One of the four areas of the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology 2006 – 2020 is Educator Preparation and Development. This area addresses the need for educators to be fully prepared to teach 21st Century learners by ensuring full integration of appropriate technology throughout all curriculum and instruction. The vision for the future includes ongoing professional development for educators to acquire technological skills they must have and educator preparation models that incorporate technology standards in a way that prepares future educators to enter the profession with the skills needed to teach today’s digital students. The vision can only be realized through a collaborative effort from TEA, SBEC, regional service centers, school districts, higher education institutions, parents, communities and the private sector.
The Texas STaR chart is a tool assists in the measurement of the impact of state and local efforts to improve student learning through the use of technology. The chart collects information that can be used by state and local agencies to determine professional development needs as well as other technology decision such as funding priorities.
The 2009-2010 STaR chart results for my campus indicate a negative trend in the area of educator preparation and development. This is a critical component of technology integration in curriculum and instruction. Local efforts to provide adequate professional development and training are insufficient. Statewide, 2009-2010 results show higher percentages in the advanced tech range than in previous years indicating a positive trend.
My recommendation for improvement in this area is to increase professional development and training opportunities at the local level. Professional development should be ongoing and job embedded. Professional learning communities focused on increasing educator mastery of Technology Application Standards should be developed and encouraged. I also recommend the addition of a middle school technology specialist whos primary goal is to provide ongoing professional development and in class support for teachers ona regular basis.
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