Blog Posting #2: Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology

Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology:

Significant progress that has been made in the area of Technology Applications are that since June 2010 reports from the Texas STaR Chart shows improvement in number of teachers at higher levels of implementation of the Technology Applications TEKS and for technology capabilities. In April 2009 high school Technology Applications graduation credit changed to an elective option rather than a requirement for all students in all graduation plans. And beginning 9th graders in 2207-08 Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science satisfies the fourth year mathematics graduation credit. One recommendation that I would suggest would be to leave the Technology Applications credit as a requirement instead of an elective. Reason why I would suggest that is because ofter times we could encounter some kids that do not own a computer at home or have the resources to use one outside of school and they might feel intimidated taking a technology course at school with the excuse of “since I don’t own have or can’t get to one outside school, I do not need to stay current with our technology driven world”. These are the students that need it the most and we might lose them only because technology applications are now an elective instead of being mandatory for graduation.
The plan for 21st Century Teaching and Learning provides recommendations for Texas schools so that the following categories could be accomplished by 2020. First, all learners should engage in individualized, real-world learning experiences. This is concept is an excellent idea to follow. Most of our students grasp a better understanding on certain activities if they could relate to it and apply it to scenarios that could happen in the real world. Second, all learners will access, evaluate, manage, and use information in a variety of media formats. The last component is that all learners develop the self-directed learning skills and attitudes that enable them to learn effectively.
My school district is in region 4. This region provides individuals with many opportunities for advancement in Long-Range Plan for Technology. Some examples of such opportunities are coordinating and providing training for statewide initiatives, providing alternative certification preparation (ACP) through distance education for 53 areas of certification, provides assistive technology training, develops web based applications targeting educators, and maintains expertise to assist schools and districts in network management, network design, Internet connectivity, and hardware and software support.