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Running Head: SHARED VISION & RATIONALE

Shared Vision-West Hall High School

Mark Thomason

ITEC 7410

Spring 2019

Dr. Mike Ribble

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SHARED VISION & RATIONALE
Shared Vision-West Hall High School

Vision Statement

As described by the Hall County School System, our vision is character,

competency, and rigor for all. The vision of West Hall High School is to provide a

learning environment that will encourage technology leaders to use technology more

effectively creating earners that become global learners and actively engaged in their

learning. With the use of technology, we will achieve student engagement. Students will

also use project-based learning activities based on the use of technology. West Hall High

School will offer parents, students, and staff training on the technology tools used in the

classroom setting.

Rationale

Sheninger (2014) explained that “we can no longer afford to sustain a school built

for a time long past” (p. 31). In order to get a better view from stakeholders in my school,

a survey was developed. It was randomly distributed to staff members, parents, teachers,

and administrators. The survey had a short answer and Likert questioning. This helped

me compile my data.

1. Does West Hall High School have a clear vision for technology usage and

implementation? (short answer)

2. Were you involved in the creation of the vision? (yes or no)

3. Rate the technology available for teacher or student use? (1 minimum, 5

maximum)
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4. Do you feel that you have acceptable access to connectivity, technology, or

devices when needed? (1 strongly disagree, 5 strongly agree)

5. Do you feel confidence in implementing technology tools and devices? (1

strongly disagree, 5 strongly agree)

6. In what areas of technology professional development has worked well? (short

answer)

7. In what areas of technology professional development do we need to revisit or

work on? (short answer)

8. Do you have access to technical support when needed you need it? (1 strongly

disagree, 5 strongly agree)

9. Do you feel that technology tools and devices are used at West Hall to assess

curriculum standards? (1 strongly disagree, 5 strongly agree)

The results of the survey showed several common themes. First, many people

indicated that they had no knowledge of West Hall’s vision for use of technology. Many

listed technology use at West Hall high but did not feel confident using new technologies

or implementing them into classroom settings. Many teachers and students also felt they

were able to get the tech support they needed here at West Hall; However, we scored low

on acceptable access to connectivity, technology, or devices when needed.

Ambule stated, (2017) “The key to effective classrooms seems to be at the grassroots

level i.e. effective professional development for teachers.” Professional development is

an integral part of developing and delivering technical leaders. Peterson commented

(2016) “PD efforts around technology should start by asking teachers what they need and

focusing on those issues first.” Effective professional development takes into account the
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needs of the teachers. Teachers need to feel comfortable with the technology they have in

their classrooms to effectively use it. There are many apps and tools to help, such as

Nearpod and Flipgrid, promote student engagement in their learning. These apps and

tools will also help tear down the walls of the traditional classroom setting.

According to Edtopia (2017), “By bringing real-life context and technology to the

curriculum through a PBL approach, students are encouraged to become independent

workers, critical thinkers, and lifelong learners.” Project-based learning offers many 21st

century skills such as personal and social responsibility, planning, critical thinking,

reasoning, interpersonal, and cross-culture understanding to name a few. PBL approach

with along with the use of technology offers many advantages for the students at West

Hall High School. Shafer stated (2018), “The Autodesk Foundation, studies have shown

that project-based learning is linked to significant improvements in student test scores,

attendance, and classroom engagement.”

Diversity Considerations

According to Jude, Puckett, and Cabuk (2004), “Digital equity is a social justice

goal of ensuring that all students have access to information and communications

technologies for learning regardless of socioeconomic status, physical disability,

language, race, gender, or any other characteristics that have been linked with unequal

treatment” (p. 384). West Hall High School is a Title 1 school with 54% qualifying for

free and reduced lunch, so it is important that these students have access while at school

to technology. Many of these students do not have access to technology while at home.

West Hall High School has made it an effort to put Chromebooks in every classroom,
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Chromebooks in the Learning Commons, computer labs, and they are currently

constructing a VR lab.

One way that our county reaches students from low SES is through the use of

Canvas. Canvas is an online platform teachers use to load classroom materials such as

PowerPoints, worksheets, videos, online quizzes, and discussion boards. Our teachers

utilize canvas as an online classroom. This allows students to access class anytime they

need to or anytime in the school day in which they have time. At West Hall, we have also

built in Flex Time which is thirty minutes every day for students to use technology or to

make up missing assignments. This also helps us reach students from low SES.

