WK10Assign Arnold J
WK10Assign Arnold J
WK10Assign Arnold J
Jessica-Leigh Arnold
Systems Thinking
Michael W Vinella
Technology Audit
Evaluating my school through the technology audit, I found that my school functions
overall on the Augmentation level. Most teachers use technology in classrooms to enhance
traditional learning activities. Students read books online, this has replaced the school and
classroom libraries. This is, however, teacher specific. Being part of an elementary school means
that homeroom teachers can make the changes they see fit to meet the needs of their students.
Within grade level planning I found that technology was only used in certain activities where
resources may not be available. English uses iPads on the substitution level. Techers have
rotation reading times up for students to read daily online. Planning focuses on using iPads for
reading daily. The science department uses technology at the modification level with the use of
simulations to gain understanding and knowledge of complex concepts. The Arabic department
uses technology on the modification level, students use iPads to create videos on content that
they share with the class. The changing of the uses of devices was met with some dissatisfaction
There were some outliers, teachers who used the technology in different ways to help
students in their learning. Some teachers use technology in different ways to help support our
students. We are using technology at the Redefinition level, having students shape their own
learning experiences through using technology, like creating group presentations in real time
together, creating instruction videos to share, and going on virtual field trips to build
The school website states that students will have access to online resources and gaining
technology skills from a young age (Technology - Taaleem Inspiring Young Minds -
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International School Dubai | IB World School Dubai | American Curriculum Dubai | British
School Dubai, n.d.). Students have access to computer classes where they learn the basics of
finance, and behavior. The programs are basic Microsoft applications and are linked to the entire
school system.
Senge (2012) states, "Technology should be used to provide students with access to
information and resources that they would not otherwise have." Overall, the school has some
aspects in place where students are using technology to reshape their learning, the goals created
are to help pull the school into a place where all teachers are using technology at the redefinition
level. These changes will have a direct positive result on the learning of our students.
The short-term goal is to develop and roll out a shared vision for the use of educational
technology among all education stakeholders in the school within 6 months linked from Shared
Vision the Technology Audit (Walden Canvas, 2015). I have chosen this as it is partly
established, with a high priority and it is possible to do within the current budget. Kouzes and
Posner (2009) argue that creating a shared vision is essential for effective leadership.
Stakeholders need a clear vision to ensure everyone is working to the same goal. Moule (2004)
argues that a shared vision is essential for transforming practice in educational settings.
The first step is to establish a leadership team to develop the vision. This team should
include representatives from all stakeholder groups, like teachers, SEN support, classroom
assistance, support staff, administrators, instructional coaches, students, parents, and the
A needs assessment will need to be conducted to gather input from all stakeholders.
Looking at the role technology is to play for students. This can be done through surveys,
curriculum focus groups, and teacher interviews. A draft vision statement must then be created.
The vision statement will be clear, short, and aspirational. It should also be aligned with the
school's mission and values. This vision will be specific about the school’s goal to use
Next, is to share the draft vision statement with all staff and gather feedback. This can be
done through whole staff meetings, grade meetings, or email surveys. Revisions can then be
made to the vision statement based on feedback. Finally, sharing the final vision statement with
all stakeholders and communicate how it will be implemented. Making sure all parents, teachers,
and students knew the expectations for the use of technology in their learning.
By taking these steps, the school can develop a shared vision for educational technology that
is supported by all stakeholders. This will help the school to implement educational technology
administrators, and school leaders have reliable connectivity and access to the current available
technologies and digital resources within 6 months linked from the Technology Audit (Walden
Canvas, 2015). This goal is linked to having equitable access to WIFI and devices.
This is a short-term goal the school currently has access to a range of websites, the
access of internet through the school needs to be the focus. The internet is very strong in the
admin building, but nowhere else in the school where classrooms so students are expected to
connect.
