Texas Long Range Plan for Technology

Educator Preparation and Development

The description of the educator preparation and development mainly includes all educators. All educators graduate from an educator preparation program that models current technology in instructional and administrative practices Pre K- 12. All educators exit educator preparation programs knowing how to use technology effectively in the teaching-learning process as demonstrated by the SBEC Technology Applications Standards. All educators develop new learning environments that utilize technology as a flexible tool where learning is collaborative, interactive and customized for the individual learner. All educators ensure full integration of appropriate technology throughout all curriculum and instruction. The classroom experiences are dependent on the educator taking personal learning through continuous professional development. Teachers need to learn how to incorporate technology to enhance their curriculum and student achievement that only technology can make possible. Educator preparation must help beginning teachers understand the different uses of technology for the 21^st century students. Beginning teachers need to be prepared to teach today’s digital generation. Distance learning and online learning is important strategy for teachers to use in their classroom instruction. There are six focus areas and four levels of progress for the area of educator preparation and development. The six focus areas are content of professional development, models of professional development, capabilities of educators, access to professional development, levels of understanding and patterns of use, and professional development for online learning. The four levels of progress are early tech, developing tech, advanced tech and target tech. In the year 2007-2008 our campus key area star classification was an advanced tech. This was for the areas of teaching and learning, educator preparation and development, leadership, administration and instructional support, and infrastructure for technology that our campus’s key area star classification was an advanced tech. Teaching and learning and educator preparation and development had a key area total of 16. Leadership, administration and instructional support and infrastructure for technology had a key area total of 15. In the year 2008-2009 our campus key area star classification was decreased to a developing tech from an advanced tech. This was for the areas of teaching and learning, educator preparation and development, leadership, administration and instructional support, and infrastructure for technology that our campus’s key area star classification was decreased to a developing tech. Teaching and learning and educator preparation and development, and leadership, administration and instructional support had a key area total of 12. Infrastructure for technology had a key area total of 13. Recommendations for improvement in this area would be a continuous up to date professional development for every teacher. This would include beginning teachers, experienced teachers and veteran teachers.

Citation: http://starchart.esc12.net/

Citation: http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/technology/EktronAttach/FinalCombinedLRPT.pdf

Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology

2006-2020

The Texas Long Range Plan for Technology is important for all school districts and school campuses to maintain a steady increase in the preparation of all of our student population in the area of technology. There exists a Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020, and it is a comprehensive strategic plan divided into four domains: Teaching and Learning; Educator Preparation and Development; Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support; and Infrastructure for Technology. Texas teachers participate in a national survey that show how often they use technology and how the use of technology impacts or affects them on a daily basis. The results of the survey can be a guide on what needs to be improved or changed in the classrooms and at home. We must stay ahead of the global change that exists in the world of technology. The focus is to impact student achievement by providing necessary tools and resources for administrators, teachers librarians and for all students. This will cover technology literacy and integration, digital content, school library programs and distance learning. As an instructional leader it is important to be guiding technology use and integration at the campus level. It will assist instructional leader because they will know how vital it is to achieve this goal for all my stakeholders and that there exists a time frame. It is important to know that there are three phases in this technology plan. The plan is on going and requires frequent review and revision as changes are required. As an instructional leader, they will have to stress the vital importance this plan is to all teachers, students, parents and the community. Integrating this plan in every subject area on my campus, stressing professional development for all faculty and staff, and budgeting funds to accomplish this future goal and objective in technology is the major priority of this technology plan. All students will benefit and will be able to meet the challenges and demands of the 21^st century.

Citation: http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/comm/leg_reports/2008/08pr_to_lrpt.pdf.

National Educational Technology Draft Plan

The Plan describes how information and communication technologies can help transform American education. It provides goals to inform state and local educational technology plans, and recommendations to inspire research, development, and innovation. The 21st century learning in this plan is engaging and empowering learning for all students. It enhances state-of-the art technology into the curriculum to enable, motivate, and inspire all students to achieve. It enhances the power of technology to provide personalized learning. Critical thinking, complex problem solving, collaboration and multimedia communication are the main focuses in all subject areas like math, science, history, art, English language arts or music. Technology can help improve learning and assessment. And just like technology can help improve learning and assessment it can also help educators change their teaching in order to transform our education system. Teachers need to strengthen the teaching profession with the tools and resources of technology. It is important to hire and retain educators that will achieve this learning goal. Educators need to use learning data and tools to directly impact student learning that will support them inside and outside school grounds. Students need to become self-directed learners. Technology makes teaching a team activity. Educators need to create an online learning community on their school campuses and school districts. Educators need to receive professional development and training in order to achieve the goals set for the 21^st century student. “Technology can inspire imagination and intellectual curiosity that help people engage actively as learners and open new channels for success or visions of career possibilities.” “As good as technology-based assessment and data systems might be, educators need support in learning how to use them. An important direction for development and implementation of technology-based assessment systems is the design of technology-based tools that can help educators manage the assessment process, analyze data, and take appropriate action.” With support, professional development and proper training, educators can increase the level of progress to a target tech level for their campuses and school districts.

Citation: http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/NETP-2010-final-report.pdf