Technology Long Range Plan Progress Report

The Texas Long Range Plan for Technology is a plan for technology use in Texas schools. It has four areas of technology that it discusses and it provides recommendations for how these areas can be improved by different groups that are involved in education in order to try and meet the goals of the vision that is set out at the beginning of the plan. This technology plan is reviewed every year, and the progress is documented in the progress report.
The first section of the long range plan deals with teaching and learning. This section of the plan deals with ensuring that students across the state of Texas have equal access to technology and its benefits without regard to the various factors that could affect how much access students have to technology and other resources. The next section of the plan discusses the STaR chart results that relate to teaching and learning and how the teachers in the state of Texas rated themselves and the school on this section. This section also lists pilot programs that the state of Texas has initiated to try and meet the goals for teaching and learning. One example is the Connections Grant. This grant helps to get teachers, schools, and students working together working on building relationships with others around the state.
The second section of the long range plan deals with educator preparation and development. This section deals with the quality and quantity of educator preparation and development that occurs in relation to technology. The next section of the plan discusses the STaR chart results that relate to educator preparation and development and how the teachers in the state of Texas rated themselves and the school on this section. This section also lists pilot programs that the state of Texas has initiated to try and meet the goals for educator preparation and development. One example is Project Share. This is a way for teachers from around the state to get together for professional development using web 2.0 tools. This is a way for teachers to get professional development without leaving home anytime day or night.
The third section of the long range plan deals with leadership, administration, and instructional support. This section deals with the amount of support that is given for technology advancement from the people in charge of decision making. The next section of the plan discusses the STaR chart results that relate to teaching and learning and how the teachers in the state of Texas rated themselves and the school on this section. This section also lists pilot programs that the state of Texas has initiated to try and meet the goals for leadership, administration, and instructional support. One example is E-Rate funding. This is a way for schools and libraries to get discounts on necessities for getting technology into the classrooms. It is based on need and is analyzed annually.
The fourth section of the long range plan deals with infrastructure. This deals with the important components of technology that make technology and the tools that use technology work effectively. The next section of the plan discusses the STaR chart results that relate to infrastructure and how the teachers in the state of Texas rated themselves and the school on this section. This section also lists pilot programs that the state of Texas has initiated to try and meet the goals for infrastructure. One example is the computer lending pilot program. This program helps get computers to students and their families so that they can use technology at home and at school. The computer is loaned to the student and if desired, the family can try to work towards purchasing the computer.
After looking at the technology long range plan and the progress report I was amazed at how much work the state of Texas has done to try and get our schools and our students to be technologically literate. I also wonder how much time and energy my school district puts into finding money for technology and what kind of technology we could have in our district if we attempted to use more of these programs and grants. We always here there is no money. It makes me wonder if that is really the case.