Six Working Groups comprised of educators
  provided their best thinking on working with
  diverse demographics in the trenches
• Working Groups created numerous possible
  recommendations for consideration
• ETAC prioritized and narrowed down to 12 key
  comprehensive recommendations

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Recommendations Diagram
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Sticky Issues/Resolutions

• EALRs and Technology
• ESEA requires technology literacy
• Infuse to use vs. we teach what we test
• Use of technology tools on WASL tests
• Graduation requirement/Culminating Project
• Teacher Requirements
• Some states have required testing
• Teacher prep is key point of entry
• Funding Challenges
• Phasing ideas, no- or low-cost steps for this
  year

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Next Steps

• Work with State Board of Education on teacher
  preparation and standards
• Maintain legislative support for K-20 Network,
  ETSC Program
• Provide models for districts to implement
  recommended technology standards

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For More Information

• Washington Educational Technology Plan
  http//www.k12.wa.us/edtech/techplan.asp
• Dennis Small, OSPI
• dsmall_at_ospi.wednet.edu
• [phone]