Week 1 Assignment, Part 3: Key Ideas for the Long-Range Plan for Technology

To discuss in detail every bit of new information I collected regarding The Long Range Plan for Technology in Texas would be a daunting as well as overwhelming and probably scare off most of the followers of the post but nevertheless, in discussing these plans, one would have to look at the overall impact that technology will have on education. To me, that says, "what will all of this effort equate to in terms of our children's future and how will we ensure that our children have the opportunity to obtain 21^st Century technology skills with 20^th Century funding"?

According to research data and practitioners, technology use in the schools of Texas has had a significant positive impact on teaching, student performance, attitudes and behaviors, and on administration. Benefits associated with the use of computer networks, including the Internet, range from enhancing the learning environment; exposing students to a wider array of information; making learning more student-centered; transforming students into engaged and independent learners; improving students' academic performance, including their performance on standardized tests; improving student retention and job placement skills; and preparing students for the future.

In response to changes in legislation, business, industry, and developments in technology, a new plan was adopted by the SBOE in 1996. The Long-Range Plan for Technology, 1996-2010 charts the course for providing all Texas students with access to quality educational opportunities through the use of technology. As education moved into the 21st Century, evolving technology continued to play a critical role in all aspects of society. The LRPT serves as the state's blueprint for putting cost-effective tools into the hands of Texas students, teachers, librarians, and administrators. These tools enable educators to gain the knowledge and skills required for teaching, learning, and working in the 21st Century. This plan clearly establishes technology as an essential priority in ensuring that all Texas schools, regardless of their size, geographic location, or district wealth, have the ability to provide quality educational opportunities.

The fundamental goal of the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 1996-2010, therefore, is to enhance students' acquisition of knowledge through technology. Inherent in this priority goal is the conviction that technology, equitably distributed, plays a critical role in addressing economic and other disparities among students and is an important tool for meeting the needs of students with disabilities. The goal of the LRPT is reflected in four broad areas: Teaching and Learning, Educator Preparation and Development, Administration and Support Services, and Infrastructure for Technology. The goals for each of these four areas are:

• Teaching and Learning: The students in the public education system will demonstrate technology proficiencies identified by the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and will have access to the technology tools, products, and information that support their acquisition of a quality education.
  
• Educator Preparation: The teachers, librarians, counselors, and other educators in the public education system will demonstrate technology proficiencies identified by the State and will have access to the technology tools, products and information that facilitate their work and support student learning.
  
• Administration and Support Services: The administrators in the public education system will demonstrate technology proficiencies identified by the State. Students, educators, administrators, parents, legislators, and community members will have access to the technology tools, products, and information they need to make decisions, to educate, to plan, and to learn.
  
• Infrastructure for Technology: Technology tools, products and information appropriate for Texas schools will be accessible to the students, teachers, librarians, counselors, and administrators in the public school system via a comprehensive, integrated state technology system for voice, video, and data that is complemented by a human infrastructure of trained individuals who use and support technology.
  

Prioritizing campus goals, objectives and funding will allow me to utilize this new learning to aid in leading my campus into the 21^st Century. As I endeavor to move our campus and in a larger sense school district towards higher learning plateaus we must understand that districts are losing valuable time and efficiency of funds due to a lack of standardization of educational and management software. Many times districts try to integrate data systems or online learning management systems across disparate applications and are either not able to make the integration work or have to invest significant human resources or funds into the project to achieve a solution. If data standards were required, then data from different systems could be shared among all the systems in use, saving significant time and money. Data-driven decision-making warrants the ability to have access to a vast amount of data from a host of various software programs and online resources. Data from online testing should easily integrate into curriculum management programs that allow educators to not only analyze data but also tie that data directly to curriculum planning, management, and individual student's needs and instructional plans. The days of teacher isolation and "doing their own thing" is long gone. We are responsible for our students and the opportunities that each must have to realize their dreams. Let us face facts, Texas must adopt standards to help districts work more effectively and efficiently and we must do it now.