Middle School Meetings on Technology:

1. Building technology use description:

There was less disparity among U-46 middle schools regarding technology use. Most teachers use technology for administrative purposes, some are integrating technology successfully. In several cases the existence of the team approach supported technology integration and in one case provided a successful technology professional development program. Middle schools also used SIP days.

Major factors affecting technology use were:

• Lack of access to technology, labs inadequate to meet teacher/student technology demands
• Existence of technology advocates (principal and/or teachers) in the building .

2. Recommendations for improvement?

• Technology access, dependability, and support
  • Add more computer labs to be able to support online assessments and student support programs
  • Add more technical support
  • Provide access to school files from home
  • Provide technologies that will ease teacher administrative duties
• Instructional support and professional development
• Provide teachers more time to coordinate technology-related initiatives
• Add an instructional technology resource person that can work with teachers during the school day
• Expand technology use beyond student tech skills.
• Provide incentives for professional development such as stipends and/or college credit courses
• Differentiate technology professional development to meet all teachers' needs
• Work closely with teams to integrate technology with curricular goals