The Texas Star Chart: A Teacher Tool for Planning and Self Assessing states that "In order to continue improvements in teaching and learning in Texas, educators must assure that the knowledge and skills students learn match the knowledge and skills needed to live and work in the 21st Century." I have chosen what I believe to be the key words of that quotation for this opinion piece.
I has become increasingly clear, in my estimation, that schools are not keeping up with students in the area of learning styles. Students today are much more tech-savvy than ever before, much more than the adults who instruct them.
The star chart survey found that we are weak in the area of "Teaching and Learning." The students have the basic (and beyond) knowledge and skills in technology but we are not fully utilizing the technology we have in place to engage our students and broaden their knowledge and experiences. In each of last five years of data, there has been no progress beyond "developing." This is also true of statewide data. I looked at the last four years on the "Statewide Summary Data" and it shows no significant improvement in the key area of teaching and learning.
To improve this key area, I would recommend lengthening the time spent in each class period so that technology can be more efficiently integrated into the curriculum. I would also increase the opportunities for teachers to be trained in practical applications of the technology available to them and common planning time to critique the curriculum for opportunities to integrate technology and also to decide on the key points that must be taught. This way teachers will have more time to integrate technology in the classroom without having to cast such a broad net, sacrificing depth of knowledge.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
David, I had not thought about lengthening class periods to integrate technology more effectively, but it is a greast idea. That would certainly help with the time issue of technology integration.
ReplyDeleteI would love an opportunity to visit a school in our country that is keeping up with 21st Century learning. As far as I can tell, there are no schools at the moment in Texas that have the technology available to students and teachers who are able to integrate it to the depth of what our course has taught us.