National Standards

After reading both the National Educational Technology Plan: Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology (United States Department of Education, 2010), and The Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 (Texas Education Agency, 2006), it seems they have multiple points in common. The philosophy presented in both documents is essentially the same however; the national plan explores to a greater depth the needs of the 21st century learner.

The national plan has five priority areas: Learning, Assessment; Teaching; Infrastructure and Productivity. The plan focuses on transforming the US education system so it can meet the demands of a 21st century society. That phrase "transforming education powered by technology" is found throughout the plan.

The plan is recommending a major overhaul of the United States education system. It describes a system where technology will play a key role in overhauling the existing system to better meet the needs of students today. An Education system having more student-centric and constant accessibility is the goal. The plan is encouraging a move to "connected teaching" so that teachers will no longer have to work as independent facilitators but instead with the help of technology, they can teach in teams.

Overall, reading the national plan provided me with no overwhelming insight that the Texas plan did not already cover in one degree or another. I found the information fantastic and realistic, but the only real problem is training the teachers and curriculum writers. Once the curriculum focuses on student exploration and problem solving as opposed to rote memorization of content, then much of this plan will be assimilated with ease. I believe current curriculum forces this plan into a slow implemented schedule.


Kahan, K, Brite, T, LaGow, R, Torres, T, Freguson, K, & Little, N. Progess report on the Texas long-range Plan of Technology
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/comm/leg_reports/2008/08pr_to_lrpt.pdf

Atkins, D, Bennett, J, Brown, J, Chorpa, A, Dede, & Fishman, B http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/NETP-2010-final-report.pdf
from United States Department of Education Website: http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/NETP-2010-final-report.pdf