Moving Up the Technology Ladder: Developing our Educators for the Climb

Technology Table Terms (TEA's STaR Chart Report)
My campus is developing. At least according to the Campus Statewide Summary table, it is. This table, reflects the four stages and descriptors for Texas campuses to move along from being called an "Early Technology" school to a "Developing Technology" campus, then to an "Adanced Technology" one to a school using "Targeted Technology" criteria. Since 74.2% of the reported campuses in Texas are also called "Developing," my campus would appear to be in the norm. Should we want to stay there? Certainly not. To teach our budding technology students for the 21st century, we must set our mark at the highest standards and strive to get there. How? Administrators must realize their part in putting professional development and leadership for technology at the top of their agendas. Time must be provided not only for learning but for plannng, implementing and integrating it into daily, weekly, and/or semester lesson plans. Accountability systems must be in place and momentum with motivation need to drive the action.

Defining "Developing" and Depicting Improvement
For a campus to be at the "developing technology" level, only the second of four stages, technology is used for administration tasks and classroom management. Online resources are available. 40% of educators meet SBEC requirements. School leaders expect teachers to use technology. Budgeting allows for 6-24% in technology training for educators. To climb to the next level, "advanced," integration of technology into teaching and learning would need to take place to a bigger degree and online resources would need to be used daily. The 40% would need to increase to 60% for educators meeting the SBEC requirements. The use of technology would be used at an above average rate, and more budget money, from 25-29% allocated toward professional development would need to take place. In my opinion, with concerted efforts before the school year starts, and with careful planning and communication, a campaign could take place, giving the teachers an opportunity to buy into the plan. With ongoing monitoring and measurement procedures in place, and with just a few more points in our favor, the campus could move to the next rung on the ladder.

Not the End in Trends
Texas is not alone in the technology trend toward educating our students for the 21st century. According to the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS), generally speaking, there are expectations set for responsibilities for administrators, teachers and students so that in a collaborative effort, we can all prepare to function with the technological challenges ahead. Each with their own criteria, according to these standards, must seek to demonstrate competencies in several categories as a leader, an educator or a student. All things considered, I believe Texas is not only on its way but it realizes the severity of this trend.