Technology Program Administration

FRIT 7739
Executive Summary
This report is reflective of the technology center operating at Lithia Springs High School.
Observations, interviews, and collected data helped form desires and needs of the school staff
and administration. The school resides in a county where technology is a new and presently
growing trend. The school was able to purchase new technology to assist their teachers by using
money funded by a grant received in 2010. The grant allowed for the technology center to grow
and hold more devices than ever before. The two media specialists account for all technology
and ensure teachers and students can easily access the devices on a daily basis. The technology
helps support the schools mission of providing a positive learning experience for all students by
incorporating technology in the 21st century classroom. The technology center is responsible for
providing all grade levels activities and lessons to complete. These lessons are driven by the
media specialists at specified times with access to technology. A part of the lessons use
objectives based on internet safety.The overall evaluation of the technology center is that it is an
effective technology center that provides routine, stability, and helpful technology to its students
and faculty. Some noted ways of improving the technology center lie in helping the staff become
more motivated in the use of technology for instruction. We suggest things like seminars on new
software and known school goals that require the use of technology in the classroom. These
small improvements would take the program that has been established to a new level with more
dedicated stakeholders completing the mission.
Organizational Chart

Methods
The methods used to collect data for the report vary. The media specialists were
interviewed to get a feel for how the technology center functioned and the overall opinions of the
technology center.(Appendix A) The teachers in the building were interviewed to see how they
felt about the current technology center and its functionality. (Appendix B) Data was also
collected through observations. (Appendix C) Multiple hours were spent in and around the
technology center so information was collected via experience.
Center Context and Goals
The technology center at Lithia Springs High School really took off in the year 2010. The
school was awarded a School Improvement Grant. This grant gave Lithia Springs High School
six million dollars over the course of three years. Prior to this the school had two computer labs
and random desktop computers in some of the class rooms. Since the grant the technology center
includes 3 Ipad carts, 3 mobile computer labs, a class set of nooks for each department in the
building and all of the classrooms have a teacher desktop, student desktop and a teacher laptop.
The school also purchased ActivInspire clickers for assessment tools for each classroom,
document cameras and ActivInspire slates for teachers to be mobile around their room and still
be able to access their Promethean board.
The mission of the technology center at Lithia Springs High School is to effectively assist
teachers in the positive instruction throughout the school day. The school recognizes the benefits
of utilizing technology in the classrooms and have streamlined a process to allow students and
teachers the most time possible with the equipment.
The technology center is ran by two media specialists and a media clerk. They work hand
in hand to make sure all of the equipment is accounted for and accessible. The media specialist
have the task of keeping inventory of all of the equipment. This is done once a month. They also
create a Signup Genius account for the school year and monitor it weekly for anyone who has
signed up. The media clerk is responsible for delivering the equipment to the teachers who have
appropriately signed up for the technology as well as streamlining the paperwork that the
students have to fill out when using the computers and/or Ipads. She holds the keys to the
equipment carts and the passcodes for those that are locked with a padlock.

Center Activities

The technology center has different activities for each grade level to complete throughout
the year. The activities are done during an extended homeroom period on a designated day
throughout the entire school. The technology center provides each homeroom teacher the lesson
plan for their designated grade level and any and all materials that they need to complete the
assignment. The lesson overview and objective for one of the activities is provided in appendix
D. The purpose of each activity is to expose the students to different aspects of the internet that
can be potentially dangerous to them. They also get practice and tips on how to remain safe
while accessing the internet.
Essential Question
9th How can you respect the privacy of others online?
10th How can you tell when an online relationship is risky?
11th How can information you post on the internet affect your future opportunities?
12th How does online cruelty affect the people involved?
Evaluation
After reviewing the data collected, the Lithia Springs High School Media Center seems to
be running an efficient technology center. They have a plan in place for almost every aspect of
utilizing technology around the building. The students and teachers have access to computer labs,
Ipad carts, Nook carts, and laptop carts that all seem to be up to date. While they have access to
all types of technology, it seems that more work can be done to improve exactly how the
technology is being used by the teachers and by the students. I believe the school would benefit
from having an Instructional Technology Specialist in the building to help enhance better ways to
utilize the vast amounts of technology.
Some suggestions for improvement are:
Implement a more meaningful mission and list of goals to encourage and enable staff members to
improve their use and implementation of technology as both an instructional tool as well as an
organizational technique.
Introduce technology seminars pertaining to new instructional techniques and technologies as
they become available for instructional use.
Incorporate more digital citizenship activities into the daily lives of students.
Appendices
Appendix A

Media Specialist Interview Questions

1 What is your job title?
2 What is your job description?
3 What is the mission of the technology center?
4 Do you feel prepared to run a technology center for the high school?
5 What is the procedure for checking out technology?
6 Is there enough technology for all of the students?
7 How do you manage repairs?
8 Are technology training sessions offered based on teacher needs?
Appendix B
Teacher Interview Questions
1 How do you find out what technology is available in your school?
2 Do you experience a lot of technology downtime while using it in your class?
3 What is the procedure for checking out technology?
4 Do you feel like the technology available to helpful to you and your students?
5 Are you offered technology trainings based on your needs?
6 As a teacher, do you feel prepared to utilize the given technology to the best of its ability?

Appendix C
Items to be Observed Checklist

1 Evidence of multiple types of technology

2 Evidence of the sign-up procedures
3 Evidence of the check-out process
4 Evidence of technology usage
5 Evidence of working technology
6 Evidence of technology activity completion
7 Evidence of troubleshooting procedures/assistance
8 Evidence of effective usage of technology within the classrooms
9 Evidence of positive digital citizenship activities

Appendix D