Long range Plan for Technology

As the state of Texas proceeds to implement the Long Range Plan for Technology, one area of concern is the preparedness of teachers and if they will be able to handle the rapid changes in today's technological world. From the inception of the public education system until as recently as 15 years ago, teachers have always been the major source of knowledge in the classroom. With the rise of the Internet, digital media and other technology advancements, teachers need to become more of a facilitator of the information rather than the source. Although the availability of hardware and software and the resources to provide them is a concern to many districts in the State of Texas, the primary concern should be supplying teachers with training needed to use these resources in their classrooms. Many districts have adopted technology focused professional development into their yearly in-service days. But from this we can see another issue arise. Is the training meaningful and will teachers be able to apply the training in their classes?

At Hardin-Jefferson I.S.D. it has become common for teachers to be required to complete one or two days of technology training each year. These days are in addition to once a month training sessions held after school for all faculty. To help make the training meaningful the district takes a yearly survey of students, parents and teachers to determine what types of training would improve classes. These surveys provide the basis for technology leaders to know what each surveyed group feels is important, and allows them to focus on providing the best possible training for teachers.

Going forward though, educators are going to have to become proactive in acquiring the training they need to keep up with the ever-changing face of technology. They will need to see the direction in which technology is going and the speed at which it advances, then adapt their teaching styles to accommodate these advances. Without the proper preparation and training of teachers, students will suffer and many will not be sufficiently prepared for life in the real world.