Tech Equity Executive Summary

School districts are putting in thousands of dollars in placing technology into their schools. From

1:1 devices to Smart Boards to virtual reality headsets. They’re getting placed into the schools without

any introduction or instructions for the teachers. Focusing on 1:1 devices, there is a lack of professional

development for teachers trying to implement the device more as a tool in the classroom. Teachers see

and hear about numerous technology tools that they can use in their classroom without knowing how to

use the tools themselves. It can be overwhelming. Teachers are already stressed out enough and feel

like they don’t have enough time. They feel that they can’t take their time by sitting down and really

learning about the tools before implementing them.

Professional development is needed for those teachers and it’ll allow teachers to implement

more technology tools on student devices. When beginning to focus on this, two issues come up. How

might we decide which technology tools are presented at the professional developments? You want the

teachers to use the most innovated and engaging tools. Researching (websites, social media) what other

schools use in your districts or across the nation can help. The next issue is, how might teachers respond

if they’re against the use of technology? We’ll have to make those teachers against technology see the

benefits like how they can improve academic performance levels and having professional developments

where teachers can learn and use the tool themselves before they implement it into their classroom.

Given time where teachers can collaborate with other teachers and their students on the technology

will increase their knowledge and comfort level in designing a lesson around a technology tool.

To implement the solution, myself and our school STAT teacher, will begin with getting the plan

approved by our administration to become a school wide initiative. From there, we’ll research beneficial

and engaging technology tools that all teachers in every grade level can use with their class. After school

meetings on Monday’s, the STAT teacher will be given twenty minutes to introduce one new technology

tool for teachers to implement sometime within the next two weeks before the next after school
meeting. Each week, teachers will meet with the STAT teacher for thirty minutes or as needed to help

design and incorporate the technology into the lesson. Teachers will implement the technology tool and

afterwards will have a discussion with the students about the success or the improvements needed for

the tool. The teacher will right down the students answers in order to reflect upon their answers and

discuss them at the next after school meeting. As a school, we can create the best way to use the

technology based on the teachers and students’ feedback to get the most out of the tool. After the

discussion this is when the STAT teacher will present a new tool for teachers to use. If teachers feel

comfortable and are having more success with technology, there will be a list of additional tools

teachers can implement along with websites and video links where they can learn more about the tool,

so they can keep thriving with technology.

Following this plan, will give professional development for teachers to implement more device

tools within their classroom. A list of potential people that can assist begins with teachers who are

comfortable with technology to be the leaders and help other teachers out for all to be successful at

implementing the new technology. The STAT teacher who can lead and attend collaboration meetings to

put their input and feedback in help designing a lesson around the technology. Students will also assist

with given their feedback on the use of technology and how it was integrated into the lesson. If students

aren’t interested or have a better idea for the use of the tool, use the information for next times.

Administrators can make sure all teachers are onboard with incorporating the technology and making

sure teachers realize how it benefits the students, the teachers, and the students’ performance level.

Teachers can also block the idea by not wanting to implement technology into their classroom.

Showing the tools in a PD at an after-school meeting can allow them to see the benefits and how easy it

is to use. This will allow the teachers to become more comfortable. Teachers who think this is too much

technology to incorporate into their classroom. They’ll be introduced to one new tool every two weeks

to use. The teachers must only use the tool once within those two weeks.