Technology: Are We Adding Value or Just Adding?

1. Technology: Are We Adding Value or Just Adding? Technology Accountability and ROI

2. Levels of Measurement • Level 1 - Counting • Level 2 - Comparing • Level 3 - Outcomes

3. Measuring Outcomes • Soft - anecdotes, attitudes • Medium- assignment completion, attendance patterns, • Hard - Student learning, test scores, school performance, standards-based portfolio

4. Today’s Situation • Hard gains make the most compelling case to non-educators and policymakers, yet most policymakers persist in asking ‘Level 1/2’ questions • “For many years, technology evaluation has been all about counting and comparing — our student-to-computer ratio, how many computers we have on our network and how many classrooms have Internet access. The problem with these measures is that they say nothing about student outcomes, yet we persist in using such measures to determine program success.”

5. “Hard” Gains in Rapides

6. LEAP Results • Six schools served with technology facilitators increased LEAP passing rate by an average of 5.4% (range -7 - +16%) • District Average -1%

7. 7+1 Facilitator Model • This plan is a progressive model designed to develop sustainable teacher independence with instructional technology. Facilitators will work with the core group from each school for seven consecutive weeks with the purpose of creating capacity for technology independence by the end of that time.

8. Eight-Week Schedule • Prior to Week One—Facilitators will meet with the principal and faculty to select a core group of five to seven teachers. These teachers will have some experience or interest in technology and must agree to become teacher technology leaders in their school. They will help build a technology learning community in their school by providing peer coaching, support, and sharing of resources and ideas. • Week One—Facilitators will conduct a technology needs assessment and meet with the core teachers to explain the model and plan lessons that support the CC.

9. Schedule cont’d • Weeks Two through Four—Facilitators will model at least one lesson for each teacher in the core group. Facilitators and teachers will collaboratively plan lessons, which model a variety of technology integration strategies, for each successive week. • Week Five—Facilitators will co-teach a technology-supported lesson with each teacher in the core group and work with the teacher to plan a lesson for the next week. • Week Six—Facilitators will co-teach a technology-supported lesson with each teacher in the core group. During this week, each teacher will be required to independently plan a technology-supported lesson for the next week. • Week Seven—Facilitators will observe the independently delivered teacher lessons and provide timely, constructive feedback.

10. Week 8 - Follow-Up • Following week seven, the facilitators will change targeted schools and repeat the seven-week process at the new school. After seven weeks at the new school, the facilitators will return to the previous school for a one-week follow-up visit, resulting in a total of eight weeks at each school. • Week Eight—Facilitators will assess the progress of core teachers in building school-wide capacity, assist with any teacher concerns, model lessons for non-core teachers, and encourage continued progress toward technology independence.

11. References • Accountability Isn’t a Four Letter Word, Len Scrogan, Ed_Tech: Focus on K-12, Spring 2006 • LADOE School Accountability Results