National Educational Technology Plan

Week 2 - Blog Post #3 - National Educational Technology Plan

The National Educational Technology Plan is an extensive document geared towards the successful implementation of a unified pathway to teaching and learning through the use of technology. The plan calls for commitment by all to ensure success for using technology effectively. Through planning and recommendations from thousands of professionals throughout the nation the plan was born to shape the vision of the future of education.

The plan is recommended five strategic goals that must be met:

1.0 Learning
2.0 Assessment
3.0 Teaching
4.0 Infrastructure
5.0 Productivity

Each goal is meticulously detailed in order to provide a vision for the nation's future.

1.0 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. ("Transforming american education:," 2010)

This goal is set up to expand what we learn, how we learn, where and when we learn and who needs to learn. It is evident that we all must be lifelong learners due to the use of technology. It is a great shift towards continuous learning.

2.0 Assessment - Our Education system at all levels will leverage the power of technology to measure what matters and use assessment data for continuous improvement. ("Transforming american education:," 2010)

This goal is set up to measure, document, analyze and evaluate the use of technology in education and use the data to show continuous improvement. This will be done by assessments, conducting research, and revising prior practices to always find a way to continuously improve the way technology is used in education.

3.0 Teaching - Professional educators will be supported individually 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. ("Transforming american education:," 2010)

This goal will allow teachers to connect with others through collaborative teaching, have every tool at their disposal, be mentors to others, and will be provided with professional development to ensure success. Teaching will be transformed to provide effectiveness to ensure students learn through the use of technology.

4.0 Infrastructure - All students and educators will have access to a comprehensive infrastructure for learning when and where they need it. ("Transforming american education:," 2010)

Perhaps one of the bulkiest goals in the plan, it will allow for learning at anytime and anywhere. Broadband access for all, increased access devices for every student and educator, increased educational resources and support are the pillars of this goal. Infrastructure will be transformed to provide for 24/7 learning and new and emerging technologies.

5.0 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. ("Transforming american education:," 2010)

The bottom line with all these goals is money always rules the day. Wasteful spending will be reduced, decisions will be data driven, developing new learning models, and expanding the school year are all aspects of the productivity goal. Productivity should mean the same thing to everyone, reducing cost should be of the utmost importance, making the right choices on what to implement, revitalizing the learning system and making sure this success carries over into the workplace or higher education.

Though the outline goals of the National Educational Technology Plan our nation's teachers and students will have every opportunity to enhance learning and create engaging and effective student achievement through the use of technology. The plan is a powerful call to the state educational systems, school districts, administrators, educators, students and parents to wake up and do more. It states a clear vision as to where our nation should be and wants to be soon.

Office of Educational Technology United States Department of Education, (2010) Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology, National Educational Technology Plan 2010. Retrieved from http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/NETP-2010-final-report.pdf