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