Texas STaR Chart

For the last few years, educators have been asked to complete an anonymous online survey (The STaR Chart) about their schools technology use. Interestingly, the principals are sent a completion percentage letting them know if the reported number of employees have participated in the survey. Understandably, this can leave many sceptic educators apprehensive about sharing thier true feelings. Then again, is any survey truly answered honestly? I guess that's one of lifes mysteries of which we'll never know the answer.

The STaR Chart measures four areas; Teaching and Learning, Educator Preparation and Development, Leadership, Administration & Instructional Support, and Infrastructure for Technology. The STaR Chart gives each school a ranking based on a numeric score ranging from 6 to 24, resulting in Early, Developing, Advanced or Target Technology. This is information the survey taker would need to know if he/she were to offer an accurate guage. This information is not readily available to them. I would suggest that STaR Chart make viewing this information a mandatory prerequisite so that they can make informed statements for the survey.

While my school has grown in all four areas, Infrastructure and Technology is the schools weakest ranked area. Most of the sub-categories have increased according to the survey. However, in actuality, the schools resources have not. From 06 to 09, Students to Computers rating moves from a 1 to a 3, and Technical Support grows from a 1 to a 4. We have the same computer lab, that IS NOT available to all the students, only those needing remediation, and one computer per classroom (if it works). Technical support is not available any more than they have been before. The procedures for getting help and time for it to come is still the same as it was 3 years ago. These and other irregularities, lead me to say that I don’t believe there is much valididty behind these surveys. The growth is seemingly superficial, because there is no evidence of changes that can support this growth. The ranking however, is comparable to that of other schools in the state and nation. To accomplish the target technology rating, I believe the school should invest in a set of classroom computers or make the computer lab a class that each student rotates to during ancillary time. This time could be used to actually teach keyboarding, programming, research or some skill the students will need for advancement.

While I believe the STaR Chart can be a great tool to measure growth and get feedback from educators, I also see many flaws that can be easily corrected. With a few changes for accuracy and validity, this could be very effective.