Jessica+Green

**Performance Improvement Intervention Project (Module 1)** Perry High School
 * Name of Organization: **

The Houston County School System requires that all graduating seniors are computer literate upon graduation. In an attempt to prepare their high school students, Perry High School, located in Perry, GA, is making it mandatory for seniors to take and pass a computer literacy assessment. This test will assess student’s skills and knowledge base of basic computer concepts, Microsoft Office applications, and internet navigation. When given a mock test at the beginning of the school year, only 15% of the student population passed the assessment. The school district would like to increase this number to 50% by the end of the next school year (2012); 75% by the next year (2013), and 95% by 2014.
 * Problem Summary: **

Built in 1925, Perry High School is one of six high schools in Houston County and is located in Perry, GA. This high school serves its community by offering public education to approximately 1,200 9th-12th grade students. Based on its population of students, it is categorized as a Title 1 school, with of a mixed population.
 * Background of Organization: **

The No Child Left Behind Act requires that states use standardized assessments in order to measure AYP (“Adequate Yearly Progress,” 2011). Last year, although the school met eight out of nine AYP indicators, they did not meet AYP. This is the first in five years that the school has not met AYP. The school district has decided to raise the bar and require more of their students academically. Therefore, they have decided to implement another standardized assessment that students must take and pass in order to graduate, known as a computer competency assessment.

School documents that will be useful in developing an intervention to the above stated problem would include: 1) Perry High School’s 2010-2011 Report Card (can be retrieved at []) and 2) 2011 Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Overview Report (can be retrieved at []).

To find out additionally information about Perry High School, you can visit any of these Web sites:
 * []
 * []
 * []

The primary stakeholders addressed by this intervention plan are the students of Perry High School. Others who will be affected by the plan include parents of these students, teachers and administrators at Perry High School, and the community that these students will go out into to live and work. The school superintendent, Dr. Robin Hines, and his board are the individuals who are authorized to implement the intervention plan once it is developed. Others who will play a key role include Perry High School’s principal, Dr. Daryl Albritton, and the teachers of the Business Education and Engineering and Technology Education programs, as these are the people who will oversee the implementation and application of the computer competency assessment within the school.
 * Stakeholders and Decision Makers: **

Adequate Yearly Progress. Wikipedia. (2011). Retrieved December 24, 2011 from []
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">References: **

see Grammarly Report

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">**Performance Improvement Intervention Project (Module 2)** __**<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">Performance Gap: Cause Analysis **__ <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">Currently, the majority of Perry High School’s population of students are not considered to be computer literate or technologically literate based on the fact that only 15% are able to pass a mock computer competency assessment, which measures their understanding and application of basic computer skills. Due to this, students may struggle as they pursue collegiate degrees or go out into the workforce, which will require the use of basic computer skills.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">Actual Current Performance: **

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">If the problem was completely resolved, 95% (the majority of the student population, regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic status) would be considered computer literate and/or technologically literate, which will place them in a position to compete in the competitive job market.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">Desired Performance: **

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">The gap is between those students who perform well (pass) the mock computer competency assessment and those who do not pass. It is believed that if students are capable of passing a mock assessment, they are more susceptible to passing a ‘real’ assessment of the same nature. Therefore, the goal is to increase the number from 15% of the student population to 95% in a three year time frame. This means that 95% of the population will be considered to be computer literate and/or technologically literate. This will better prepare them to be more productive citizens in the society, as well as better prepare them in pursuing higher education and future jobs and careers.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">Performance Gap: **

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">**Cause Analysis:** <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">The Houston County School System has never required the passing of a computer competency assessment by its students; however, the school district believes that it is important to prepare students for their futures, as the use of technology will be a major part of their lives academically (as they further their education) and professionally (as they enter the workforce). This is the importance of the computer competency assessment.

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">This problem arose because students are using various forms of technology in their personal lives (i.e. smartphones, iPods, iPads, social networking sites), but do not have the technological know-how to use these same technologies and perform well in the classroom. see Grammarly Report

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">**Performance Improvement Intervention Project (Module 3)** <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">**Three Intervention Strategies:** <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">“Intervention has become an important way for teachers to ensure that all students succeed in today's high stakes testing environment. Helping students who are struggling…requires teachers to choose an appropriate time and strategy for the intervention” (“Intervention Strategies,” 2005).

