developing a strategic technology plan 02.01.01 5/13/02

Developing a Strategic Technology Plan

02.01.01 5/13/02


Let’s talk about...• Why plan?

• Some planning strategies

• The planning process

• The final plan structure

• Some standard areas to address

• Funding and helpful resources


Prioritize worthiest projects

Why Develop a Plan?Realize

technology dreams

Satisfy external

mandates

Argue for needed funding


• Begin - even with a quick “starter”• Engage all the right people• Learn what’s possible• Align with strategic goals• Focus on outcomes, not “inputs”• Set priorities• Make sure it really happens

Key Planning Strategies


1. Get started2. Look inside3. Look outside4. Think big5. Decide how you want to travel6. Plan the stops along the way7. Find out how to pay for the trip8. Present the road map ….And have a good trip!

Eight Planning Process Steps


1. Get Started• Recruit your planning team

• Set the scope of your planning work

• Set your time horizon (not too long)

• Determine if you will address “operating” budget

• Develop the planning task plan

• Assemble needed resources


2. Look Inside

• Review any previous plans

• Assess current IT resources

• Assess staff (and student) skills

• Assess progress on using technology in learning, if a school


3. Look Outside• Assess demands placed on you

• Learn what others are doing

– Friends and neighbors

– Professional groups

– “Industry” sources

– Internet, etc.


4. Think Big

• Identify…

– Mission

– Vision

– Goals

– Planning areas


5. Decide How to Travel• Determine strategies, possibly by planning

area

• Examples of strategies…– Provide necessary training to staff

– Provide software linked to curriculum

– Provide Internet access in all rooms


6. Plan the Stops• Identify projects, seeking strategic

opportunities to add value using IT

• Examples of projects…– Conduct PowerPoint training for all

– Extend network to Church Center

– Implement Finale software for music minister


7. Find Out How to Pay

• Prioritize the projects

• Develop an “action plan” of the prioritized projects

• Develop a multi-year budget for your plan


8. Present the Road Map

• Put pen to paper and write the plan

• Identify who needs paper copies

• Identify who needs personal and group presentations

• Start implementing


Have a Good Trip• Begin the highest priority projects

• Determine who will monitor progress

• Require periodic reports?

• Present status reports to oversight bodies at set intervals

• Start planning the next revision of the plan


Final Plan Structure

• Plan out the final structure of your plan early on.

• To some extent, your plan structure follows your process.

Planning Hierarchy

• Breaking down your plans from a grand vision to specific tasks is made easier by using a hierarchy.

Mission

Vision

Goals

Strategies

Projects

Tasks

Phases


• Organization Mission and Goals• Technology Vision• Current Status• Opportunities• Technology Goals and Strategies• Projects and Tasks• Overall Budget• Overall Project Time Frame

Possible IT Plan Outline


• Alternative - Group goals, strategies, and projects by area

• Example -– Area 1 - Networking - Goals, strategies,

projects

– Area 2 - Data Systems - Goals, strategies, projects

Structure by “Areas”


Special Schools Outline

• Private schools in Wisconsin use a standard planning outline. This is available on the Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent Schools (WCRIS) web site at http://www.wcris.org/TechPlans.html.

http://www.wcris.org/TechPlans.html

http://www.wcris.org/TechPlans.html


• Your IT management and support

• How you manage your IT projects

• Providing hardware and software

• Maximizing electronic communication

• Using technology in ministry

Standard Areas to Address


• Developing your computer network

• Enhancing your portfolio of data applications

• Managing technology in learning

• Developing the technology skills of your staff, students, etc.

Standard Areas (cont.)


• Let’s consider some typical issues you may want to address for each of these areas...

Standard Areas (cont.)


• Who will serve as the “IT manager?”

• Who will provide your day-to-day support?

• Should you have an ongoing IT oversight committee?

IT Management Issues


• Who will maintain the list of planned projects?

• What sort of standard schedule will the projects follow?

• How will you review project status?

Managing IT Projects Issues


• Who still needs PC access?

• When will you replace existing PCs?

• When will you upgrade your existing office suite?

• Are there special hardware or software items you need to add?

Hardware and Software Issues


• When will you develop and/or enhance your web site?

• What features will your site have?

• How might you use broadcast e-mail?

• Would you benefit from applications such as on-line retreats, etc?

Electronic Communication


• Traditional sound and music systems?

• Video?

• Display of hymn lyrics?

• Presentation technology for homilies?

• Remote or after-the-fact audio and video?

Technology in Ministry?


• How will you develop a single network covering all your buildings?

• How will you obtain high speed Internet access?

• How will you implement security?

• When and how will you upgrade your phone system?

Computer Networking Issues


• Replace your census system?

• Replace your financial system?

• Do your own payroll, or outsource?

• Other special applications? (e.g., Finale)

Data Applications - Parishes


• Will you provide teacher grade books?

• How will you gather school-wide grade and attendance data?

• How will you generate report cards?

• When will you replace your financial and payroll systems?

Data Applications - Schools


• Student access

• Staff access and building skills

• Introduction into curriculum

• Vision of evolution...

Technology in Learning Issues


• How will you evolve your use?

– Teacher uses to show (use to teach)

– Students learn technology (learn to use)

– Students use technology (use to learn)

– Technology transforms learning in all subjects (use in all)

Technology in Learning Issues


• What training must you provide?

• What books, professional groups, and other resources would help?

• How can staff support each other?

• Who can staff turn to for resolution of problems?

Developing Your Staff Issues


Funding

?• Parish or school operating budgets

• Parish or school capital funds

• Special technology fund raisers

• Technology grants (see http://www.archmil.org/aboutus/ShowResource.asp?ID=633)

• State and federal schools grants (see http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/grants.html)


More Funding

?• State of Wisconsin “Teach” subsidy for

T1 line

• School federal e-rate funding• IBM matching employee grants

(http://www.ibm.com/ibm/ibmgives/grant/giving/match.shtml)


$• Parish or school operating budgets

• Parish or school capital funds

• Special technology fund raisers

• Student technology fee

• Classes or rentals in lab

Funding

$• State and federal schools grants

http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/grants.html

• School federal e-rate funding

• State “Teach” subsidy for T1 line• Other technology grants

http://www.archmil.org/aboutus/ShowResource.asp?ID=633

• IBM matching employee grants http://www.ibm.com/ibm/ibmgives/grant/giving/ match.shtml

Grants

• Archdiocese School Tech Plan Workshop• North Central Regional Educational Lab:

– Critical Issue: Developing a School or District Technology Plan (www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/te800.htm)

– Learning Through Technology: A Planning and Implementation Guide (http://www.ncrel.org/tandl/homepg.htm)

– Technology Connections for School Improvement Planners' Handbook (153 pages) (http://www.ncrel.org/tplan/tplanB.htm)

School IT Planning Resources


• Techsoup (www.techsoup.org)Go to Resources, Technology Planning, especially “Write the Plan”

• Strategic Technology http://www.strategictechnology.net

General Resources


Sample plans?• Search Web for “school district

technology plan,” “Catholic school technology plan,” etc.

• e.g., Fort McMurray Schools at www.fmcsd.ab.ca/main.html

developing a strategic technology plan 02.01.01 5/13/02

Documents

plan slide

plan outline slide

action plan

planning task plan

strategic goals

technology skills

technology dreams

strategic opportunities