Shanks+Revised+Page


 * Valeria Shanks **


 * 706-798-8599  begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 706-798-8599  end_of_the_skype_highlighting    begin_of_the_skype_highlighting    706-798-8599   <span class="skype_pnh_mark">end_of_the_skype_highlighting   **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Skype Name: Flabbergasted2 **

**<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 21px;">PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT INTERVENTION **

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Revising K-12 Curriculum to Incorporate Social Networking

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Valeria Shanks <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">A00050251 <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;"> Valeria.shanks@waldenu.edu

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">Education 8843--Leading and Managing Educational Technology <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">Dr. Carla Johnson <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">February 19, 2012 <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 130%; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; text-align: center;">

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Executive Summary <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Edgefield County Schools in South Carolina has implemented a technology plan which specifies students will partake of collaborative, engaging activities with students in different environments. Due to current restrictions on social networking students and teachers have not realized this goal. Teachers are allowed to communicate by way of e-mail; however, students may not access e-mail for instructional purposes. Huang & Behara (2007) found social networking tools not only complement traditional instructional methods but they stimulate changes in learning, content, process, and outcomes. School officials should take precautionary measures to ensure students avoid cyber bullying incidents and do not violate the Acceptable Use Policy by viewing inappropriate materials. Administrators might invest in implementing security software to track students’ movements online. Manufacturers who currently offer monitoring software are Netvisor ( [|http://www.schoolmonitoringsoftware.com/] ), Eye Spy Pro ( [|http://monitoring-software.findthebest.com/l/39/Eye-Spy-Pro] ), and Advanced Spy ( [|http://monitoring-software.findthebest.com/l/107/Advanced-Spy] )

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">According to Bauman & Tatum (2009) students currently utilize social networks such as MySpace and Face book to communicate with individuals locally and globally. If social networking were implemented within the instructional environment children could develop and refine social skills by working and playing with others. Children could learn to share, express wishes and preferences clearly, and collaborate with peers to reach conceivable solutions to problems. Bauman & Tatum (2009) also found social networking activities transform the learning process from traditional to experiential and transforms learning outcomes from knowledge acquisition to knowledge integration and application. Social networking tools can be used to teach literacy skills and problem solving skills. Social networking tools offer students more in the way of resources and materials whereas, traditional instructional methods may limit access to resources and data.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Edgefield County K-12 Public School District **
 * <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 21px;">Problem Summary **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Edgefield County School District in does not allow social networking activities for instructional purposes for any of its students. Students are not allowed to use e-mail, blogs, wikis, or smart phones for instructional purposes. Students do not collaborate within schools nor do they collaborate with students among schools in and outside the district.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">The Edgefield County K-5 Public School district was founded in 1961 in Edgefield, South Carolina. Edgefield is located in western South Carolina near the Georgia border. The district houses five elementary schools (grades K-5), two middle schools (grades 6-8) and two high schools (grades 9-12). The school district's clientele superintendents, principals, teachers, students, and parents. The district also serves utilizes advisory committees and Parent Teacher Student Organizations.
 * <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 21px;">Background of Organization **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Currently each elementary school has at least one computer lab that is used for instructional purposes. The middle and high schools have two or more computer labs for instructional purposes. Currently, teachers and students may access designated websites for instructional purposes but only for minimum periods (to complete unit) Examples of sites students may access are tutorials, on-line tests, typing and computer games. Computer technicians will block sites after instructors complete lessons. Social networking is not allowed.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Edgefield County School District can be accessed at [|www.edgefield.k12.sc.us]. Interested persons will find information pertaining to budgets, minutes, agenda on the home page underneath the "Board" tab. Student Achievement data for English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies can be found on the home page underneath Strategic Plan (pages nine through sixteen).
 * <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Stakeholders and Decision-Makers **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Administrators, principals, educators, students, parents and community personnel will be affected by this plan **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Barring no opposition from parents and community members, the superintendent of schools and the board of education members would make the decision to implement the plan once it is developed. The key personnel who can provide insights into the performance problem are Dr. Walter Tobin-Interim Superintendent, Dr. Carol Lenderman, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, and Mitchell Yonce- Technology Director, Jennifer Young, Technology Trainer.
 * <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 21px;">Performance Gap: Cause Analysis **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Chevalier (2007) described a performance gap as “the difference between where you are and where you want to be” (p.90). Edgefield County School District does not allow social networking activities for instructional purposes for students. Students are not allowed to use e-mail, blogs, wikis, or smart phones. Students do not collaborate within schools nor do they collaborate with students among schools in and outside this district. Teachers have not been trained to teach social networking skills. Currently, students and teachers are using outdated equipment and infrastructure needs to be updated to accommodate social networking capabilities.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Edgefield County Schools does not allow social networking at any schools. The level of performance I would like to achieve for the Edgefield School district is to allow pre-selected classes in grades 9 through 12 to use social networking on a trial basis (six months). If minimal problems ensue, and students show positive results from interaction, then students could show measureable academic progress over time. The performance gap exists because no efforts have been made to revise the current technology policy and curriculum to incorporate social networking. According to Smith and Evans (2010) students take charge of their own learning by using social network capabilities. Students say that social networking engages them with learning. Students personalize their learning through collaborative activities.
 * <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 21px;">Organizational History and Background **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Edgefield County School District is located at 3 Par Drive Edgefield, SC 29824. This district is a private company categorized under Public Elementary and Secondary Schools. This district provides instructional activities from August to May of each year. In addition to core programs, students at the middle and high school levels may also enroll in fine arts, career and technical, military science, and physical education courses. Students may participate in extracurricular activities such as sports, student council, band, and various clubs.


