Opinion Piece: TLRP - Teaching and Learning

http://http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=5082&menu_id=2147483665

Use the link above to access the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020.

One of four areas of technology development being monitored in the public school system is the area of teaching and learning. This area focuses on using technology as a way to expand student’s exposure from their immediate surroundings to cultures around the world. By doing so, all students will receive a more equitable education as technology can be used to individualize the learning based on student’s specific needs. For teachers, this means being able to change curriculum, instruction, and assessment to better incorporate technology. Teacher and student roles will change as students begin to direct their own learning and teachers simply provide them with the tools they need to make progress in their endeavors.
Locally, forward progress is being made in this area of the plan. My own campus has not reached target goals in this area, but is very close. This is unfortunately not the case for the state at large. Most districts are lagging far behind in simply acquiring basic classroom technologies. Compared to the nation at large however, Texas is doing well and has a workable plan in place.
For improvement in this area to take place, I believe that more teachers need to be trained in online learning and need to begin to incorporate this intentionally into their district’s curriculum. I also believe that the state needs to look at adding technology into each individual subject’s Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, because unless teachers are required to incorporate technology, there is always going to be persistent resistance to change.