E-RATE Powerpoint

National Educational Technology Plan

The National Education Technology Plan, Transforming American Education; Learning Powered by Technology, urges for application of advanced technology to be used in our education system to improve student learning, accelerate the integration of effective practices, and use data and information to support continuous improvement. Each goal addresses the five essential components of learning with technology; which are learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity. It calls for a revolutionary change and encourages our education system to be clear about the outcomes we seek, collaborate to redesign structures and processes for effectiveness, efficiency, and flexibility, and to hold ourselves accountable for progression and results.  The plan reinforces the fact that modern technology is affecting our 21^st century learners, as well as our entire business society.  Rapid development of technology in the world demand ongoing assessments to analyze the continued development in school integration and accessibility. Assessment should also be careful to measure just what it intends to in order to get accurate results. Technology based learning should provide engaging and powerful learning experiences and content. Another goal is that all students and educators will have access to a comprehensive infrastructure for learning when and wherever necessary. Comprehensive infrastructure is necessary for us to move beyond the tradition classroom model into a learning model that expands to anywhere in the world where adequate internet connection is provided. I feel that this plan sets high but achievable standards for emerging education and technology in schools.  It is very thorough about methods to take to achieve this plan.

District Technology Plan...Beaumont I.S.D.

Beaumont Independent School District has goals to continue to be an amazing district with a positive and motivating school environment. With the support of growing technology experiences, the school district can continue to develop and improve in technology. Their technology plan displays the goals, development strategies, and assessment of telecommunication services for the past 5 years. They are currently in line with the Long Range Plan for Technology; however growth has been stagnant over the last two years. Although the Long Range plan classifies B.I.S.D. as developing techs, I think it would be great if they could become target techs in infrastructure, as well as other key areas.  The four major areas of the technology plan are integrating technology into teaching and learning, professional development, administration and support, and infrastructure and technology.  Beaumont I.S.D.’s goals are to incorporate technology as a part of education, provide staff development for emerging technology and integration, include technology based info when making instructional management decisions, and establish human and technical infrastructure to improve access to data and educational resources and communications.  The 21^st century learners live in a very technologically driven society. They depend on educators’ to provide the information that they need to succeed in society. In-service is made available every year during distance training days to support leadership technology development. They have met requirements of using technology for classroom and administrative task. Regular meetings are arranged to insure that Beaumont I.S.D. continues to stay in line with the Long Range Plan for Technology, as well as No Child Left Behind.

Post Web Conference

I really enjoyed my first web conference October 12^th. It was really great to be able to see and talk with my colleagues from all over the world at one time.  I find web conferences to be valuable in my online class because it provides weekly opportunity to have direct communication.  During my first week of graduate school I was overwhelmed with information and requirements, but  communicating with others in  my class that are also working towards their masters helped me to relax and feel more in control. A lot of information was made clear as we covered a lot of handouts and discussed a lot of class requirements.  Before enrolling in graduate school, I was unaware that I had internship requirements. Although I’m always nervous about internships and trying to arrange them into my busy schedule, I’m always amazed at the value the experience brings to my career. I also did not know that this course could guide me into getting a principal certification.  I’m very excited about all of the opportunities and directions that could be available in my future!

Technology Assessment

Technology is very important in the overall development of students and teachers in a school district. Assessing educators’ technology leadership knowledge and skills, as well as student technology skill levels and their perceived needs provide all the basic information to create an individualized technology development plan. Standard judgment is the foundation for assessment, and the assessment sets the layout for standard expectations of skills. Assessments are valuable in providing a reasonably accurate account of what is known. The information found in a technology assessment is imperative in designing a plan of skills and knowledge that may need improvement.  Once all information is gathered from the assessment, the process of planning a thorough and beneficial plan can begin.  However, as with any assessment, there is the possibility of error in measurement, validity and reliability. Nevertheless, a good assessment will have multiple methods to help balance any possible underestimation of measurement.  Not only is assessment a valuable tool for designing a development plan, but it is also a great way for teachers to assess themselves and feel urgency for growth and change. Assessment has a tremendous amount of influence on motivation and learning. Technology assessments are also great at pointing out areas that are commendable so that are can be minimized in the technology development plan instead of becoming repetitive knowledge. If a school is classified as target technology in educator preparation and development, or has high scores in the area of leadership support in online learning on the assessment, then more attention can be given for upgrading another area.