Review: National Educational Technology Plan

After reviewing my district's specific technology plan, I learned more about the National Educational Technology Plan published by the U.S. Department of Education in 2010. This document outlines goals and specific objectives to be implemented nationwide by the year 2020. The two major goals seem admirable, yet quite bold and ambitious:

1. We will raise the proportion of college graduates from where it now stands (around 41%) so that 60 percent of our population holds a two-year or four-year degree by 2020.
2. We will close the achievement gap so that all students graduate from high school ready to succeed in college and careers. 

("National technology plan," 2010)


There are five specific areas of focus to meet the goals stated above. Recommendations are made to improve student learning, assessment measures, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity. 


To meet the challenges of succeeding in a connected and global society, learners must master both advanced content and 21st Century skills. In our classrooms, we must provide students with real-world problems to solve through collaboration, critical thinking, and the use of appropriate technology. To make sure that these unique students are engaged, educators must be willing to provide them with choices and "personalized learning experiences". ("National technology plan," 2010)


The plan also outlines how teaching must continue to adapt to the expanding use of technology. A teacher can no longer be a lone wolf, quietly working independently from everyone else. The new norm is "connected teaching," where teachers work in collaborative teams and form various professional learning communities that include other teachers, administrators, experts, and community leaders, both local and global. Professional development must also change to meet the needs of connected teachers. The plan mentions the movement toward self-directed learning, and I believe that teachers will learn more and achieve better outcomes with these types of opportunities. 


I personally agree with many of the strategies outlined to meet goals for teaching and learning. I also see the value of the major goals outlined at the beginning of the report. The first goal seems quantifiable, and it will be easy to see if the U.S. is able to succeed. However, the second goal seems much more vague and open to various interpretations. A national plan is a great way to standardize expectations for the educational system. Unfortunately, the system of separate state standards, budgets, and legislative procedures seems like a great challenge to the implementation of national strategies to reach these goals.


Reference
(2010). National technology plan 2010: Executive summary . Retrieved from U.S. Department of Education website: http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/netp2010-execsumm.pdf