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Connally's Culture Instructional Technology Analysis

Connally Independent School District 200 Cadet Way Waco, TX 76705 [|www.connally.org]

This wiki is a common place for District Curriculum Department, Technology Department, and Instructional Facilitators to analyze and discuss the educational technology needs at Connally ISD. members

There are four categories of the STaR Chart: Teaching and Learning, Educator Preparation and Development, Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support, and Infrastructure of Technology. After looking at the Campus STaR Chart summaries, there is a definite need in the area of Teaching and Learning. The Primary Campus is rated a Early Tech. The High School, Junior High School, and the Elementary are all at Developing Tech. The other struggling area is in Educator Preparation and Development. These two categories work together in that if a teacher doesn't feel comfortable with the technology, he/she is not going to implement the technology with students.

As a district, we need to work with educators to implement the technology with the curriculum. Stop professional development that only focuses on how to use a software or hardware and move to professional development that is infused in all curriculum areas.

Another category that will support teaching and learning as well as educator development is leadership and administration. Connally has committed monies to placing technology into the classrooms, but without the proper training some of these devices are going unused. Another issue is leadership needs to lead by example. We have some leaders in the district that are uncomfortable in using technology themselves or don't understand the values of implementing those technologies in the classroom.

The strongest campus in the district is the Intermediate. There are a number of factors that I believe has helped this campus. The principal had strong computer skills, and ten model classrooms were created which included SMART™ Boards, projectors, LCD TVs, and document cameras. The Math teachers received training by a math curriculum specialist from SMART™ Technologies.