EDLD 5306 Schools and Libraries Program

schools and libraries programs

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EDLD 5306 National Educational Technology Plan

Under The National Educational Technology Plan (NETP), President Obama has laid out a plan to raise the number of graduates to 60% by 2020. (NETP, 2010).  The plan has five goals with recommendations for everyone involved in the learning process.  In addition, it addresses most of the issues involved with infrastructure, teaching, productivity and assessment.  The goals are as follows: “All learners will have engaging and empowering learning experiences both in and outside of school that prepare them to be active, creative, knowledgeable, and ethical participants in our globally networked society. Our education system at all levels will leverage the power of technology to measure what matters and use assessment data for continuous improvement. Professional educators will be supported individually and in teams by technology that connects them to data, content, resources, expertise, and learning experiences that enable and inspire more effective teaching for all learners. All students and educators will have access to a comprehensive infrastructure for learning when and where they need it. Our education system at all levels will redesign processes and structures to take advantage of the power of technology to improve learning outcomes while making more efficient use of time, money, and staff.” (NETP, 2010). Under this plan, students should become “skillful and strategic…motivated and engaged…and networked learners” (NETP, 2010).

I believe that all of this is excellent and true.  I personally embrace technology and think it’s a great plan.  The problem that I have is that not every student will want to go to college.  Maybe not 60% will want to go on for that associate’s or bachelor’s degree.  There are still those who are on another route.  Some (although I admit not a great number) do not even like technology and are resistant.  How, then, is it feasible to make those great strides in so few years?

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology. (2010). Transforming american education: learning powered by technology. draft national educational technology plan 2010

EDLD 5306 District Technology Plan

My school district’s technology goal is “anytime- anywhere” computing.   ("Instructional technology and," 2005). A major portion of the technology plan is to provide each teacher and student with a laptop which may be used in all classes and at home.  In 2005, the administrators proposed and obtained $24,000,000 in bond money to complete technology upgrades. They began upgrading the district infrastructure, particularly the wireless network.  Other upgrades included “network switches, security cameras and telecommunications” ("Instructional technology and," 2005). These included Smart Boards, calculators, digital equipment for science and math and projectors for every classroom.  In addition, the district has instituted our “Virtual School” run by Regina Owens.   In 2007, a protocol was adopted, delegating responsibilities to a variety of people to ensure compliance with the plan and the law. In 2010, a “vision” was acted upon for a five-year plan.

There is an ongoing evaluation plan in effect.  Each campus is “site-based” management and each principal is responsible for gathering information about his/her campus, as well as providing staff development.  There are meetings 4-5 times per year to assess the common problems and solutions.  The main problem that we have had is the staff development.  At the high school level, students arrive late one day a week so that teachers can meet.  The problem is that, though there has been a great deal of staff development, it was more about how to use software to gather information rather than to use it to teach.

Instructional technology and software. (2005, August). Springboard News, 14(1), Retrieved from The main focus of the Spring ISD instructional technology plan

EDLD 5306 Technology Assessments

Over the last few years, I have been required to complete the STaR chart on an annual basis.  Like other teachers in my building, I completed it as best I could but with no real knowledge of its outcome.  As I move into this new frontier (for me) of online education, the importance of the STaR chart comes into focus.  The state has required this information to force school districts to look at and evaluate, budget and reform so that the 21^st century students might have access to cutting edge technology.  Not only will the students have the technology to play with, but they will also have it to learn with.  “Resisting today's digital technology will be truly lethal to our children's education” (Prensky, 2008). Technology assessment is a necessary, ongoing process.  Our technology is moving ahead at whirlwind speed and we must keep up with it.  It gives needed information for district administrators to process as they budget and review their technology needs. 
The problem with the assessment is that many teachers do not take it seriously for various reasons.  Some do not assess their school or district accurately because they don’t care or because they do not like or agree with their administrators.  An example of this is my own district where there has been recent turnover in administration and staff.  Staff is leaving because of administrative decisions and the chart scores have fluctuated widely as a result. So, as important as technology is, so is the assessment cycle.  It is, however, flawed. 

Prensky, M. (2008). Adopt and adapt: shaping tech for the classroom. Edutopia: The George Lucas Educational Foundation.