Week 2 Assignment:
Blog 1:
Of the four areas of the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020, I am the most interested in Key Area II, Educator Preparation and Development. The four areas seem paired, with Leadership, Administration And Instructional Support being strongly related to Infrastructure for Technology and Teaching and Learning being virtually dependent upon Educator Preparation and Development.
The 2010 Progress Report states:
The Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020, provides the vision for quality educator preparation and development.
All educators:
• Develop new learning environments that use technology as a flexible tool where learning is collaborative, interactive and customized for the individual learner.
• Ensure full integration of appropriate technology throughout all curriculum and instruction. (TEA, 2010)
It is not possible to increase the scores or classification of Key Area I without first improving Educatior Preparation and Development. “Ongoing, sustained, high-quality professional development is essential to prepare teachers to meet the needs of their students by increasing student engagement and learning.” (TEA, 2010) Of course, educators are not willing to spend time and effort on learning how to utilize technology that is not yet available. The concept of being ready for when and if it does arrive, takes precious time away from already tight schedules. The Infrastructure for Technology must be in place before they will be eager to begin.
This is the first year which my campus has scored “Advanced Tech” in this Key Area. Our score of 19 placed us second highest in the district and amonst the 26.8 percentile in the state. There are two contributing factors. First, this year the installation of interactive white boards in every classroom has been accomplished. Second, this success can be largely contributed to the endeavors of the Administration to give our teachers every opportunity for professional development. We are offered tech training during the day on our conferences. Additional training is available after school, as well. There are online series offered both locally, which are prepared by campus staff members, and district wide on the Eduphoria Blackboard. In addition, educators have a wide range of opportunities for professional development from the state’s 20 regional education service centers.
Works Cited
TEA. (2010). 2010 Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-202. Austin, TX: Texas Educational Agency.
Blog 2
One point that caught my attention was the wording repeated in each section of the report:
“The Progress Report shows how the necessary tools and resources for administrators, teachers, librarians, and students are being provided for our 21st Century classrooms. This section of the Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan will highlight the impact that technology has made in” (TEA, 2010)
After which the Key Areas were submitted.
1. Teaching and Learning from 2008-2010.
2. Educator Preparation and Development from 2008-2010.
3. Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support from 2008-2010.
4. Infrastructure from 2008-2010.
Each section of the report is filled with references to the various programs which support the Key Areas. It stresses the overwhelming need for students to be able to use technological tools productively.
The report further discusses the fact that “the state’s blueprint for technology in education continues to manifest the belief that technology, applied to the practice of education, can be an effective tool to facilitate positive changes, and that technology can be used as a means of achieving the vision of an education system hallmarked by excellence and equity.” (TEA, 2010) The 4 Key areas of the Long-Range Plan, 2006-2020 must work together. Without funding there can be no infrastructure, without Administrative support there can be no budget or professional development. Educators need to be prepared and have professional development over the use and misuse of technology. All of which must be, if not in place at least relatively advanced, before we can even involve the students in a meaningful and productive way.
Technology is no longer the future of the educational system, it is the present. It is the global world in which our students must live. “This 2010 Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020, demonstrates how educational technology resources and funding are assisting Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charters as they empower students to succeed as lifetime learners, world-class communicators, competitive and creative knowledge workers: as engaged, productive, and contributing members of this 21st Century society.” (TEA, 2010)
Works Cited
TEA. (2010). 2010 Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-202. Austin, TX: Texas Educational Agency.
Blog 3
There are 5 goals outlined in the National Educational Technology Plan.
The first is that of learning where each learner will have “engaging and empowering learning experiences both in and outside of the school.”
The second is that of assessment and will “leverage the power of technology to measure what matters and use assessment data for continuous improvement.”
The third goal lies in the teaching where they will be inspired to more effective teachers.
All students and educators should have access to technology anytime and anywhere.
Finally, the use of technology will result in greater productivity and the more efficient use of time, money and staff.
And who will pay for this? The statement made was that funding would come from organizations, both private and not-for-profit. Government assistance was not mentioned. That is a lot of fundraising.
Establishing goals for the education of a nation cannot be an easy task, especially in a constantly evolving area such as technology. The goals established in the National Educational Technology Plan are sound: learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity. I have difficulty aligning NCLB with engaging and empowering learning experiences. Assessment, however, has always played a pivotal role in education. I do not see that the inspiration to become more effective teachers is waiting on the use of technology. The concept of having access to technology anytime and anywhere just seems at odds with the more efficient use of time, money and staff. Perhaps, the reading of this report comes so closely on the heels of the study of Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 and the Texas STaR Charts that I cannot help comparing the two. The National Educational Technology Plan seems less straight forward.
There was a point discussed that may prove extremely controversial and that is the concept of year round schooling. This has been attempted several times by several districts with little success. Dissention came from all stakeholders. Administrators did not want the added burden of the expense, teachers were highly reluctant to relinquish their time off when many do professional advancement or supplement their salaries, parents did not wish to give up their children being home to facilitate their with younger siblings, and students…well that is enough said.
