12.+NETP+Summaries

For those who missed one of the first collaborative sessions, please follow the directions below to complete the makeup assignment focusing on how your individual technology initiative connects to the NETP, (National Educational Technology Plan). Also, be sure to listen to archived recording of each session missed.  1. Click on the link below and read the Executive Summary PDF of the NETP. 2. Create a separate component to your Technology Committee's collaborative medium and communicate a summary of the NETP and how it relates to your technology initiative. 3. Email instructor acknowledging the completion of the summary. As President Obama has set new and, in my opinion, essential goals for education. If we plan to continue to compete as a world power we must educate our youth so that they are able to communiate and survive in a global economy. This means ensuring that they receive college educations so that they are able to enter the work force with the skills necessary to compete and help our country to flourish. While setting a goal to increase the number of students who graduate from college is extremely important, we must ensure we are teaching them skills they really need to know or else the goal of increasing college graduate rates is pointless. By redesigning our educational system as it exists and then monitoring our progress in order to make changes as needed we ensure that we are keeping up to date on technology and making modifications as needed. Stagnant change is the same as no change. Rather than fearing change we must embrace is and do so quickly to ensure that we do not get left behind. This means educating our teachers so that they can in turn teach our students the skills necessary to be succesful 21st century learners. This concept goes hand in hand with the use of technology, as this is a medium that can be used to connect with people from around the world. It is also necessary because technology is everywhere, and its use only grows more and more prevelant as the years go by. We must ensure that our students are prepared for a global society and embrace change rather than fear it.
 * For those who missed 2 sessions, (in addition to above):a. Extend on the summary of the overall NETP to include a summary for each of the 5 essential areas of the plan; //learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity, //and how your technology initiative adheres to each. b. Email instructor acknowledging completion of summaries. 
 * For those who missed more than 2 sessions, (in addition to ALL above):a. Review full NETP PDF, focusing on the "Reaching Our Goal" component for each area and discuss how your technology initiative relates to each goal. b. Email instructor acknowledging completion of "Reaching Our Goal" components.
 * __1. NETP Summary:__**

//Learning:// Because our goal is to engage students in their own education in order to ensure that they are self sufficient learners who are prepared to enter the work force or college, my initiative focuses on acquiring new technology to replace our outdated computers and other equipment. As the NETP article states, we need to make learning relevant for each student and focuses on the reality of their futures. The world today is very different than the one that existed prior to the creation increasing reliance on technology. We need to seriously revamp the entire educational system if we want our students to be prepared for the world that is waiting for them after they leave their current academic setting. Another valid point made in the Learning portion of the article is that while we might not be able to take our kids to many of the places we learn about in school, the internet and technololgy in general open up new windows and make available more resources than we have ever had before. These resources are literally at our fingertips, so we should take advantage. //Assessment:// When I first saw the title assesssment I assumed this article was referring to the traditional paper and pencil test. Instead this means moving away from traditional assessments and actually examining how to teach to see how effective it really is. We need to measure what is being taught to ensure that it is effectively teaching and preparing our students for the future. We also need to involve numerous stakeholders so that there are peole from many different areas of expertise contributing to the education of our youth. Technology based assessments can be ued to see how students learn best and to modify teaching as needed to ensure that students get the most out of their educational experience. I agree with this statement, and because of my initiative and the technology that it would make available assessments would be easier to create, administer, and assess. //Teaching: In the current classroom setting in the United States teachers are essentially alone the majority of the day. They do not interact with other teachers in the classroom. This gives a one sided undimensional learning experience to the students. The NETP believes in connected teaching. This would mean a shift from traditional teaching methods to a team approach in which teachers create online learning communities and environments that are holistic in nature. Everyone, from the librarian to the parents of students would be part of this learning environment. Students would be responsible for their own learning and would take a self directed approach to absorbing material from the many people in the community. My initiative would focus on making technology readily available to students and teachers; this is absolutely essential in order to carry out the concept of an online community. Students could participate in forums, parent and colleagues could give insight into teaching and learning, and students and teachers could connect with others from around the world. This type of education would be practial and more relevant to our students today, as we are becoming and increasingly globalized and connected society.// In//frastructure: In order to manifest the idea of a connected, globalized educational system professional development must be carried out on a regular basis so that all stakeholders are prepared to participate fully. My initiative calls for regular professional development for staff in small groups in order to give one-on-one attention and education on how to effectively use technology. If this is not done then the technology that we have worked so hard to acquire would be wasted. As the NETP article states, in the past forty years there have been unprecedented advances in computing. Now the technology available for educational settings is endless. We must train our staff and students to properly use this technology so that it is put to good use. While we have made strides towards making technology available, we must now completely transform education instead of taking small steps over time. Productivity: In order to increase productivity we need to make the most out of every dollar we spend on technology education. The economy is facing a tough time right now, and because of this we need to make sure we are getting everything we can out of the technology we have. This means assessing the ways in which things are being done to see if there is a more efficient way of meeting our goals, managing costs and cutting out ancillory items we do not need, which in turn will lead to higher productivity Our overarching goals need to be changed in order to meet our needs today. This will lead to a more productive society because we are focusing on what is absolutely essential and cutting out items that are not really necessary. I hope that the technology I acquire in my grants will help to increase productivity because it can be used to edcuate staff and students on how to be a productive member of society with the tools necessary to be successful. It people are trained on how to use this technology and we cut out tools we do not truly need then we will be much more productive and effective in our educational practices.//
 * __2. Essential Areas of Planning Summary:__**


 * __3. Reaching Our Goal Summary:__**