EDL 680: Enterprise Architecture

Final Project
Whitney Stangel
Module 8
August 2019
Introduction
What is Enterprise Architecture?
● Enterprise Architecture is a practice that allows organizations to develop
systems around business plans, information and data, applications, and
technology within the organization.
● Enterprise Architecture helps to streamline processes, and analyzes what an
organization’s future state should look like, the present state of the
organization, and the gaps between the two that need correction.
● Enterprise Architecture can help schools and school districts when making
decisions around technology based on the common goals and missions of
the stakeholders.
● Enterprise Architecture is all about decision making of the collective group of
stakeholders throughout the district- NOT just IT.
SUHSD Background
Sweetwater Union High School District is
a grades 7-12 and adult school district
serving southern San Diego, California
from south of downtown to the
international border with Mexico.
❖ Total students: 40,000 (+22,000
● Middle schools: 11 adult students)
● High schools: 13 ❖ Teachers: 1,961
● Adult schools: 6 ❖ Classified: 1,520
● Alternative/additional schools: 10 ❖ Administrators: 139
http://it.sweetwaterschools.org/
SUHSD Systems
Infinite Campus: System for student data including:
● Attendance
● Medical information
● Special education information
● Language proficiencies
● Grades
● Behavioral/counseling information
● Communication

Can be used for individual teacher rosters, grading, lesson plans, seating
charts.

Parents and students can also access.

SUHSD Systems
Canvas: Platform for course materials that can be used by teachers for student
courses or district courses

Teacher use:

● Individual course development

● Access and submit assignments

District use:

● Professional development
● Department resources
SUHSD Systems
Illuminate: A standardized testing platform used district wide for district
assessments and site based assessments.

● Teachers can create assessments, view scores, gather student data, and
generate reports.
● Students and parents can access their information and test scores.

Devices
Middle schools: Students issued
individual iPads (with waiver form), can
take home and use in each class.
High schools: Students use laptops in
class sets, cannot take home for
individual use.
Desktop computers: each teacher
issued an individual desktop
computer for their classroom.
Projectors: each class has
individual projectors that have
connection capabilities to laptops,
iPads, etc…
Apple TVs: several teachers within
the district have Apple TVs for
lesson display and student
engagement
Applications: Learning Applications

Achieve 3000- online reading program individualized for

students according to Lexile (reading comprehension), used
at most school sites (not all).
● Some schools require students read a specific amount of articles a week,
others use it as a supplement to curriculum, others as a platform for
gathering data on reading comprehension
Applications: Learning Applications

Jupiter Grades- online grading platform for teachers, used

district wide.
● Historical grade data available to teachers.
● Students can view grades, open and submit assignments.
● Can be used as a communication tool between teachers, administrators,
students, and parents.
● Teachers can store behavior information, attendance, seating charts.
Decision making process for technology
The following positions are the major decision makers in technology at SUHSD:

● Director of IT and Enterprise Architecture SUHSD recently terminated

Blended Learning Specialist
● Senior Administrative Assistant positions at all sites to make up
● Information Systems Supervisor for budget deficit.
● IT Support Supervisor ● BLS was responsible for
aligning technology with
● Digital Security and Privacy Coordinator
education and curriculum
● Network Services and Systems Supervisor development.
● Telecommunications Supervisor
Analysis, areas for improvement
● The district uses two different platforms for teachers to record grades, but
only one has capabilities for distributing these grades to students via report
cards. This process could be standardized by only having only one platform to
store this data, thus savings teachers time with grading, allowing parents and
students a single platform to check educational information.
● The Active Directory is a useful process that aligns passwords in many
SUHSD systems and applications. However, it does not connect to Google
Drive, which is what a majority of teachers and students use to share
curriculum and other educational information. Could Google Drive be
connected to the Active Directory?
 The Open
Group
Framework
TOGAF Framework: Key Elements

The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) is a

structure for developing and implementing various systems
within an enterprise. It contains four major domains:

1. Business
2. Data
3. Application
4. Technology
TOGAF Framework: Key Elements
The Architecture Development Method (ADM) is a tool to describe how to develop
an enterprise architecture. There are eight phases in the ADM cycle:

1. Architecture Vision
2. Business Architecture
3. Information Systems Architectures
4. Technology Architecture
5. Opportunities and Solutions
6. Migration Planning
7. Implementation Governance
8. Architecture Change Management
TOGAF Framework What are the goals and
vision of the business?

