Occasionally, I will encounter reading which leads me to question my intellect. I think that I am a reasonably capable student. This week's reading in enterprise architecture led me to doubt this. I sought one tangible example, full of clear examples and short on jargon which would clarify the concepts which otherwise completely befuddled me. Unfortunately, up to this point, I have been unable to find an example that fits this description. However, like other concepts that I have had to struggle with, I believe that the payoff of persevering will be worth the effort based on the little that I have understood. What I do understand is that EA provides a powerful framework on which to structure the technological infrastructure in tandem the overall vision of the complex company or organization. I do understand that there are preexisting models that have vetted and are currently in use that can be hybridized to suit the vision and purpose a of the organization. I also understand that it will take a little more reading, patience and experimentation in order to better understand the concepts underlying EA. What I seek to gain from this exploration is the same that I seek to gain from any course or professional development: ideas and content that I can apply to my school and district in the near to immediate future. I wonder if EA is a framework that is being used by other administrative leaders in my district. I also wonder if this will provide a new model that will help further our overarching goals. There must be other, competing frameworks which would challenge claims made by EA and offer a counter-solution. If so, I wonder what these competing frameworks may be. Nevertheless, I continue to approach my reading with enthusiasm and an open mind. I look forward to examining how this can used in service of my school and district.
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Up until this week's reading, I didn't quite know what to call all of the interconnected pieces of information technology and learning blueprints. Now I know that this unwieldy conglomeration can be neatly referred to as "enterprise architecture." But more than a mere label, enterprise architecture allows me to better understand how the pieces need to be orchestrated in service of student learning.
As for the systems my district uses in order to promote our mission and vision, there are plenty. My district's vision is "to be the model of educational excellence and innovation." Technology is evidently of utmost importance to promote educational excellence and innovation. It is the Aeries database that compiles all student data available to us. It is the web filtering systems, iBoss, we use to assure that students are safe when accessing district provided internet access. It is all the Chromebooks and iPads we provide to students as we endeavor to offer 1:1 technology to all students in the district. It is in the "Tech Councils, Digital Retreats, and Directors of Innovation." In short, enterprise architecture is comprised of hardware, software, meetings, personnel and countless plans. It is a master plan which may go unnoticed except in instances of substantial modifications or when the plan stumbles an inevitable roadblock. At these moments, one must seek the architect and ask to review the blueprints. That is where I currently find myself. I am the digital learning coach for a school that has recently gone 1:1 by providing all students an iPad that is checked out for the year. Students are also provided internet access. All of this is made possible by a generous grant from the Verizon Foundation. From a district-wide perspective of enterprise architecture, my school is the testing ground for what it takes to go 1:1 with devices and internet connectivity. From a school-wide perspective, we simply seek to find the best ways in which to leverage our technology to provide an exceptional learning experience for our students. Yet as aforementioned, when all goes without a hiccup, the architecture can remain unnoticed, like the framing of a home. Recently, not all has run smoothly in regards to our tech infrastructure. Thus I find myself having to seek out some of the principal architects as I find that our needs are not being met, either in regards to the district or school-based plan. I believe that my role and my school is integral to the future plans of the district. I believe that it is necessary to continuously evaluate the progress being made and make adjustments based upon the findings. In other words, it is not enough to develop a plan, purchase services, hardware, and software. Enterprise architecture (in the verb sense) must be a dynamic process and its architects must never lose site of the ultimate mission of the institution. |
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