Technology Integration Action Plan

     Based on an analysis of the technology needs on our campus, two areas that we need to improve are utilizing available technology tools more effectively and using technology to monitor and analyze student assessment data. As part of a three-year Technology Improvement Plan, our district has provided every teacher on our campus with a desktop, a wireless laptop, a media projector, and access to Interwrite Pads. In addition, we have wireless Internet throughout the campus, and teachers have access to two Open Access Labs (OALs) and two Computers on Wheels (COWs).


      Instead of focusing on bringing in new technology tools at this time, it would be more efficient to find ways to have teachers more effectively utilize the technology already available to them. Improvements in both areas will require focused, ongoing staff technology training and support. Reflecting on last week’s suggestions for staff development, tailoring the trainings to the needs and experience levels of the teachers will ensure that time is being used effectively. Recommendations for Staff Development sessions, including Evaluation, follow.

Reflections on Web Conference

     I attended the web conference on 3/6/11 from 5-6 p.m. facilitated by Dr. Abernathy. I had previously attended a few web conferences in other courses. I think web conferencing provides a great opportunity for those of us taking online courses to be able to interact directly with our professors. We have the welcome letter, overviews, video lectures, and e-mails that they send in each course, but there is something more personal in seeing and hearing them unscripted. It also allows us to ask (and usually receive answers to) questions we are having.
     One thing I did notice is that our classmates are pretty good and answering many of the questions. It was especially reassuring to hear from students who are further along in the program as they gave advice and suggestions to help those of us who are following in their footsteps.
     I must say, however, that the whole conference was somewhat intimidating. I'm glad I didn't have to be on-screen or use the microphone. Just trying to follow along and read the quickly scrolling transcript was mind-boggling. I liked the direct interaction that could cross great distances, but it seems there should be a more organized and efficient way to conduct the conferences. Some people asked questions many times and never seemed to get a response. That happened to me the first time I participated in one of these, and it was quite discourgaing.
    I can see how web conferencing might work at the high school level, especially since there are many times students have questions about a difficult project or assignment, and it would probably help them to be able to ask questions and get feedback from their teacher and other classmates. They could definitely learn from each other, which seems to be where most of the learning comes from anyway.

STaR Chart Presentation

star chart presentation

More PowerPoint presentations from Chelsey Perez

Blog #3: Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology

In 2010, the U.S. Department of Education released a National Educational Technology Plan that emphasizes the essential role that technology plays in the development of 21st century students who are prepared to actively participate in our global digital society. It included five goals centered on Learning, Assessment, Teaching, Infrastructure, and Productivity. The first goal, Learning, is focused on engaging students and helping them learn to utilize the most current technology to be active participants in our global society. The second goal, Assessment, emphasizes the importance of providing quick and accurate student assessment data to schools so that instruction can better meet the needs of all learners. Teaching, the third goal, focuses on providing teachers with the technology tools, resources, access, and training they need to be able to create better learning experiences for all students. The fourth goal, Infrastructure, includes ensuring easy access to the Internet and to adequate technology resources and tools for students and teachers both inside and outside of school. Productivity, the final goal, focuses on making the best, most efficient use of technology in teaching and learning.


If our schools fail to prepare our students to be competitive in the technologically-rich, global world in which we live, we are not really “educating” them. As the world around us changes and evolves, what we do in the classroom must change as well. We can’t continue to do what we’ve done for the last three decades and expect our students to be able to successfully enter the global marketplace of tomorrow.

References

U.S. Department of Education: Office of Educational Technology. (2010).  National Educational  Technology Plan: Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology.
   Retrieved from http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/NETP-2010-final-report.pdf

Blog #2: 2008 Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020

The 2008 Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 presented to the 81st Texas State Legislature by the Texas Education Agency indicates that there was an increase in technology integration and utilization in Texas schools between September 2006 and August 2008. In all four key reporting areas—Teaching and Learning; Educator Preparation and Development; Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support; and Infrastructure for Technology—there was an increase of between 3% and 7% from the previous year. Leadership and Infrastructure saw the greatest gains.


It makes sense that the areas of Leadership and Infrastructure were where the increase was greatest. In order to see real technology integration on a campus, leaders and administrators need to lead the change through the development of a strong, clear vision for technology use and integration and the allocation of the time and budgetary resources necessary to make the vision a reality. The second area, Infrastructure, must see growth if we are to be able to provide ready access for all students to a variety of technology tools and resources. This will lead to a necessary increase in Educator Preparation as teachers learn how to effectively utilize the technology to be better teachers, which leads to stronger Teaching and Learning—and greater student achievement and success—through the use of technology in the classroom.

Although the percentage increases may not seem all that impressive, it’s important to keep in mind that we’re looking at the data from one year to the next. Many of the recommendations put forth to the Texas Legislature in 2006 take time to properly implement (although some should have already been in place from previous recommendations). It also takes time to figure out how to adequately budget for the added expenses and costs.

Reference

Texas Education Agency. (2008). Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020.
   Retrieved from http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/NETP-2010-final-report.pdf

Blog #1: Reflections on the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020

The Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020, a report compiled by the Texas Education Agency and presented to the Texas Legislature in 2006, includes an explanation of the vital role technology must play in education and makes recommendations to a variety of stakeholders to help ensure that Texas schools are “preparing each student for success and productivity as a lifetime learner, a world-class communicator, a competitive and creative knowledge worker, and an engaged and contributing member of the emerging global digital society” (TEA, 2006, viii). Additionally, it identifies four key areas that must be addressed at the campus and district level: Teaching and Learning; Educator Preparation and Development; Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support; and Infrastructure for Technology.

The area of Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support requires that campus leadership develop and work towards a shared vision for technology integration which leads to greater student success. The leadership team must work to consistently incorporate technology applications into all areas of the teaching and learning environment. Money and time need to be dedicated not only to purchase, maintain, and update necessary technology resources and tools, but also for teacher training, planning, and collaboration. The campus must readily and consistently utilize a variety of technology resources to communicate with administration, teachers, students, parents, and community members.

While state-wide data (through STaR Chart reports) indicates that Texas schools have slowly been progressing in this area with over half of the campuses at the Advanced Tech level, less than 5% of schools are on Target when it comes to Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support of technology (TEA, 2010). Local districts often find their budgets stretched way too thin, and since technology (including training and updating) can often be quite expensive, it is often one of the first areas to be trimmed. Many administrators and campus leaders may not fully recognize or understand the essential role technology integration can play in student achievement and success, and instead consider many technology resources to be “supplemental” in nature—not really necessary to good teaching.

Although there has been a steady increase in technology integration over the last four years, the bulk of the growth seems to have plateaued at the Advanced Tech level of progress. It is the same in all four key areas.

True technology integration has to begin with leadership. Administration is responsible for the development of the budget, decides the instructional focus, and plans staff developments and trainings. It has to begin at the top, and then the other areas of technology integration will follow. Leadership must make technology a priority on campus and must set the standard by developing a clear, detailed technology integration plan for the campus which will detail what the technology goals are, how they will be reached, and include ways to measure actual progress towards those goals.

References

Texas Education Agency. (2006). Long Range Plan for Technology 2006-2020.
Retrieved from

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=5082&menu_id=2147483665

Texas Education Agency. (2010). STaR Chart Data. Campus Statewide Summary by Key Area.
Retrieved from http://starchart.esc12.net/docs/campusSWSummarybyKA20092010.pdf