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">Perry High School would have the funds needed to purchase a computer-based ‘computer skills competency’ assessment, which will consist of both objective questions and a skills/application demonstration section. This computer based assessment will serve the purpose of preparing students for taking and passing the computer competency assessment before graduation. This would be considered a low-cost strategy intervention because it gives students access to additional resources/material; however, there is no direct teaching of the information that should to be learned through the resource.
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">Low-cost strategy: __**

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">Not only will Perry High School have the funds needed to purchase a computer-based ‘computer skills competency’ assessment, but they will also be able to implement a course, entitled “Computer Competency of the 21st Century.” This course will serve the purpose of teaching the knowledge, skills, and concepts that students are expected to know in order to pass the computer competency assessment. This course will be available to freshman and sophomores, as students are expected to have taken the test before graduation. However, if they do not pass the course these first two years, they still have more time before graduation to master the concepts. This would be considered a medium-cost strategy intervention because it provides direct instruction, as well as a means for hands on training.
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">Medium-cost strategy: __**

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">In addition to providing the resources available in the low-cost and medium-cost intervention strategies listed above, Perry High School would have the funds needed to establish its own authorized testing center. By this, students would be able take the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification test, which would certify them in Microsoft Office. Additionally, they will be able to take the test for free; whereas they would have to pay hundreds of dollars if they wanted to take the test at another testing center, such as that provided by Certiport. The MOS certificate is necessary for the following reasons: 1) it can help you differentiate yourself in today's competitive job market; 2) it broaden your employment opportunities by displaying your advanced skills, and 3) it can result in higher earning potential… Research indicates that certified individuals have increased competence, productivity, and credibility with their employers, co-workers, and clients” (“Microsoft Office,” 2012). Therefore, not only will students be required to take and pass a computer competency assessment (as a standardized test), but they will also have the option of taking and passing a certification test that will be beneficial as they enter into the workforce in the near future. This would be considered a high-cost strategy intervention because not only will there be means for direct instruction and hands on training to assist students in taking and passing the mandatory assessment, but the students will be equipped with additional resources needed to extend the learning of the content. This only serves prepare students for their futures; in their educational and professional endeavors.
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">High-cost strategy: __**

__**<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">Justification for Intervention Strategy **__ <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 90%;">Of the three intervention strategies listed, I chose the high end intervention because I believe that it will be advantageous to the student’s present academic endeavors and future professional endeavors. For instance, the low end intervention only gives students a practice test to take in an attempt to prepare them for the computer competency assessment that they’ll have to take and pass before their senior year, but there is no direct instruction to help them prepare. The only strength of this intervention is that it gives students an opportunity to take a practice computer competency assessment before having to take the real thing, and the weakness is that students will have to find their own preparation material.

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 90%;">The middle end intervention allows for direct instruction, as it offers a course that students are required to pass either their freshman or sophomore year of school. This course, which has an on-site instructor, serves the purpose of preparing students for the computer competency assessment. This in itself is a strength because students will be getting the ‘hands on training’ necessary to perform well on the assessment. Students will take the course, and then be able to take a practice test before taking the real test. Overall, this intervention places students in a better position to pass the computer competency assessment that they will be required to take and pass because not only do they have access to the necessary resources, but they also will take a class that will cause for direct instruction of the content. <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">The high end intervention was chosen because it offers students one more benefit. Passing a computer competency assessment, as well as the Microsoft Office Specialist certification test will place the students in a better position to compete in the competitive job market, as computer/technology literacy is essential in this 21st century workforce. This intervention not only meets, but exceeds the organizational goals stated in the performance gap because it requires more of the student and places them in a better position to succeed academically and professionally.

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">References: <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">Intervention strategies for mathematics teachers. Retrieved January 6, 2012 from [] <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">Microsoft office specialist certification. (2012). Retrieved January 6, 2012 from []

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">**The Manager's Many Roles (Module 4)**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Project management techniques. **<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">As the manager for this project, my role will be to coordinate with Microsoft to provide the computer competency assessment on a continuous basis to our students. I will deal with the financial aspect of doing so, as well as ensure that students are given the correct recognitions (such as certificates) to acknowledge them passing. I will need to do the same with whichever company we decide to use that will authorize us to serve as a testing facility for students to take the MOS assessment. Researching companies and deciding which company to use for this purpose will fall on me as well. As the project manager, I serve the roles of leading, motivating, and coaching.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Resource management techniques. **<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Resources that will be used in this project are a computer lab with thirty desktop computers, and each computer having Microsoft Office 2010, including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, and Publisher. The computers must have access to the Internet as well. Additionally, each computer station will be equipped with a Microsoft Office Specialist Study textbook, and this will be a classroom set, so students will not be allowed to take the textbooks out of the classroom. This textbook will serve the purpose of helping students to prepare for the MOS certification test that they’ll take after taking and passing the computer competency test. Also, there are a ton of Web sites that students will have access to in attempt to prepare them for the upcoming computer competency assessment.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Delivery system management techniques. **<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">The Microsoft Office Specialist Study textbook that students will have access to within the classroom offers practice files and tutorials for students to practice using various Microsoft Office features. Additionally, it offers a practice test that students can take to assess what they’ve learned from the information presented in the textbook. The textbook is beneficial because not only will it help students prepare for the MOS certification test, but it’ll assist them in preparing for the computer competency test as well due to the content that it entails. Because the majority of the work that students will do within the classroom is self-directed, the instructor will serve more as a facilitator than a teacher; therefore, the delivery system is the computer and the Internet and textbook.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Information management techniques: **<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;"> The students of Perry High School will participate in a pre- and post-survey after going through the course and before taking the computer competency assessment. This survey will determine what students knew prior to taking the course and compare it to what they learned from the course to ensure that they are prepared to take the assessment. It is the school’s goal to have students pass on the first try of taking the assessment.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">**The Manager As Change Agent (Module 5)** <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">As the change agent, the project manager’s role is to not only sustain the school’s current performance, but to assure its future performance. The student’s ability to successfully pass a computer competency assessment automatically determines success for the school, as well as success for the school district. Basically Perry High School is serving as the pilot school for such a program; and if they prove to be successful, then the other high schools within the county will follow suit.

