1. School Technology Services
Alberta Education Information Sessions
Spring 2012

2. Engage-o-meter
A. I LOVE talking about technology!
B. Interested, but not excited.
C. Meh.
D. Shhh…I’m digesting lunch.
E. Is that door alarmed?

3. Tell us who you are
A. Superintendent
B. Trustee
C. Secretary-Treasurer
D. IT Leader
E. Other Leader

4. Tell us your story
How important do you think technology is or will be to enabling
change in your jurisdiction?
A. We cannot enable change without it
B. Enabling change without it would be very difficult
C. Enabling change without it is possible, but would take
longer
D. Except for very specific things, it is not necessary
E. It is not at all necessary to enable change

5. Conversations about technology: then
There are more How does technology Technology is
important ways to I didn’t have It’s too
contribute to improved a nice-to-have.
spend limited funding. technology expensive. How are we
PAT and Diploma Exam
when I was in going to
Results?
I’m not school. Why support it all?
comfortable using do we need it
technology. now?
Teacher Principal Superintendent Trustee Parent Treasurer IT Leader

6. Conversations about technology: today
My staff want to
innovate but we don’t Technology is
have enough technical necessary – so How do we
How can we be sure Are our pay for all of
support. why are we
that our technology students this? How are we
fundraising for
Our network is investments will help us learning the going to support
it?
“locked down” achieve our educational right skills? it all?
goals?
Teacher Principal Superintendent Parent Trustee Treasurer IT Leader

7. Tell us your story
How involved are you in making strategic technology decisions
in your jurisdiction?
A. Very involved in all decisions
B. Involved in many but not all decisions
C. Sometimes consulted or included in technology
decisions
D. Advised or informed, but not involved in technology
decisions
E. I am not involved in any strategic technology
decisions

8. Tell us your story
Considering cost, risks, and benefits, how confident do you feel
in your knowledge of technology to make technology decisions
for your jurisdiction?
A. Very comfortable making technology decisions
B. I consult with others before making technology
decisions
C. I let others take the lead in technology decisions if
possible
D. I avoid making technology decisions
E. I am not included in making technology decisions

9. An Aha! Moment

10. Conversations about funding: today
New ideas Fixed budget
New practice Fixed
New models resources
New needs Existing stuff
Education IT

11. Conversations about funding: today
We require We are funding We require IT We don’t have
funding for IT education first services any capacity
IT Leader Budget Principal IT Leader
Committee
January-April September
Budgeting

12. Tell us your story
How is technology included in strategic decisions and budget
planning by the leaders in your school jurisdiction?
A. Essential part of planning for operational and
capital funding allocations
B. Considered after all other program and
administrative planning is identified
C. New project requests are reviewed if required
D. Discussed as a cost centre/expense
E. Not considered in strategic planning and
budgeting, just a budget line item

13. It’s time for a different conversation.
How do we balance financial control and innovation
so that we can get the maximum benefit from
technology?
Education IT

14. Conversations about IT service: today
IT is a strategic IT is a service
partner and provider that
needs a seat at needs to meet
the table expectations
IT Leaders

15. Tell us your story
How reliable are critical IT services to meet the needs of your
jurisdiction?
A. Regularly meet expectations
B. Usually meet expectations
C. Sometimes miss expectations
D. Often miss expectations
E. Have not set expectations for them to meet or miss

16. It’s time for a different conversation.
How do we work together to ensure that service
level expectations are reasonable and are met as
required?
IT Education

17. Tell us your story
The IT department in my jurisdiction should be…
A. A cost centre
B. A service provider
C. An education partner
D. Leading significant educational innovation

18. It’s time for a different conversation.
What should the role of the IT department be in our
jurisdiction and how do we get there?
IT Education

19. Conversations about IT risk: today
What are
Too risky… Too risky… the risks?
New ideas
New practice
New models
New needs
Education Legal IT Leaders

20. Tell us your story
How well do you understand the risks associated with
technology decisions?
A. Risks are identified, analyzed, defined and
categorized
B. Risks are identified, but are not very clear, defined
or categorized
C. Major, high impact financial risks are considered
sometimes
D. Don’t know how to identify, analyze, define or
categorize technology risks
E. I am not involved in making decisions about
technology risks

21. It’s time for a different conversation.
How do we make sound decisions about risk in
order to speed technology-enabled innovation?

22. We’re in IT together

23. Helping leaders answer three critical
technology questions.
Are we doing
the right
things?
Are we
managing the
information Are we doing
risks? things right?

24. Supporting and engaging leaders.
Building Supporting Emerging
Capacity Implementation Issues Support
Self-Evaluation Workshops Cloud Computing
Guide Guide for
Superintendents
12th Dimension Presentations
for School System
Technology
Success Implementation
Briefings
Tools
Educational
Technology Risk Case Studies
Assessment
Framework
Training for IT
Professionals

25. What it takes.
• Communication
• Commitment
• Patience
• Time
• Commitment

26. The payoff.
• Greater confidence in IT-related decisions
• Improved oversight of IT
• Improved risk management
• Faster decision-making

27. What next?
• Talk to your colleagues about what you’ve
heard here today
• Learn more at our workshop at the CASS and
Alberta Education Annual Conference
• Build capacity in your jurisdiction by
encouraging IT professionals to take training
• Begin the journey by contacting us to book a
workshop
• Share your successes and challenges

28. We’re in IT together.
Angie Tarasoff
Senior Manager, Technology Planning &
Management
Alberta Education, School Technology Sector
angie.tarasoff@gov.ab.ca
Erwin Loewen
Advisor, Emerging Technologies
Alberta Education, School Technology Sector
erwin.loewen@gov.ab.ca