 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 21px;">Mission **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">The mission of the Edgefield County School District, a district where individual worth and diversity are respected, is to develop lifelong, self sufficient learners and contributing citizens by providing appropriate, innovative educational experiences through collaborative efforts of parents, community and schools.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 19px;">Vision **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">educational experiences are designed to promote lifelong <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">learning an individual’s self-concept is considered important <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">the curriculum is structured to encompass lifelong <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">educational strategies that are designed to meet the needs of all individuals <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">respect for diversity and individual worth contributes to a positive learning environment <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">an individual’s intrinsic desire to learn is fostered <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">staff members model and encourage a positive attitude toward learning <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">students, teachers, parents and the community are all integral parts of the learning process <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">individuals are prepared to use their maximum potential to succeed in life learning takes place in <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">a healthy and safe environment.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">We envision a school district where: **

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">All students use technology every day in school to access information, to communicate with others about what they are learning, and to create new knowledge based on a curriculum the school and community deem vital. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">A student typically uses technology to communicate with students on the other side of the world about some project being undertaken. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Using classroom technology, students access content experts based at technical schools, colleges and universities, and industry. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Students explore career clusters using technology-enabled research. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">A student captures examples of his or her best work, both individual and team products, in a digital portfolio available to families, other teachers, future employers, and institutions of higher education.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 21px;">Goals **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Edgefield County School District should revise the curriculum and update infrastructure and equipment/resources to incorporate social networking for a trial period of one year for students in grades 9 through 12. The decision makers who would revise the technology plan are the superintendent, technology manager, curriculum director, and school board. Parents might oppose social networking unless they are presented research and positive testimonials from current users.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Three Intervention Strategies **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">I will propose Edgefield County School District’s superintendent implement one of the following three intervention strategies to promote engaging, creative, collaborative learning among high school students and teachers. These intervention strategies are not only designed to prepare students for collaborative activities but educators will be trained so they can partake of engaging learning activities. These educators will be trained to instruct with social networking tools such as wikis, blogs, podcasts, and Skype. This intervention strategy will require schools officials update infrastructure, equipment, purchase materials, and resources. The low-end intervention would allow student to network for one year. The medium end intervention would provide social networking for at least three years. The high-end intervention would provide social networking for an indefinite period.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Low end intervention . **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">This intervention would allow social networking for four classes of students. The networking activities would be taught in two language arts classes and two computer applications courses within this school for one year. The approximate cost for this intervention is $5000; therefore, the superintendent would incur the following expenses. Edgefield County’s technology trainer would provide staff development for two educators one quarter before instruction begins. Two classrooms would be updated to accommodate social networking for at least 100 students during this one-year trial period. Security monitoring software would be installed to track and minimize students’ activities and guard against cyber bullying.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Middle end intervention. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">The middle end intervention would provide social networking for students in two high schools for a three year period. The cost to implement this intervention is $25,000. Approximately 200 students (four classes from each school) would partake of social networking activities. Four teachers will receive training through professional development activities one quarter prior to integrating social networking. Four classrooms will be upgraded with equipment and software to prepare for social networking.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">High end intervention. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">This intervention would allow social networking for all nine schools in the district. The approximate cost is $50,000. Although each of the district’s nine schools will be updated to accommodate social networking, social activities will be limited to specific courses within these schools. High school students who engage in social networking students would enroll in Career Technical Agricultural Education (CTAE) and language arts courses. Middle school students would enroll in computer applications and language arts. Students in grades three through five would use the computer technology labs for social networking activities. Currently, there are two computer labs available in each of the five elementary schools.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">I have chosen to implement the middle-end intervention so additional students will have access to social networking. The $25,000 budget will provide the funds needed for professional development, equipment updates, and purchasing resources and supplies.I chose the middle end intervention so at least 200 high school students can utilize social networking. Because social networking is new to this community, I believe administrators and parents would require verifiable evidence that shows how social networking can improve students’ social and academic skills. I am proposing a trial period so administrators can document academic benefits and also verify minimal incidents of cyber bullying and students compliance with the district’s Acceptable Usage Agreement. The middle end intervention would provide sufficient funds to provide professional development activities, update equipment, and purchase supplies and resources.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Although the high end intervention would ensure all students in grades three through twelve would utilize social networking, I did not select the high end intervention because the district’s superintendent would not be willing to invest $50,000 without verifiable data to show students achieved positive academic results and minimal incidents of cyber bullying.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">The Manager’s Many Roles **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">According to Januszewski and Molenda (2008) the project manager’s role is to break the project into tasks and oversee tasks are carried act to achieve a desirable outcome. My role as a project manager for the social networking proposal is to list all tasks, contingencies, durations, and resources. The tasks for this project is to provide professional development for teachers, inform teachers of changes in infrastructure, create a timetable for completing each task, create timetable to inventory equipment for necessary updates. In order to avoid budget overloads, I would consult with the vendors to be sure equipment is purchased, delivered and installed according to the contractual agreement to avoid client-imposed delays.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">The resources used for the social networking intervention are computers, training resources for educators, Promethean Boards, upgrade servers to accommodate social networking software, textbooks, software, Acceptable Usage Agreement for students/teachers and parental consent forms.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Document resource management techniques: Describe the resources that will be used for this intervention and how they will be tracked. **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Document information management techniques: Describe how information related to this intervention strategy will be stored, accessed, and processed. **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Information for this intervention will be stored by Edgefield County’s Superintendent, curriculum director, and high school principal. Teachers will be supplied with formative and summative evaluation forms to track students’ progress and provide feedback on the impact of the social networking intervention. Evaluation of this intervention will also include input from parents, students, educators, principals. Evaluations will be done quarterly for a period of three years. An evaluation committee will be appointed to compile and publicize evaluation results after they have been reviewed by the superintendent and curriculum director.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">The Manager as Change Agent **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">According to Chevalier (2007) “About 85 percent of performance issues are the result of environmental factors and are not the individual’s fault” (p.143). Managers should focus on find ways to improve the work environment rather than attempt to change individuals in an organization. As part of the performance-improvement strategy, I will use preparation, implementation, and reinforcement to implement social networking into Edgefield County’s High Schools. I will use participative change to deliver research findings to stakeholders in this district---parents, administrators, educators, students and solicit input on how social networking might improve academic achievement. I will also use directive change to communicate expectations regarding training needs, monitoring, and evaluating social networking activities.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Financial and Budget Information **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">**Funding for the $25,000 intervention will be provided by Title II, Part D: Enhancing Education Through TechnologyPlease see budget in Appendix E** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">**Project Assessment/Evaluation**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Educators will utilize the following forms to evaluate students' performance each semester (total 4) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Wiki []
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Appendix A: Formative evaluation to assess students' performance on social media: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Blog []

