Blog Posting #3 - National Educational Technology Plan

Transforming American Education:  Learning Powered by Technology

The National Educational Technology Plan (NETP) calls for an aggressive overhaul of the American Educational system.  It calls for not only a learner-centered approach to education but also a massive retooling of the foundation of our educational system.  It would do away with “seat time” requirements and age level groupings. Students would be promoted when they have mastered the content standards and not be required to attend a class for 180 days regardless of whether or not they need to.

The five areas that NETP focuses on to help close the educational gaps and infuse technology into the curriculum are learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity.

Learning:  Engage and Empower

Goal:  All learners will have engaging and empowering learning experiences both in and out of school that prepare them to be active, creative, knowledgeable, and ethical participants in our globally networked society (U. S. Department Of Education, 2010). 

In order to achieve this goal we will need to implement standards and learning objectives using technology for all content areas that reflect 21st-century expertise and the power of technology to improve learning (U. S. Department Of Education, 2010).  Schools and states will also have to develop and implement learning resources that exploit the always on nature of the internet and allow learners the flexibility of anywhere anytime learning experiences. 

Assessment:  Measure what Matters

Goal:  Our education system at all levels will leverage the power of technology to measure what matters and use assessment data for continuous improvement (U. S. Department Of Education, 2010).

To achieve this goal states and districts will have to develop and implement assessments that give real time feedback to students and teachers.  Using interactive technologies, such as games, will provide both the learner and the educator immediate feedback as to how the student is doing and they will keep the learner actively engaged and motivated.

Teaching:  Prepare and Connect

Goal:  Professional educators will be supported individually and in teams by technology that connects them to data, content, resources, expertise, and learning experiences that enable and inspire more effective teaching for all learners (U. S. Department Of Education, 2010).

Today’s educators should have access to technology-based resources that allow them to access experts in business and best practices in their content area.  Business professionals have been using online communities and resources as an important part of their professional lives for several years.  Educators must start utilizing these resources as well in order to be prepared to teach their students to be productive in the 21^st century. 

Infrastructure:  Access and Enable

Goal:  All students and educators will have access to a comprehensive infrastructure for learning when and where they need it (U. S. Department Of Education, 2010).

To achieve this goal all students and educators will have access to high speed broadband 24/7 and have at least one wireless device for their use.  This goal is going to take a lot of work and funding to achieve.  The community and businesses are going to have to get involved to help achieve this goal.  Due to the current economic conditions, I am most concerned about the nations ability to successfully implement this goal.

Productivity:  Redesign and Transform

Goal:  Our education system at all levels will redesign processes and structures to take advantage of the power of technology to improve learning outcomes while making more efficient use of time, money, and staff (U. S. Department Of Education, 2010).

Public education has to change to reflect the times we live in to ensure that we are producing effective 21^st century learners.  Education needs to re-evaluate classroom structure, consider multi-age groups, and allow learners to move on once a standard is mastered not when seat time has been achieved. 

Technology can transform the American Educational system, only if the stakeholders commit to the change.  In order for this plan to be successful we, as educators, parents, and community members; must open our minds to the possibilities that technology can offer us and let go of our predefined notions of education. 

U.S. Department of Education (2010). Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology. Retrieved from http://www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010