Texas Long Range Plan for Technology Review 1

This is a review of one part of the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology prepared for my class at Lamar University. EDLD 5352. Enjoy!

I choose to write about the Teaching and Learning area of the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 because before we can do “new things in new ways” as Presnky (2005) suggests then we have to have new things to do in new ways. That means we need to decide what we’re going to teach and how to do it. The area called Teaching and Learning is about what we’re going to teach with and about technology. It suggests that all learners are provided for in four areas: (1) have technology provide opportunity for 24/7 for learning, (2) use technology to solve real-world problems, (3) use technology to improve learning, and (4) communicate effectively in different ways with different people.

Right away I see a big problem with the first area the plan outlines. Schools may set up avenues for access 24/7, but many of our students locally do not have 24/7 access to technology. Are we to purchase computers and provide internet services to all families? We can’t even pass something as benevolent as universal health care without people freaking out. Socialized technology?
Even assuming you could achieve this goal, I don’t see it happening where I teach. Our schools are afraid of technology. “NO CELL PHONES!” is the policy posted all around campus and I’m guessing ours is not all that unusual. We need to find ways to be inclusive of this very powerful piece of technology. How? That’s what we need help defining.

I would say that if the state is serious about its goals concerning technology then the first step is with the new STAAR exam. No more test booklet, no more answer document, no more oaths to sign make it all online. Lead the revolution from the top-down. I guarantee that if they rate us using technology, we’ll start teaching with it.