EDUC-5373-W1 - Innovative Leadship Digital (2026SP)

     I recently had a conversation with our IT guy.  When I asked about our technology budget, he explained how important E-rate funding is for our district. The Internet flows into one campus, and E-rate helps bridge it to the other two. He said it covers a large portion of the cost, which allows us to keep reliable internet across campuses.      Our school is not a Title I school, although we are getting closer to that threshold. Even so, we still receive grants and funding as a rural district, which helps support our technology needs.      One of the biggest issues I found is that we do not have a clear technology budget or plan. It is apparent that “whoever yells the loudest gets the funding,” which leads to purchases that are not always helpful. For example, iPads were recently purchased for elementary smart boards, even though those boards already allow interaction and teachers already have document cameras. Improper usage of fundi...

Teacher Learning = Student Learning      Teachers must understand the importance of technology and how to use it before they can expect students to produce the outcomes they desire. Teachers who follow the ISTE Educator Standards will lead to digital competency, and students who follow the ISTE Student Standards will also develop digital competency (International Society for Technology in Education [ISTE], 2016; Crompton, 2023). The STARSS-LS Framework focuses on whether professional development is ongoing and aligned with student outcomes, rather than on one-time training events. At Chisholm Middle School, it is a misconception that one digital literacy course is all students need. Digital competency needs to be used in every classroom. The PD in this technology plan supports the goal that teachers will teach at least one lesson designed to enhance technology skills at least once each quarter or unit by the end of three years. Teachers can use ISTE roles, such as knowl...

 1. Instruction & Learning (Crompton) First, I found it interesting that Helen Crompton (2023) pointed out that pre-service training does not always lead to strong growth in ISTE Educator Standard 2.1, which focuses on educators as learners (ISTE, 2017). I can definitely relate to this. We get a lot of training at the beginning of the year, and it can be overwhelming. It’s hard to apply everything before you’ve even had a chance to try it in your classroom. Because of this, one best practice is ongoing professional learning instead of one-time training. In my technology plan, I would build in training throughout the year, like using one faculty meeting each quarter to focus on technology. This would help teachers grow over time and also address the second-level digital divide, where the issue is skills—not access. Another best practice connects to ISTE Standard 2.3, which focuses on digital citizenship (ISTE, 2017). In my classroom, I use EverFi to help students learn about onl...