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">As the change agent, the project manager determines the estimated budge of the intervention chosen and presents this pertinent information to the board members who will either approve or disapprove the school providing a means for students to take and pass the computer competency assessment.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Financial and Budget Information **<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">. The intervention budget for this plan is as follows (see table below). This information, and an explanation for each needed resource listed is taken from the Resource Management Techniques section of this plan. Furthermore, we already have a teacher in-house who has the qualifications necessary to run the computer lab and facilitate students while they’re using the lab. This teacher, Ms. Angie Birdsong, is not only Business Education certified, but she also has her Microsoft Office Specialist certification in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.

(yearly site license) || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Unlimited  ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">$4,000.00  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Microsoft  ||
 * **__<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">NEEDED RESOURCES __** ||  **__<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">QUANTITY __**  ||  **__<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">ESTIMATED COST __**  ||  **__<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">TOTAL ESTIMATED __**   **__<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">COST __**  ||  **__<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">PROPOSED VENDOR __**  ||
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Desktop Computers (29 student workstations; 1 teacher workstation) || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">30  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">$568.00  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">$17.040.00  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Dell  ||
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Monitor (29 student workstations; 1 teacher workstation) || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">30  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">$139.00  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">$4,170  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Dell  ||
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Color Laser Printer || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">1  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">$549.99  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">$549.99  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Dell  ||
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Microsoft Office
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Microsoft Office Specialist Study Guide textbook || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">30  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">$24.21  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">$726.30  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Amazon.com  ||
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">MOS Certification Test (unlimited license) || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Unlimited  ||   || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">$5,500.00  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Microsoft  ||
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Establishing PHS as an authorized certification testing center <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">(yearly site license)  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">N/A  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">--  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">$7,000.00  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'century gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Certiport  ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Estimated Grand Total: ** |||||| **<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">$38,686.29 ** ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">The Web address for the Dell desktops, monitors, and laser printer is found at [].
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">The Web address for the Microsoft Office 2010 productivity suite is found at [].
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">The Web address for the Microsoft Office Specialist Study Guide textbook http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Office-Specialist-Study-Guide/dp/0735649715/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328911564&sr=8-1
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">The Web address to find out more information about established PHS as an authorized certification testing center through Certiport is []


 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Project Assessment **<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">. “Assessment is a huge topic that encompasses everything from statewide accountability tests to district benchmark or interim tests to everyday classroom tests” (Garrison & Ehringhaus, 2012). Both formative and summative assessments are necessary for evaluating the performance of students at Perry High School. Student’s test scores from various types of assessments determine how they rank amongst students within their school, students within their county, students within their state, and ultimately students within their country. Therefore, this intervention plan proposes one more example of an assessment that students will be required to take. The scores from this assessment will determine how computer and technologically literate they are compared to their peers. Furthermore, the strategies for evaluating this intervention plan had two goals: 1) to report on how well the plan was implemented, and 2) to analyze the extent to which the stated outcomes of the plan were achieved.

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">“When incorporated into classroom practice, it [formative assessments] provides the information needed to adjust teaching and learning while they are happening” (Garrison & Ehringhaus, 2012). In preparing for the computer competency assessment, students will practice using the various features of Microsoft Office tools through the practice material presented in the Microsoft Office Specialist Study Guide textbook provided in the computer lab. The instructor is able to see the student’s progress as the practice material is completed; therefore, learning is being assessed as it is happening. On the other hand, “Summative assessments are given periodically to determine at a particular point in time what students know and do not know” (Garrison & Ehringhaus, 2012). Examples of this type of assessment include state assessments, district benchmark assessments, end of unit or chapter tests, and end of course exams. We practice all of these forms of assessment at Perry High School. The computer competency assessment that we are looking to implement will be yet another example of a summative assessment that is used to determine content that students should know before graduation. By implementing this intervention plan, the school’s goal is that 95% of the student population is computer literate and/or technologically literate, as being computer literate will better prepare these students to be more productive citizens in the society and prepare them in pursuing higher education and future jobs and careers. Therefore, implementing the computer competency assessment as one of the summative assessments given by the school is necessary in assisting the school in reaching their goal.