Reflection of web conference

The conference was very informative.  I learned a lot.  We discussed the functions of the K20 and the internship class.  We talked about ways in which we can continue to comunicate with each other and how we can use these tools at school.  She suggested we explore google and its functions.  I look foward to learning more about good tools that can be incorporated into the classroom and the campus as a whole. 

REFERENCES FOR TECHNOLOGY ACTION PLAN:

www.lajoyaisd.com
www.zapata.ljisd.com.home.aspx?
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/index.html

Action Plan for Technology -

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/73889814/Action-Plan-for-Technology

3. Transforming American Ed.: Learning Powered by Tech.

"Education is the key to America's economic growth and prosperity and to our ability to compete in the global economy."

This plan states the educational goals set by the government for 2020. The two main goals set by the president are:

• We will raise the proportion of college graduates from where it now stands (39%) so 60% of our populations holds a 2-year or 4-year degree.
• We will close the achievement gap so that all students-regardless of race, income, or neighborhood-graduate from high school ready to succeed in college and careers.

These goals seem very ambitious to me. Yet the government has set some standards that must be followed in order for this to happen. The government plans to achieve these goals by urging all educators to be clear, collaborate, monitor, and hold ourselves accountable for progress and results. The five main focus areas are: learning, assessment, teaching infrastructure, and productivity. The plan also recognizes some "grand challenge problems."

The first area is Learning. The plan says that we need to empower students to decide on what they want to learn and how they want to learn it. As educators we need to focus what and how we teach to match what people need to know, how they learn, where and when they will learn, and who needs to learn. Educators need to tailor their instruction in order to reach all learners in ways that interests them. The second area is Assessment. As educators we need to find ways to assess only that that is important and meaningful. At the same time, we must include support from multiple stakeholders when in the process of designing and using assessment. Our assessment must be data driven. The third area is Teaching. This area emphasizes a model of connected teaching. It explains that information is readily available to students 24/7. In order for educators to do this, we need to collaborate with other educators around the globe. This model also brings education outside the classroom. We can do this by providing students with project-base work instead of traditional paper pencil assignments. This would empower student to create, and manage their own learning. Teacher need 21St century training if we are to accomplish this. The fourth area is Infrastructure. This area focuses on what is needed to accomplish our 2020 goals. What do students, teachers, and all levels of education systems need in order to succeed? We need to bring together libraries, museums, workplaces and homes. We need to have adequate Internet connections, that is the bottom line. The fifth area is Productivity. This area states that schools need to change the way we "block" students in classrooms. We need to change how we design our classrooms and move those students that are ready to a higher level.

The NETP presents five goals and recommendations that address these five areas. The goal for learning is that "all learners will have engaging and empowering learning experiences both in and outside of school that prepare them to be active, creative, knowledgeable, and ethical participants in our globally networked society," (pg. xii). Then it provides a list of recommendations like develop and adopt learning resources that use technology to embody design principles from the learning sciences. The goal for assessment is that "our education system at all levels will leverage the power of technology to measure what matters and use assessment data for continuous improvement," (pg. xii). The goal for teaching is for "professional educators will be supported individually and in teams by technology that connects them to data content, resources, expertise, and learning experiences that enable and inspire more effective teaching for all learners," (pg. xiii). The goal for infrastructure is for "all students and educators will have access to a comprehensive infrastructure for learning when and where they need it," (pg. xiii). And lastly, the goal for productivity is for "our educator system at all levels will redesign processes and structures to take advantage of the power of technology to improve learning outcomes while making more efficient use of time, money, and staff," (pg. xiv).

Reflection: I think that the plan has far reaching goals. Specially more so now because of the economic situation that our nation is going through. It will be very difficult to provide Internet access to every student and connect every teacher in order to work collaboratively and learn from each other. This plan will take time. It does seem difficult to train so many educators and prepare them for this near future that is already present. I think that the only down fall to this entire plan is the money issue. All stakeholders will need to be on the same page including: teachers, students, parents, business leaders, and the government. Profit and non-profit organizations must get involved.

Reference:

Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology

Draft: National Educational Technology Plan 2010

March 5, 2010

www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/NETP-2010-final-report.pdf

2010 Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Tech.

