Just as a lesson plan helps teachers set and guide students toward classroom objectives, a strategic education technology plan helps school leaders achieve their technology and integration goals. Schools that are serious about improving their application of technology in the classroom have plans that not only clarify their visions for educational technology but identify the best steps for achieving them.
A Strategic EdTech Plan:
- Defines your vision for the future. A clear plan paints a picture of success. When people can see that picture, they are more likely to help make it a reality. By defining the goals for your school’s technology future, everyone grabs a paintbrush to begin working toward the same outcomes.
- Creates a shared understanding of your school’s technology performance. As you draft your plan, you may discover that board members, IT professionals, and other stakeholders have different perspectives on the condition and role of technology in the classroom. The process of creating a plan will help give these stakeholders a common point of reference for making IT and classroom integration recommendations and decisions.
- Reveals potential roadblocks. It’s no surprise, the most difficult obstacles to overcome are those that you didn’t expect. By defining your current situation and desired outcomes, you improve your team’s ability to anticipate complications, giving you more time to resolve them efficiently.
- Brings structure to your team’s creativity. Passionate educators are always imagining new ways to instruct students—especially with the endless possibilities technology offers. A strategic education technology plan channels these creative ideas so that they support and enhance your school’s tech and integration objectives.
- Provides value and engagement to learners. A solid strategic education technology plan focuses on improving learning through IT stability, innovative technology use in the classroom, and leaning into methods of blended or digital learning.
How do you start? 
- Audit your school’s technology assets and performance. Take stock of your devices, infrastructure, policies, personnel skills, and documented procedures. Evaluate your current professional learning objectives around technology integration.
- List and prioritize your goals. Write down everything your technology must achieve to support the growth of your students. Make sure you consult stakeholders who will be using the technology. Identify which IT results are “must haves” for your school and what needs to happen to achieve them.
- Review your budget. Enlist the support of a K-12 focused professional services company to help you determine the best way to use your technology dollars.
Vartek partners receive not only the benefit of best-in-class technology operational support, but also years of technology integration expertise. Vartek’s recently-launched Technology Integration division is focused on helping teachers create transformational learning experiences in all classrooms – physical or virtual.
Vartek has been helping schools achieve their technology visions for more than 31 years. Let’s talk about how we can help you create a great strategic education technology plan for your school. Contact us today.