Program Overview
eTech Ohio and the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission (OSFC) are combining efforts to assist districts endeavoring to build new school facilities. The primary purpose of the collaboration is to help address the technology planning and professional development needs of districts throughout all phases of a school construction project. This collaboration also promotes and identifies valuable strategies in addressing the educational technology and technology infrastructure needs of schools as facility projects are identified. OSFC and eTech Ohio have partnered in the process of designing learning environments in compliance with OSFC standards while providing consultation for "best fit" technology uses that ensure effective delivery of classroom instruction.
Collaborative goals include:
- Providing on-going support in technology planning through all stages of the school construction project.
- Providing consultation to projects and professional development on technology decisions in alignment with OSFC design standards.
Background
The Ohio School Facilities collaboration project was initiated by administrative leadership of both agencies. Significant discussion yielded the following concerns for new school facilities:
- There is limited coordination between the technology planning process and the facility planning process.
- Technology purchased for end-user delivery of instruction has not been utilized to the degree intended and therefore has not produced reliable models for use nor a clear impact on instruction.
- Collaboration with schools has been limited in ensuring proper help and assistance with technology placed in new school classrooms.
- Many low wealth districts lack the capacity and funds to provide adequate professional development to prepare school staff for technology used in the classroom.