Objective: Get the most out of every dollar spent on technology.
What we do
We apply methodologies proven in business to make sure every technology dollar in the district is spent wisely. Guided by eight principles, we help districts use technology to improve teaching and learning, increase efficiency, strengthen recordkeeping, facilitate accountability, streamline the delivery of goods and services, and improve communications. We help clarify the district’s technology strategy, pinpoint areas for improvement and create a blueprint for a target architecture.
ViKiwi helps districts strengthen the following specific areas:
The infrastructure to ensure reliable service to all users
- Servers
- Network (including strategies to leverage E-Rate)
Systems that provide accurate, useful data
- Student information system
- Financial and HR system
- Data warehouse
- Assessment tools
- Data analysis and reporting tools
- Curriculum management systems
- Data governance
Tools that supplement the teacher in the classroom
- Tools that enhance instruction
- Tools that provide access to resources beyond the classroom
- Interventions that facilitate student learning
Systems that increase efficiency and lower costs
- Applications that automate tasks
- Applications that enable self-service
Systems that enhance communications and collaboration
- External websites
- Intranet
- Email
- BLOGs
Help and support
- Ensure all users can always get help to benefit from technology
How we do it
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Develop a Technology Strategic Plan |
This is not a plan for compliance; this is a phased strategic plan that will be roadmap that can be used to build support among key stakeholders, including the board and the community, that outlines how technology will help the district achieve its goals, that directs where the dollars should be spent, and that ensures the pieces all work together. |
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Evaluate technologies that have not met expectations |
Identify the weak spots in a district’s systems, and for each, help the leadership decide whether to walk away, or make it right. This exercise helps districts get a better return for its investments in the long run. |
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Think before buying |
Identify and bring together key stakeholders to clearly determine the business needs, and to ensure commitment to the project after the system has been deployed. Quite often, disappointments are due to lack of clearly defined needs upfront, and/or weak implementation, rather than the quality of the application itself. |
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And if makes more sense to build… |
ViKiwi maintains the capabilities to custom build applications. Alternatively, ViKiwi can partner with a district to build an application by filling gaps in a district’s technical organization. We have experience in many fields and can staff the design, development, and deployment phases of a project. |
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Keeping all the pieces moving in synch |
ViKiwi provides strong project management to keep all parties, both within and outside the district, moving to the same timetable in the same direction. ViKiwi manages each project from start to finish, from defining the problem, to creating a conceptual design of the solution, and finally through development (or product selection and purchase) and implementation. |
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Professional development |
We recognize that technology itself is never the whole solution, and we provide professional development to the teachers and leaders who are critical to making the technology effective, not only in how to operate the system, but more importantly, in applying the technology to change the way they work. |
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And if there is no-one leading technology at present… |
Vikiwi can provide interim executive leadership of the technology department, performing day-to-day management as well as establishing longer-term initiatives including staffing, capacity planning, selection of major technologies, and business process redesign. Where needed, ViKiwi can help select and effect a smooth transition to the permanent Technology Officer.
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Links to interesting case studies:
- Determing how to get the best ROI on technology
- Interim technology officer fills leadership vacuum
- Dealing with a disappointing product
- Setting the technology agenda with C & I
- Cleaning data, and keeping data clean
- Bringing data warehouse back into operation
- The need for strong project management
- Finding the root cause of data issues
Links to interesting white papers:
- So you think you need a data warehouse?
- Maintaining focus on educating kids
- Making technology grants more effective
