The National Educational Technology Plan (NETP) 2010 calls for a radical and highly needed transformation of our public education system. The goals contained within this plan are aggressive. To make matters worse, projected federal and state revenues are significantly reduced making the future of public education clearly uncertain. What is clear is the need for cost-effective and cost-saving strategies that improve learning outcomes and graduation rates for millions of Americans. Technology will help us execute these collaborative teaching strategies combined with professional learning to better prepare our students and educators. The five areas the NETP identifies to help close the educational gaps are learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity.
Learning
Learners must have engaging and empowering learning experiences available 24/7 to help them become effective and global participants. The challenge is to find ways to combine technology with learning that reflects today’s modern society. A core set of standards-based concepts should form the basis of what all students must learn and reflect emerging technologies which are integrated into all content areas to create meaningful learning. Differentiated learning is huge focus with data driven instruction guiding what and how students learn. Through engaging and empowering lessons, students will become motivated to be successful, life long learners.
Assessment
Educators must utilize technology to measure what matters and use assessment data to drive instruction for continued improvement. Through the use of technology-based assessments, data about student learning can be achieved instantly and employed to improve student success. Online learning instruction provides greater insights into how students learn and facilitate deeper connections. Additionally, embedded assessment technologies in the form of virtual games and collaborative environments can be used to motivate and engage learners while assessing multiple skills.
Teaching
Technology connects educators to data, resources, and learning experiences that empower and inspire effective teaching. Connected teaching enables our education system to provide access to effective teaching and learning resources that are not available any other way. Online communities provide tools for educators to collaborate, share, support, and develop resources with and for one another. Online learning supports students and districts with limited resources and provides high quality teaching and courses for all learners. Through the use of connected teaching, learning needs are met for all students and teachers.
Infrastructure
All students and educators must have access to a strong infrastructure that support learning 24/7. Infrastructure as defined by NETP refers to people, processes, learning resources, policies, and sustainable models in addition to effective hardware and software. The goal is for every educator and student to have access to at least one wireless access device and appropriate software use when needed. This entails consistent access to the internet and wireless connectivity both in and out of the school. Additionally, open education resources (OER) must be utilized to create 24/7 learning opportunities for all students.
Productivity
The education system must redesign the current public school infrastructure to ensure the most efficient use of time, money, and staff through the best use of technology. This redesign must be made with the desired outcomes predefined. The role of public education has changed and must reflect the times we live in to ensure that our students are prepared for their future. Continuous measurement and data collection must become second nature for educators to track costs with outcomes. Education needs to re-evaluate classroom structures, think outside the box, and even consider multi-age groups based on learning needs.
Technology can enable transforming education, but only if we commit to the change that it will bring to our education system. Creative funding, grants and contracts must be identified to help bridge the gaps in state and federal funds needed for this technology restructure to occur.
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