US/ND-4: Mandated Plans

Mandated Plans

Preuss, Paul (PPREUSS@Herkimer-BOCES.moric.org)
Tue, 17 Sep 1996 09:49:55 +5 EST


Sorry - I just couldn't resist responding to the recent comments on 
the requirement (mandate) for school technology plans.  IMO both 
sides have made valid points.  The decision rests upon what method 
will result in the least waste.

    Peer review of plans is a great idea.  How will it be organized?
    Who will be the peers?  What group shall we endorse as the gate
    keeper to the Internet and what is their agenda?
    
    Who will check to see if the plan is implemented once approved?
    So a school gets its plan through the gate - perhaps by copying
    a plan already approved - now what?
    
It seems to me that whatever route is taken - the responsible 
implementation of Internet connectivity rests in the hands of leaders 
at the building, or perhaps district, level.  

I would rather risk a certain number of ill conceived ventures - 
which even if they had an approved plan would probably be incorrectly 
implemented - then spending the $, time and energy to require 
everyone to submit a required plan. 

If one is really into plans - why stop at a technology plan?  The 
tech plan is useless if it is not tied to the school's strategic plan 
or school improvement plan.  Ultimately the tech plan must be tied 
into the documented improvement of student achievement - otherwise 
why do it?  A technology plan in and of itself is not sufficient 
because it is an isolated artifact not related to the "system" of 
learning.

Again - while the advocates for a technology plan have made many 
valid points - when I weigh the overall benefits compared with the 
cost in $, time and human energy - I must favor a system which does 
not require mandated tech plans and a system of approvals and checks.  
    
How heavy does the superstructure of a ship have to be before it 
tips over of its own weight?  I think that is what we are discussing.
















Paul Preuss
PPreuss@Herkimer-BOCES.moric.org
Phone: 315 867 2007  FAX: 315 867 2024