Resource Allocation for Technologies and Funding Implications is a vast and complicated issue. Technology is a very expensive and time sensitive endeavor. With the newest and latest technology being introduced every few months, school divisions need to develop a resource allocation strategy. This topic will allow you to delve deeper into all the questions of funding and choosing what best suits the needs of your division, school, teachers and learners.
To Watch
New South Wales provides a look at how they have chosen to allocate resources for technology based on the needs of each individual school in their division. (3:35 minutes)
Websites to explore
Alberta Education is exploring a 1:1 ratio in schools across the province. This is the link to their Emerge One-to-One Laptop Learning Project. Take some time to explore the different videos and reports on how their project is working.
The link below is the report for Alberta’s Emerge One-to-One Laptop Learning Project, but pages 18-22 in particular deal with the allocation of resources, not so much in a dollar value way but in the different areas that will require resources.
Reading to understand the topic
Essential Conditions: Necessary conditions to effectively leverage technology for learning
ISTE outlines the conditions necessary for learning. This is a short one page article.
Allocating Resources to Improve Student Learning
This easy-read article provides “general allocation information” that helps us to understand the complexity of resource allocation. It discusses the roles, responsibilities and resources needed for maximizing a student’s learning opportunities.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-lynch-edd/allocating-resources-to-i_b_1018778.html?view=screen
Blended Learning Implementation Guide
This guide provides information about creating a plan to implement technology into schools.
Read to Deepen Understanding
Top-Ten IT Issues 2012
This article addresses the top 10 IT issues in all businesses. Although all of the issues are important, please focus on issues 1, 5 & 7 , reiterated below, as the primary focus in this article:
1. Updating IT professionals' skills and roles to accommodate emerging technologies and changing IT management and service delivery models
5. Integrating information technology into institutional decision-making
Bullet 5:
- How can IT leaders focus discussions regarding "technology" when planning school division initiatives, strategic goals, and projects , considering all of the requirements? For example, funding, staffing, tools, timelines, training, and recurring investment.
7. Funding information technology strategically
Stretching Your Technology Dollar
This article has the 10 strategies to make the most of a budget for technology. This article will bring understanding when considering our discussion questions (especially strategy #10).
Blended Learning on a Budget
Although this is an American article, it contains many visuals and organizers that help put into perspective the cost breakdowns and cost drivers when implementing technology into schools. The focus of this article is providing the necessary technology for a blended classroom model.
Mandatory Reading
"Extreme Makeover School Edition"
In "Extreme Makeover School Edition", author Shari Camhi describes the process of one school district as they endeavor to integrate technology as a means of improving student achievement. With a limited budget they recognize that the resource allocation must be done strategically and purposefully. While the reading addresses an American school district, the process is one which could be applied in Canada as well.
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