Technology Institute for Music Educators (TI:ME)

Five Year Strategic Plan 2003 - 2008

Draft 8/10/03

 

Vision Statement

 

            The Technology Institute for Music Educators (TI:ME) was begun in 1995. Following the receipt of a grant from NAMM, the International Music Products Association, the first organizational meeting was convened at Valley Forge, PA. For three days a blue ribbon committee of 35 high profile educators, software developers and manufacturers discussed the initial goals and objectives of the organization. It was widely agreed at this meeting that the immediate need was to bring the tools of technology to Music Educators to engage them and help them in task of bringing music to K-12 schools in a new and compelling way.

            Based on the Valley Forge initiatives, the organization addressed the needs to codify technology into a cohesive set of materials, develop a certification process that recognized the achievements of in-service Music Educators, and start a professional organization that has grown to more than 800 members. TI:ME is governed by a twelve member Board of Directors, that meets twice each year, and is counseled by an Advisory Board of fifty that meets every two years on the occasion and site of the MENC National Conference.

            In the spring of 2002, the Board of Directors adopted pro tem By-Laws, formally dropping the three-director format of the early years and providing the organization with a clear direction for the future. As a matter of practicality, Board members were chairs of TI:ME's standing committees: Conference, Education, Executive, Grants, Membership, Marketing/Communications, Newsletter, Publications, Research, and Website. The document also empowered the Board to elect a President, Vice-President and Treasurer and appoint an Executive Director.

            With its organization redesigned, its clear emphasis on teacher training and its distinctive services and programs, the overriding vision of the Technology Institute for Music Educators is to be recognized as a leader in music technology.

 

Strategic Goals

            There is a need in music education for the programs and initiatives of the TI:ME organization and a need to expand the organization in the areas of membership and service. TI:ME members must be challenged to give of their time and talents to better serve the profession of teaching and the students in their charge. The materials we produce must be of the highest quality to better serve our members and the field of music education at large. In short, TI:ME must be in the vanguard of music technology, building a committed community of technologically proficient teachers. Strengthening the bond between education and the technology industry, promoting music technology in our colleges and universities, and encouraging our members to discover a new level of expertise are the basis of the TI:ME organization.

            To this end, we set the following five goals as strategic initiatives to be accomplished by the year 2008.

 

1. Establish state, regional, and local TI:ME affiliations by developing strategic alliances with our institutional and commercial members both nationally and internationally. These groups should have their own officers and by-laws and a strong affiliation with the national TI:ME organization. These organizations will promote membership in their communities, provide personnel for state conferences, sponsor local workshops, alone or in conjunction with institutional and commercial members, and provide input to the national organization through a Board of Chapter Representatives.

 

To achieve this initiative, we propose the following initiatives:

a. Provide courses for teachers to facilitate the understanding of music technology in the nation's schools

b. Recruit and retain a well trained staff of instructors capable of implementing the strategic goals of TI:ME

c. Provide forums for interaction and discussion of music technology

d. Maintain an organizational structure that will support the mission of TI:ME, in particular, staffing of all standing committees

e. Maintain a presence at meetings, conferences and in-service events where music educators gather

f. Expand TI:ME membership

g. disseminate information to the membership in a timely manner

h. In 2003 an ad hoc committee will be formed to develop a plan to create local and regional chapters.

 

2. Develop and publish educational materials that will serve our members and contribute to the collective knowledge in the field of music technology. This will become a source of revenue and enhance name recognition. As the organization grows, more published material will be needed, course materials will need to be updated and our outreach into the area of professional development must keep pace with the growth of these new teaching tools. It is the nature of technology to change and this change should drive our need to create books, articles and courses that will in turn create revenue streams that will further stabilize the organization.

 

To achieve this initiative, we propose the following:

            a. Conduct and publish research information in the area of music technology

            b. Publish new materials

            c. Seek new funding sources for these publications

 

3. Encourage teacher-training institutions to affiliate with TI:ME and to provide training for in-service music educators. Further, we need to encourage advanced degrees in music technology to provide a growing pool of knowledgeable teachers and researchers. At the same time, we need to encourage the introduction of music technology courses in the undergraduate program to position music technology as a norm in music education.

