Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020: Educator Preparation and Development
Ongoing, sustained, high-quality professional development is essential for students to meet the demand of the 21st century in the way of increased student engagement and learning. Technology will be the major gateway for students to achieve 21st century success. The Area of Educator Preparation from the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 addresses that need. Of the 4 areas, this one has the potential to impact all the others in a positive way. Quality professional development that is learner centered is essential. By the end of the 2010 school year only 3.7% of teachers rated themselves as Early Tech for this area. 68.7% rated themselves as Developing Tech; a 2.4% decrease which reflects an increase in those rating themselves Advanced. Advanced Tech ratings came in at 26.8% - a 3% increase and 0.7% rated themselves at Target Tech. My campus lags behind the state averages will an overall rating of Developing Tech. During the year 2008 – 2009 my campus did rate themselves as Advanced Tech. The change can most likely be attributed to personel changes from that year to the most recent data year. The trend seems to indicate a short term stagnation at this level. I see this as a result of teachers becoming very comfortable with the technology they know and use and a decline in urgency to move to the next level. Improvements in the area would result from a renewed push in the PD department, but this time with more focus on learner-centered technology integration rather than teacher proficiency (Burns, 2002). This district has made major advances in bringing all campuses up the the same level in regard to infrastructure, so now it’s time to begin integrating that great technology and equipment in our classes.
Burns, M. (2002). From compliance to commitment: technology as a catalyst for communities of Learning. Phi Delta Kappan. December, 2002. pp 295-302.
