Response to: National Education Technology Plan Puts Technology at the Heart of Education Reform

In an article provided by The Journal author David Nagel focuses upon the release of the final version of the Obama administration’s National Education Technology Plan (NETP). This plan was released by United States secretary of education, Arne Duncan. Essentially this is a federal policy statement that puts technology at the heart of proposed changes to the way education is delivered in the United States.

In a previous draft of the NETP, revealed in March of 2010, suggestions were made in regards to proposed fundamental changes to classroom instructions. These changes consisted of incorporating business like practices within the classroom, as well as extending learning through implementing longer school sessions and creating more access to internet based learning.

With the release of the newest NETP revisions have been made, but this plan does support a majority of the 2010 draft proposals. The NETP is now calling for the integration and application of advanced technologies in which are used in our daily lives.  It is believed that this method will improve student learning, increase the adoption of effective practices, and be useful for collecting data and information for continuous improvement. It presents five goals with recommendations for states, districts, the federal government, and other stakeholders. Each goal addresses on of the five essential components of learning powered by technology: learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity .

Accompanying the NETP, Arne Duncan stated his support of these ideas in an open released statement.  Duncan stated that throughout the past 15 years technological advancements and transformations have occurred world wide.  Agreeing that such technological advancements have taken place, Duncan feels that teachers have not advanced enough or not keeping up, along side with technology development.  He also states that educators need to be professionally developed and well connected to the content and resources available in order to effectively teach to all students.

I completely agree that the delivery of education must adapt and improve along side with technological advancements. I also feel that professional educators must also adapt and grow with the ever changing advancements in technology as well.  Children are so exposed to technology everyday without the help of schools providing it, so how are teachers that are unwilling to learn supposed to properly educated students at an up to date pace.  If Category 5 Teaching of the NETP goals are to support educators individually and in teams by technology that connects them to data, content, resources, expertise, and learning experiences that can empower and inspire them to provide more effective teaching for all learners, I don’t see any problem.  As educators we help students to learn and develop, how can we have such expectations for students if we are not willing to learn and develop ourselves.