So How Bout That Long-Range Plan?

Given the evolving state of global economics, constant and instant communication/information, and increased life expectancy, we are in an urgent situation concerning education. We can no longer afford to teach in the graveyard: aligned desks with quiet, paper and pencil note taking students. Digital students in today’s classroom should be actively engaged in gathering information, exploring new ways to apply that information, and collaborating globally to problem solve.

The Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology is an ambitious attempt to address many challenges in preparing our increasingly diverse population with timely and appropriate technological educational environments. Some of these challenges include accessibility, consistency, and integrating technology applications across all contents and all levels. One goal is for all students to be technologically literate by the end of 8th grade.

The implications for this plan include funding on many levels, ongoing professional development, and curriculum alignment, relevance and application. Each of these requires communities of educators and stakeholders to form an alliance of accountability, responsibility, and commitment to providing the best possible scenario for all Texas students. Educators are to be prepared and supported through state, local, and regional services. Collaboration among educators and stakeholders supplies a foundational support of the infrastructure for technology.
Planning for the future and actually accommodating those plans are daunting tasks. Staying current with technology software seems almost impossible. However, the Long-Range Plan for Technology provides the basic foundational goals to sustain the evolution of the 21st century student.

As an instructional leader, it is overwhelming to digest all the immediate needs. Immediate needs are funding, building and materials, and professional development. The current economic crisis further complicates the implementation of curriculum resources and alignment. The infrastructure is weakened by lack of commitment among stakeholders. These urgent issues create difficult barriers. A successful infrastructure system: creates equitable access to all e-learning technologies; provides timely technical assistance; maintains secure and accurate data; provides data standards to support all users. Data showing student achievement through technology learning environments should afford opportunities for validation.

What can we do now? Education leaders need to serve as technology integration models, provide and support professional development, research ways to overcome the barriers through positive collaborative communities.