So how are we doing?

Texas has done an incredible job of looking to the future and incorportating technology. The School Technology and Readiness (STaR) Chart has listed as its key areas: Teaching and Learning, Educator Prepartation and Development, Administration and Instructional Support and Infrastructure for Technology. The following will be a summary of the advancements made and the place we are headed.

We as educator wear many hats. We must learn to adapt to the changing technological advancements in our world. We must be mentors to our students and even co-workers. We cannot be afraid to access the new technology and look for ways to integrate it into our lessons. We do know that we must find ways to have students use the internet safely. Plus we can continue to look for ways to increase distance education. There are many advancements in the realm of Teaching and Learning. The key is remembering that both are lifelong endeavors.

In order to prepare ourselves for technology, we have to secure time to get better at using it. Our administrators continue to be tasked with finding time for their teachers to plan. It is crucial that this time is used wisely. We must also take advantage of the professional development that is set up for us. In the college and university educator preparation programs they are being instructed to provide applicable training with technology. One continued task is to serve the veteran teachers with various technology advancements. Websites like the Technology Application Teachers Network, provide teachers with opportunities to incorportate technology into the classroom.

As an administrator, you must continue to provide opportunities for teachers to develop their technology savvy. Administrators do this by facilitating and implementing technology into the campus structure. Also allocating budget for new technology has been extremely beneficial to the classroom and its students. STaR also provide administrators with data regarding the needs of the campus along with setting goals for each teacher to accomplish.

With the all of the above improvements, we cannot get anywhere without the development of the technology infrastructure. This does mean more than cables and computers. The human element will be vital to the success of any technology innitiative. By school districts hiring technology positions to support faculty and students, they are showing a committment to the goals of the state. This infrastructure can be unlimited! Connecting schools, districts or even bigger than that.

Each region 1 thourgh 20 are all setting goals for their regions to meet. They have alloted time and professional development opportunities that will provide for the necessary training in technology advancement.