PREFACE

The Oscoda Area School District is mindful that technology must be properly institutionalized, as defined in the Michigan State Technology Plan, 1998:

During the past decade, institutions in every segment of society have made sweeping changes related to their design, function and operation.  Technology was at the forefront of many of these changes, often accompanied by organizational discomfort.  Institutions often experienced an initial decrease in productivity when adopting new technologies.  Benefits accrued only after technology was effectively institutionalized.

The institutionalization of technology will aid the District in meeting its ultimate goal of ensuring that all its graduates, as well as its staff, are “technologically literate”.  According to the Michigan State Board of Education Model Core Curriculum, 1991, the technologically literate person is one who:

Understands the role and impact of technology upon society, and the related issues such as information access and manipulation;

Accepts the responsibilities associated with living in the technologically oriented Information Age;

Identifies when to use technology to solve a problem or accomplish a task and then selects and utilizes the appropriate technological system; and

Uses technology as a tool for obtaining, organizing and manipulating information and for communication and creative expression.

The District recognizes that the following elements are required if institutionalization of technology is successful:

Commitment by the district.

Leadership provided by the school board and administration.

Research-based, staff-involved Planning.

Development of Processes.

Continued Professional Development.

Resources utilized in the development of this Plan include:

The National Plan for Technology in Education Four Pillars:

Training

Hardware

Access and Connectivity

Content Resources

Michigan State Core Curriculum for Technology

Michigan State Technology Plan

The ISTE National Standards for both students and staff.