One of the main groups to consider here at West Hall High School is ELL. This

subgroup makes up 48% of the population of the school. Equitable access, according to

ISTE Essential Conditions is, “All students, teachers, staff and school leaders have robust

and reliable connectivity and access to current and emerging technologies and digital

resources.” Teachers and students will be trained to use Google Translate on

Chromebooks, Grammarly, and Google Docs (for voice typing). All of these apps can be

used with current technology at school to better server our students.

Stakeholder Roles

West Hall High School has maintained a relationship with the local community

and businesses that we partner with. We know that without help from the community, we

cannot keep up with the current technology trends. Recently we used ESPLOST funds to

upgrade servers, purchase additional Chromebooks, and build a Virtual Reality Lab. We

believe that hardware and connectivity is a much-needed improvement here at West Hall

with the number of devices that access our servers on a daily basis.
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The administrator role in the shared vision plan is a very important one. The

administrator must ensure that a learning environment is being provided that encourages

technology leaders to use technology. The administrator must also oversee that the

technology is being used efficiently with the goal of learners becoming global learners

and engaged in their learning. The administrator will also be the one who sets the pace

for the rest of the faculty by ensuring they are using research-based practices in their

teaching. He/she will also provide the faculty with examples of how to use PBL in their

classrooms.

The instructional coach and BLAST Team (a group of teachers with technology

backgrounds) here at West Hall High School. They will be expected to help provide

professional development and stay up to date with the latest trends in education. For

example, Flipgrid and Nearpod are two applications they can assist and train other

teachers on best practices on how to use. They will also be expected to provide technical

support to students, teachers, and parents that need help with Canvas or other operating

applications needed at our school.

Teachers will also be aware of the shared vision of West Hall High School. Teachers

will use technology resources that provide for diverse student populations. Teachers will

also use adaptive technology for students with special needs. Teachers will constantly

assess the students’ needs in order to ensure we are meeting the students’ needs. Canvas

will be used to keep students up to date with class and assignments. Teachers will also

use various applications to keep parents informed about grades and when assignments are

due. Olson commented (2017), “Teachers can be the guides that shape educational

experiences for their students, helping them engage with learning tools that will enrich
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and support deeper learning, including different types of technology.” Through the use of

PBL, learning teachers will help shape educational experiences for our students and

promote engagement here at West Hall High School.

In order for the shared vision to be successful, we will need the support of our

students and parents at West Hall High School. At West Hall High School we provide our

Hispanic community with a parent liaison to help work with students, parents, and

teachers. This service is meant to help break down language barriers. Students will be

expected to stay up to date in their classes, turn assignments in on time, access canvas

and canvas courses. Students are expected to communicate with their teachers when they

are having trouble in class or if they need extra help in certain classes. Parents are

expected to stay up to date by visiting the school website and staying in contact with

teachers. Stakeholders had input with these expectations.

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References

Sheninger, E. (2014). Digital leadership: Changing paradigms for changing times.

Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.

Ambule, M. (2017). Developing and Delivering Effective Professional Development for

Educators. Retrieved from: https://www.edtechteam.com/blog/2017/11/developing-
delivering-effective-professional-development-educators/

Peterson, T. (2016). Technology Starts with Professional Development and Training.

Districts offer advice on how to integrate technology with an emphasis on coaching
teachers first. Retrieved from:
https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2016/06/technology-starts-professional-
development-and-training

Edutopia (2007). Why Is Project-Based Learning Important? Retrieved from:

https://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning-guide-importance

Shaffer, T. (2018). 10 Benefits Of Project-Based Learning. Retrieved from:

https://www.destinationimagination.org/blog/10-benefits-of-project-based-learning/

ISTE. ESSENTIAL CONDITIONS. Retrieved from:

https://www.iste.org/standards/essential-conditions

Olson, A. (2017). Brown Center Chalkboard. Personalized learning: The importance of

teachers in a technology-driven world. Retrieved from:
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2017/09/27/personalized-
learning-the-importance-of-teachers-in-a-technology-driven-world/

Judge, S., Puckett, K., & Cabuk, B. (2004). Journal of Research on Technology in
Education. Digital Equity: New Findings from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study.
Retrieved from: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ690936.pdf
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Appendix
[Please include your survey/interview questions. Refer to your APA Manual or
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/670/05/ for formatting guidelines.]