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Criteria for Success

The Making of a Successful Technology Initiative

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Your Presenters

Dr. Michael Marassa

Director of Technology

Grayslake Community HSD 127

mmarassa@D127.org

Lee Steinsdoerfer

K-12 Technology Director (retired)

GHA Technologies, Inc.

K12 Tech Forum

lee.s@gha-associates.com

The purpose of the list is to cover the minimal criteria that must be addressed in order for any long-term technology initiative to have a chance to succeed. This list can be used as a first step to quickly assess the viability of proposed initiatives. It can also be used as a guide of what needs to be covered when undertaking any initiative.

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Technology

Curriculum

Finance

Human Resources

Building & Grounds

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Curriculum

  • E-Textbook Integration with Student Information System
  • Science Department Course Guide
  • English Language Learner intervention software
  • Learning Management Systems
  • Data Warehouse Systems
  • Interactive Classroom Systems

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Finance

  • Online Registration and Fees
  • Student Records Archiving
  • Evidence-Based Funding
  • Transportation Systems
  • Mass Communication Systems
  • Bookstore / Food Service / Athletics

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Human Resources

  • Employee Evaluation Systems
  • Absence Management
  • Job Application and Posting
  • Social Media and Public Relations / Website
  • eDiscovery
  • FOIA requests
  • Background Checks

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Building & Grounds

  • Physical Security / Camera System
  • Door Access
  • Building Automation
  • Work Order Systems
  • Inventory
  • Visitor verification
  • Student and Staff identification
  • Facility Scheduling and Rental

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Michael’s Stats Slide

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Role Playing

The purpose of the list is to cover the minimal criteria that must be addressed in order for any long-term technology initiative to have a chance to succeed. This list can be used as a first step to quickly assess the viability of proposed initiatives. It can also be used as a guide of what needs to be covered when undertaking any initiative.

move us to

By WHEN??

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Guidelines for ensuring an initiative is successful

  • A compilation of criteria needed for a successful technology initiative.
  • Put together by veteran K-12 Technology Directors drawing on years of implementing successful and not so successful initiatives.
  • Not meant to be an exhaustive list
  • Items not listed in order of importance. THEY ARE ALL IMPORTANT

The purpose of the list is to cover the minimal criteria that must be addressed in order for any long-term technology initiative to have a chance to succeed. This list can be used as a first step to quickly assess the viability of proposed initiatives. It can also be used as a guide of what needs to be covered when undertaking any initiative.

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Guidelines for ensuring an initiative is successful

Purpose of the list

...to cover the minimal criteria that must be addressed in order for any technology initiative to have a chance to succeed.

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Guidelines for ensuring an initiative is successful

This list of criteria can be used as a first step to quickly assess the viability of proposed initiatives.

They can also be used as guidelines for what needs to be covered when undertaking any initiative.

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Guidelines for ensuring an initiative is successful

Following these guidelines....

...does not guarantee an initiative will succeed.

Not following these guidelines...

...does guarantee an initiative will not succeed.

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Time

5

> Pilot Timeline > Setup and Installation times

> Startup time

Compatibility

4

> ...with current systems

> ...with future updates and upgrades

> ...users skill sets and ability

Financial and Legal

3

> Upfront and ongoing costs > Budgets

> Licenses & Legal concerns

Research

2

> Need > Decision Makers aware

> Critical nature of > Pilot Testing

> Impact on existing > Standards

Contact Person

1

> Selected ONE person

> Person is aware and onboard

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Training

10

> Who > What > When

> Resources needed > Cost

Administration

8

> Updates > Documentation

> Inventory

Resources

7

> Physical > Human

> Virtual > Data

Users

6

> Who > When

> Where

Technical Support

9

> Repairs > Maintenance

> Documentation

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Ongoing Communication

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The Tool - Tech Initiative Request Form

A Google sheet you can use...

  • to evaluate new requests
  • as guidelines for existing initiatives.

Link to view form Instructions for using the form - LINK

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Other Resources

NCES - �The National Center for Education Statistics

Forum Unified Education Technology Suite

https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2005/tech_suite/index.asp

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Other Resources

COSN - Consortium of School Networking

Strategic Technology Planning and Investment�Aligning Priorities. Balancing Choice, Cost, & Outcomes

LINK

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Other Resources

JAMIA - Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association

Ten key considerations for the successful implementation and adoption of large-scale health information technology

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3715363/

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Other Resources

Digital Promise & Education Industry Association

Improving Ed-Tech Purchasing

The study was conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, and was commissioned by Digital Promise, a congressionally authorized organization that focuses on improving education through technology and research, and the Education Industry Association, a Vienna, Va.-based group with more than 200 members, including small and large technology companies. Both Digital Promise and the EIA helped design the study.�

https://digitalpromise.org/2014/11/13/improving-ed-tech-purchasing/

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Other Resources

Education Week

K-12 District Leaders Evolving Into Smarter Ed-Tech Consumers

Efforts in schools and districts are underway to help administrators take a more discerning approach when purchasing ed-tech products and services

https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2014/06/11/35ii-sophisticated.h33.html

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  1. Contact Person

It is essential to designate one person to be responsible for the initiative. Other people may be involved but ultimately one person should be responsible for making sure that all criteria are covered.

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2. Research & Preparation

There is a great deal of research and preparation that must be done before an initiative can even be considered. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Needs assessment
  • Informing & engaging stakeholders and decision makers.
  • Determining critical nature of initiative
  • Standards
  • Pilot Testing

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3. Financial and Legal Issues

There are many financial and legal issues that need to be considered including:

Financial

  • Upfront/Startup costs
  • Ongoing & recurring costs
  • Budget & Funding

Legal

  • Licensing
  • Compliance
  • Privacy
  • Security

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4. Compatibility

You need to consider all the various systems and programs that this initiative must work with in order to function. Check compatibility with existing systems including:

  • Hardware
  • Software
  • Network infrastructure
  • Wireless network
  • Data

  • Future updates and upgrades
    • of existing systems
    • of this initiative

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5. Timelines

What are the time parameters surrounding this initiative. Includes:

  • Pilot timeframe
  • Setup and installation
  • Start of initiative
  • Ongoing

  • F

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6. Users

It is important to know who this initiative is intended for.

  • Who will be using it?
  • When will this people be using it?
  • Where will they be using it?

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7. Resources

What resources will be required for this initiative?

This includes:

  • Physical
  • Digital/Virtual
  • Data
  • Human

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8. Administration

Identify who is responsible for ongoing administration and maintenance of the initiative.

  • Administration
  • Updates
  • Maintenance
  • Documentation
  • Inventory

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9. Technical Support

Identify technical support requirements of the initiative. This includes break/fix repairs. Will need to determine how quickly something needs to be responded to and repaired.

  • Tech Support
  • Response Time
  • Maintenance
  • Documentation

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10. Training

Identify what training is needed to make this initiative succeed.

  • Who needs to be trained?
  • What training is needed?
  • When will the training take place?
  • What resources are needed for the training?
  • Cost of training