Technology and Readiness Results

Today's tech trek takes (nice alliteration, huh?) us to the StaR Chart which is an evaluative tool used to fulfill Texas' Long Range Plan by 2020. The StaR Chart evaluates a school's technology use and readiness in four key areas: 1) teaching and learning, 2) educator preparation and development, 3) leadership, administration and instructional support, and 4) infrastructure for technology. Each key area has six subtopics for specifity within that key area. The school's success is measured using a rubric of 1 to 4. 1 is defined as a an "early tech." 2 is defined as a "developing tech." 3 is defined as an "advanced tech." 4 is the "target tech." Target tech demonstrates the ultimate level of proficiency in those particular sub-topics. Waller ISD is recognized at both the state and national levels for its use of technology. At Waller's Fields Store Elementary the four key areas are ranked as "advanced" or "target" techs. According to the 2008-'09 StaR Chart summary, Fields Store Elementary's weakness lies in Professional Development for and use of online learning. The other weakness is students per computer. This key area may have been misunderstood when teachers mandatorily completed the StaR Chart because to be at the target tech there is one to one access. Fields Store has that! In order to further the development of teachers at FSE, the campus technologist offers "Tech Tuesdays." On Tuesday afternoons, teachers are free to visit the lab and receive training on requested topics. Since the StaR Chart revealed Online learning is a key area to address, a "Tech Tuesday" could be reserved for that training. I strongly believe in the brainstorming power several members of a team can have by pooling their ideas. In this way we guarantee that the training meets the needs and desires of those willing to receive advanced training.