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connectivity and access to technology and digital resources in the school. The internet supplier
will be called in and will need to take note of internet strength in each classroom. A survey will
be sent to all teachers to confirm which school paid resources they have set their class up with,
and whether they need support. The IT department needs to take tally of the available devices
Identify any barriers to equitable access to technology and digital resources. Data from
the internet supplier can be used to identify where extra routers need to be located within the
school. The cost of this, if under 1000 AED can be covered by petty cash, higher fees will need
to be sent to the school finance department. Once the number of working devices is found, these
can be shared amongst classes. If the school is short of iPads, less and 3 per class then new
devices will be to be procured. The feedback from the teacher survey needs to be analyzed, if
teachers require training on a particular platform, then it will be need to arrange and conducted
Develop a plan to address the identified barriers. The school can apply for grants from
government agencies, foundations, and other organizations to fund the purchase of new devices
or to upgrade internet connectivity. The school can also partner with local businesses to donate
technology or provide discounted services. The school can provide training to students, teachers,
staff, and school leaders on how to use technology and digital resources effectively. The school
can also partner with local businesses and universities to provide training on specific topics, such
Finally, it will be time to implement the plan and monitor its progress. The scheduling of
technicians will be first to get them improve the schools Wi-Fi connection in all classrooms and
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work areas. Once this is done Wi-Fi tests will be conducted to ensure a strong signal. Training of
teachers and iPad procurement will happen simultaneously to ensure no time is lost. The new
devices will then be set up with the school security and internet settings before being sent our
into classrooms.
We will also track the number of users including students, teachers, staff, and school
leaders who have access to technology and digital resources and monitor the use of the required
Action Steps – Short Term Goal 3. The final short-term goal is to ensure that all staff
members including educators, support staff, and other leaders are skilled in the selection and
effective use of appropriate ICT resources within 6 months linked from the Technology Audit
This goal is focused on ensuring all members of the school at all levels can use all the
forms of technology the school has available. Teachers need to be confident using technology in
Firstly, we will need to conduct a needs assessment to determine the current level of ICT
skills and knowledge among educators, support staff, and other leaders. This can be a sensitive
topic for some teachers, so surveys of personal meetings can be held to determine which
Then we would work to identify any gaps in ICT skills and knowledge. For example,
some staff may need training in how to use specific software programs or how to integrate
technology into their lessons. Some teachers might need training on how to use SMART boards
effectively. Staff will be provided with access to computers, laptops, tablets, and other devices.
Also, make sure that they have access to the necessary software and online resources.
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Next, we will develop a plan to address the identified gaps. Create opportunities for staff
to share their ICT skills and knowledge with each other. This might involve providing training
sessions, creating online resources, or buddy programs. The buddy program is when friends pair
up and teach each other the program they are confident with and learn how to use the program
Finally, we implement the plan and monitor progress. Teacher’s training will be
monitored, and feedback gathered regularly. Teachers who have attended professional training
may do small group refresher meetings for their colleagues. Let staff know that it is okay to
make mistakes and that you are there to support them as they learn and grow.
Action Steps – Long Term Goal 1. My first long-term goal is to create a culture of
ongoing professional learning (OPL) for all staff members within 12 months. This goal is
focused on the long-term development of teachers within education and the growth and shaping
As the world moves forward, so must classrooms, staying trained and informed allows
those practices to be brought into the school and classroom. Senge (2012) says, "Team learning
is not a one-time event. It is an ongoing process that requires continuous commitment and
effort." He goes on to state that, "Professional development is essential for maintaining your
relevance and competitiveness in today's rapidly changing world." This shows the importance of
Firstly, we need to conduct a needs assessment to determine the current state of OPL in
the school. This can be done in a variety of ways, firstly by reviewing the school's current OPL
that has been conducted over the past year if any has occurred. A survey or questionnaire can be
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sent to staff to identify which OPL they have been a part of or would like to be involved with.
An emphasis can be put on technology-related topics to grow the school in line with the vision.
Then, developing a plan to address the identified needs is required. This plan should
include specific goals, objectives, and timelines. The plan should also identify the resources that
will be needed to implement the plan. This would need to take into account hours required from
teachers, financial cost per member, and resources required. The school can provide staff
members with time to participate in OPL activities during the school day or after school hours.
The school can also offer online OPL activities that staff members can complete at their
convenience. The school can give a set allocation to each staff member towards OPL of their
desire. Staff requesting something above that can apply for grants to fund OPL activities. The
school can also partner with local businesses and organizations to provide OPL opportunities for
Next, implement the plan and monitor its progress. The school should track the number
of staff members who participate in OPL activities, when, and the topics it covers. Teachers who
attend training on classroom supportive applications can trial those applications in the classroom
Feedback on the quality of the OPL activities will be collected to ensure OPL are of top
caliber. Jeynes (2012) states, "Ongoing professional development is a critical investment for
schools and districts. When educators are given the opportunity to learn and grow, they are
better able to meet the needs of their students and prepare them for success in the 21st century."
