The Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology (06-20) is a shared goal for all Texas students and educators. It is designed to move the education system towards a more technologically integrated approach. With the major informational and technological changes of the past decade, it is imperative that we help students achieve a proficient level of technological literacy. By doing this, we will provide our students with valuable skills that will help them be competitive in a technological society.
In order to achieve its main goal of providing a dynamic, individualized education for all children, the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology sets the guidelines for moving the Texas education system towards a more technological integrated environment. These guidelines are established in the plan’s first domain: Teaching and Learning. While all domains are interdependent and crucial for the success of the plan, my opinion, as an educator, is that domain one is the most pertinent. The theory behind domain 1 is that not all students learn the same, education is “not a one-size fits all” entity. As an educator, I know that when I walk into a classroom, I will have a class filled with students who have varied learning styles, expectations, needs, desires, interests, etc. My duty as an educator is to reach each of those students and teach them not only the basic reading and math skills, but also to be thinkers and problem solvers. Teaching in the classroom is no longer a drill and drill again approach Students need to be exposed to visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning. They are encouraged to work collaboratively to think about and solve problems, learn about the world around them, and to apply what they know to new situations. The new and continuing advances in technology make this easier than before. Furthermore, the use of technology has made differentiated instruction an easier task. In short, the integration of technology has made education and learning more accessible to all students. The notion that learning is not the same for each child but that all children should have access to quality learning which integrates technology is the main component of Domain One.
Students are now able to use technology to research, analyze, create, communicate, etc., and they are able to do so at their own pace. Current trends are to allow access to youtube, texting, blogging, Webquests, collaborative sites such as Globe, and other technological applications to increase student productivity and achievement. In my opinion, these changes have been positive. To make continued positive changes, it is imperative that students granted more autonomy in their instruction and freedom in the use of technology.