Overview
eTech Ohio and the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission (OSFC) are collaborating to assist Ohio school districts in addressing education technology needs through all phases of school construction projects. This partnership promotes and identifies valuable strategies in addressing professional development, and the educational technology infrastructure needs of school facility projects. OSFC and eTech Ohio work together to design up-to-date learning environments that are technologically efficient and in compliance with OSFC standards, to ensure effective delivery of classroom instruction.
School Facilities Technology Toolkit
The School Facilities Technology Toolkit delivers online tutorials, presentations, and extended resources important to supporting a district's facility planning process. Sections of the toolkit address:
- Decision Making
- Planning for Technology and Integration
- Team Building and Collaboration Activities
Strategic planning, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), Value of Investment (VOI), design for technology, E-Rate considerations, and professional development opportunities are just a few of the areas explored. Also included are tours of new facilities to provide a closer look at model classrooms, extended learning areas (ELAs), and security systems.
The School Facilities Toolkit also reinforces the need to synchronously connect all strategic initiatives to the facility planning process and illustrates the value proposition technology brings to the decision-making process. These strategic initiatives include, but are not limited to: the District Educational Technology Plan, District Strategic Plan, and the district and building Comprehensive Continuous Improvement Plan (CCIP).
Resources
eTech Ohio, in collaboration with OSFC, has gathered data and input from recently completed school building projects around the state of Ohio. These districts are made up of diverse demographics and typologies. The data collection targeted how districts made decisions and planned for technology in a new facility project.
- Data from New Schools is intended as a guide to educate stakeholders and administrators of the technology needs in today’s school buildings.
- The School Facilities Technology Toolkit offers online tutorials, presentations, and resources to support a district's facility planning process.
Other Resources
- Ohio School Design Manual - PDF
- Ohio School Facilities Commission - website
Contact Information
If you have any questions or suggestions for the Ohio School Facilities Collaboration Project, please submit them to Customer Service at 614.485-6650.
