Technology Assessments

My district, Sheldon ISD uses both informal and formal data collection in order to determine district technology needs.  Technology tools and the resources available through the use of these tools are indeed seamlessly integrated and unquestionably valued into our daily lives.  We are to find that there are administrative needs, educator needs, and student needs.

Administrative Needs:

Technical and instructional skills for teacher support and student technology needs

Accountability for providing teachers time to learn to integrate technology into classrooms

Adequate resources to make technology an integral part of the administrative and instructional system 

Educator Needs:

Improving productivity through technology education to support student technology needs

Use of quality web-based activities with students

On-going staff development related to integrating technology to promote higher-order thinking skills

Resources to make technology an integral part of administrative and instructional systems

Professional development devoted to web-based lessons and online teaching

Accountability for integrating technology into all areas of instruction

Technology equipment including digital cameras, PDAs, MP3 players, interactive white boards, scanners, and graphing calculators 

Student Needs:

Student mastery of technology applications

Integrated curriculum in order to use technology as a tool in the learning process

Connectivity and hardware resources that support effective communication and instruction

Knowledge and skills to be successful in the current and future Digital Age

Technology equipment including digital cameras, PDAs, MP3 players, interactive white boards, scanners, and graphing calculators

Finally, technology supports a many cognitive styles and learning behaviors.  Technology can be used to translate virtually any content into another media, and therefore makes content accessible to all students.