Can the Long Range Plan for Technology Be Achieved?

Teachers in the 21st century have had to expand their focus from teaching the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic to being masters of technology. Technology is used in every aspect of today’s education. From data analysis to lecture presentations, technology is an integral part of our profession. Today’s students are more technology savvy than ever before. Many of their teachers are “technology immigrants”, while they are “technology natives”. With this paradigm shift, educators are being pushed to incorporate technology in their classes to engage students, help them become problem solvers, and teach them the employment skills they need for the 21st century.

The State Board of Education has published the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology (TLRPT), 2006-2020 in an effort to provide recommendations for stakeholders to achieve the technology goals in 4 areas, including Teaching and Learning. The vision identifies success in teaching and learning with these buzz words: fully engaged, multiple opportunities, individualized, and equalizer.

As an educator, I have no doubt that this vision not only can exist, but does already exist in some schools. More and more schools are supplied with computers and internet access. Teachers are communicating with parents via email and grades are being accessed on line. But this is just a drop of water in the ocean of technological advancement. Technology has the opportunity to engage learners in new and innovative ways, but it is dependent on the educator’s implementation and guidance to see where the technology path leads.

The state and area districts face many obstacles for the SBOE vision to be achieved. The role of the teacher and learner must continuously change and adapt with advancements in technology. Learners must move from being recipients of information to active participants in their learning. Curriculum must be evaluated to ensure that technology TEKS are spiraled in. Teachers must enter the profession, not just technologically literate, but technologically driven. Best practices and lesson plans supported by data must be provided to teachers to support them in treading these new waters.

Is the vision possible? Not only is it possible, but it must be achieved if the students of today are going to become the leaders of tomorrow. But the task cannot be left to teachers alone. All stakeholders must do their part. Know how to program a video game? Animate a digital cartoon? Develop websites? Visit your local school. See how you can get involved. Teachers will welcome your skills as they move their lessons into the digital age.