Reflections on 2010 Progress Report on teh Long-Range Plan for Technolgy 2006-2020

I read through the 2010 Progress Report on the Long Range Plan for Technology 2006-2020 and learned about many programs initiated by schools, ESCs, and TEA that I had no idea existed before now. Some examples include Technology Immersion Pilot (TIP) schools. TIP provided wireless mobile computing devices to each students with the access to software and other online resources. TIP has given schools a "rich understanding of web-based resources that are at their fingertips. Trained teachers have the confidence to use tools and strategies for learning that leverages the best technology can offer in support of student excellence and achievement." (p. 26) I also learned about the K-12 Databases. The purpose of the online databases is to provide 24/7 equitable access to students, educators, and parents across the state to a "comprehensive collection of full text periodicals, biographies, primary source documents, essays, almanacs, reference books, pamphlets, newspapers, transcripts, photos, maps through user-friendly, grade-level interfaces." (p. 71) One of the programs I have heard about before is Project Share. I was first introduced to it during an MSTAR trainer of trainers PD I attended last Spring. "It is a collection of Web 2.0 tools and applications that provides high quality professional development and an interactive and engaging learning environment."(p. 81) Close to a quarter million teacher accounts has already been created. With Project Share, teachers can collaborate with teachers across Texas and around the globe and showcase teacher and students accomplishments. It's an innovative approach to learning in the 21st Century. A fourth program I learned about was Just in Time Online Tutoring. Each student in the program had an unlimited number of online tutoring sessions for the duration of the pilot. The students could log on anonymously and connect with a live tutor. There were incentives provided to encourage students to use the resource and an ongoing marketing campaign. Student response was "overwhelmingly positive." They used the resource "extensively" and "were extremely comfortable with the entire experience." (p. 74) These are just a few examples of the many technology initiatives going on around the state.