A Reflection: The importance of achievment of the technology education goals to transform American education
The U.S. department of Education relased a draft of the National Educational Technology Plan: Transformig American Education: Learning Powered by Technology ; this document provides information regarding ways information and commuication technologies can assist in transfering student learning and education in Americas’ schools. The document provides information in the following: Learning: A model for the 21st Century; Assessment: Measuring What Matters; Teaching: Improving Learning Though Connected Teachig; Infrastructure: People, Processes, and Technologies for Learning; Productivity: Imporving Learning Outcomes While Managing Costs; and R&D: Solvig Grand Chanllenge Problems. An effective administrator must not only be familiar with state standards, state expecations, and how to use technology to support student learning and in regards to education and technology, preparing students for a global economy in the 21st century, but must also be knowledgable in technology national stanadards and national data. The National Educational Technology Plan: Transformig American Education: Learning Powered by Technology informs that education has become an urgent priority driven by two cleal goals. By 2020: We will raise the proportion of college graduates from where it now stads so that 60% of our population holds a 2-year or 4-year degree; We will close the achievment gap so that all students – regardless of race, income, or neighborhood – graduate from high school ready to succeed in college and careers. (National Educational Technology Plan 2010, Office of Educational technology, U.S. Department of Education, 2010, p. v). The National Education Technology Plan 2010, addresses the key role technology will play to achievment of these national education goals by the year 2020.
A Summary and Reflection: The first progress report provided by the Texas Education Agency: Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology.
In 2008, for the first time, the Texas Educcation Agency copyrighted and presented to the 81st Texas Legislature a Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020. This report informs of progress towards Texas’ schools achieving goals related to the use of techology to support and enhance student learning for all studets and to prepare students for a global economy in the 21st Century. Progress of campuses in Texas towards mastery of goals is monitored in the areas of : “Teaching and Learning”; “Educator Preparation and Development”; “ Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support”; “Infrastructure for Technology”; and progress by Education Service Senters is also documented. Information including curvey data, various, relevant individual Texas’ schools case studies, charts and graphs conveying information of student use of technology in schools and percentages of achievment in topics such as: How grades 6-8 use computers for school work; How grades 9-12 use technology for school work; How grades 6-8 use technology; How students 9-12 use use technology. Grades K-2 and 3-5 are also addressed in regardes to achievement of techology goals. Various other information regardig achievement of technology standards in student prgoress in Texas’ school as of the year 2008 is provided. Items such as “Major Findings: Traits of Higher Classroom Immersio Techers” and “Characteristiccs of District and School Leadershop at Higher Technology Immersion Schools”, as well as various other valuable topics are discussed, and valuable information towards school improvement is provided. I found the TEA Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 “Charasteristics and District and School Leadership at Higher Tchnology Immersion Schools” data to be particularly intersting as it informed that leaders of these school demonstrated: Effective leadership transition after principal change; Articulate a vision and goals for Technology Immersion; Strongly supports professional development; Provides encouragement for teachers; changes practice; Express goals and expectations for classroom technology use; and monitors teachers’ classroom practices. This information will prove useful to any effective school leader.
Teaching and Learning: A component of the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020.
The STaR Chart is a required component of the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020, and informs the area of “Teaching and Learning” to be the greatest weakness of Estacado H.S. In the area of “Teaching and Learning”, Estacado High School consistently acquired a “Developing Tech” status from 2007-2010. According to the Campus Statewide Summary by Key Area, provided by the Teacher Education Agency (TEA), this indicates that instruction is teacher-directed and students regularly use technology on an individual basis to access electronic information and develop communication and presentation projects. There is minimal use of technology in foundation TEKS. Most technology applications TEKS are met K-8; high school campuses teach at least 2 technology Applications courses. The Campus Statewide Summary by Key Area, provided by the Teacher Education Agency (TEA) also informs that 69.7% of campuses state-wide are also in the “Developing Tech” level of progress. I would hope to acquire information to further my knowledge of further developing the school in the technology standard expectation of “Teaching and Learning”. This is also an area in which I feel I am at a “Target Tech” status. I feel I am able to serve as a facilitator, mentor and co-learner related to the “Teaching and Learning.” National progress informs of similar results in regards to the level of technological progress in the area of “Teaching and Learning”. The Texas Education Agency, Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020, in regards to “Teaching and Learning” expects all learners of Texas schools to: have access to relevant technologies, tools, resources and services for individualized instruction 24/7; use information and communication technologies to collaborate, construct knowledge and provide solutions to real-world problems; use research based strategies in all subject areas to improve academic achievement; and communicate effectively in a variety of formats for diverse audiences.
