E-Rate and FISD District Technololgy Plan Overview

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National Educational Technology Plan Summary & Reflection

The main goals set forth in the National Education Technology Plan (NETP) states that the students graduating with either a 2-year or 4-year degree need to increase from 41% to 60% by 2020.  It also states that we need to close the gap that currently exists from those students leaving high school and entering college or the workforce.  The plan states that learners need an environment where they need to be able to learn 24/7.  Testing needs to be done though technology.  By having these assessments done through technology data will be gathered so that we, the teachers, can learn about how our student’s best learn.  By providing learning through technology, students can become self-learners with real world experience.  In the Executive Summary portion of the document it stated that“…widespread agreement exists that teachers by and large are not well prepared to use technology in their practice…” (Kay 2006). Pre-service teachers need to acquire the technology in order to incorporate it in the classroom while in-service teachers need to continue in their education to keep up on the most recent technologies available. Teachers become separated from knowing what is taking place in the real world and need to build  partnerships with the work community so their students can begin to make connections. Teachers need to have available 24/7 access to data and analytical tools to aid their students in learning.  Teachers need to also be facilitators and collaborators in their students self-learning.

District Technology Plan Reflection

The District’s Technology Plan has four goals listed as follows:  the district will provide learners to all relevant technologies for individual instruction; the district will provide meaningful staff development to train faculty to implement technology in instruction;  the district will provide the resources to ensure proper uses of technology by faculty, staff, students, parent, and the community; and the district will provide a technology infrastructure that will facilitate communication and collaboration between faculty, students, the local community, international experts, and global databases. Some of the strategies include ensuring eLearning software is available, teacher support for web pages that help student foster online learning, staff development on project-based learning, and students creating technology products. Professional development opportunities are available in district periodically. They normally are during summer months or during the spring, and are presented by our IT Director.  These classes normally do not have any fees that go with them.  They are offered during the teachers off time (after school or during summer break). Only teachers interested in technology attend. Teachers are also encouraged to attend Regional Support Center training in technology. The equipment normally has the current or recent version of software. Within the past couple of years fiber optics was ran to the elementary schools to increase the bandwidth of the schools. The software is updated by our tech support staff.  If there are ever issues, we can notify the support person and they remedy the issue promptly. We have a program that the school uses to assist in teaching technology.  Speaking with our IT Director and personal knowledge of how teachers do things on the campus, the programs are not being utilized. With budgets being cut, there is never enough money to acquire new equipment.  This year our technology money went to the Middle and High School to acquire new technology (IPAD2s).  The campus that I am on WIFI is very spotty, and not much technology is being used toward student self-learning.  The technology committee meets once a semester to evaluate and make any adjustments to the vision of the technology plan.  Each person that is responsible for each strategy is held accountable to ensure the strategy is being performed.   

Resource: Farmersville ISD 2010-2013 District Technology Plan

The Pros and Cons of Technology Assessment

Accessing both teacher and student knowledge and skills on their levels can be a benefit. First of all, teachers and students should be able to see where their strengths and weaknesses are in technology. It would give each an area in which they know where they need to study to increase their technology knowledge. Next, in a classroom that is lead through technology, the teacher does not become the leader anymore but a facilitator. The teacher may know many things about technology but have weaknesses in some technology areas. The teacher may have a student in their classroom that may be more knowledgeable and should rely on that student’s knowledge to be able to lead. A couple of years ago, my daughter was in 4th grade. They were required to put a Power Point together on various animals. The teacher didn’t know much about Power Point and could not answer many of the students’ questions. My daughter was able to go around and assist other students on their presentations. Another positive is that a teacher will know how to group students on technology projects. If the teacher placed a lower tech savvy student with a higher tech savvy student, the higher leveled students should be able to provide the support the lower student may need.


Draw backs to using technology assessment to test knowledge and skills could be that the person is a great test taker and therefore scores higher than what they truly know. In cases like this, the student may become discouraged because they try to do more than they really know how. The teacher may put them in situations that would lower that student’s self-confidence.

Web Conference Week 2

Today’s call was very beneficial.  I know that my equipment now works.  It took me a few minutes to understand how to operate the software.  I am glad I can now participate and not just listen.  Reviewing things for the Masters Program was great.  I am glad that I was able to get a big picture of what will be required of me to complete the program.  I do feel extremely overwhelmed at the amount of work.  I am concerned about when school starts back and the amount of my teach time and college time will mesh.  I know that I cannot get behind, and that I must take one day at a time. I really enjoyed getting ideas on how to tackle some of the assignments from other students.  Sometimes I look at the assignments and don’t know where to start.  The conference time is quite a benefit that I know will help me make it through the program.  I look forward to next week’s call about going over the handbook.

1st Web Conference

The first video conference was very valuable.  I was not able to get connected with my camera or headset, but I was able to see how the video conferencing software worked.  Since then, I have changed to a different computer that should run the required devices with the program used to complete the next web conference correctly. It also allowed me to know something about the others that are in the classes with me.