What are the views,

How will changes to the
processes, and how will
processes and systems be
the framework be used?
managed?

What data will be required

to store? What applications
How will the architecture will be required?
be governed?

What technology
infrastructure is required?

How will new systems and

processes be adopted?
How will organizational
changes be managed and
how will that be achieved?
How can we apply this framework at SUHSD?
● Administrators can develop the goals and visions of a school site with
feedback from the stakeholders involved (parents, teachers, students).
● Working with a variety of departments; such as IT, curriculum, site leadership
teams, and others; the school can develop plans for implementation of new
strategies.
● A framework like TOGAF could give teachers a platform to make decisions
and justifications for their choices in developing curriculum, assessments,
and intervention techniques.
● It would also benefit teachers to have a standardized framework to ensure
equity throughout the school.
Preliminary
Planning
The Preliminary Phase
Departments that help to design the systems and programs we have in place:
● Assistant superintendents of facilities and operations; teaching and learning;
equity, culture, and support services; and human resources.
○ All of these departments work together to develop goals and mission
statements, with feedback from stakeholders across the district.
● Our IT department and director is also the lead for developing an enterprise
architecture within our district, which has multiple departments within,
including application development, computer support, compliance, and
several others.
● Although the administrative and IT groups are responsible for research and
eventual distribution of products and information to teachers, administrators,
and students, there is a great deal of input from the schools in general.
The Preliminary Phase

● No feedback groups in place currently (district's main

issue and focus has been on budget crisis).
● Access to administrative and IT departments through
email/meetings
● Some departments more busy that others, particularly in
beginning of school year
 SUHSD
Governance
SUHSD Organization Chart
SUHSD Business
Services
 Transportation
Description Internal Input External How it aligns Key features Desired Gap Steps to
of Services Input with mission future state address
(who, how,
when)

SUHSD district Director of Special Ensures

transportation
Requires Additional Overtime Director to
services transportation, Education students are bus bus stops expenses develop
transports groups Transportatio Transportatio receiving
of students to
passess for at areas for bus additional
n Supervisors, n Guidelines educational
school (special
Fleet services by students. with heavy drivers. routes to
needs population
particularly). Maintenance School board transporting Fee traffic to areas with
Supervisor, students to waivers for prevent heavy
School busses
used for field trips. Bus Pass schools low income accidents traffic using
Office safely. families. for students traffic maps
School busses Ensures that
used to transport
http://transporta
crossing during
adults to certain students are
professional tion.sweetwater engaged in busy roads. times of
development schools.org/ activities student
events.
outside of pick up and
Safety Plan classroom or drop off.
campus.
 Teaching and Learning
Description Internal External How it Key Desired Gap Steps to
of Services Input Input aligns with features future address
mission state (who, how,
when)

Provides Assistant Common “SUHSD Curriculum Teachers and Teachers Curriculum

support and Superintende Core State and students use lack training department
Strives to
Instruction; design surveys
professional nt for Standards Ensure technologies in various for teachers to
development Teaching and Graduation, together to programs
Excellence in determine which
College and
to teachers Learning, achieve state involving programs they
Teaching and Career; State
district wide, various standards. technology need training in,
Learning so & Federal district roll out
and assists directors Programs, on iPads and
students in within Each Student laptops.
electronic
Educational training for
furthering departments, is Prepared
Technology; teachers to
their teachers to Succeed in Research, complete at their
educations. College and Evaluation and own pace
Career.” Accountability; (screencasts,
Visual and videos, etc)
Performing
Arts
 Human Resources
Description Internal External How it Key Desired Gap Steps to
of Services Input Input aligns with features future address
mission state (who, how,
when)

