Instructional Leader -- Week 2 -- post #2

The Texas Education Agency’s “Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020” indicates great progress over the last few years and great opportunities for improvement in the future. A number of technological advancements have made a change in education in recent years. Handheld devices such as digital phones and lap-tops have become ubiquitous fixtures of society. Also, online learning has become commonplace. The use of these and other technologies were tested by the state with the TIP. The Technology Immersion Pilot attempts to harness the power of recent advancements, giving students 24/7 access to technology resources. TIP has assessed the possibilities and predicted outcomes of students immersed in technology. Specific districts were given these resources. Their progress was tracked and monitored by testing and surveys. The progress report also assesses developments in four categories: Teaching and Learning, Educator Preparation and Development, Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support, and Infrastructure for Technology. Each of these areas is monitored and surveyed through the Star Chart report issued by the state. Most of the graphs and statistics are based on Star Chart results. Not only has technology provided more relevance to students but it also enhances efficiency, understanding, and application. In addition, distance learning has made education more equitable to all students. Educators continue to seek professional development opportunities to integrate technology into curriculum and instruction. According to Star Chart data leadership support for technology in the classroom and professional development is trending positive. Also, accessibility to the Internet and strong technical support increased over five percent just in the last year.