The Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020: Teaching and Learning; Educator Preparation and Development; Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support; or Infrastructure for Technology, is posted on the Texas Educaiton Agency website. The report includes recommendations in four areas:
*Teaching and Learning
*Educator Preparation and Development
*Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support
*Infrastructure for Technology
Domain 2: Educator Preparation and Development states that it is very important that educators stay abreast of all the resources available for professional development. (State of Texas, Texas Education Agency, 2006) They must be willing to increase their personal knowledge of teaching and technology and model that knowledge in their classroom. According to the 2008-2009 STaR Chart a majority of teachers rated themselves at the "Develping Tech" level. According the the STaR Chart descriptor that means most of our teachers use technology for administrative tasks and classroom management. They also use some online resources and less then half of them meet SBEC standards. Administrators of these teachers expect them to use technology and less than one quarter of the technology budget is allocated for professional development.
The Educator Preparation and Development is an area that is getting more attention today. Educational needs should drive staff development and technology needs, not the other way around. Mary Burns and SEDL in "From Compliance To Commitment:..." have shown that professional development should embed technology within the curriculum stressing a minimum set of technology skills within a collaborative, learner-centered environment. This strategy proved to be very successful.
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