Empowering Education with Technology

Evan OBranovic, Executive Director of Technology, Traverse City Area Public Schools

Evan OBranovic, Executive Director of Technology, Traverse City Area Public Schools

Evan OBranovic serves as the Executive Director of Technology for Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) in Traverse City, Michigan. With over five years in this leadership role, OBranovic is enhancing educational outcomes through innovative technology integration. He is a certified Chief Technology Officer (CTO) through Michigan School Business Officials and actively shares insights on edtech strategies at conferences like MAEDS.

Through this article, OBranovic emphasizes the importance of proactive planning, user-centric approaches, and feedback-driven strategies to seamlessly integrate technology, enhance teaching and learning, and empower students and staff in an evolving digital landscape.

I began my career as a classroom teacher, due to my interest and knack for technology I became a Technology Integration Specialist, before residing in my current role as Director of Technology for TCAPS. As Executive Director of Technology, I oversee all technology components throughout the district and work with our other departments (i.e. Curriculum, Finance, HR, Transportation, etc) to support any technology implementations they require to operate.

Aligning Technology Integration

The technology department's primary goal is to integrate technology into the district's overarching objectives while offering insights into how technology can streamline processes, optimize efficiency, and foster innovative strategies that enhance teaching and learning. We work hard to align our technology integration plan with both TCAPS educational and strategic plans, ensuring that technology catalyzes achieving academic excellence. This commitment is realized through providing a wide array of support and resources and a steadfast dedication to maintaining high levels of support and service.

To ensure that students and staff are equipped with the tools they need to succeed in an ever-evolving digital landscape, we are constantly looking ahead, projecting as far in advance as possible to plan for technology refreshes and updates, such as staff laptops, student Chromebooks, and classroom A/V setups. This proactive approach allows us to anticipate future needs, stay ahead of the curve, and provide a seamless and uninterrupted technology experience for all stakeholders. By maintaining a future-focused outlook and a commitment to continuous improvement, we aim to create a technology ecosystem that empowers students and staff to reach their full potential.

Addressing Challenges in Technology Integration

The diverse range of user competency levels poses a significant challenge when integrating technology into educational settings. Finding a universal solution that caters to the diverse needs of both staff and students in a district is difficult. Effective technology integration requires careful consideration not only of the types of technology but also of how users will interact with it and their varying levels of proficiency to ensure its efficiency and usefulness as a tool. It is important to never assume where the users are starting from and provide multiple entry points to using technology to allow for a variety of skill levels to engage with the technology and make it work for their needs. Providing different training opportunities both in delivery and skill level helps to try and level a diverse staff pool.

“Effective technology integration requires careful consideration not only of the types of technology but also of how users will interact with it and their varying levels of proficiency to ensure its efficiency and usefulness as a tool.”

Overcoming Teacher Resistance

To effectively implement technology and overcome teacher resistance, it is crucial to understand and empathize with their concerns. The primary goal is to demonstrate how technology can streamline tasks, enhance curriculum delivery, and create more time for meaningful activities.

Gathering data on teachers' perspectives and needs is essential for successful technology training and application. Regular check-ins and follow-ups are vital to ensure proper and effective technology use by teachers and students and make them feel heard.

Measuring the impact of technology involves comparing formative assessment results, gathering survey data, and identifying strengths and weaknesses in the implementation process. This data-driven approach allows for necessary adjustments and ensures that technology integration meets the diverse needs within the district.

Encouraging Students to Be Creators of Technology

Promoting critical thinking, creativity, and innovation with technology in educational settings is crucial. Students should be encouraged to explore, play, and provide feedback on how they might use technology to achieve existing goals or develop new ones. Integrating guidelines, such as the ISTE standards, throughout the curriculum ensures that technology is not separate from learning. Providing students with the freedom and time to be creative with technology within a structured learning environment can lead to new and innovative uses of technology in education.

Incorporating Feedback to Improve Technology Integration 

Feedback from students and teachers is essential for successful technology integration within our district. We offer multiple feedback channels to accommodate diverse user needs and preferences, including surveys, focus groups, data outcomes, reviews, and informal conversations. This multifaceted approach provides a comprehensive understanding of the technology's effectiveness and insights into necessary adjustments for current and future success.

Advice for Educational Technology Professionals 

In educational technology, you must be flexible and open-minded because every day throws new curveballs at you. This is especially true when implementing new tech, where you need to adapt to the diverse needs of users constantly. Being rigid and negative will only lead to failure. Listening to and acknowledging teacher and student concerns and ideas helps build positive, long-lasting relationships. Even if you can't address every concern, showing that you're willing to work within the given constraints to find solutions is key. Remember, the main goal is to ensure all students have equal access to the curriculum and can grow throughout their K-12 journey.