Region and above - Week 11

1.   Describe the purposes for and various stages of formative evaluation of technology plan.

Technology plans are submitted for review to ensure the organization is working toward the integration of technology in the educational environment and the infrastructure is proficient to assist in the needs of the educational entity.  Developed as a systematic process for evaluating instructional material, the Dick and Carey (1990) model consists of nine phases of development.  The needs analysis discovers shortfalls and learning gaps between the desired state of the design and what situations exist within the learning environment (Gagne’ et al., 2005).  Texas uses the technology plan to assist in decisions on grants and the plan is also an important part the of E-Rate funding process.  The technology plan goes through various stages before it is approved.  The plan must be developed, reviewed by a peer review process, and finally approved by TEA to have the technology plan certified.

2.   Describe your instruments used in a formative evaluation.

The technology plan is created, modified and submitted through multiple steps to ensure the plan cover all the required elements.  The first stage is the creation stage.  This requires a technology committee to evaluate the needs of the organization and the initial requirements that will be necessary to start the creation of the technology plan.  This stage of development requires detailed planning and evaluations thorough surveys, questionnaires, and research of the state and local requirements that will be necessary to create the foundation of the technology plan.  This initial stage of the process should produce the original written document that will be the working copy of the technology plan that the technology planning committee will present for review towards the approval process.

The next phase includes the peer review process.  This process is made up of TEA approved technology plan readers.  “The Texas e-Plan system was developed by the Texas Education Agency to facilitate the submission of technology plans for all Texas public school districts and charter schools. Texas e-Plan is a template-based system that assures technology plans include the required components of the Title II, Part D of the No Child Left Behind Act.  It also requires districts to correlate objectives with USAC E-rate and correlate strategies with the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology” (Texas e-plan system) These readers are provided training through the Education Service Center in the region they are assigned.  The Texas e-plan system website provides information on how the evaluation of technology plans will take place.  Technology plans are read by a minimum of two separate readers and the technology plan is scored on the requirements provided by TEA.  The plan must receive passing scores by two of the readers to be recommended for final approval by TEA.  If the plan is not approved by the peer review the technology plan is returned to the technology committee for modification with notes included by the reviewers and a third reviewer is assigned. The technology plan must then be modified and resubmitted for review.  This process continues until the technology passes the peer review.

After the technology plan is approved by the peer review process the technology plan is sent to TEA for final approval.  TEA will review the plan and either return the plan for modification or approve the plan for a requested period of 1 to 3 years.  Technology plans are required to be updated on each year of the plan.  Plans are submitted to TEA for review.

3.   Collect data according to a formative evaluation plan for a given set of technology plan or instructor presentation.

Region 14 is in the development process on a previously approved Technology plan.  The Region 14 Education Service center has organized a technology planning committee consisting of employees in the various components of the Service Center organization structure.  Each committee member is responsible for reading of the current plan and evaluating the need of the their specific component of the service center.  On completion of this process, which is in its primary stages, the plan will be revised and sent to the Center for Technology Services to be assigned peer review assignments for technology plan readers from across the region.  Once feedback is received and the plan is approved the plan will be sent to TEA for final approval and certification.

Gagne’, R. M, Golas, K. C. ,Keller, J. M., & Wager, W. W. (2005). Principles of instructional design. (5th ed.), Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.

Texas e-plan system.  http://tpesc.esc12.net/eplan/TexasePlan.html