Proposal Type 1

TYPE 1

I often find myself in a position where I have to quickly throw together a proposal, an implementation plan or, what I affectionately call, “implementation notes.” Each takes a different form, although the purpose of each is to obtain approval/permission to move ahead.

Type #1: Quick Proposal

The main headers include Proposal, Research, Cost, Registration Process, and Give Back. It looks like this:

Proposal

This proposal recommends that SAISD fund attendance at the NECC 2008 Conference taking place June 29-July 2 in San Antonio, Texas for 80 principals and/or campus instructional coordinators.

Administrators play a pivotal role in determining how well technology is used in our schools. Enabling administrators to attend NECC 2008 enables SAISD to define what administrators need to know and be able to do in order to discharge their responsibility as leaders in the effective use of technology in our schools.

“Integrating technology throughout a school system is, in itself, significant systemic reform. We have a wealth of evidence attesting to the importance of leadership in implementing and sustaining systemic reform in schools. It is critical, therefore, that we attend seriously to leadership for technology in schools.”

— Don Knezek, ISTE CEO

Research

School leaders, especially at the campus, need access to professional learning opportunities that help them to better understand the best uses of technology in educational settings. Some research regarding the role of the campus principal and leadership:

  • Obstacles that impede teachers’ ability to adopt and integrate tech into their teaching include lack of time, expertise, access, resources and support.
  • Technology’s greatest impact on student learning appears only after teachers have sufficient skills coupled with an understanding of how various technologies can be used as cognitive tools, and are able to weave tech experiences into their daily practice. This more robust level of understanding comes over time.
  • Administrators do not appear prepared for their emerging role in technology and their lack of understanding and resources sometimes creates barriers to change and improvement.
  • In many districts, superintendents have remained withdrawn from the technology discussions, leaving to staff the leadership roles of planning and implementing technology.
  • Expect principals to take the lead in ensuring that all teachers in their building work towards adopting technology.
  • Get principals to make sure that teachers included technology goals in their individual professional development plans.
  • Source: Shuldman, M. (Summer, 2004) Superintendent Conceptions of Institutional Conditions That Impact Teacher Technology Integration. Journal of Research on Technology in Education.

Based on this research, as well as others not cited here, it is clear that the role of the principal in effecting use of technology in classrooms is incredibly important.

Cost

The cost of sending approximately 80 campus principals and/or campus instructional coordinators is based on a cost of $285 for every 10 staff members. For 80 participants, the cost is $22,800.

Registration Process

To register campus leaders for the NECC 2008 Conference, the Office of Instructional Technology Services will take the following steps:

1.Notify principals and campus instructional coordinators that there are 80 slots available on a first-come, first-served for NECC 2008 registration. Participants would be expected to register via the Office of Instructional Technology Services and submit critical information needed by no later than Friday, May 16, 2008. Registration is now open online at [link goes here]

2.Once funding source(s) is provided by the Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction, the Office of Instructional Technology Services will register campus leadership who have registered by Friday, May 16, 2008.

Give Back

Participants at NECC 2008 will be expected to deliver 2, two-hour presentations about what they learned at NECC 2008 and submit a short form sharing how they are going to implement that learning at their campus for the 2008-2009 school year. Give back completion must be recorded by December, 2008.