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Week 2 Assignment- Texas Long Range Plan for Technology,-Teaching & Learning

Teaching and Learning is one of the four key areas the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 addresses. This is a critical area because it involves the use of technology by both teachers and students. The goal in this area is to have teachers seemlessly integrate technology in all subject areas across the curriculum. The goal is also to have students play an active role in using technology to collaborate with others and solve problems. Another goal for this area is for all teachers and students to have instant access to digital resources and tools. This area also addresses the need for the Technology Applications TEKS to be integrated across the currciulum in K-12 classes as well as have the students master the TEKs. Another goal for this area is to have the majority of teachers create and integrate web-based lessons that support other curriculuar learning objectives.

The Teaching and Learning area of the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology is an area that statewide the large majority of schools in 2006 were showing a devleoping level of profiecieny with 73.6% developed. There was 20.1 % labled as advanced. But the alarming rate is that only 8. % are actually on the target level for this area. However, progress was made as the numbers began to change the next year. 69.7% were developed, 25.5% had increased to advanced and .9% had moved up to the target level. It looks like the trend is that each year the campuses were improving. My campus in particular spent two years at the developing area and then the third year we had moved into the advanced level stage. I think the bigges way to move into this next level is to continue to provided training for teachers and on ways to integrate technology into the currciulum as well as make them aware of the tehnology applications TEKS. It is also important that campuses continue to apply for technology grants and to budget money specifically for technology tools on the campus.

PreK Technology Guidelines

Pre-K students are expected to open and navigate through software programs. They are also expected to use and name various computer input devices such as a mouse and a keyboard. As well, the guidelines indicate that students should be able to operate voice and sound recorders as well as touch screens. The Pre-K guidelines allow students the opportunity to have exposure to basic skills that they will build upon in future grades. Students can't move forward until they have a basic foundation of computer skills. The TEKS build on skills over time and it is critical that they get a good foundation of basic skills because they will need these basic skills to continue on to harder and more advanced skills. As students move from one grade to the next they are expected to have learned certain skills so that they can move forward with a new skill. Some of the skills are a review and then some go deeper with the same concept. For example, first graders also are expected to name key vocabulary words realted to a computer and open and close a program but they are also required to go a step further and create and save a document. The technology TEKS spiral from grade to grade and support is scaffold along the way. Another TEK that is an example of the spiraling effect is publishing information in a variety of media. This TEK shows up across several grades and then goes more in depth with the higher grade level.

Long-Range plan for Technology

I learned that the state of Texas has created a long range plan for technology. The state has clearly developed a vision for what they want for Texas students with regards to technology. I also learned that students will be expected to master technology TEKS. They will gain real world experiences using digital tools and work with information from a variety of media formats. Teacher will have access to technology and be provided staff development on how to use it and teach technology strategies and individualize learning for students. Both teachers and students will have 24/7 access to technology resources. I learned that both teachers and students need to be supported with instructional and technical support to be successful with technology. Teachers and students both are expected to be up to date on the latest technological skills in order to be succesful. As an administrator it is my repsonsiblity to model the use of technology as well as monitor its use on my campus. After reviewd the long-range plan I have a better understanding of the role a principal plays in ensuring the successful implementation of the the technology standards at my school. I also understand the importance of making sure that all students are prepared to enter a technology driven society and that they need the appropriate technology skills to be able to function with the rest of society.

Technology Surveys

The first assessment I took was the Technology Applications Inventory. The results indicated that the areas that I am strongest in with regards to technology are the foundations domain and the communication domain. I would agree with this because I do feel like I have a strong sense of basic technology skills and how to use technology for communication purposes. The areas I am weakest in are the areas of information acquisition and problem solving. I had a split number of knowledge in these two areas. These are areas that I feel that I need more professional development in. I agree with these outcomes because I feel that I only have a basic knowledge of these two areas rather than a true working knowledge of how to implement them effectively. After reviewing the inventory I realized the specific areas I need to work on in these two weak domains include working with graphics, and how to resolve information conflicts and validate information. I feel that this class has helped my further develop some of the skills that I was weak in.

The second survey SETDA Teacher Survey made me realize that I am very strong in using technology for collection of student data and grades. I also have a good handle of using technology myself to deliver my instruction. However, I realized that I do not have students actually use technology to create products. I also realized that more professional development in this area that I am weak in. I would have to agree with this survey as well because I now realize that I do not integrate technology into my curriculum for students to actually use. I only use it to teach with rather than teach students how to use it too.