In 2006, the Texas Education Agency issued a report to the legislature and the people of Texas outlining a plan for technology’s role and implementation in education. The resulting Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020, addresses for areas for technology: Teaching and Learning; Educator Preparation and Development; Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support; and Infrastructure for Technology.
It is the infrastructure that makes the other three areas possible. The plan itself says, “The infrastructure of a school is the critical element of support for all four areas of this plan: teaching and learning; educator preparation and development; leadership, administration and instructional support; and infrastructure for technology” (2006, p.35)
Investment in infrastructure pays dividends for many years. A robust, scalable infrastructure will allow students and teachers to access online information and research in new, exciting, and engaging ways. It will also allow collaboration with students and educators in their own school as well as in schools far away. The students’ world can broaden in real and significant ways. A strong tech infrastructure can bring all of this to our students and teachers in a very cost-effective way.
However, technology does not bring these benefits in a cost-free way. As schools across Texas have to wield the budget-cutting knife, technology infrastructure can present itself as among the first items to be cut. Texas has made strides in implementing a robust infrastructure, but it may be abandoned in the name of fiscal responsibility. Of course, this may not truly be a wise move as investing in infrastructure in the future may cost even more.
The cost of technology infrastructure also presents a challenge in insuring that all stakeholders have equitable access. Technology has a unique way of separating the “haves” from the “have-nots”. Care must be taken to make sure that the quality of the technology a student has is not solely dependent on his/her ZIP code.
Texas Education Agency, (2006). texas long range plan for technology, 2006-2020. Austin, Texas:
Who Do I Think I Am?
- David M. DeLuca
- I am pursuing a M. Ed. in Education Administration at Lamar University.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
The Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020
In 2006, the Texas Education Agency issued a report to the legislature and the people of Texas outlining a plan for technology’s role and implementation in education. The resulting Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020, addresses for areas for technology: Teaching and Learning; Educator Preparation and Development; Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support; and Infrastructure for Technology.
It is the infrastructure that makes the other three areas possible. The plan itself says, “The infrastructure of a school is the critical element of support for all four areas of this plan: teaching and learning; educator preparation and development; leadership, administration and instructional support; and infrastructure for technology” (2006, p.35)
Investment in infrastructure pays dividends for many years. A robust, scalable infrastructure will allow students and teachers to access online information and research in new, exciting, and engaging ways. It will also allow collaboration with students and educators in their own school as well as in schools far away. The students’ world can broaden in real and significant ways. A strong tech infrastructure can bring all of this to our students and teachers in a very cost-effective way.
However, technology does not bring these benefits in a cost-free way. As schools across Texas have to wield the budget-cutting knife, technology infrastructure can present itself as among the first items to be cut. Texas has made strides in implementing a robust infrastructure, but it may be abandoned in the name of fiscal responsibility. Of course, this may not truly be a wise move as investing in infrastructure in the future may cost even more.
The cost of technology infrastructure also presents a challenge in insuring that all stakeholders have equitable access. Technology has a unique way of separating the “haves” from the “have-nots”. Care must be taken to make sure that the quality of the technology a student has is not solely dependent on his/her ZIP code.
Texas Education Agency, (2006). texas long range plan for technology, 2006-2020. Austin, Texas:
It is the infrastructure that makes the other three areas possible. The plan itself says, “The infrastructure of a school is the critical element of support for all four areas of this plan: teaching and learning; educator preparation and development; leadership, administration and instructional support; and infrastructure for technology” (2006, p.35)
Investment in infrastructure pays dividends for many years. A robust, scalable infrastructure will allow students and teachers to access online information and research in new, exciting, and engaging ways. It will also allow collaboration with students and educators in their own school as well as in schools far away. The students’ world can broaden in real and significant ways. A strong tech infrastructure can bring all of this to our students and teachers in a very cost-effective way.
However, technology does not bring these benefits in a cost-free way. As schools across Texas have to wield the budget-cutting knife, technology infrastructure can present itself as among the first items to be cut. Texas has made strides in implementing a robust infrastructure, but it may be abandoned in the name of fiscal responsibility. Of course, this may not truly be a wise move as investing in infrastructure in the future may cost even more.
The cost of technology infrastructure also presents a challenge in insuring that all stakeholders have equitable access. Technology has a unique way of separating the “haves” from the “have-nots”. Care must be taken to make sure that the quality of the technology a student has is not solely dependent on his/her ZIP code.
Texas Education Agency, (2006). texas long range plan for technology, 2006-2020. Austin, Texas:
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