National Educational Technology Plan

      The National Educational Technology Plan (NETP) has two goals in mind: raise the proportion of college graduates from 39% to 60% holding a 2 to 4 year degree; and close the achievement gap so ALL students graduate from high school ready for college and career success.  To accomplish these goals, we must meet the technology needs that are constantly changing.  Technology has become an interdependent part of our everyday lives and we must act now in order to decrease the number of high school drop outs. The NETP has created a technology model consisting of five areas: learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity.
     One of the suggestions for becoming closer to our goals is effective professional development.  Teachers are expected to implement technology in the classroom, but do not receive high quality training.  I completely agree with increasing the time and quality of professional development.  The majority of training is done in a half-day workshop that leaves us with more questions than answers.  If we expect the students to learn more and be more successful, our instruction should be more effective.  That can be accomplished with better professional development.
     Another suggestion is that learning be more relevant to daily experiences and realities.  Well, the reality is that technology is dominating our lives.  No longer are the simple lecture and textbook as effective as they used to be. We must change what and how we teach.  We need to engage and motivate the learners and that can be done through the implementation of technology.
     The goals can be achieved providing the plan's recommendations, educator and student compliance, and sufficient equipment needs are met.  Without this, technology will advance without us and the future of education will be bleak.  I am certain, however, that the desire and intention are strong and success is near.
    


Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology.  March 5, 2010.  Office of  Educational Technology.  U.S. Department of Education.