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