HR Assistant Federal Ensures See Streamlined Recent Develop

department Superintende statutes, students are description process of changes in online
responsible nt of HR, regulations, receiving hiring staff prevent application
for managing Directors of and guidance education teachers and paperwork system to
absences, Human from qualified tutors from being expedite
benefits, Resources candidates processed in hiring
bargaining (Certificated a timely process
agreements, and manner.
employment Classified),
and salary Benefits
schedules Supervisor,
Director of
Risk
Management
 Finance and Business
Description Internal External How it Key Desired Gap Steps to
of Services Input Input aligns with features future address
mission state (who, how,
when)

Monitors, SUHSD financial US Ensures Provides Additional Not enough Provide

services retirement
supports, Department appropriate staffing funding funding to
incentives to
and Chief Financial of ratios of allocations from provide
Officer, Director educators
develops all of Fiscal
Education teacher- for all sites federal and needed higher on
financial Services, students at Local, state allocations salary
matters for Purchasing California school state, and resources to individual schedule to
Manager,
the district District Mail State sites. federal to reduce sites. bring in more
Services Funding financial teacher to new teachers
Supervisor, (who will start
Capital Projects
reporting student
lower on
Financing and Handles ratios. salary
Reporting developer
Manager,
schedule)
Accounting fee matters
Manager and
payments
 Technology
Description Internal External How it Key Desired Gap Steps to
of Services Input Input aligns with features future address
mission state (who, how,
when)

Provides Director of US Provides Applications Integration of New Develop

district wide Information Department “effective and development online programs committee of
support with Technology efficient and grading/ being rolled teachers,
of
technology and technology integration teaching out every few parents, and
Enterprise Education services” to services platforms to a years without students to
Architecture students Compliance single teacher, determine
IS Supervisor California and security platforms that student, and which
State Computer all teachers, parent platform is
Funding support students, and training. most
services parents can effective,
Network access and ensure all
services use. parties are
Voice and trained in
telecommunic using.
ation services
 Real Estate/Facilities
Description Internal External How it Key Desired Gap Steps to
of Services Input Input aligns with features future address
mission state (who, how,
when)

Provide Assistant
Superintendent of
State Ensures Develop Updated Expenses Prop O
services in Facilities and standards that and classrooms to pay for funds to
planning and Operations,
Director of
and students maintain , science updates. update
construction,
transportation
Nutrition Services, regulations, are site labs, and Teachers in school sites
Directory of
, nutrition, Maintenance, building provided structures, restrooms current with oldest
and Maintenance codes with safe plan future on classrooms facilities.
Planner
maintenance. Coordinator, places to architecture campuses that need
Environment and learn projects that have updating/
Safety Supervisor,
Director of older restorations
Planning and
Construction,
buildings.
Planning Project
Manager
http://facilities.swe
etwaterschools.or
g/
 Maintenance/Operation
Description Internal External How it Key Desired Gap Steps to
of Services Input Input aligns with features future address
mission state (who, how,
when)
Assistant Enough A.S. of
Maintain Superintendent of
State Ensures Maintain No mission
district Facilities and standards that physical custodial statement Facilities and
Operations, support at Operations to
facilities Director of
and students structures from the
each site to develop
and Nutrition Services, regulations are of existing maintenanc mission
grounds
Directory of
provided school ensure that e and
Maintenance, within the
there are at
Maintenance with safe sites, operations department.
Planner least two Roll out goals
Coordinator, places to maintain department
staff to site
Environment and learn landscapin members on .
Safety Supervisor, supervisors
Director of g in and campus for
Planning and to ensure all
Construction,
around morning staff are on
Planning Project schools shift and board with
Manager
afternoon/ their mission.
http://maintena
nce.sweetwate evening
rschools.org/ shift.
SUHSD Applications
 Infinite Campus
Task Priority Program Area Unit Application Data Input Data Output Functional Technical Standards Process Issues Cost
Identity (Process Unit) Name Assessment Assessment Classification Outcomes
(Number)

