Blog #1 EDLD 5352 EA1210 Texas Long-Range Planning for Technology

As part of the leadership course EDLD 5352 with Lamar University, students had to write an opinion about one part of the Texas long-range plan for technology. I have chosen to discuss the area of Infrastructure for Technology as it relates to my campus. To begin with, Infrastructure for Technology deals with the aspects of students per computers, internet access connectivity speed, other classroom technology, technical support, local area network wide area network and distance learning capacity. My current campus has made many strides to make sure that our students have access and training in the required technology curriculum as well as the students attend computer class once a week. The school district uses many versions of cloudware, which allows access to various types of computer programs without having to purchase software for each computer or campus. Technology is integrated daily into the lessons and the district offers professional development opportunities throughout the school year. Professional development is not only taught on the district level but during the Spring semester classes are offered once a week, at the campus level, for educators to learn about the latest technology or further develop their skills. In addition, professional development occurs during faculty meetings to allow for technology specialists, fellow educators and administrators to share information about new technology or useful websites that will help teach the 21st Century learner. The trend seems to be that school districts are proactive in providing technology skills to their students as well as encouraging educators to teach technology with ease to match the capabilities of the learners of today. Educators are highly encouraged by campus and district administrators to seek out further knowledge and to ensure that goals are met by 2020, technology classes are offered for free. All that is required of educators is dedicating time to attend professional development and incorporate the necessary skills learned into daily lessons. In my personal opinion, I feel that the districts must continue to offer training to educators in order to ensure that all goals are met in regards to the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology. Even though today's economy determines what funds are received, the state must continue to provide the means to meet all goals. By doing so the districts are bringing their educators into the 21st Century in order to match the skills of the present day learners as well as searching for innovative ways to teach the tech savvy generation of learners today.