Activity 6: Models and stages of technology change

Previous activities have alerted you to various concepts around change and the notion that technology can act as a revitalizing (refreshing) agent. However, leadership and shared vision at a school determine the quality of change that takes place. It is not enough simply to introduce ICTs at a school, and expect that the work is over. In fact, it has just begun! ICT integration is a process. It will not happen all at once. Certainly, making appropriate technology decisions for a school on how your school should be resourced with ICTs is part of this process, but it does not end nor begin there.

Activity

There are several ways to think of the levels of introducing technology. Consider these different models:

Technology change model 
The five stages of professional development 
Phases in planning revolutionary ICT change 
The star chart

1. Select one of these models of thinking about ICT adoption. In the model you have selected, decide in which stage or phase your school is currently. You may find the four stages in decision making for leaders another useful resource to guide you in answering this question.

Your choice of model, stage or phase for your school was based on your impressions of your school. How could you start to measure the levels of ICT at your school? If ICTs are just beginning at your school you may want to know the numbers of educators at your school that have n ever used a computer

This would give you an idea of what kind of training you may want to introduce and how to plan for more ICT use. If you have used ICTs for some time at your school you may have more sophisticated questions to answer.

2. Design a short survey of staff members at your school. The survey should measure ICT use amongst the educators in your school. This example snap survey for educators or thisICT skills questionnaire could be useful. Save the survey in a document called survey.
    
3. Send your survey as an e-mail attachment in email to your tutor (using the subject heading "Survey for feedback") for feedback before conducting the survey. Make changes based on feedback, if necessary. Then conduct the survey.
    
4. Take your results and design a few PowerPoint slides to display the results from your school. Make sure that your questions and your estimates are clearly presented.
    
5. Share your slides with your group online (using the subject heading "Survey results").
   
    
6. How do the results from your school compare with those in your group?
   Keep your slides handy to present your estimates (or actual findings) at your next ICT meeting.
7. Make closing comments in your blog/e-diary.