My+Thoughts

The above was originally published January 26, 2010 at http://hwscott.edublogs.org/2010/01/25/my-thoughts-on-texas-star/ “The Texas Teacher STaR Chart has been developed around the four key areas of the //Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020//: //Teaching and Learning; Educator Preparation and Development; Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support;// and //Infrastructure for Technology//.” The Educator Preparation and Development area is one that I want to focus on. Many educators feel that there is not enough training before they are expected to use new technology. Case in point, we have a new lesson planning program that is completely on-line. It was introduced to us during the summer. It was “supposed” to be in place prior to the start of school. This did not happen. We started school with our old lesson planning software (which is also on-line) and the new program was implemented a few weeks after school started. The problem arose when no one could remember the training. We were basically told to sink or swim, because our techs have classes they have to teach and they would get to teachers who needed help when they could. The good thing is that the program is relatively simple. It also is “supposed” to keep us from having to make copies of the lesson plans for our folders (…not). It is also “supposed” to be easy for the principals to retrieve (…do not know if they do this or not). A look at the STaR Chart pretty much backs up what I have said. The Key Area STaR Classification in 2007 – 2008 was more than 74% of educators felt that their school was at the “Developing Tech” level. That was the level for our school also. Teacher must model the effective use of technology in our classrooms. To do this, teachers must have time for ongoing, sustained professional development. The hit and miss approach does not benefit the teacher or the students. We owe it to our students to be prepared, that includes appropriate training on a timely fashion.