Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology

The Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology is highly thought out. This plan covers practically everything from students to administration to the community. It not only gives a vision for each stakeholder, it also points out areas for improvement. The plan also gives recommendations at every step towards a fully integrated technological classroom. As a future administrator I find the Long Range Plan to be extremely helpful. It almost provides a roadmap to technology integration.

To be honest, before this class I did not know there was a plan for technology in the Texas school system. I went through education certification only a few years ago and there was not a lot of emphasis on technology. We were required to purchase laptops but that was the extent of it. We did not recieve any training on integrating technology in the classroom beyond powerpoint lectures. I believe I had one lesson on creating a web page. The Texas Long Range Plan is a wonderful tool to guide me and my future team to a more successful environment. The plan will help me create a vision for my campus and be a stepping stone for the staff, parents, students, and community towards change.

Week 1: My Technology Assessments

Last week I completed two assessments about technology. The first assessment focused on my personal knowledge of technology and how I use it or do not use it in the classroom. The second one focused on technology at my school. After taking the first assessment I was surprised. Based on this assessment, I have a pretty good hold on the four domains of technology application. My main weakness according to the "Technology Application Inventory" is foundation. I am one of the youngest teachers on my campus. I feel as if my knowledge of technology is more extensive than those of my co-workers. I can easily create presentations, spreadsheets and research on the internet, but when it comes to basic knowledge I am behind. I can easily show my coworkers and students how to use certain applications but I cannot describe to them how to use it with the correct terminology. It would be wonderful if my district or school offered a professional development on the basics of technology. The second assessment only reaffirmed what I already knew about my school and my district. My school and district does not put a lot of emphases on technology with teachers or in the classroom. In the four years that I have been working for my district, we have had three different grading software programs. I feel as though it is a wonderful thing that our district is trying to give us a better program, but we never receive sufficient training. When I feel like I have gotten the hang of it and know the software well, we move on to a new one. Our school has plenty of money, but it does not seem like technology is where it is being spent.