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Context and Conditions
This project was a requirement for MIT 522: Organization and Management of Instructional Technology under the direction of Dr. Mahnaz Moallem. The client for this project was the Cape Fear Center for Inquiry (CFCI) charter school. CFCI wanted to make improvements in the school technology infrastructure, technology support personnel, and technology skill level of the teachers. An analysis of the infrastructure, resources, organization, and attitudes of the teachers at CFCI provided information needed to make a proposal. In addition to creating a change proposal and resource analysis for the school, a technology change plan was written. The final technology plan addressed the need for improvements and provided detailed plans on how to make the necessary changes.
The project included a change proposal, resource analysis, and technology plan. I worked collaboratively with a team of MIT students, Beth Allred and Trisha Torkildsen. We made team visits to the school to view the current infrastructure. Trisha Torkildsen, an employee of CFCI, became our liaison from the school and provided extensive amounts of data to contribute to our resource analysis.
Scope
The change proposal described the management team, funding resources, a change model, and affected systems. The improvisational model for managing change was used in this plan. It fit well due to the open-ended nature of the project. Continuous improvement would also be required and the school would be able to adjust to any changes in the state curriculum that may occur with time. Support and evaluation of technology would also be ongoing. The resource analysis described state/district policies, national/state technology standards, network and Internet acceptable use policies, current technology resources, existing technology use, and resources needed for technology change. Our team was also responsible for designing a plan for implementation, budget, technology support, professional development, timeline, and communication. The professional development plan for teachers would take three years to complete and occurred in three phases. A detailed plan for the implementation of technology support included benchmarks, timeline, and budget. Planning for communication was also accounted for and is detailed in the technology plan.
CFCI was to present the technology plan to a board of directors for approval and proceed to apply for grant money to support implementation costs. The project proposal was completed before the summer months in order to be ready if accepted to begin the following school year.
Role
I worked collaboratively with the team to gathering and analyzing data from surveys and resource reports. The extant data was provided by teachers from CFCI and an on-site visit made by the team. I also worked with the team to write the proposal for change, resource analysis, and technology plan for implementation.
Reflection
I gained more experience in gathering information using various tools such as interviews, surveys, and finding extant data. After the completion of this project, I learned how to systematically plan technology change. I was able to design a technology change plan that could be institutionalized within an organization. I combined the instructional technology skills of analyst, project manager, and evaluator.
MIT COMPETENCIES – DESIGN |
MIT ARTIFACTS |
RATIONALE |
Analyze the characteristics of a setting (learning environment) |
"Let's Charter IT" Change Management Proposal
"Let's Charter IT" Resource Analysis
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The proposal demonstrates the ability to analyze characteristics of a learning environment. |
Determine instructional resources (media/computer technology) appropriate to instructional activities
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"Let's Charter IT"TECHNOLOGY CHANGE PROJECT |
The project provides documentation that appropriate computer technology is planned to be used for instructional activities. |
MIT COMPETENCIES - DEVELOPMENT |
MIT ARTIFACTS |
RATIONALE |
Develop curriculum and apply instructional technology to the curriculum at the systems level, the macro level, and the micro level. |
"Let's Charter IT"TECHNOLOGY CHANGE PROJECT
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The project implementation plan demonstrates the ability to apply instructional technology at a macro and micro level. |
MIT COMPETENCIES – UTILIZATION |
MIT ARTIFACTS |
RATIONALE |
Promote the diffusion and adoption of the instructional development process. (Select strategies appropriate for promoting the diffusion and adoption of the instructional development process in a given setting and state a rationale for the strategies)
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"Let's Charter IT"TECHNOLOGY CHANGE PROJECT
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The proposal demonstrates the ability to plan the diffusion and adoption of a professional development plan within an organization. |
Demonstrate a knowledge of the laws and regulations which govern the selection and utilization of media/emerging technology, including copyright, censorship, State Board Regulations, Local Board Policies, etc.
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"Let's Charter IT"TECHNOLOGY CHANGE PROJECT
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The project demonstrates knowledge of the regulations which govern the utilization and use of technology and policies regarding its use. |
MIT COMPETENCIES – MANAGEMENT |
MIT ARTIFACTS |
RATIONALE |
Organize the instructional project or service unit to operate effectively and efficiently. |
"Let's Charter IT"TECHNOLOGY CHANGE PROJECT
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The project demonstrates the ability to organize effectively and efficiently. |
Plan and implement organizational change. |
"Let's Charter IT"TECHNOLOGY CHANGE PROJECT
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The project provides documentation of a plan to implement an organizational change. |
Design instructional management systems |
"Let's Charter IT"TECHNOLOGY CHANGE PROJECT
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The project demonstrates the ability to design instructional management systems within an organization. |
MIT COMPETENCIES – EVALUATION |
MIT ARTIFACTS |
RATIONALE |
Plan and conduct needs assessment. |
"Let's Charter IT" Change Management Proposal
"Let's Charter IT" Resource Analysis
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The proposal and analysis provides documentation to demonstrate the ability to conduct a needs assessment. |
MIT COMPETENCIES – COMMUNICATIONS |
MIT ARTIFACTS |
RATIONALE |
Communication and Leadership Skills –
Apply leadership techniques with individual groups |
"Let's Charter IT"TECHNOLOGY CHANGE PROJECT
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This demonstrates communication skills within an organization and team. |
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