The feedback received from staff will help guided any changes that need to be made.
Finally, we will adjust the plan as needed. We will regularly review the OPL plan and
adjust as needed to ensure that it meets the needs of staff members, students, and vision.
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Action Steps – Long Term Goal 2. The next long-term goal is to develop and implement
a variety of policies and plans, that includes accountability measures, incentive structures, and
financial plans that supports the use of ICT and other digital resources for learning and school
operations within 12 months linked from the Technology Audit (Walden Canvas, 2015). Having
First, we will assess the current state of ICT and digital resource use in the school to
ensure we know our starting point. Documentation may be on hand to share this, or an email can
be sent out with a questionnaire link for staff members. Jeynes (2021) states, "Once you have a
good understanding of the support that teachers need, you can develop and implement targeted
interventions and programs." (p. 124). Rather than forcing everyone to start from the beginning,
teachers can start from the place that will support them best.
Next, we will identify the needs of the school in terms of ICT and digital resources. This
step will allow teachers to also voice what they would like and why. This can bring new
platforms to the table that are better suited to the student's needs. Administration may need
Then, we will develop a plan to address the identified needs. Using the information
gathered and budget can be created for the resources that are needed. This budget can be broken
down per grade or subject. If there is a funding problem on a school level then changes will need
to be made to the upcoming school year. The school can also allow for funding or grants to
purchase platforms for students. Budget meetings for the current and upcoming year will need to
be set and minutes recorded. Using the previously created vision the implementation policy will
be created to guide implementation and accountability. Senge (2012) states, "Policies should be
regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that they are still relevant and effective. This is
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especially important in today's rapidly changing world." (p. 215). Resources that are purchased
need to be used correctly to ensure there is value for money. The school will provide training to
students, teachers, staff, and school leaders on how to use ICT and digital resources effectively.
Implement the plan and monitor its progress. The school will track the use of ICT and
digital resources, and the collect feedback on the effectiveness of the plan. The school will work
to build awareness of the benefits of using ICT and digital resources for learning and school
operations. The school could provide incentives for students, teachers, staff, and school leaders
to use ICT and digital resources effectively from the start. This will encourage any laggers who
are reluctant to make the change. The change to budgets for the next academic year will need to
be monitored and continuously looked at based on feedback. Platforms that did not work will
Finally, adjust the plan as needed as the team meets regularly to review the ICT and
digital resource plan and adjust as needed to ensure that it is meeting the needs of the school.
This goal will help all teachers get on board with the change.
Action Steps – Long-Term Goal 3. The final long-term goal is for all stakeholders to be
guided by a systematic plan that mirrors the shared vision of the school for the use technology
for effectiveness and student learning through the integration of communication technology
(ICT) and digital learning resources linked from the Technology Audit (Walden Canvas, 2015).
Firstly, we will use the shared vision developed for the use of technology and student
learning. This collective vision will be developed with the input of all stakeholders and will
and implementation of systematic plans. This will ensure that everyone is on the same page and
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is committed to the success of the plan on all levels. Senge (2012) states, "Policies are an
policies, organizations can improve their performance, achieve their goals, and create a more
positive and productive work environment for everyone" (p. 216). Without guidelines for
teachers, there is a lack of continuous best practice school wide. Teachers need to know what is
Next, we will develop a systematic plan for the blending of ICT and digital learning
resources into the school. This plan will be aligned with the shared vision of school effectiveness
and student learning, and it should address the needs of teachers and students.
Provide professional development for all stakeholders on the use of ICT and digital
learning resources. This professional development will be tailored to the needs of different
stakeholders and will be ongoing. This ties into previous goals and that helps provide support for
Finally, implementation and monitoring its progress. The school will track student
learning and progress through test scores and progress on the applications. Adjustments will be
made as needed to ensure maximum results. It is important to evaluate the impact of the plan on
student learning and to adjust as needed, this ensures the plan is on track and remains effective.
ambitious but achievable. They should be developed in collaboration with all stakeholders,
including teachers, students, parents, and the community." (p. 112). The goals created are
manageable and realistic goals that will positively change on the use of technology in the school.
