National Education Technology Plan

The US Department of Education recently released a draft version of the National Education Technology Plan in response to its realization that national emphasis and priority must be placed on the advancement and progress of our students in the area of technology. If our students are to remain competitive in the global economy, they must be educated in the newest and most advanced digital resources, tools, and technologies available today. The National Education Technology Plan (NETP) outlines 5 major goals in the areas of Learning, Assessment, Teaching, Infrastructure, and Productivity and includes recommendations for districts, states, the federal government, as well as all other school stakeholders. The five goals are:
(1) Learning - All learners will have engaging and empowering learning experiences both in and outside of school that prepare them to be active, creative, knowledgeable, and ethical participants in our globally networked society.
(2) Assessment - Our education system at all levels will leverage the power of technology to measure what matters and use assessment data for continuous improvement.
(3) Teaching - 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) Infrastructure - All students and educators will have access to a comprehensive infrastructure for learning when and where they need it.
(5) Productivity - Our education system at all levels will redesign processess and structures to take advantage of the power of technology to improve learning outcomes while making more efficient use of time, money, and staff.

The NETP places specific emphasis on the areas of Teaching & Learning and Professional Development & Training. A major challenge in today's classroom is the development of relevant and engaging learning experiences that not only satisfy a set of core academic standards, but also allow for personalized instruction and activities that appeal to individual goals, interests, and talents. Today's students are surrounded by technologies that provide them with instantaneous and continuous access to digital resources, social networks, and multimedia. By embracing and encourage the utilization of these technological tools and resources, we can truly create a classroom without borders or limits. Another challenge faced by districts and states in today's educational setting is the attracting and retaining of qualified, innovative, and enthusiastic professionals. In order to improve the quality of teacher education and preparedness, professional development must evolve from its episodic and ineffective roots to a more collaborate, coherent, and continuous practice. An attitude of connectivity and support must replace the traditional isolationism many teachers experience, and online professional environments are an ideal way to create expanded opportunities, immediacy, convenience, and resources for both new and experienced teachers.

One overreaching issue that many states, districts, and campuses are going to face in their efforts to implement technology plans and standards falls in the area of budgeting and resources. Districts with a large low economic status population are dealing with students who do not own personal computers, cell phones, iPods, etc. The question of how to successfully provide technology resources and tools to students, while educating them in the proper and effective use of these tools, combined with the budgeting shortfalls and cuts that are facing essentially all districts, will certainly become a major component of any technology plan.