National Educational Technology Plan (Draft)
Assignment #2 Part 3 Blog #3
“Transforming American Education: Powered by Technology”
The National Educational Technology Plan (NETP) sounds very similar to our Texas Long Range Plan for Technology. Under the Executive Summary it states, “Specifically, we must embrace innovation, prompt implementation, regular evaluation, and continuous improvement.” (p. V.) The plan has goals and recommendations for five essential areas: learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity.
Learning: It mentions the “one size fits all” approach versus personalized learning and making learning relevant to students. Meeting the needs of all learners with “state-of-the art” technology regardless of background, languages or disabilities. Assessment: measuring strengths and weaknesses to improve student performance and use the data to drive decision-making. The data will be used to provide teachers and leaders with tools and training. Teaching: this area calls for educators to use technology for improving learning and assessment. Teaching in isolation will be replaced with connected teaching model. In this model teachers and students collaboratively work together in school, and in after school programs. Professional development with online learning systems and on-demand courses and self-directed learning opportunities will provide students with effective teaching. Infrastructure: broadband connectivity, servers, software etc. and is essential in technology and improving the system to improve learning. In addition, having data available and insuring security and privacy. Productivity: using the power of technology to improve learning outcomes while making efficient use of time, money and staff.
Again, the National Educational Technology Plan (NETP) sounds very similar to our Texas Long Range Plan for Technology. The NETP does not mention how teachers will be evaluated .The state of Texas created the Texas STaR Chart as a tool to evaluate teacher and campus progress towards meeting the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology. The STaR Campus Chart can be used for technology planning, budgeting for resources, and evaluation of progress in local technology projects.
In the area of Educator Preparation and Development both plans describe the need for teachers to get training and integrating technology in their classrooms in order to meet the needs of all students regardless of background, languages or disabilities. The Texas Plan is aligned with the Technology TEKS to ensure that all students are getting the essential knowledge and skills necessary to become technology literate by the eighth grade.
It is my opinion; Texas is ahead of Technology Reform. The Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, compared to the National Educational Technology Plan is a much better plan.
Citation:
US Department of Education of Education. (2011). Retrieved March 5, 2011, from http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/NETP-2010-final-report.pdf
