Spring ISD consists of 26 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 6 high schools serving over 70,000 students. Its 5-year strategic plan aims to develop exemplary student achievement but does not have a specific technology plan. In contrast, the National Education Technology Plan (NETP) provides goals for using technology to transform learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity. While some of Spring ISD's goals relate to the NETP, its plan lacks emphasis on technology and will not allow it to fully capitalize on technological opportunities by 2015.

1. Spring ISD’s 5-Year Strategic Plan
vs. NETP
Adrienne Brown
Lamar University
May 13, 2012

2. Spring ISD
● Consists of
– 26 Elementary Schools
– 7 Middle Schools
● 6 traditional
● 1 math, science, fine arts academy
– 6 High Schools
● 3 traditional
● 1 early college
● 1 career academy
● 1 online learning

3. The VISION and MISSION of
Spring ISD
● “By 2015, Spring ISD will be recognized nationally
as a leader among learning organizations and
known for exemplary student achievement.”
● “The principal goal of the District is to develop
students who excel academically, reason and
solve problems rationally, and act responsibly,
displaying good character and citizenship.”

4. Division Mission of Public Relations
and Technology
● Promote Spring ISD as a nationally recognized
learning organization and mobilize District
resources to achieve the District vision.

5. Spring ISD 5-year Technology Plan
● Spring ISD does NOT have a specific technology
plan.
● However, Spring ISD’s 5-year Strategic Plan for
2010-2015 includes some plans for technology.
● The goals and objectives in Spring ISD’s 5-year
Strategic Plan can relate somewhat to the goals in
the National Educational Technology Plan, but
without incorporating the use of technology.

6. National Educational Technology Plan
NETP is comprised of 5 categories:
1. Learning
2. Assessment
3. Teaching
4. Infrastructure
5. Productivity

7. NETP: Learning
● Prepare students to be active, creative, ethical
members of a global community
● Create opportunities for wider and more flexible
set of learning resources and set of educators
● Experience tailored learning that addresses
individual learners, interests, and experiences

8. Learning: Creating engaging and empowering
experiences both inside and outside of classroom
NETP Spring ISD
1.1 Using technology, integrate ● Spring ISD’s Plan does not
critical thinking, complex mention using technology for
problem this purpose.
solving, collaboration, and
● The “learning” mentioned in the
multimedia communication
report focuses more on
1.2 Study and enhance teachers than students.
motivation, factual and
procedural knowledge
1.3 Personalize learning available
anytime anywhere

9. NETP: Assessment
● Place emphasis on formative assessments which
involve stake holders in the creation, design, and
using of assessments.
● Use online learning, student response
devices, and multimedia to reinforce concepts and
measure progress.
● Technology's role should be varied, and used
analytically to determine the effectiveness and
adjust policies based on data collected.

10. Assessment: what matters and use of data from each
assessment for continuous improvement
NETP
2.1 Learners assessed in the course 2.4 Design assessments from the
of learning with increase in quality outset to measure
and quantity of feedback to knowledge, skills, and abilities;
learners rather than english proficiency or
ability to read
2.2 Accelerated design and
development of assessments 2.5 Parent access to electronic
through collaboration and learning record of their student if
alignment between educators and student is under 18 and after age
experts of 18, access to their own
assessment data
2.3 Students recieve immediate
feedback through use of game
formatted assessments

11. Assessment: what matters and use of data from each
assessment for continuous improvement
Spring ISD
● Spring ISD’s plans are to develop a “PEAK aligned data
collection coaching tool” which addresses NETP 2.1
(Learners assessed in the course of learning with
increase in quality and quantity of feedback to learners).
● Spring ISD does not include NETP 2.2 through 2.5 in
their 5-year Strategic Plan.

12. NETP: Teaching
● Teacher is supported individually and in teams to
connect them to data, content, and learning
experiences.
● Teacher creates online learning communities
comprised of other students, teachers,
community members, and global experts.

