Texas STaR Opinion response

The Texas STaR chart can be used as a reflective tool for teachers and campuses to evaluate their progress with the Technology Application TEKS. The Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2010 has set standards for instruction, educators, administrators, and infrastructure in regards to technology. One of the four specific areas of focus is Educator Preparation & Development; this section concentrates on better preparing educators with professional development experiences, models of professional development, increasing capabilities of educators in technology, increasing the level of understanding and patterns of use and to increase the use of on-line learning. Teachers need to be prepared with technological advances since our past learning has been absent of technology. Throughout the state you see a lack of progress for higher technology levels. The majority of the state is labeled as only Developing Tech, and the trend is moving towards staying this level in the focus area of Educator Preparation. On our campus the trend for Educator Preparation and Development is the lowest rating consistently from year to year. We are absent of progress for this focus area, we are not improving our teachers with technology. Suggestions to gain forward progress would be to implement more professional development courses into the work day. On district days, we should involve a professional development that exhibits instructional strategies in an actual classroom versus just introducing the technology to teachers. We also need to implement follow-up days and constant connection between the staff and the technology facilitator. This would encourage usage of the technology, and also given real world examples versus just program instructions.