Long-Range Plan

WOW! I had no idea how thorough the long-range plan for technology in the state of Texas was! It is hard to believe that Phase I will be coming to a close soon and that it will soon be evaluated to determine the plan of action for Phase II. I particularly liked the comprehensiveness of the plan to include goals for students, teachers, leaders, and the infrastructure.

I definitely agree with the need for the change. School as I knew it growing up (and it wasn't that long ago!) has changed considerably. I've even noticed the impact of technology with my eleventh grader and seventh grader. My seventh grader is using technology applications much sooner than my daughter who is a junior. The educational system does need to prepare our students for the future, whether students choose to continue their education or join the work force. To enhance the level of engagement, teachers must help students see the how technology helps them learn and how it can be used in all areas of their life by helping them learn how to acquire information.

I was surprised by the survey of teachers that only 57% felt that student performance was impacted by student engagement. I would have expected it to be a much higher percentage. As a leader I need to keep in mind that teachers feel that technology has made their job easier, so I will need to continue to find ways to use technology to assist teachers in making their job easier.

I found the section on educator preparation and development very informative. That is a very critical piece to the success of the plan. As a leader, I will want to be part of that staff development with teachers so I can embrace the learning with them and model the use of technology as well.

One of the biggest hurdles I found in the plan is the budget to support the technology. I know our district is in a financial bind and I'm wondering how this will impact technology.

I agree with all aspects of the plan, so embracing the plan as a leader will be something I can support. My biggest goal will be modeling the use of technology and gathering data regarding the technology. I want my staff to be open about their use of technology and share concerns and celebrations with me.