Infrastrucutre for Technology-Texas STaR Chart

The goal of Texas public schools is to develop a technology infrastructure that maximizes the educational benefits of all technologies while keeping costs down and improving collaboration and communication among all campus stakeholders. This infrastructure will provide easy access to tools needed to promote a society that collaborates and is truly connected. Districts must also have highly-skilled personnel that understand to maintain the needs of the districts infrastructure. Data-driven decisions allow for vast amounts of information and resources that tie directly to curriculum and instruction planning. The goals of the district are to provide a quality education for all students that are customized and personal to meet the needs of the 21st century learner.

Statewide, the level of progress is in the advance tech stage. Meaning, more students have more connectivity and access to web-based learning. Locally, my campus is lingering in the developing tech stage. This could be attributed to the lack funds available to allow for better technology to be more accessible, a lack of general staff knowledge on the uses of technology education, or multitude of other problems that face many small, rural school districts.

The need for change is obvious, campus leaders need to be exposed to the variety of uses technology can fulfill. Having meaningful district and campus wide professional development in educational technology will allow for the dialogue to begin and new educational mediums to be exposed and used. Knowledgeable school leaders can apply for grants to further their educational emphasis on technology and promote a campus striving to change to meet the needs of their students.