The National Educational Technology Plan Summary

The National Educational Technology Plan Report Summary

The challenge faced in today’s educational system is to find new ways for teachers to integrate technology into the learning environment of their classrooms that mirrors the technology use outside the classroom and the technology knowledge that they will need in the future. The key to winning this challenge is for teachers to become connected. The connected teaching model calls for access to data, the tools to use that data, resources that enable the creation of lessons that are relevant and engaging and connection to students for learning support both inside and outside of the classroom.


Teaching Aspects:
To reach today’s 21st century learner, teachers must become facilitators and collaborators as they guide students toward independent learning. Teaching must become a team activity, both within the classroom and with other classes and subjects as well.

Teachers as a whole are not as comfortable with the use of the available technology as private sector professionals and this is an impediment to their success in the challenge before them. This gap in comfort level and use of technology prevents the implementation of new and creative instructional practices and learning outcomes. Accordingly, professional development for teachers must change dramatically if this challenge is to be met. Teacher learning, especially in the areas of technology and its uses, must be collaborative and on-going. In addition, if students are expected to learn by being engaged with and interactive with technology then teachers must also have the same expectations from their professional development opportunities.


Learning Aspects:

The major obstacle to meeting the technology challenge is infrastructure. Success means the accessibility to appropriate technology anytime, anywhere and to all education stakeholders (students, teachers, administrators, etc…).

Learning must shift from the traditional book to teacher to student model, with desks aligned in rows and bells signaling beginning and end to one that provides opportunities for learning at the student’s own pace, with peers at the same functional level, grouped in as many or as few as necessary for appropriate learning to take place. The new model must displace the mandatory notion of “seat-time” or the time of year as the guiding principle of when students must be in the classroom or at school.

Goals:

1. All learners will have engaging and empowering learning experiences both in and out of school that prepare them to be active, creative, knowledgeable, and ethical participants in our globally networked society.


2. Our education system at all levels will leverage the power of technology to measure what matters and use assessment data for continuous improvement.


3. Professional educators will be supported individually and in teams by technology that connects them to data, content, resources, expertise, and learning experiences that enable and inspire more effective teaching for all learners.


4. All students and educators will have access to a comprehensive infrastructure for learning when and where they need it.


5. Our education system at all levels will redesign processes and structures to take advantage of the power of technology to improve learning outcomes while making more efficient use of time, money, and staff.