Teaching and Learning

The Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020
Teaching and Learning

The introduction of technology into the classroom provides an equalizing factor for students across the state of Texas. Technology brings the opportunity for distance learning and virtual learning regardless of student population, location, or background. With this onset of technology, schools will be responsible for providing access to relevant technologies, use appropriate and research-based strategies to use the technologies for application in real-world problems and situations, and provide opportunities for additional communication.

Across the state and according to the 2007-8 data, 69.7% of campuses are performing at a "developing tech" stage with regards to Teaching and Learning. An additional 25.5% of campuses are at "advanced tech" and the remaining less than five percent are split between "early tech" (3.9%) and "target tech" (.9%).

My campus, Castleberry Elementary, scored a 14 which put it just barely in the "developing tech" category as opposed to the previous years where we had scored in the "advance tech" category with a 16 (2008-9) and a 15 (2007-8).

I chose to review this area of the Texas Long Range Plan because it is the area that my district is scoring the lowest in and therefore is the most personally relevant area of need for me to address.

According to the state summary, "developing tech" refers to Teaching and Learning that is primarily teacher-directed and students use technology to access information and develop basic projects. Technology TEKS are met, but the full of advantage of technology integration is not realized. To progress my campus to "advanced tech" again as it once was, I would suggest technology projects that encourage and necessitate peer interaction. Technology should be planned to solve problems and have real-world application instead of simply teaching the program. Application is the key component missing that will push our campus to a higher rating on the Teaching and Learning component of the STaR Chart.