Two goals focused the efforts of the task force: to consider common elements in planning documents and to generate a set of guiding questions that would help technology planners as they consider the most significant issues related to technology planning. This document and tool, Guiding Questions for Technology Planning, Version 1.0, is the result of that effort.

Why Technology Planning?

Educators are finding the stakes increasing as the market for technology use in schools expands rapidly. As a result, technology planning is becoming a priority among schools, educational organizations, and policymakers. The breakneck pace of Internet growth looms as a major force for change for education. And vendors of hardware, software, and other technology products are putting increasing pressure on schools to purchase their wares. Districts that do not engage in thoughtful technology planning face the risk of making expensive mistakes and jeopardizing the education of their students.

Although many school districts and educational organizations are engaging in planning activities, too few are extending those activities to include technology with a focus on learning. To be effective, technology planning should assist educators in making the right purchasing decisions, improving their use of technology, using resources more efficiently, and, most important, improving learning for all students regardless of educational level, age, or socioeconomic background. A good technology planning process will bring clarity and long-term direction for the use of technology in both instructional and management practices (Hopey & Harvey-Morgan, 1995).

Technology planning can assist schools and educational organizations with the technology decision-making process by establishing standards, norms, and methods for evaluating, purchasing, implementing, and using technology. Furthermore, technology planning can help educational organizations identify program and technology priorities and match those priorities with organizational, human, and financial resources.The Guiding Questions for Technology Planning, Version 1.0, tool is intended primarily for administrators and technology planning teams in a wide range of organizations including schools, school districts, community colleges, and adult education. However, others in various settings, such as teachers and parents, will also find it beneficial. The purpose of the planning tool is to assist those responsible for developing technology plans by stimulating discussion about potential components of a technology plan and to assist decision makers in the process of consensus building, which is essential to developing ownership in the implementation of the plan. While it is not intended to dictate practice, the tool does offer a set of guiding questions for technology planning that is both supported by current research and found in technology plans considered exemplary in the field. One of the basic premises of this tool and its questions is that the process of technology planning is as important as the technology plan itself.

The Guiding Questions for Technology Planning, Version 1.0, tool is aimed at helping technology planning teams:

• Jump start and guide a technology planning process

• Develop planning criteria

• Refine technology planning processes

• Analyze technology planning models

• Review technology plans developed by other school districts and organizations

Version 1.0 of the Guiding Questions for Technology Planning tool is the first draft of the document we plan to develop and refine over time. We would like your comments and suggestions about this document. In particular, what additional questions do you think we should add to this list? Send your comments to NCRTEC, 1900 Spring Road, Suite 300, Oak Brook, IL 60523-1480 or e-mail info@ncrel.org.