Tuesday, March 10, 2015

"National and State Technology Standards"




"National and State Technology Standards"


As you read the Introduction to the National Education Technology Plan, what did you determine to be the purpose of the National Education Technology Plan? How does it affect teachers and students, people like you and me? (feel free to be critical if you like).
After reading the Introduction to the National Educational Technology Plan, I believe the purpose of the plan is to reinforce the Equal Education Opportunities Act of 1974 by adding a technology plan to the Equal Education Opportunity to all students regardless of race, demographic area, disability, or age.
It affects teachers when schools do not have updated Wi-Fi or technology in their building or classroom. Students already use their smart phones at school so we might as well embrace the technology use. It also affects teachers when their students’ knowledge surpasses their knowledge. School districts must provide additional learning opportunities for their staff as well. School directs usually have a limited funding so money can have a huge impact on the amount of technology a school can provide.

As you read the Introduction to the National Education Technology Plan (NETP), what were the main assumptions under which the plan was developed?  (you may copy and paste the main assumptions, and then answer the question below in your own words). Many of the failings of our education system stem from our failure to engage the hearts and minds of students.
“MAIN ASSUMPTIONS:
·         What students need to learn and what we know about how they learn have changed, and therefore the learning experiences we provide should change.
·         How we assess learning focuses too much on what has been learned after the fact and not enough on improving learning in the moment.
·         We miss a huge opportunity to improve our entire education system when we gather student-learning data in silos and fail to integrate the information and make it broadly available to decision-makers at all levels of our education system—individual educators, schools, districts, states, and the federal government.
·         Learning depends on effective teaching, and we need to focus on extended teams of connected educators with different roles who collaborate within schools and across time and distance and who use technology resources and tools to augment human talent.
·         Effective teaching is an outcome of preparing and continually training teachers and leaders to guide the type of learning we want in our schools.
·         Making engaging learning experiences and resources available to all learners anytime and anywhere requires state-of-the-art infrastructure, which includes technology, people, and processes that ensure continuous access.
·         Education can learn much from such industries as business and entertainment about leveraging technology to continuously improve learning outcomes while increasing the productivity of our education system at all levels.
·         Just as in health, energy, and defense, the federal government has an important role to play in funding and coordinating some of the R&D challenges associated with leveraging technology to ensure the maximum opportunity to learn.”


What are some concerns administrators, educators, or even students might have with these assumptions?
As I mentioned earlier money would be the largest concern. Our economy is still recovering and tax payers are not as willing to give school districts more funding. Some districts have older buildings and the Wi-Fi is not up to date so that would be an additional cost. It is a wonderful idea that every school in America had updated technology in their building but I am afraid that it is not possible without funding.


As you read the Executive Summary, the NETP presents a model of learning powered by technology, with goals and recommendations in five essential areas. ( You may copy and paste the areas directly from the document and then answer the question below in your own words).
“GOALSs and RECOMMENDATIONS: learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity.”
What are the “21st century competencies” - see the section titled “what and how people need to learn”- listed in the summary? How will technology support the growth of these competencies?
“Our schools are directed at teaching the “21st century competencies” which are:
·         Cognitive skills: critical thinking, problem-solving and knowledge application, creativity 
·         Interpersonal skills: communication and collaboration, leadership, global and cross-cultural awareness
·         Intrapersonal skills: self-direction, motivation, learning how to learn”
Let’s look at how technology can support cognitive skill, collaboration, and motivation: It gives teachers the recourses to share ideas and information, for example, lesson plan, blogs, and You-Tube videos are just a few ways to share the information with other teachers around the country. It also provides another dimension to classroom learning by creating an exciting classroom environment. It grabs student’s attention.


As you read The State of Ohio's Educational Technology Plan's "purpose and mission" (page 6), how do you believe it aligns with the National Education Technology Plan? In which respects are the two plans perhaps not aligned?  Why?
After reading both plans; The State of Ohio’s Educational Technology Plan and The National Education Technology Plan are very similar. They both believe we need to use technology now rather than later. The Ohio plan seems to concentrate on grades PreK-12 whereas the national plan focuses on everyone. Again both plans think that technology should be implemented in the classroom as soon as possible.

As you read Ohio’ s State Educational Technology Plan outlined on page 8, how do you believe this outline aligns with the "model of learning powered by technology, with goals and recommendations in five essential areas" proposed by the National Education Technology Plan?  In which areas are the two plans perhaps not aligned?  Why?
Ohio’s plan wants to educate more people through virtual learning to all Ohio learners, develop curriculum for advanced learners and for foreign languages. Plus provide state of the art professional development for teachers. The national plan focuses on improved learning through advanced technology for everyone, not just the state of Ohio. Both plans would not require any cost to the student.

As you read Ohio’s State Educational Technology Plan's "measurements of success" (page 16), what barriers do you see to fulfilling this plan? Provide four reasons why it may not be possible to reach these "measurements of success" in the state of Ohio.
I believe there are many barriers with both plans; first, it takes time and money to provide every school with the proper Wi-Fi along with the additional money for computer and other things needed. Secondly, the added funds needed to maintain the equipment and training for the staff.  Thirdly, having staff that are qualified to teach dual credit courses could be limited and will take time to train and qualify. I personally am not convinced that online is the future of educating grades PreK-12. Students still need interaction to survive in real life.


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