Evaluating for Improvement

Engaging and Inspiring Learning Powered by Technology Technology can support measuring performances that cannot be assessed with conventional testing formats, providing our education system with opportunities to design, develop, and validate new and more effective assessment materials. Building this capacity can be accelerated through knowledge exchange, collaboration, and better alignment between educators (practitioners) and experts. - The National Education Technology Plan

Your plan should be a dynamic document that is implemented over a specific time period. It can and should be revised as progress is made and actions that produce outcomes different that originally planned should be revised and replaced with new actions as opportunities arise. In order for successful results to occur, a plan must be driven by the examination and analysis of data relative to all areas. The process is cyclical, at times involving the gathering of initial data and at other times focused on recurring collection and analysis of data. The plan should describe the data you will use, how it will be collected and monitored, and accountability measures that will be used to evaluate the extent to which activities are effective in meeting the goals of the plan.

Monitoring Process

The plan should include an evaluation timeline and should indicate which district staff will be responsible for carrying out specific steps of the evaluation process. There should be a clear process established to respond to new opportunities that may arise and support your original goals and objectives, to enable revisions of the plan if needed. There should also be a clear process established to collect data that your technology committee can use to determine whether the actions you are taking, as detailed in your plan, are moving your schools closer to achieving your goals. The timeline you established for accomplishing the actions will be a critical part of the evaluation process, and if your actions are not being done according to your timeline, your tech committee should explore the reasons for this situaiton. Likewise, if your timelines are being met, your evaluation of the outcomes of the actions in terms of achieving your goals should also be explored. Your plan should be a living plan and revisions may be necessary in order to accomplish your goals.

Data Collection

Your accountability measures include using the various data that are available to you. There are many data collection resources available to districts for planning and evaluating technology use. Differentiate between data which will inform your committee about the achievement of your goals and data which informs your committee about how the goal increases student opportunity and achievement. Some resources, such as data collection tools, may need to be designed, while others may be found within the data your district already collects. Resources and data collection tools should be customized as needed, to best suit the data you need to support your evaluation plan.

At a minimum, you should build the following into your evaluation plan:

• Person responsible for carrying out each evaluation measure
• Timeline indicating weeks or months when each step will occur during each year of the plan
• Name of data tool being used for each accountability measure
• Benchmarks against which you will measure progress

Resources

Evaluating the Impact of Technology on Teaching and Learning

Technology Assessment (4Teachers.org)

Technology Planning Evaluation (OCLC WebJunction)

10 Things You Always Wanted To Know About Data-Driven Decision Making (Scholastic)

A Conceptual Framework for Data-Driven Decision Making (Mathematica Policy Research)

Collecting and Analyzing Data (Community Toolbox)

Data Collection (Office of Research Integrity)

Data Drives School-Community Collaboration (Strive Together)

Data Collection Methods (Stat Trek)

Resources Available from US DoE US DOE Office of Educational Technology National Educational Technology Plan Building Technology Infrastructure for Learning E-Rate Program - Federal Communications Commission E-Rate for Schools and Libraries - USAC Ed Tech Developer's Guide Resources from SETDA State Educational Directors Association Resources Guide to Technology Requirements Guide to Implementing Digital Learning State Education Policy Center Roadmap for 21st Century Learning Environments Additional Resources APP-a-pedia The encyclopedia of educational mobile apps, smart tools, and other gadgets. iNACOL The International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) catalyzes the transformation of K-12 education policy and practice to advance powerful, personalized, learner-centered experiences. ISTE The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) serves educators and education leaders committed to empowering connected learners in a connected world.   Top

Resources Available on NHEON NH Esri GIS State Consortium SketchUp Pro State Licensing Speak Up Survey Professional Development Office of Educational Technology Internet Safety and Digital Citienship National Collaborative for Digital Equity Digital Learning Day NH Digital Resources Consortium ET News Online Learning in NH ISTE Standards OPEN NH Courses to Improve Technology Integration Future Ready Schools New Hampshire #GoOpen New Hampshire New Hampshire School Connectivity Initiative   Top

Resources Available from NH DoE Minimum Standards for School Approval NH College and Career Ready Standards NH DOE Office of Educational Technology ICT Literacy Toolkit NH E-Rate Program Information NH Vision 2.0 The New Hampshire Network   Top

Last updated July 31, 2017