Listening to Administrators: Learning about AT decisions and priorities

ATIA Conference, 1/31/09S1706 – Boca IV

National Center for Technology InnovationCynthia Overton Ph.D.www.NationalTechCenter.org

NCTI: Fostering Collaboration

NCTI seeks to broaden and enrich the field by providing resources and promoting partnerships for the development of tools and applications by developers, manufacturers, producers, publishers and researchers.

Objectives: To cultivate a collaborative network To promote innovative

products that reach the marketplace To analyze needs, issues, trends, and promising technology innovation and transfer approaches

www.NationalTechCenter.org

AbleNet, Inc.

AbleNet provides solutions for classrooms and districts that help students with severe/profound to moderate disabilities achieve. Solutions:• K-12 curriculums that have evidence based research to

support implementation and progress monitoring• Assistive technology that allows all students to

participate in aligned curricular instruction and daily school activities

• Professional development supports that help create successful and engaging classroom experiences

http://www.ablenetinc.com/

Insert AbleNet Slide here

Collaborative

Research to Practice

Listening to Administrators

AbleNet leaders listened to over 50 administrators from various positions

Listened for priorities regarding assuring improvement for students with severe and moderate disabilities and acquiring assistive and learning technologies

Approach and Findings

NCTI analyzed interview data to identify common themes and concerns

NCTI produced recommendations to inform decisions by• industry leaders (marketing) • administrators (purchasing) • consumers

Outreach and Products from the Collaboration

Consumer Guides – Practical guide to inform education administrators’ decision making process; Inform vendors on administrators’ key concerns and vocabulary

Webinars – Disseminate information and engage in further discussion with vendors and administrators

ATOB Article – “Understanding Consumer Needs through Market Research” describes this market research collaboration

AbleNet asked:

What keeps you up at night?

District Superintendents Answered:

Student progress (AYP)

District Superintendents Answered

Student progress (AYP) Student safety

Student progress (AYP) Student safety Special education

Student progress (AYP) Student safety Special education Facilities (budget, maintenance, adequacy)

Student progress (AYP) Student safety Special education Facilities (budget, maintenance, adequacy) Language minority students

Special Education Directors Answered

Special education students’ progress (AYP)

Special education students’ progress (AYP) Trend toward more involved needs (rise in autism,

health needs)

health needs) IDEA regulations and budgets: AT, IEP compliance,

What’s the budget?

“The biggest disappointment is investment in AT that never gets used.”

What’s the budget? “The biggest disappointment is investment in AT that

never gets used.” Facilities (budget, maintenance,

adequacy)

AYP (by special education students) Trend toward more involved needs (rise in autism,

What’s the budget? “The biggest disappointment is investment in AT that

never gets used.” Facilities (budget, maintenance,

adequacy) RTI – what will it mean for training and

systems already in place

State AT Coordinators Answered

Deep utilization of technology

Deep utilization of technology Collaboration in schools and communities

Deep utilization of technology Collaboration in schools and communities Access to and mastery of general curriculum and

standards

standards Teacher turnover and continued training needs

standards Teacher turnover and continued training needs Getting data that can inform decision making

Overlapping Concerns Different Perspectives

Overlapping Concerns

AYP Facilities

Special educationData

Different Perspectives

People in different positions had different perspectives on the issues, in an increasingly granular focus.

From a Superintendent:

“Data is a challenge: what is it telling me? How does it inform me? How can I make corrections earlier in the school year?”

From a Statewide AT Director:

“Helping teachers become better teachers is critical and hard to maintain with turnover in teaching staff.”

From a Special Education Director

“[I] am increasingly concerned with how the special education students are meeting general education requirements…”

From a building Principal

“[I] look for evidence of wait time that paraprofessionals are using, how many children are involved in activities, etc.”

Recurring Critical Questions

How should purchasers make decisions? How can researchers, industry leaders, administrators,

teachers and parents contribute to the knowledge base?

Recurring Critical Questions

How to inform decision making: Need more data on student achievement with

technology options Need to demonstrate increased effectiveness when

technology is well-integrated Need to educate stakeholders about the levels

of evidence required to support claims and purchases

Questions?Thoughts?

Contact us at ncti@air.org

Listening to Administrators: Learning about AT decisions and priorities

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Listening to Administrators: Learning about decisions and priorities National Center for Technology Innovation Tracy Gray, Ph.D., Director