saralowry

Education is the key to being able to compete into today’s increasingly technology-driven society. The NETP calls for a dramatic change to the American education system. There are five basic components that must be addressed: learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity. The NETP has specified goals for each area. First, learners will have engaging and empowering experiences both in and out of school that will prepare them for interacting in a vastly networked society. In order to meet this goal, NETP recommends that states continue to improve and apply standards and objectives incorporating technology in all content areas. Technology should be implemented in a way that makes use of its flexibility and power to optimize learning. Second, the educational system will utilize technology to evaluate needs and use that data for ongoing improvements. Strategies outlined to meet this goal include designing and implementing assessment techniques that give students, teachers, and stakeholders timely and actionable feedback, using technology to improve assessment techniques, conducting research and development that investigates how new methods of assessment can be used, and revising policies and procedures to make sure that parents and students have adequate access to assessment results. Third, teachers will have individual and team technology support that will encourage more effective teaching. NETP recommendations include creating more web-based opportunities for teachers and students, and using networking tools as collaborative learning environments to promote 21st Century learning skills. Fourth, students and educators will have access to a comprehensive infrastructure. This will be accomplished by ensuring adequate Internet access and wireless connectivity, by having at least one digital tool available to each student and teacher that can access the Internet, by encouraging the use of open-source resources to support new and innovative learning, and by utilizing interoperability standards for student-learning data and financial data. Fifth, the education system will use technology to overhaul current procedures to increase student achievement and create a more efficient use of resources. The goal requires redefining productivity in terms of 21st Century teaching and learning, and rethinking our current standards and organizational practices.
In regards to teaching and learning, the NETP calls for differentiated and individualized instruction. Learning should be student-centered and offer an engaging environment utilizing technology resources. Competencies should stretch beyond the core curriculum to incorporate 21st Century skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, and multimedia communication. Using different platforms for communicating and learning allows for more diverse learning opportunities. Teachers are encouraged to practice connected teaching, which involves teachers staying connected to their students, online resources, and other professionals and systems that allows them to create more efficient learning experiences. Professional development opportunities should mirror what is expected of teachers in classrooms. Technology-rich, ongoing, job-embedded professional development activities are necessary for transformation of teaching methods.
Infrastructure is a major component for this plan, but how is more technology supposed to be integrated with the state budget in its current condition? The plan also calls for every teacher and every student to have an Internet access device for use 24/7 in for learning to take place in and out of the classroom. Another major issue that could arise is the idea of personalizing learning to each individual students. It makes complete sense for a student who can demonstrate mastery of an Algebra 2 class to move on to the next subject, rather than wasting more time sitting in class for his classmates to catch up, but what kind of logistical structure would be required to organize such an individualized atmosphere? Do we just throw semesters, trimesters, and quarters out the window and just go with a self-paced high school curriculum? The NETP has set forth a very idealistic plan, with an implementation process that will require a major overhaul of the education system as we know it.

Denton ISD has a Technology Plan in place that was developed to “set measurable goals and deadlines for the district’s continuing growth, to provide the resources necessary for our teachers and students and provide the necessary support to the learning process” (Braswell, 2010, 4). The first goal in the plan is that the administration, teachers, and students will integrate technology into the curriculum to create a technology-rich environment that will increase student achievement, improve instructional accountability, and be provided the resources necessary to meet the needs of a fast-growing district. Strategies include increasing technology staff on the campus level, having teachers incorporate technology through lesson resources in the online curriculum, and developing and implementing a Curriculum Technology Integration Team to align the Technology TEKS with curriculum. The second goal is for teachers and staff to attain and possess the necessary skills, through professional development, to integrate technology, to help motivate students and prepare them to enter a competitive society. Integrating more technology into the district level staff development process that can be documented through teacher evaluations is one approach to meeting this goal. Third, Denton ISD will provide appropriate access to information and resources for parents and other stakeholders to promote an environment of open communication. Strategies to meet this goal include providing parents and the community a variety of information via the Internet and increasing cooperation and communication between city, university, and Denton ISD libraries. The fourth goal states that we will provide adequate technology infrastructure to meet the needs of our students, teachers, and administration. This will be accomplished by providing sufficient equipment to meet state and district standards based on staff and student populations and providing the necessary building space and support structure to maintain and expand the Denton ISD infrastructure.
The five elements that are necessary to meet the requirements set forth by the “E-Rate” program are addressed. The goals, as discussed above, are realistic, and the strategies to implement them are appropriate. Ongoing professional development opportunities are available throughout the year on campuses throughout the district. Use of the Workshop portion of the Eduphoria online software system allows teachers, staff, and administration to view, register, and survey the professional development activities provided. Using the goals outlined above, budgets are determined based on the current assets and future necessities. Assessment is an ongoing, comprehensive process involving online teacher surveys, interviews with department chairs, campus inventories, review of technology maintenance contract and services, review of curriculum TEKS aligned with Technology Application TEKS, as well as other methods.


Braswell, R. (2010). Denton ISD technology plan: 2010-2012 [PDF document]. 1-22.

It is hard to move forward and implement change if you do not know where you are starting. Assessment is a critical part of defining the current status. Both teacher assessment and student assessment are necessary to create the first steps in the improvement process. In the article Savvy Educators Reveal Secrets of Reform, Stansbury explains that “Gordon emphasized that data are imperative for student achievement, saying: ‘We need data to know where we need to make changes … Students achievement has many variables, from attendance to learning style, from special needs to personal health, and we need data to vary teaching methods – methods that include the use of technology to help these students’” (2007, 17). Assessment not only gives us a starting point, but it allows for implementation to be monitored on a continual basis. This allows for restructuring and modifying the strategies necessary to reach the defined goals. It also serves as means for accountability. If our assessments don’t show improvement, then something is not working, and strategies must be reevaluated.
One issue that arises with the use of assessments is the availability of resources to conduct the assessment. Time also plays a factor. Most teachers and students value their time and find it time-consuming to complete the questionnaires and surveys used to monitor their technology skills. The accuracy of these methods also can be of concern. How many teachers fill out the assessments inaccurately because of the fact that they just don’t understand the questions or because they are unfamiliar with the resources?
Overall, I think the technology assessments used to gather information about teacher and student skills are extremely valuable. Even with the concerns that the assessments bring, they still provide vital information regarding progress that must be headed in the right direction.

Stansbury, M. (2007). Savvy educators reveal secrets of reform. eSchool News, 10(9), 17.

This was my very first video conference, and I think it went fairly well. There were some connection issues, but overall it seemed smooth. I logged on early because I was worried about figuring out how to use my new webcam, but it was remarkably simple. I really like having the ability to put faces with the names on the discussion board. It makes everything seem so much more personal. All of the information concerning the internship seems a little overwhelming, but I’m hoping that it will go smoothly since we are starting to piece it together now. I am intrigued about the opportunity to get the Principal Certification. I wasn’t aware that was an option, and I’m not sure that I will choose that route, but I like that I have the opportunity. I have 2 colleagues on campus that have completed this Master’s degree in the past couple of years, and they both rave about the program. I am excited to get started!