District Administration - July/August 2011 - (Page 54)

Finding the Right s Technology administrators share strategies for purchasing the products and technology that will be most effective at meeting district needs. By KUrt EisElE-dyrli chool administrators are faced with a wide variety of choices and a huge market when it comes to products and technology. according to a report issued in march by market research firm compass intelligence, school districts spend over $18 billion annually on it-related purchases, and the market is projected to grow to nearly $21 billion by 2015. The thousands of choices from a wide and ever-changing array of companies present both an advantage and a challenge: more selection allows administrators to find a solution to meet the specific needs of their districts, but narrowing the field can seem like an overwhelming task. “such a dynamic and ever-changing market is certainly a challenge,” says Keith Krueger, cEo of the consortium of school networking (cosn). “it takes a smart cto to find how to leverage the best of what’s available.” len scrogan, director of instructional technology for the 29,000-student Boulder Valley (colo.) school district, says the result can often be a purchasing process that is less than ideal, whether in a large urban district or a small rural district. “on one end of the spectrum, you have districts buying things basically on a whim, with very little thought put into it, or based on one person’s preference, or by someone influenced by being ‘wined and dined’ by vendors, which are all very poor ways to make decisions,” says scrogan. “on the other end, you have districts with very restrictive buying policies set by their board or central office, which can make it far too difficult and bureaucratic. The key is to strike a balance.” Between these two extremes, what is the best process to ensure that administrators make effective product and technology purchasing decisions? “Smart district purchasers are looking toward the future with what they buy.” —len scrogan, director of instructional technology, Boulder Valley (colo.) school district Researching Needs administrators and experts agree that the first step often has little to do with a specific product, technology or vendor, but instead starts with an initial research phase examining the needs of the district, which can be vague at first. “start with verbs, not nouns,” says Karen cator, who was technology coordinator in the Juneau (alaska) school district prior to becoming director of educational technology in the U.s. department of Education. “What do you want to have your students or staff doing? researching? Writing? sharing and collaborating? Producing, composing or creating? Focus on functionality first, and that will lead you to the type of product or technology to fulfill that functionality.” Krueger agrees. “The most important thing is to start by asking what educational problem we are trying to solve,” he says. “don’t go racing off because some exciting new technology trend is the latest buzz.” scrogan agrees that every purchase should begin with research focused more on functionality than on a particular product or technology. “sometimes you begin a research phase without even knowing what you need to purchase,” he says. in Boulder Valley, scrogan says the purchasing process he helped develop over his 19 years as an administrator is rigorous but not cumbersome, and the first step is both the most time-consuming and the most important. “no matter what the initiative, you have to begin with a research phase or you risk going in the wrong direction.” scrogan describes his district’s recent decision to purchase 1,400 new classroom projectors, which District Administration 54 July/August 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - July/August 2011

District Administration - July/August 2011
Contents
From the Editor
News Update
Facilities News
Inside the Law
District Profile
Administrator Profile
The Social Media Dilemma
Is Year-Round Schooling on Track?
After 50 Years, Ethnic Studies Still Controversial
Finding the Right Purchasing Solution
Look, Listen, Learn
Research Center
Supervisor’s Opinion
Going Mobile
Superintendent’s Insight
Books
Product Focus
New Products
Online Edge

District Administration - July/August 2011