National Educational Technology Plan

       On March 5, 2010 the U.S. Department of Education released a draft of the National Educational Technology Plan:  Transforming American Education:  Learning Powered by Technology.  This plan describes how information and communication technologies can help transform American education.  It provides goals to inform state and local educational technology plans, and recommendations to inspire research, development, and innovation.  The following includes excerpts from the National Educational Educational Technology Plan: 

     The NETP presents a model of 21st century learning powered by technology, with goals and recommendations in five essential areas: learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity. The plan also identifies far-reaching "grand challenge problems" that should be funded and coordinated at a national level.

The challenging and rapidly changing demands of our global economy tell us what people need to know and who needs to learn. Advances in learning sciences show us how people learn. Technology makes it possible for us to act on this knowledge and understanding.
 
National Educational Technology Draft Plan
Goals and Recommendations
The NETP presents five goals with recommendations for states, districts, the federal government, and other stakeholders in our education system that address learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity. The plan also identifies far-reaching grand challenge problems that should be funded and coordinated at a national level.

Learning
All learners will have engaging and empowering learning experiences both in and outside of school that prepare them to be active, creative, knowledgeable, and ethical participants in our globally networked society
.Assessment
Our education system at all levels will leverage the power of technology to measure what matters and use assessment data for continuous improvement.
Teaching
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.
Infrastructure
All students and educators will have access to a comprehensive infrastructure for learning when and where they need it. 
Productivity
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.

          There are still critical factors for achieving these technology goals.  There continues to be a need for more time to accommodate for technology-related professional development.  There is always increased demands on the time of all personnel and scheduling for professional opportunities is always a challenge.  There is also a need for technical personnel to support the existing and new technologies.  Needs for necessary skilled personnel to support the demands on all areas of computing is a continuous challenge.  There is also a need for increased instructional technology personnel in the classrooms.  Developing new positions in instructional technology could allow for the development of lessons geared towards our technology-minded students.  Also there is an ongoing demand for technology funding.  Funding is probably a challenge for all districts.  Districts try to focus on funding sources such as grants and E-Rate for assistance.  We want all of our student to benefit from increased technology so that they can be successful in the 21st century.