StarChart Analysis- Progress and Trends

The Texas Long Range Plan
Star Chart in Educator Preparation and Development
(2006-2008)
The Texas Long Range Plan (2006-2020) in Technology advises both teacher and administrators in the planning and assessing and making goals in classroom and campus technology. It gives assistance to the teacher and student in technology inside the classroom. The plan also helps schools verify their progress toward the technology goals. According to the Leave No Left Child behind Act, each teacher and child must be technology literate.
Inside the Texas Long Range Plan, there are four areas: Teaching and Learning, Educator Preparation and Development, Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support, and Infrastructure for Technology. These four areas have certain standards that must be attained and sustained. The main emphasis for this writing is in the local, state and national progress and trends of the Educator Preparation and Development area of the Texas Long Range Plan in the years 2006-2008.

The Texas Long Range Plan lends itself to the School Technology and Readiness chart (StarChart) which assists teacher in professional development based on technology profile, provide data in the StarChart for precise school information, and establish funding priorities according teacher and classroom needs, supply data for grants, helps in the formation of campus and district technology goals, helps in the documentation use of NCLB, Title ll part D and resources.

The Educator Preparation and Development is a key area of the StarChart and the Texas Long Range Plan. The StarChart also incorporates four areas that are Teaching and Learning, Educator Preparation and Development, Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support, and Infrastructure for Technology. It assists all teachers and administrators in the planning for technology. Within the key areas there are levels of progress called star classification (Early Tech, Developing Tech, Advanced Tech and Target Tech). The goal is for local and state progression to Target Tech. The Educator Preparation and Development area on the campus level considers professional development of teachers. Under the Educator Preparation and Development area there are six sub areas. The sub areas institute professional development and experiences, models of professional development, capabilities of educators, technology professional development participation, levels of understanding and patterns of use, capabilities of educators with online learning. On the national it includes the following sub areas. multimedia and the internet, administrative tasks,








Progress in Technology

National progress-(information from www.SETDA.org)

The states report a progress in the advancement of the three national goals for 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Primary Goal-
Improve student academic achievement through the use of technology in K12.
Increased levels of 8th grade technology literacy in students
o Alignment of technology investments to academic achievement
goals
o Increases in student achievement in mathematics and literacy
o Expanded, differentiated opportunities for students to learn

Additional Goal (A)
All students to be technologically literate by the eighth grade
Indicators of progress toward goals are: upgrade computer workstations, laptops, decrease student-to-computer ratio, faster networks, and differentiated experiences for both teachers and students.

Additional goal (B)
To foster the effective use of technology resources and systems with teacher trainings and curriculum developments, establish research based instructional methods to be implemented as best practices
Progresses were made in the following areas:
Increased proficiency of teachers, support for teachers, updating district plans, integrating technology in curriculum, linked data system, data-driven decision making, research on student learning through technology, partnerships with other educational communities, differentiated professional development

2006, 2007, 2008 goals are met through the above criteria.

State progress- Campus Statewide Summary
Progress shows a leveling or a plateau of the star classification, Developing Tech in 2006-2008. Early Tech incorporates multimedia and the internet. Technology skills are low, 10% of teachers meet SBEC standards. 5% of funds are allocated to professional development. Developing Tech level is administrative tasks. 40% of teachers meet SBEC standards. 6-24% of funds are used for professional development. Advanced Tech deals with technology into teaching and learning. 60% of educators meet SBEC standards. 25-29% of funds are allocated to professional development. Target Tech in agreement with technology supported learner centered projects. 100% of educators meet SBEC standards. 30% or more of budget is used for professional development.
Local progress- Campus StarChart Summary
Areas which are organized with specialized goals are professional development and experiences, models of professional development, capabilities of educators, technology professional development participation, levels of understanding and patterns of use, capabilities of educators with online learning.
In 2006, the overall star classification in 8; in 2007, there is an advance within the Development Tech of 2 points to a star classification of 10; and then in 2008, there is another 2 point advancement is the development tech status to a star classification of 12 points. Overall, the local progress is development tech.

Trends in Technology
National Trends- (information from www.SETDA.org)
2008:Trend 1: The Cuts to NCLB IID Funding Go Deeper . Funding cuts by congress-60% reduction of national funds
Trend 2: States Are Facilitating High-Quality Research
NCLB llD- according to research by individual states the effect of student achievement is beneficial

Trend 3: Academics Continue to Be Top Priority for NCLB IID
Academics a top priority- increased emphasis in math is the priority, continued emphasis in literacy and strong effort in science

Trend 4: Integration Is Critical to Developing Technology Literacy
Use of integration in the classroom as a means to student being technology literate

Trend 5: State Policies Scale Effective Practices
States are offering fully developed technology programs which are proven to be successful

Trend 6: Progress through Leadership and Professional Development
With funding cuts, States using PD and Leadership to as a key to advancement

Trend 7: Wanted: Digital Content/Digital Learning Environments
National trend that technology digital environment are needed along with high speed networks

Trend 8: Leveraging Data-Informed Decision Making. States are building Data based (informed) instructional decisions to be implemented. States working with local districts to design and implement technology programs
2007: National trends are all for results in technology.
2006: Setting the bar high for technology, continued investment, research, collaboration and leadership.


State trends- There are particular trends showing a development in all key areas with emphasis on teacher preparation and leadership.
Local trends- Shows a plateau in all areas. There is a current trend to emphasize teacher preparation and administrative leadership.

Recommendations
Congress has cut the funding for technology nationally by 60%. States are concentrating in the areas professional development and leadership to advance the technology in schools. My recommendation is to purchase academic technology programs which have been proven successful for school wide use. The technology specialist would then teach the teachers the program and support with the integration into the classrooms. To support teacher, administrators and staff, professional development would be offered.