           

To achieve this initiative, we propose the following:

a. Maintain a presence in the technology organizations of higher education

            b. Actively seek potential TI:ME instructors and TI:ME sites

            c. Develop materials that promote greater use of technology in higher education

           

4. In addition to music education conferences, the message of TI:ME needs to be heard at meetings in allied areas such as conventions for administrators, school board conferences, and other related education association meetings. We have a need to bring music technology to administrators to help school district decision makers aware of the potential that music technology offers to their schools. This will support our membership and help to educate their supervisors. Contributing to the newsletters and magazines of these organizations will help in taking our case to another level.

 

To achieve this initiative, we propose the following:

            a. Develop a list of target organizations

            b. Seek opportunities to establish contact with other educational associations

            c. Contact the publication departments of these groups and propose article sharing

 

5. Develop programs to recognize the achievements of K-12 students in music technology through local, regional, state and national expositions of student work. This would make TI:ME visible on all levels of the educational scale. It is an opportunity for teachers, students, the industry and TI:ME to work together on high profile projects and would encourage popular support for the work of the organization.

 

To achieve this initiative, we propose the following:

a. Work with local, regional and state TI:ME organizations to develop strategies for student music technology fairs, contests and shows

b. Design TI:ME awards to recognize student achievement

c. Encourage local, regional and state organizations to establish strategic alliances with music technology retailers and manufacturers to support the award program

d. Inform local school officials of this TI:ME initiative

e. Provide a national TI:ME event to encourage exceptional music technology achievement    

 

Operational Planning

            To achieve these initiatives, the TI:ME committees must adopt operational goals that will advance the organization to reach this vision. The following is a starting point for committee chairs to develop plans that will make these goals a reality:

 

1. The Conference Committee will:
1. Develop a three-tiered conference presence

                                                     i.     TI:ME National Conference with pre-conference events, booth space, conference presentations and shared recognition

                                                      ii.     TI:ME Regional Conferences - Major music education associations (MENC, MTNA, IAJE) and large state MEAs (booth presence and some presentations)

                                                        iii.     TI:ME Local Conferences - Small state MEAs (booth presence only)

 

2. Develop a five year plan for conferences and meetings

                                                     i.     National Conferences

1.     2004 - Texas Music Education Assn - MENC

2.     2005 - Florida Music Education Assn

3.     2006 - Music Educators National Conference

4.     2007 - Ohio Music Education Assn

5.     2008 - Pennsylvania Music Education Assn

                                                      ii.     Regional Conferences

1.     2004 - OMEA, MMEA

2.     2005 - MENC Regional, IAJE, MTNA

3.     2006 - OMEA, IAJE, MTNA

4.     2007 - PMEA, MENC Regional, IAJE, MTNA

5.     2008 - MENC, IAJE, MTNA

                                                        iii.     Local Conferences

1.     2004 - Maryland Prof Dev Day, FMEA, IAJE, NJMEA

2.     2005 - Indiana MEA, Illinois MEA, Missouri MEA

3.     2006 - Arizona MEA, New Mexico MEA, Oklahoma MEA

4.     2007 - Kentucky MEA, Alabama MEA, Tenn. MEA

5.     2008 - N. Carolina MEA, S. Carolina MEA, Georgia MEA

 

3. Develop a presence in Europe/Asia
4. Develop a relationship with Canadian music education organizations

 

2. The Education Committee will:
1. Establish 50 sites throughout the US
2. Sponsor 150 SummerTI:ME courses
3. Establish one and two day seminars
4. Develop undergraduate courses for publication
5. Continue to update courses each year
6. Develop new courses based on rising technology
7. Continue to develop a TI:ME instructor model that encourages outstanding teachers to join the ranks of TI:ME instructors while keeping the present "recommendation" system
8. Add Level 1 & 2 courses as new technology dictates
9. Recruit a minimum of 50 new TI:ME instructors
10. Develop an in-service program for use at school district sites
11. Develop Internet based refresher courses designed to enhance and reinforce classroom instruction received in the SummerTI:ME program
12. Quantifiable Goals
    1. Yearly review and update of TI:ME course materials GOAL: Each course receives a review every three to five years
    2. Increased recruitment of TI:ME sites, including, helping the local sites run successful courses through promotion and training. Goal: 100 total sites in 5 years
    3. Increased recruitment of TI:ME instructors. Goal: 150 certified TI:ME instructors in 5 years
    4. Increased number of students receiving TI:ME certification Goal: N percent of qualified students
13. Unquantifiable Goals
    1. Develop undergraduate materials and programs
    2. Have TI:ME staff arrange for distribution of summer materials
    3. Increase TI:ME instructor involvement in TI:ME (Conferences, local chapters)
    4. Study the retention of TI:ME sites Find out if we're losing sites or if people are just taking a year off occasionally

