Texas Long Range Plan for Technology - Teaching and Learning

The Texas Technology Long-Range Plan focus area of teaching and learning includes a vision with the statement, “The key to success for all students is the assurance that they are fully engaged in their learning processes and that there are opportunities in their schools, libraries, homes, and communities that stimulate and initiate this engagement.” According to the plan, all learners will: (1) have access to relevant technologies, tools, resources, and services for individualized instruction 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, (2) use information and communication technologies to collaborate, construct knowledge, and provide solutions to real world problems and situations, (3) use research-based strategies in all subject areas to increase academic achievement, and (4) communicate effectively in a variety of formats for a diverse audience.

Local, state, and national educational entities have made progress in the area of teaching and learning. Most campuses today have computer labs, where students have access to high speed internet, printers, and scanners. Districts and states require students to acquire a minimum level of technology proficiency in courses such as keyboarding and computer applications. Districts also offer more advanced technology courses in areas such as computer software and/or hardware, networking and security, digital editing and imaging, publishing, etc. Some positive trends in the area of teaching and learning include the purchasing of distribution of student laptops, the reversal of bans on cell phones and Ipods, and the utilization of today's digital tools to communicate effectively with students all over the world and of varied backgrounds and ethnicities.

While positive advances have been made at the local, state, and national level toward progress in technology's impact on the area of teaching and learning, there is still even more progress to be made. There are still many schools who house only one computer lab for upwards of 1500 students, creating a near impossible situation for teachers to effectively incorporate technology into their daily instructional practice. In addition, most schools still place bans and restrictions on the student use of devices such as cell phones and Ipods. Rather than ignoring these technologies, we should be embracing them and teaching our student the varied and effective use of such devices. Instead of blocking websites, we should also be instructing our students in the responsible and ethical use of Internet sources. If we are to truly assist our students in becoming globally competitive in today's digital age, we must stop resisting the new technologies available to us and them.