BLOG 2: Progress Report of the Long Range Plans

Planning gives us a focus of where to go. Standards keep us geared towards the level we are trying to achieve.The Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020, was adopted in 2006 with the goals in mind that an engaging and "future-focused system of education" would prepare students to be successful in our 21st Century global and technological society. This plan communicates its recommendations to the stakeholder. The 2008 progress reports documents its progress of two main programs implemented between 2006 and 2008, progress toward the domains, data from the STaR Charts, summary of Regional ESCs services.

The Technology Immersion Pilot provided six criticial components of technology resources that were shown to improve student achievement; thus testing full technology immersion for teachers and students. Through this pilot, the state learned that students with full immersion had higher achievements; parents learned that the world was being brought to their child's fingertips; (Texas Education Agency, p.10). Teacher reports of the pilot indicate "more engaged learners...more positive behaviors...increased academic achievement... and positive impact on special students." (p.19).
The progress report documents the schools that were showcased as a result of the TIP (p.22-26).

A report from the Texas Virtual School Network, which offers electronic courses, was also included in the progress report in 2008. with summaries of the quality review program that was established for the program. Many findings came about from these efforts including the need for teachers to be trained in legal and ethical issues, training for effective use of the technology, quality online teachings is equally important as the quality of teaching in the traditional classroom (p.34). Funding recommendations for expanding online classes are presented on page 36 of the report, stating that "Every student should have access to TxVSN courses and this should be a pare of a students' right to a free education" (p.36).

The progress report contains multiple other pieces of documentation which fall under the four key areas of the Longsuch as the following:NCLB requirements and integration, Alignment to College Readiness,Recommendation of Texas Teacher Resource Center, TechLiteracy Assessment, mandates for the School Library Programs.

The final section of the progress reports is devoted to a summary of each Regional ESC in Texas. This section outlines key information and demographics of each center and documents the technology services provided for each key area of the TLRP. For example, Region V held an Administrators Technology Academy that "focused on the 21st Century tecnology and how it can help administrators" (p.149).

Through in-depth planning, our state has targeted the standards that we must accomplish in order that we educate our students to thrive in our global society. The progress report is a great resource for administrators because it communicates efforts to improve education, and demonstrates activities that have been completed through that effort. It can inspire technology facilitators or central office adminstration to improve the use of technology in order to increase student acheivement.

Texas Education Agency. (2008). Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020. Retrieved from http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/comm/leg_reports/2008/08pr_to_lrpt.pdf.