A big effort has been made in Texas in the advancement of technology. The state has been implementing different strategies/activities in order for this advancement to continue. We still have a long way to go, but we are working hard to reach our goals. In the Texas Campus STaR Chart we can see each campus' status towards reaching the goals of the plan. Texas is moving from lower levels to higher levels. Some of the programs that have been developed that will enable us to reach our goals are as follow:

• Technology Literacy Assessment Pilot
• Technology Immersion Pilots= Results can also be reviewed at www.tcer.org. (This program ended in June 2008.)
• Vision 2020 Grant
• Target Teach in Texas (T3) Grant
• Connections Grant= for more information: www.tea.state.tx.us/technology
• Rural Technology Pilot Program (R-Tech)
• Distance and Online Learning
• Texas Virtual School Network (TxVSN)
• Electronic Course Program (eCP)
• Interactive Videoconferencing (IVC)
• Digital Cntent and Instructional Materials
• K-12 Databases
• Just in Time Online Tutor
• Educator Profesional Development= Project Share offers access to digital content through online materials. Intel also offers profesional development through the regional service centers.
• Series of conferences (TEX, 21ST Century Skills for Digital Learners: Sharing what Works in Teacher Pre[aration, and focus Forward: Looking Ahead in Texas Education) were offered as staff development for teachers.
• Project Share
• The Intel Teach Program
• Technology Applications Teacher Network (TATM) Best Practices Event
• STAR Grant

These might not be all the programs that have been developed in befefit of technology in education. The vast development of grants and programs deomnstrates that Texas is one of several states that has a primary interest in technology. Some of the programs/grants have expired while others are still in progress. Each program has provided some form of impact on education. Some demonstating more benefits then others. But all have been developed with the same end in mind, the development of student and teacher connections through technology. Even though a big effort has been made, there is still room for improvement. The results of the STaR Chart were a concern because they demonstrated that the use of more equipment and more training did not increase the incorporation of technology in the classroom instruction. There was, however, a slight increase in student performance due to programs like tutor.com and others. The good news is that efforts towards progress are still being made. How much progress, we don't know, but we will see the results on the next STaR Chart Report.

Reference: All links can be found on:

Texas Education Agency-Long Range Plan for Technology

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

Texas Long Range Plan for Technology

Teaching and Learning

I chose this section because it is directly linked to student learning. As educators, we need to modify and diversify our teaching modes in order to accommodate for each and every learner. Our learners need to be exposed to the world that is beyond their own city or neighborhood. This is where the use of technology connects to the educational setting. With the use of technology, teachers all over the globe can connect students and their learning. As stated on the Texas Long Range Plan, "The integration of technologies into Texas schools can transform the teaching process by allowing for greater levels of interest, inquiry, analysis, collaboration, creativity and content production," (PG. 13). The role of the teacher is changing with the integration of technology in the classroom. The teacher's role now is that of a "facilitator," a mentor that is only guiding the students and not being the sole source of knowledge.

This area states four strands or descriptors. They are:
All Learners:

• have access to relevant technologies, tools, resources and services for individualized instruction 24/7.
• use information and communication technologies to collaborate, construct knowledge and provide solutions to real-world problems.
• use research based strategies in all subject areas to improve academic achievement.
• communicate effectively in a variety of formats for diverse audiences.

According to the 2009-2010 Statewide STaR Chart Report, 59.3% of participants responded to be at the Developing Tech. stage. This means that they are using technology, but at the very minimal level. 37.8% of the participants responded to be at the Advanced Tech level. This means that these students are working with their peers evaluating information, analyzing data and content in order to problem solve. And only .09% responded to being on the Target Tech stage. This is where we all want to be. At the campus level, we obtained a total of 14 points for Key Area 1. We are also at a Developing Tech. Stage. This is the same compared to the state results.

Based on this information, schools locally and statewide are striving to incorporate technology the best way possible. Even though we are using technology, we are not teaching our students how to analyze and problem solve using this technology. More improvements are needed. In order for this to take place, more staff development should be offered. Teachers need to be trained as to how technology can be intregrated into the state curriculum.

Reference Links:

http://starchart.esc12.net/resources.html