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Powerpoint []

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Critical thining []

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">**Appendix B:** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">I will utilize the following so principals can assess teachers’ performance at the end of each semester for a period of three years Teacher evaluation rubrics [|http://ecologyofeducation.net/wsite/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/teacher-eval-rubrics-may-16-09.pdf]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Summative assessment of teachers' performance **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">* <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 21px;">Principals will evaluate teachers on sections A, C, and D. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 21px;">*


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Summative assessment of professional development activities: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">To be inserted here **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Appendix C: Interview Questions: **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Appendix D: Interview Transcripts **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Appendix E---Budget---Middle End Intervention--$25,000 **


 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Item Name ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Cost ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Purpose ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Number Items/Personnel ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Vendor ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Total ** ||
 * **Professional Development** || **Included in current contract** || **Training** || **4 teachers** || **Discovery Education** || **None** ||
 * **Computer Purchases** || **$399.00** || **Instruction** || **56 computers** || **Dell/Vistro** || **$22,344** ||
 * **Maintenance Contract**
 * For Computers** || **Currently under contract** || || **56 computers** || **None** || **None** ||
 * **Security Monitoring Software** || **$957.00** || **Security** || **56 computers** || **NetVisor** || **$957.00** ||
 * **Computer Headsets** || **$19.99** || **Instruction** || **35** || **Best Buy** || **1199.40** ||


 * Total Expenses 24500.40**

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Walden UniversityMultimedia 8843Interview Consent Form
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Appendix F--Interview Consent Form **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">I _________________________________agree to participate in a/an audio/ video recorded interview conducted by Valeria Shanks

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">on_______________________________This interview is conducted to satisfy partial requirements for Leading and Managing

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Educational Technology.Your responses will not be used for research purposes.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Participant’s Signature___________________________________________Date________________________________


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Appendix G--Additional Forms here- **

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 20px;">NOTE: *I will revise this ** post to include additional information after I have interviewed Edgefield County's Technology Manager. The interview is scheduled for February 16. I will submit the final probject on February 19. <span style="font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 20px;"> Thanks!!