“Education is the only business still debating the usefulness of technology. Schools remain unchanged for the most part, despite numerous reforms and increased investments in computers and networks.”

Rod Paige, U.S. Secretary of Education

Technology planning is an ongoing process that provides a crucial roadmap for the implementation of technology in a concrete way that adds value to teaching and learning. It is a vehicle that enables school communities to develop a plan in which technology is an integral tool to enhance and support teaching, and to enable students to utilize technology to meet state academic content standards and  develop 21st century skills. Planning the integration of technology through the curriculum contextualizes the technology in a way that extends learning opportunities and enable students to problem solve as they are learning.

To begin the process of developing a school technology plan, one should get an understanding for the direction of the district in the District Technology Plan. This plan is based on the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) .

Title II, Part D of the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) established a primary federal goal for technology in education: To improve student academic achievement through the use of technology.  The goal of this component of NCLB is to “Assist every student in crossing the digital divide by ensuring that every student is technologically literate by the time the student finishes the eighth grade, regardless of the student’s race, ethnicity, gender, family income, geographic location, or disability.” The  document outlines the core competencies for the NCLB requirements as well as meeting the High School Equivalency requirement for graduation in San Diego City Schools. The Competencies link also provides a K-12 Knowledge and Skills developmental continuum to give a view of what competencies can be expected at each grade level as well as a rubric to help assess those competencies.

SDCS Educational Technology department provides consultation and online resources to assist school sites in developing a viable Technology Plan.  Click School Site Planning to access guidelines, research and planning aides.

Click here to request assistance.