 

3. The Executive Committee will:
1. Examine By-Laws and governance of the newly established grass-roots chapters
2. Review application for new chapters and present them to the Board of Directors for approval
3. Spearhead a fund-raising campaign to establish an endowment for long-term success
4. Develop a plan to establish a physical home for TI:ME
5. Monitor the roles of educational and commercial interests in the TI:ME organization

 

4. The Grants Committee will:
1. Explore grant opportunities with a goal of $100,000 per year
2. Develop strategic relationships with grant providers
3. Provide input and direction for local, state and regional TI:ME chapters
4. Develop a large grant that will allow TI:ME to bring on a full-time Exec. Director and necessary staff

 

5. The Marketing/Communications Committee will:
1. Outsource advertising and promotional materials
2. Develop a rigorous marketing and advertising plan in consultation with the Conference, Education, Membership & Publication Committees
3. Develop corporate sponsorships as revenue streams to underwrite the events of the organization
4. Explore the development of the "Goodie Bag" concept as a revenue stream
5. Supervise ad placement and coordinate an ad campaign in areas targeted for future conferences and membership drives
6. Develop strategic alliances on the music industry's retail level

 

6. Membership Committee will:
1. Increase total membership to 3000 by 2008

                                                     i.     The yearly goal for 5 years will be 500 new members each year

2. Member benefits expanded to include more publications, website features, and industry incentives
3. The yearly dues will increase to $50 by 2008
4. Solicit co-membership programs with Music Education Associations and other music groups

 

7. The Newsletter Committee will:
1. The newsletter will expand from 20 to 40 pages, i.e., 4 pages per year for 5 years
2. The newsletter will be expanded to a 4 color News Magazine
3. Expand the News Magazine to 4 issues per year
4. A short email news update will be sent to members each month by the first day of the month
5. Publish a SummerTI:ME Directory, in conjunction with the Education Committee, by April 1 which will include TI:ME sites, courses, costs, and teacher bios
6. Develop feature articles for use in the primary grades using lower end hardware and software
7. Develop a focus on elementary music teachers who are successfully employing technology in their classes

 

 

8. The Publications Committee will:
1. Publish one new book per year for a total of 5 by 2008
2. Establish a publication date for each year
3. Establish an annual journal dedicated to research in music technology education.
4. Publish interdisciplinary articles in the NEA journals

 

9. The Research Committee role over the next 5 years will include:
1. Summarizing, interpreting and disseminating the results of existing research related to music instructional technology. This will be accomplished through:
   1. Assisting with the selection and organization of scholarly/research related sessions for at least one TI:ME conference per year.
   2. Serving as editors/contributors to a "research corner" in the print and/or online editions of the TI:ME newsletter. A minimum of two articles per year will be contributed by members of the Research Committee
   3. Developing the content for a database of research abstracts related to music instructional technology. This database would be keyword searchable and accessible to only TI:ME members as a membership benefit. A MINIMUM of 25 abstracts per year will be added to the database. [Note: This is pending funding for the development of the database by TI:ME.]
2. Working with the Publications Committee to publish research materials.
3. Working with the Grants Committee to design the assessment and research portions of grant proposals.
4. Conducting collaborative research projects that are of interest to Research Committee members. A specific number of these projects cannot be established as they are contingent on specific opportunities that might arise, a convergence of interest in an area by two or more Research Committee members, and the amount of time available to Research committee members who also have personal research/scholarly agendas that they need to fulfill.

 

10. The Website Committee will:
1. Employ a full time Webmaster by 2008
2. Expand the quality of the Website with Audio &Video as use of growing bandwidth allows
3. Develop interactive site with increased automation
4. Develop a vibrant on-line community with a network of "experts" for consultation about problems, lesson ideas, etc.
5. Develop a robust lesson plan program in collaboration with the TI:ME instructors and the Education Committee