Brock Junior High STAR chart data

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Texas STAR chart

After looking over recent data from the Texas STAR chart, I would like to analyze the category of Educator Preparation and Development. This category should be one that sits heavily on the hearts of all administrators and teachers. I think we are in big trouble in this area. Statewide in 2007-2008, only 0.6% of campuses report being in the target or ideal range of this category. That number is actually down from the previous year's 0.7%, which is a pathetic number as well. The majority of Texas campuses sit in the "Developing Tech" area. Our students today deserve for us to be prepared and preparing them. I think Texas has to get aggressive and serious about certifying more Master Teachers of Technology. We need to be offering paid incentives for these programs (not having teachers pay to get the certificate) and offering stipends to those who have this certification. If the state of Texas is really interested in raising the level of educator preparedness in the area of technology, they need to put their money where their mouth is. The Long Range plan for Technology speaks of wanting to run a close race with countries like China and Japan. We cannot begin to do that until we have teachers who know how to teach what our students need to know. Our students are not leaving high school prepared to enter today's workforce. Even an entry-level job requires computer skills these days. Texas must get serious about preparing the educators before it can get serious about preparing the students.

Pre-K Technology Guidelines

The pre-kindergarten guidelines for technology provide a framework for future technological learning. The pre-K guidelines discuss using appropriate computer terminology which is carried over in the K-2 TEKS. The pre-K guidelines also talk about using a variety of software programs with sound, video and graphics (multimedia), which also carries over into the K-2 TEKS which discuss publishing and accessing a variety of multimedia formats. The pre-K TEKS addresses creating both written and artistic works on a computer. This correlates with the K-2 TEKS which already assumes the students know how to do basic word processing and paint applications.

The pre-K TEKS provide a great base to build upon throughout the grade levels. However, because pre-kindergarten is not required in Texas, many students have not had this knowledge before they enter school. This forces a re-teach of basic concepts and may delay the mastery of all TEKS later on.

Texas Long Range Plan for Technology

I am actually encouraged by reading the Long Range Plan for Technology compiled by the Texas Education Agency. It is encouraging to me to know that the state is not only aware of the technology shortcomings of its schools, but is making a plan to do something about it. The plans laid out in the document are very necessary. Equitable access to technology, professional development opportunities for teachers, a reliable infrastructure, and effective leadership are all quite necessary and are severely lacking in many school districts today. I will be interested to see if the state is able to follow through with the objectives laid out in this plan. Hopefully, it won't be modified down to an unrecognizable version of its former self.

Week One Assessment Reflections

After completing both of this week's reflections, I realized several things. The first is that I have not worked for a school, in the past 8 years, that has access to the appropriate amount of new technological resources. The second assessment asked a variety of questions relating to technology used by staff and students. I realized in answering most of those questions that our students do not use technology near enough. My response to most of those survey items would have reflected poorly on the district I currently work for as well as the one I worked for previously. I do not know any teachers who are using technology in "new and innovative ways." All of the teachers I have worked with and work with currently consider themselves lucky if they get in the lab more than once a year. I do and did work for small, rural districts with very little funding for technology. However, I think more than funding, it is not seeing the benefit of upgrading technology. They have the, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," philosophy. They feel that what they have is sufficient and see no need in upgrading.

The second thing I realized was that, despite the fact that I am more advanced than most I work with, I need to upgrade my technological skills. I can navigate around word processing software like a champ and am almost a pro at Power Point. The internet and e-mail never have me stumped. However, that is about where it ends. I rarely, if ever, integrate multimedia components into my presentations. I have not used a database system in ten years and I couldn't remember how to use mail merge if I tried. The first assessment asked about my personal skills and I can tell you, I need an upgrade.