#6 1 Data Infinite Administrative Student class 4= product 4 = Data base CORE Analyze Not Under
researc
Management Campus data input, schedules, sometimes structure is Technology student data, connected
h
Systems student teacher exceeds relational with that track to other
elementary rosters, the supporting data represents attendance, grading
records student expectation query tools The the current generate platforms
birthdays, s of the software is fully infrastructure roster (ie:
student customers Web enabled which should reports, Jupiter)
standardized The software be replicated distribute which
test scores, vendor has a as the grades most
student major portion of standard teachers
grades, the market solution use.
student share for this throughout
language type of the
proficiency application organization
 Jupiter Grades
Task Priority Program Area Unit Application Data Input Data Output Functional Technical Standards Process Outcomes Issues
Identity (Process Unit) Name Assessment Assessment Classification
(Number)

#5 2 Teaching and Jupiter Administrative Roster 3= 4 = Data base SPECIALIZED Communication Not
Learning, Grades data input, reports, product structure is Technology with families connected
Communication student student meets relational with that is and students on to platform
records, grades, the supporting deployed only student that
assignment needs of data query
to meet assignment distributes
accessibility the tools The
customer software is
specific completion grade data
fully Web unique needs to
enabled The and is students
software approved for
vendor has a that purpose
major portion
of the market
share for this
type of
application
 Illuminate
Task Priority Program Area Unit Application Data Input Data Output Functional Technical Standards Classification Process Outcomes Issues Cost
Identity (Process Unit) Name Assessment Assessment
(Number)

#7 3 Data Illuminate Test scores, Reports on 3= product 4 = Data SPECIALIZED Reports on Complex $227,000
(annually
Management student performance meets the base Technology student test process of
)
Systems, demographics on needs of structure is that is scores, developing
Testing standardized the relational deployed only limited assessments,
testing customer with to meet student students don’t
supporting specific demographic always have
data query unique needs information their tech
tools The and is devices to
software is approved for complete
fully Web that purpose exams
enabled
The
software
vendor has
a major
portion of
the market
share for
this type of
application
Application Analysis
The three applications prioritized are the most commonly used in the Sweetwater Union High School District by most
stakeholders. Infinite Campus is a well developed application that is fairly new to the district, and has been operated
successfully for the last two years throughout SUHSD. Its multi-functional ability to track student information such as test
scores, language proficiency and other demographics, and attendance allows for an all-in-one stop for basic student data.
Its additional capabilities of allowing teachers to record grades, create seating charts, and generate rosters and other
reports allow teachers to save time and resources when developing classroom materials.

One of the disadvantages of Infinite Campus, however, is that it does not allow for Teaching and Learning in the way that
other applications do, such as Jupiter Grades, which is also used district wide. Students cannot access assignments or
communicate with teachers on Infinite in the same way they can using Jupiter. Teachers also have the additional step of
taking grade data from Jupiter and recording it onto Infinite for student progress reports and report cards. If the two systems
were connected, at least in the grading component, this could save teachers even more time, which opens up their ability to
focus on the development of quality instruction and curriculum.

In addition, Illuminate is an efficient testing platform, but does not transfer over to either Infinite or Jupiter Grades
automatically. There is a learning curve for teachers new to the application, who need to have training to understand the
various components of the testing platform. There is also limited student demographic data within the application. Overall,
the district should continue using Infinite for its intended purposes, and consider working with Jupiter to link the applications
together, while distributing data from Illuminate into Infinite for additional data access for teachers, administrators, parents,
and students.
Common
Education
Data
Standards
Common Education Data Standards
The Common Education Data Standards (CEDS) is a national
project that has developed common language and vocabulary for
data processes to use across academic institutions from early
elementary to postsecondary.

CEDS helps to “streamline the exchange, comparison and

understanding of data.”