Senge (2012) systems thinking can be used to achieve all the short- and long-term goals, by
helping to understand the interconnectedness of the different parts of a school system and how
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changes in one part of the system can affect other parts of the system. The goals created both
long term and short term tend to link together at some point or another. The short-term goals
link into the longer-term goal, Senge (2012) states “The ability to see the whole requires the
capacity to think in terms of relationships, not entities.” The first short term goal of creating a
shared vision for technology in the school holds the most importance. Without the shared vision,
the long-term goals would suffer. Having the shared vision will allow deeper buy-in and a higher
investment into the changing and resifting of the school’s current technology usage. The short-
term goals include creating a shared vision for the use of technology, equitable access of
technology for all staff and students, and creating engaging communities. The long-term goals
are connected to more meatier topics like creating ongoing professional development
opportunities for teachers, support policies for technology, and ensuring stakeholders form a
systematic plan that is directly linked to the shared vision of the school. These goals help support
the current happenings in the school and improve the use of technology throughout the school.
The short-term goals will help ensure all teachers are working towards a shared goal and
vision of the use of technology in the classroom. It ensures teachers have access to the resources
they need to succeed and comply with the shared vision like strong Wi-Fi access throughout the
school, up to date hardware, and software. Teachers will also be given all the support and
training they need to confidently and accurately use the technology to deliver lessons, activities,
and even deliver personalized instruction. Cheung and Slavin (2012) discussed how personalized
instruction programs provide students and teachers with effective teaching strategies and can be
The long-term goals will support the school to ensure the changes stick and continue to
benefit the students learning and progress. The implementation of systematic planning that
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incorporates the chosen technology to read the needs of all learners will take time to start, reflect
on, improve, and develop. This planning, however, will help all teachers, both old and new carry
the vision of the school. Having continuous or ongoing professional development will ensure
that all staff are properly trained on how to use technology more effectively. The training needs
to be ongoing as technology is ever growing, shaping, and developing. Teachers need to stay
updated to ensure they are using everything they can to help benefit the students through ways
previously not possible in the classroom. Technology has allowed teachers to bring adventure,
intrigue, and innovation into the hands of students. Henderson and Yeow (2012) noted that
students use far more creative thinking and innovation when working with technology.
The final long-term plan is related to the support policies, ensuring that the school has
policy changes to meet the changes in the use, acquisition, and implementing of technological
change. These goals are aimed at shifting the school from using technology at the 2 nd level to
augment student learning, but to the final level or redefining learning for students. This change
With these goals accomplished, the school would be at the redefinition level of the
SAMR model. All teachers would have access to quality devices, applications, and WIFI to
create activities that allows for students to complete activities that were previously not possible.
"The redefinition level represents a shift from using technology to enhance existing teaching and
learning practices to using technology to create new and innovative practices." (Mishra &
Senge (2012) states that, “Goals are not enough. Goals are the easy part. The hard part is
building the system that will produce the outcome you want.” These goals will ensure the school
Reference
Cheung, A. C., & Slavin, R. E. (2012). How features of educational technology applications
Common Sense Media. (Producer). (n.d.). Introduction to the SAMR modelLinks to an external
from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/videos/introduction-to-the-samr-modelLinks
to an external site.
Henderson, S., & Yeow, J. (2012, January). iPad in education: A case study of iPad adoption
and use in primary school links to an external site. In System Science (HICSS), 2012
45th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (pp. 78–87). Washington, DC:
https://doi.org/10.1177/0042085912445643
Senge, P. M., Cambron-McCabe, N., Lucas, T., Smith, B., & Dutton, J. (2012). Schools that
learn (updated and revised): A fifth discipline fieldbook for educators, parents, and
everyone who cares about education. New York, NY: Crown Business.
Technology - Taaleem Inspiring Young Minds - International School Dubai | IB World School
Dubai | American Curriculum Dubai | British School Dubai. (n.d.). Taaleem - Inspiring
Young Minds.
http://www.taaleememployeeonboarding.com/our-schools/technology.html
Appendix 1