To ensure that students today are being provided a 21st Century learning environment and equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to work or achieve higher education, the Texas Long-Range Plan outlines the necessary parameters and guideline to achieve this goal. Teaching and Learning Domain of the Texas Long-Range Plan focuses on all learners:
- having access to technologies tools, resources and services to individualize learning 24/7
- use information and communication technologies to collaborate, construct knowledge and provide solution to real-world problems and situations that are encountered
- use research-based strategies in all subject areas to improve academic achievement
- communicate effectively in a variety of formats for diverse audience
In this digital society, students must be taught to take an active role in their learning. The skills needed to succeed in the global marketplace are collaboration, evaluation, and communication. Teachers’ today are challenged with seamlessly integrating technology and creating a learning environment that allows for students’ development of these skills in a manner that is individualized and relevant to the student.
This is a high challenge and task for educators today. The district I work in, with the support of the community has taken this challenge head on by creating technology rich learning environments. The district has provided a 3 to 1 laptop ratio at the high school level, 1 to 1 at the middle school level, provided 5 laptops per classroom in grades 3-6 and 1 desktop to students in grades PreK -2. Each campus is also provided a minimum of one computer lab. Is this ideal, no, but it is a step in the right direction. The decision to create technology rich learning environments has been driven by the Texas Long-Range Plan, data collected in the district and the vision of the district. The district places individualized, engaged instruction at the forefront of professional development for teachers. The district makes use of technology as a learning tool that should be integrated with the learning not as a separate entity. Overall, I think our district is well on its way to a fully integrated technology in the educational environment. I also believe the vision of the district allows teachers the opportunity to explore new ways of teaching with technology.
