Blog Posting #3

National Educational Technology Plan of 2010 Summary

What does the US Department of Education have to say about the future of our technology and education on our country? After reading Transforming American Education: Learning Powered By Technology, which is a Draft of the National Educational Technology Plan of 2010, I was given a vast amount of information regarding educational goals.

This draft includes goals for 5 different areas which include: learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity. In also includes "grand challenge problems that should be addressed at a national level.

The draft concentrates a heavily on the goal of learning. These goals expect all learners to be motivated and given the opportunity to learn both inside and outside of school. Their schools must train them to be active, creative, knowledgeable, and ethical contributors to society.

The draft also discusses the area of teaching. The goal is for educators to be assisted individually and in groups by technology that includes data, resources, experts and experiences that produces efficient instruction for all learners.

Professional development is another very important goal that the draft addresses. Without the proper training, teachers can not be successful in instruction. The major goal is provide the tools needed before and after they enter the teaching profession. They must acquire the learning experiences that allow technology use by methods that promote learning, assessment and instruction.

The draft challenges the teachers to provide individualized, personalized and differentiated instruction. I feel this is important; however I fail to see exactly how to implement this method of teaching into my classroom. I know that many students learn better this way, but knowing and executing are very different scenarios. I would like to see more specific ideas of how this goal can be accomplished.

Overall, the draft is a great way to assist educators and students in preparation for our technology-rich future. I am eager to see what our nation's educational system looks like 20 years from now. Will our goals be reached?

Reference:
Education, U.S. (2010, March 5). Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology. Retrieved June 5, 2010, from National Education Technology Plan of 2010: at http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/NETP-2010-final-report.pdf

Shawntee' Cowan