Thursday, March 3, 2011

Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology

The State of Texas Long Range Plan for Technology for 2020 called for a future-focused system of education for young Texas learners, preparing each student for success and productivity as stated by Robert Scott our Commissioner of Education. Increased funding has led to educational technology grants that are focused on technology literacy and integration has impacted thousands of students in Texas. Through these grants, districts are redesigning curriculum and teaching practices to work toward 21st Century classroom goals. Reporting from grantees shows that teachers are producing interactive lessons that incorporate technology and students are excited about their learning. Many districts are also report that student achievement scores have also increased as a direct result of strategic technology use at school and at home.
The use of digital technology in Texas schools plays a fundamental role in changing teaching and learning and preparing students to live and work in the 21st Century. Technology can be used to provide access to engaging and rigorous digital content; improve teacher effectiveness; analyze real-time, on-going data to individualize instruction and measure student progress; and develop professional learning communities that foster the home, school, and community connection.
With new 21st Century digital learning content, technology, and resources, these recommendations are more attainable than at any other time. In the 2009-2010 Texas Campus STaR Chart showed that many campuses moved from the Early Tech level into the Developing and Advanced Tech levels over the timeframe included in this progress report on the Long-Range Plan. More than half of Texas campuses rank themselves at the highest two levels on the STaR Chart (Advanced Tech or Target Tech). This shows worthwhile progress towards the goals of technology integration throughout the State of Texas.

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