E rate program and district technology plan

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Upon reviewing the National Educational Technology Plan, I found that the key elements in it are aligned with the Texas Long Range Plan.  Its goals are much like the Long Range Plan, to engage the 21^st century learner by providing more meaningful learning experiences.   Another goal that is similar is to make sure that educators have an opportunity to be exposed to new technology, therefore being able to create more powerful lessons.  

The plan specifies that today’s students are 21^st century learners and that educators must change the way that we teach these students.  The plan stated that students need to be empowered to take control of their own learning.  The plan also states that the use of technology in the classroom will help gain more access to different learning resources than those available in the standard classroom.    

The National Educational Technology plan states that the use of technology can help move to a connected teaching model, where teachers are exposed to different teaching  tools for collecting data as well as tools that will help educators create and manage lessons that will be engaging for students.  With the connected teaching model, teachers will have access to various online resources for professional development. 

          Overall, The National Educational Technology plan is a good one.  I think that it addresses key issues and concerns, the primary one being that there has to be a change made in order to  reach the new type of learners that we have today.  A big part of that is providing resources for educators to meet these goals. 

The Texas Long Range Plan is the technology plan that my district is using.  The goal in this plan is to acquire and use technology in the public school system where students will have a deeper engagement in academics by using technology.  The plan’s goal is to also promote professional development for educators as it relates to technology. 

The strategies have been put into place to help measure growth.  These areas of measurement are in the following areas:   Teaching and Learning; Educator Preparation and Development; Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support. 

It is very essential that educators are provided opportunities to have continuous professional learning.  It’s important that educators take it upon themselves to take advantage of the professional development opportunities being made available to them.   According to the Texas Long Range Plan, ongoing professional development must be provided for veteran teachers.  Distance learning is a way of helping to provide teachers with opportunities for professional growth.

One instrument that my district uses to measure growth is the STaR Chart.  It helps to identify areas of weaknesses as well as strengths.   I think that this is a good tool to use to help monitor whether or not teachers feel as if improvements are being made.  It’s also a good tool to use to monitor whether or not the technology is being used by the teachers in the classroom.   

Long Range Plan for Technology .  A Report to the 80th Legislature from the Texas Education Agency. (2006, November). 

I feel that it is very important to assess an educator’s technology leadership knowledge and skills as well as assessing the technology and skill levels of students.  It is also important that we find out their needs.  We live in a new day and time where technology is growing ramped.  The students in the classroom are learning differently from the students thirty, twenty, or even ten years ago.  In order for educators to continue to reach students, we have to  adapt and adjust to the times that we live in.  That means we as educators need to be aware of what kinds of technology students are being exposed to and learn how to use it if we want to reach this new type of learner. 

        One negative to the assessment of technology might be that when surveying, the answers might not be all the way truthful.  If someone doesn’t want to complete the survey, they may answer in a bad or negative way just to rush through the survey, or vice versa, someone may answer in a more positive way, to make themself look better.  Someone may even score the categories low if they want to purposefully make the school look bad also. 

Schools need to know what areas of concerns both the teacher and student have when it comes to technology.  Assessing a teacher’s knowledge and skill of technology is important because it will help to identify areas of weakness as well as areas of strengths.  If a teacher is not familiar with certain technology, this is an indicator that further training is needed.  Administrators need to have a plan in place to help keep teachers stay on top of technology.   In order for the teacher to continue to help improve student achievement with technology, we have to know what technology is out there, that’s why ongoing training is essential.  Knowing the student’s needs through assessment is also important.  If a student is not understanding certain trends in technology when learning, then that’s a sign that they need further exposure and we need to do more.  Assessing both the student and teacher about technology is a win, win situation.

 I really enjoyed the web conference.  It was the first one that I have every done.  It was a little intimidating at first because I really didn't know what to expect.  I know that I was not looking forward to seeing myself on the computer.  Also I wasn't sure if I was going to be operating everything correctly, but to my suprise, it was an easy experience.

During the conference, the professor was able to clear up many questions about assignments and requirements for the course.  She was also able to enlighten us on future assignments and what we can be preparing for now.

I enjoyed doing the webcast.  It was useful for me to actually experience this myself.  This will be  a tool that I will try to incorporate into my teaching.  I think the students would truly enjoy the experience.