INTEGRATING CAMPUS PLANNING:
                 THE TECHNOLOGY COMPONENT

This was prepared to assist Site-Based Decision Making teams in planning
for the acquisition and use of technology for the delivery and management
of instruction.

WHY PLAN FOR TECHNOLOGY USE IN SCHOOLS?

Technology's potential to affect K-12 instruction and educational
management has been demonstrated repeatedly.  Whether that effect is
significant and lasting is largely determined by the forethought given to
its implementation in the school setting. 

Recognizing this, several Texas state initiatives directly address the use
of technology in education: 

   The Long-Range Plan for Technology of the Texas State Board of
Education,
   1988-2000, published in 1988 articulated a vision in which technology
   facilitates the State Board's long-range goals for education in Texas. 
   The plan focuses on classroom instruction, instructional management,
   distance learning, and communications and outlines the specific
   responsibilities of the state, regional education service centers, and
   local districts.  A copy of this plan or summaries of particularly
   relevant parts may be obtained from Educational Technology Services. 

   Following the adoption of the Long-Range Plan for Technology, the 69th,
   71st, and 72nd Texas Legislatures directly addressed the use of
technologyin Texas public schools, including issues relating to:  equal access for
   students to information resources and enrichment opportunities provided
   through current and emerging technologies; equal access for educators
andadministrators to high quality teaching tools and efficient management
   systems; improved student productivity; provision of technology training
   within required staff development training; and an assertion that public
   schools must utilize, in a comprehensive manner, appropriate technology
in all aspects of instruction, administration, and communication.  For
   details regarding these legislative initiatives, contact Educational
   Technology Services. 

   A key provision of the legislation provides for the distribution of the
   Technology Allotment Fund to districts provided that each district
   improvement plan shows that at least 75% of the funds will be used to
   provide classroom instructional services and programs.  In order to
   receive these funds for the 1992-1993 school year (which amounted to
about
   $27 per ADA), each district in Region 20 developed and submitted to TEA
afive-year Educational Technology Plan.  Members of the team that
developed this plan should be able to assist campuses in developing the technology
   components of their campus improvement plans. 

WHAT SHOULD TECHNOLOGY PLANNING LOOK LIKE?

Ideally, technology will be viewed as a powerful ally in the schoolUs
effort to accomplish Campus Improvement Plan objectives and goals. 
Technology planning should flow naturally from the established district
educational goals and objectives and should align with and support the
goals and strategies of the Campus Improvement Plan.  Any planning model
currently used with success in other areas may be applied to planning for
technology use in the classroom.  Some things to consider:  team members
must agree upon terminology; team members must develop a vision for
technology use in the school based upon a number of experiences and
exposures to current and emerging educational technologies and practices
in applying those technologies; the plan should consider technology use
across the school environment, i.e., all grade levels, all subject areas,
all populations, the library, and administration; technology planning
should include provisions for staff development. 

HOW SHOULD TECHNOLOGY PLANNING PROCEED?

As with any planning effort, the process is important.  The technology
portions of the Campus Improvement Plan should reflect the team's best
thinking about how technology can be used to assist in the implementation
of instructional strategies and activities as well as to ensure that
administrative tasks can be accomplished more efficiently.  Technology
planning should not be done in isolation; it is most effective when it
supports instructional and management goals.  In this process, it might be
helpful to:

   Analyze the Environment    
     *  identify the key players and resouces
     *  identify district/community/state/national trends
     *  identify areas where technology use would be appropriate

   Create a Common Vision
     *  examine the district/campus educational objectives/goals and the
             Campus Improvement Plan
     *  know the potential of technology to impact instruction and
        learning (ESC-20's Educational Technology Services can help)
     *  determine where technology has the potential to assist in
        achieving district and campus improvment goals

   Develop Goals
     *  describe general goals for the use of technology in instruction
        and management
     *  set goals for technology acquisition
     *  set goals for staff development

   Write and Present the Plan
     *  if possible, integrate technology planning with the Campus
        Improvement Plan; otherwise, develop the technology plan using the
        same format used for other elements of the Campus Improvement Plan
     *  describe strategies and establish timelines and staff
        responsibilities relating to:  meeting goals for using technology
in
        instruction and management, technology acquisition, and staff
        development
     *  specify budget utilization
     *  develop formative evaluation strategies related to the timelines
        and activities specified
     *  plan for summative evaluation to determine how well
        technology-related goals were met
     *  submit for several reviews
     *  present to the school board and community

If you would like additional information about planning for technology use
in schools, contact:

          Diann Andy  <dandy>  (210) 270-9202

          Educational Technology Services
          Education Service Center, Region 20
          1314 Hines Ave.
          San Antonio, TX 78208