John Chavis Middle School

Introduction

Taking a Good Look at Instructional Technology (TAGLIT) is a set of assessments and reports designed to help school personnel understand the current status of technology use in their schools.  TAGLIT includes surveys for school technology leaders, teachers and students. Between the months of October  and November of 2001 our school completed a TAGLIT assessment.

School Technology Leaders: Michael Rogers, Principal, completed TAGLIT for School Technology Leaders. This was the first step in assessing technology needs of the school.

Teachers: Thirty one teachers or 92% completed TAGLIT for Teachers. The TAGLIT was completed by the teachers online either at school or at their homes.

This page provides a summary of some of the findings from TAGLIT, a list of some of the strengths of our school technology program and an action plan that details an area for further work. Although hardware, software and connectivity are important elements of a school technology program, they are not the focus of this page. Elements such as planning, student use, professional development and community involvement receive attention here.

Current Status

TAGLIT results are presented on a 4-point developmental scale.

1. Embarking Getting started
2. Progressing Making some effort and showing some progress
3. Emerging Making considerable effort and showing considerable progress
4. Transforming Transforming the way teaching and learning take place

Schools can be at one stage in some aspects of school technology use, and at other stages in different aspects. Overall, based on TAGLIT and informal data, our school is at the Progressing Stage. Some indicators that we are at the Progressing Stage are:

While we have addressed issues, we have not set forth a plan that itemizes the specific steps necessary for proper implementation and application of technology within the curriculum (see Table 1a.2). 

The school staff has knowledge of the basic skills of technology use, i.e. word processing, email, internet.  However, more advanced skills in using multimedia is lacking (see Graph 2a.6 and Table 2b.3).

Strengths

Some strengths of our school technology program include:

We have two new computer labs (one with 30 and another with 25).

All classroo except the gym and the Chill Out Room are wired for Internet.

Two of our teachers are trained Pinnacle Leaders.  These teachers provide staff development for other staff members.

Our county has recently passed a School Bond Referendum that will improve technology in all 53 schools. 

Areas for Work

Some areas of our school technology program that need more work include:

Our school does not have a T1 line which makes the speed of the Internet very slow.

We need staff development that addresses the specific application and implementation of technology within the curriculum.

We need to purchase additional hardware such as digital cameras, scanners, and projection devices.

Action Plan

Area for Attention We will embark on a two-fold mission.   The first will be to develop a specific Technology Plan that addresses our needs for the next 3-5 years.
Action or Objective We will embark on a two-fold mission.   The first will be to develop a specific Technology Plan that addresses our needs for the next 3-5 years.   The second part will be to provide our staff with the necessary skills to implement multimedia technology. 
Rationale Without this Technology Plan we will lack the direction and focus necessary to guide us.   This Plan will serve as our foundation as we not only guide ourselves but properly prepare our students to face a world of technology.
TAGLIT Data Supporting Need for Work in this Area

Teacher Technology Skills - Basic Tools

1 = I don't know how to do this. 2 = I can do this but sometimes I need help. 3 = I can do this independently. 4 = I can teach others how to do this.   (item responses given as percent)
How far along are you in learning to... n 1 2 3 4 Average
use a word processor to create documents? 30 0 27 37 37 3.1
use a spreadsheet to enter and calculate numbers? 30 17 43 30 10 2.3
use a spreadsheet to create graphs? 30 23 50 17 10 2.1
use a database to enter information? 30 13 47 27 13 2.4
use a database to search for and sort information and create reports? 30 13 50 17 20 2.4
Section Average 2.5
 

Teacher Technology Skills - MultiMedia Tools

1 = I do not use it in teaching/learning. 2 = I am beginning to understand its relevance in teaching/learning and to experiment using it with students. 3 = I make a conscious effort to include it in teaching/learning and to integrate it effectively into my lessons. 4 = I naturally include it in teaching/learning and use it in powerful ways.   (item responses given as percent)
How far along are you in enhancing teaching and learning using... n 1 2 3 4 Average
drawing or painting software? 28 68 18 7 7 1.5
video production? 28 71 18 11 0 1.4
digital cameras and/or scanners? 28 71 14 14 0 1.4
presentation software? 28 71 14 7 7 1.5
multimedia software? 28 71 11 7 11 1.6
Section Average 1.5

 

Teacher Technology Skills

 

Literature Supporting Need for Work in this Area

Planning Into Practice: Jeff Sun,  published by SEIR TEC partners

Principal Connections:  published by SEIR TEC at AEL

Activities and Responsibilities
What Who When
Form a Technology Committee Principal March, 2002
Assess hardware needs Committee March, 2002
Assess staff development needs Committee April, 2002
Develop timeline for implementation Committee April, 2002
Begin staff development Administration August, 2002
Review lesson plans Administration ongoing
Evaluation

We will know our objective has started on the road to accomplishment when at least 50% of the staff has begun to implement technology within their curricular areas. 

Supporting Resources

Kathy Shrock's Page (http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/index.html)
This is a very good page for teacher materials in various subject areas.

Ben's Guide (http://bensguide.apo.gov/index.html)
Another good source for teacher materials.

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last modified: 2/13/2002