CEDS also provides a system of data models that reflect the

common vocabulary surrounding data. https://ceds.ed.gov/
Common Education Data Standards
Key Elements for Teachers

-use data to develop quality first

instruction

-modify lessons based on student needs

-information received from earlier

education and passed along to higher
education
Key Elements for Administrators

-common vocabulary in data can expand to next level in a

students’ education

-helps with registration procedures

-saves time and resources

Key Elements for Technologists

-data integration

-data visualization and report building

SUHSD use of CEDS
Infinite Campus Illuminate

● Attendance ● Benchmark exams

● Language proficiency ● Student basic information
● Behavior comments ● Test developing and roll
● Parent information out
● Medical issues
● Grade book
● Seating chart
● Schoolwide grades
Learning Management
Systems
Brick Topic and Description

Brick Topic: Learning Management Systems

Description: Learning Management Systems
include applications and platforms that students
can use on their one to one devices to access
course materials, submit and complete
assignments, and take assessments.
Brick (links attached)
Baseline (Today) Tactical (0-2 years) Strategic (2-5 years)

● Jupiter Grades ● Google Classroom ● Moodle

● Illuminate ● Blackboard ● Edmodo
Containment (No new Emerging (To track) Retirement (To be
development) eliminated)
● NewsELA ● Pearson Online ● Canvas
● Achieve3000 Learning Exchange ● Google Sites
● Haiku Learning
 LMS Summary
Learning Management Systems are one of the most important components to consider when deploying one-to-one devices to
students. A collaborative team needs to come together to determine which platforms are worth investing in and implementing district
wide with enough teacher buy in as possible. The platforms and applications listed above do not all necessarily meet the requirements
of the organization, which should be considered when stakeholders are giving feedback. Google Classroom and Blackboard are both
platforms that make organization easy for both teachers and students, and are already widely used. Google Classroom would be a
better investment, however, since there would be additional costs implementing Blackboard. Moodle and Edmodo may be used in the
future, depending on cost and teacher willingness to use. Both Canvas and Google Sites should be retired from district use since
neither platform are user friendly, and the majority of teachers and students no longer use Canvas. This would save the district a
considerable amount of money. NewsELA and Achieve3000, both relatively inexpensive platforms, should be contained in assisting
students with reading comprehension development. The district currently uses Jupiter Grades and Illuminate, both platforms meet the
needs of the organization but could use supplementation to make content more accessible to students. Finally, Pearson OLE and
Haiku Learning are both platforms used nationally, and should be tracked and researched for new developments that may satisfy the
needs of the organization.

In my research of these learning platforms, I have found that there are quite a few more platforms available that I originally believed.
The variety of platforms and different components they offer make it extremely difficult to choose just one or a few. It made me think
about all the research our EdTech team has done to find the most efficient platforms to serve all of our students district wide. This brick
building strategy could easily be adopted for other systems and applications, as long as there is a team of people willing to do it. I don’t
believe it should be the sole responsibility of the IT team to do so, and stakeholder input should be gathered and considered when
making final decision, especially if the systems and applications will have a heavy cost district wide.
Conclusion
Reflection and Discoveries
Enterprise Architecture is a system that can help an organization achieve its mission and goals through
systematic processes that benefit all stakeholders, and in education, our most important stakeholder is our
students. The most important concepts I learned in this course are the following:

1. Enterprise Architecture is not the sole responsibility of the Informational Technology department, and
should be something all members have a say in. When a collective voice is heard in an organization,
everyone can help to make the business the best it can be. We all have a responsibility to understand
different components of the organization we are involved in, and following the status quo will hold us back
from achieving our best.
2. Technology should be embraced as a learning tool so we meet students where they are, but we should also
be critical of the tools we have used in the past and get rid of items that no longer serve us or our students.
If an application or a learning platform is not cost effective and does not fulfill learning needs, it’s time for
the district to retire it and find something that does fulfill our needs.
3. The business services of a school district go far beyond teaching and learning. Many teachers do not
realize the complexities that go into planning day to day operations in transportation, facilities, and human
resources among others. Exposure to these different elements of the business could help different parties
develop empathy and perhaps help us to start working together as a collective instead of completely
separate departments.