13. Teaching: Empower and inspire more effective teaching
NETP Spring ISD
3.1 Use resources and collaborate ● “Embed opportunities for
locally, state, countrywide and community involvement within
globally to provide more identified criteria.”
engaging, effective learning
● No mention of addressing social
3.2 Continually improve practice and networking.
evolve over time though use of
● While “at-risk” students were
social networking
addressed in the Strategic
3.3 Educating vulnerable students in Plan, technology was not included
high risk areas via online learning as a an effective source.
to be educated by the most
effective source.

14. Teaching: Empower and inspire more effective teaching
NETP Spring ISD
3.4 Making technology an integral ● This is not a specific requirement in
component of teacher preparation the Strategic Plan;
courses and field experiences. however, “implementation of
Google apps for Education for
3.5 Provide participatory/personalized
students” is mentioned.
online and blended learning
experiences that embody best ● There is no goal mentioned for
practices “participatory” and/or
“personalized” “online” and/or
“blended learning experiences.”

15. NETP: Infrastructure
● Participation and collaboration of different types of
institutions as partners
● Requires leadership and commitment of importance to
transom U.S. education
● Key features
– Broadband everywhere
– Personal or school owned devices for everyone
– Open resources/ public domain
– Increased use of cloud

16. Infrastructure: where and when you need it
NETP Spring ISD
4.1 Opportunity for teacher and ● “Every class will provide frequent
students to learn whenever and opportunities to use technology
wherever they need tools for student learning.”
4.2 Engagement,online learning, and ● Their Strategic Plan does not
assessments to be most effective address ensuring that all students
must have 24/7 access and have a computer (or some other
devices to get on internet device) with 24/7 internet access.
4.3 New evaluation and selection of ● Broadly mentioned in the Strategic
instructional materials including Plan as: “Embed specific
open educational resources technology tools and examples into
all curricula.”

17. Infrastructure: where and when you need it
NETP Spring ISD
4.4 In-house data collectors/ IT ● An in-house data/ IT team is not
professionals maintain the cloud specifically mentioned, but
rather than outsourced brings implementing “desktop virtualization
greater efficiency and effectiveness to extend the life of existing district
hardware for students” is.
4.5 Creating common standards for
collecting and sharing data and ● All campuses will be rated
broaden markets to increase “Acceptable” by TEA.
leverage market advancements ● “Collect and monitor data reports
from campuses that detail
4.6 Financial data
achievement
standards, tools, and records data, attendance, discipline and
failure rates” (financial data is not
mentioned).

18. NETP: Productivity
● Structural changes enable dramatic productivity
improvements
● Keep the function of the school the same, while
changing it's system to reflect the times
● Rethinking operational and financial sides of
running a school

19. Productivity: creating more efficient use of time, money,
and staff
NETP Spring ISD
5.1 Define and start measuring ● Learning outcomes are not
learning outcomes mentioned in the Strategic Plan.
5.2 Remove process and structural ● Traditional learning environment
barriers (age, academic, seat-time remains a unquestioned focus.
determined groups) ● There is no specific technology plan
5.3 Reports of how technology is from which to begin reporting such
actually used within a district data.
● This kind of collaboration (NETP
5.4 Collaboration between P-12 and
5.4) is not addressed.
higher education are crucial to end
dropping out and being under
prepared at each level

20. Spring ISD Technology by 2015
● By 2015, even if Spring ISD meets their current
technology goals sparsely mentioned in their 5-
year Strategic Plan, they will fall short of what
technology in 2015 has to offer.
● The District appears to be unfortunately
shortsighted.
● Their rate of implementing new technology is too
slow.

21. References
● Shimabukuro,J. A Glimpse at the 2010 National Education
Technology Plan. Retrieved May 8, 2012 from
http://etcjournal.com/2010/11/10/glimpse-transforming-american-
education-learning-powered-by-technology/
● National Education Technology Plan 2010. Retrieved May 8, 2012
from http://www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010
● Karen Cator on the NETP. Retrieved May 10, 2012 from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAEKHQWyYpU
● Spring ISD 5 Year Strategic Plan. Retrieved May 13, 2012 from:
www.springisd.org/docs2/ci/5YSP-February-2012.pdf