Section 5 

Infrastructure, Hardware, Technical Support and Electronic Learning Resources

 

This section contains significant formatting changes and E-rate requirements since you last wrote a tech plan. E-rate auditors scrutinize this section. Read carefully.

 

5.a

 

The goal of this section is to describe the existing hardware, electronic learning resources, networking and telecommunication infrastructure, and technical support at each school site and at other district sites.

 

In the narrative describe the 4 components (hardware, electronic learning resources, networking and telecommunications infrastructure, and technical support) at each school site and at the other district sites. Please include details such as age, number of licenses, capacity, and computer:technician ratio. As a background for section 4b, please explain if each component will meet the needs of the technology plan or what the needs are for each component to support the implementation of the curriculum and professional development sections.

 

Guiding Questions

     Hardware

• What hardware currently exists at each school site?

     Electronic Learning Resources (Software)

• What are the main electronic learning resources currently being used for instruction and student assessment?

     Networking and Telecommunications Infrastructure

• What is the configuration and capacity of the existing networks in the district?
• Are any areas not connected to the network?
• Is the current Internet service provider able to meet the district's needs?
• How many telephone lines are there to each site and what is the capability of the telephone system?

     Technical Support 

• Who provides technical support and what is the response time?
• What is the current level of technical support?
• What level of technical support is required to meet the needs of teachers and administrators to accomplish the implementation of the curriculum and professional development sections?

 

Links and Resources

EdTechProfile - provides a technology inventory from the district within the California School Technology Survey report

Calaxy Asset Tracker - Free web-based asset management tool

MyTechDesk - Free web-based technical support management system

 

 

 

5.b

 

Rubric Criteria: This section summarizes the technology hardware, networking and telecommunication infrastructure, physical plan modifications, electronic learning resources (software), and technical support needed to support the activities in the curriculum and professional development sections.

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The goal of this section is to describe the hardware, software, physical plant modifications, networking and telecommunications infrastructure, and technical support required at each school site and at other district sites to support the activities in the curriculum and professional development sections.

 

In the narrative describe the school site and district needs for each of the 5 components (hardware, software, physical plant modifications, networking and telecommunications infrastructure, and technical support). Please include details such as number of computers or licenses needed, number of electrical upgrades or Internet drops needed, or additional staffing needs. Please address each of the 5 components, if one of the components is sufficient to meet the needs of the technology plan, please explain that nothing is needed in that area to support the activities of the technology plan.

 

Guiding Questions

     Hardware

• What technologies will students, teachers, and administrators need to successfully implement the plan's goals and objectives?
• What emerging technologies could be used to implement the plan's goals and objectives?
• What additional technologies need to be acquired for underserved populations?

     Electronic Learning Resources (software)

• What electronic learning resources are needed to implement the curriculum and professional development sections for students, teachers, and administrators?
• What resources are needed for data analysis, management, student recordkeeping, and home-school communication? 

     Networking and Telecommunications Infrastructure    

• What infrastructure components are needed to implement the curriculum and professional development sections?
• What network improvements are needed to support this plan?
• How will E-rate discounts support the infrastructure, hardware, and electronic learning resource components?

     Physical Plant Modifications

• Is there sufficient electrical capacity and outlets to support the hardware and infrastructure planned for each site?
• Has the electrical system been evaluated and any necessary upgrades planned? 

     Technical Support

• How will technical support needs be addressed to ensure that the hardware, network, and peripherals function adequately and that problems are addressed within an acceptable response time?
• What is the target ratio of hardware to technical support personnel? 

 

Best Practice for E-rate: Technology plans for E-rate must include an assessment of the telecommunication services, hardware, software, and other services that will be needed to improve education or library services.

 

*Special note...Don't forget software license renewals and upgrades.

 

 

5.c

Technology Timeline

(about 2 pages in length)

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Rubric Criteria: This section provides a timeline and annual benchmarks for obtaining the hardware, infrastructure, physical plant modifications, software, and technical support required to support this plan as identified in section 5b.

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The goal of this section is to explain when the technology required to support this plan will be acquired and who will be responsible for keeping the technology acquisition on a timeline to support the curriculum and professional development sections of the plan.

 

In the narrative explain how the district will meet the needs described in section 5b. It helps to include a table that provides details about the goal, timeline, and annual benchmarks for each technology need described in section 5b.

 

Goal:
Benchmarks:		Year 1: Year 2: Year 3:
Implementation Steps	Date	Job Title Responsible	Evaluation Data Collected
Supporting Research and Resources

 

Guiding Questions

• Does the timeline for acquiring technology support the implementation of the curriculum and professional development sections? 

 

 

 

Another example

The table below indicates the benchmarks/timeline for acquisition of hardware, software and additional resources to be acquired as resources become available. 

 

_______________________ School
Hardware/Software	When	Person Responsible	Current/Needed
Laptop Computers	2008	Director of Educational Services	0/5
Video Conferencing Unit	2009	Principal	0/1
Multi-Function Scanner	2007	Site Tech	1/1
Interactive Whiteboard	2010	Principal	0/15
Desktop Computers	2008	Principal	77/10
Printers	2009	Site Tech	49/15
Televisions	2007	Principal	24/6
LCD Projectors	2010	Director of Educational Services	5/15
Digital Cameras	2009	Principal	2/10
Pocket PC	2007	Principal	0/1
Multimedia Software	2007	Site Tech	0/1

 

 

5.d

Monitoring and Evaluation

(about 1 page in length)

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Rubric Criteria: This section clearly describes the process that will be used to monitor the implementation of Section 5 of the technology plan.

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The goal of this section is to describe the process for monitoring, evaluating, and modifying the implementation of Section 5. 

 

In the narrative explain who is responsible for monitoring the implementation of Section 5. Please include details such as how often the group will meet and how they will evaluate and modify Section 5 as needed.

 

Guiding Questions

• What data will the district collect to monitor the acquisition of technology?
• How often will the data be collected and summarized?
• What will be the process and who will be involved in analyzing the data and recommending program modifications as needed?