5352 Blog Posting 3

The National Educational Technology Plan from March 2010 calls for a "revolutionary transformation rather than evolution tinkering" on education ("Transforming American Education, 2010). The core of our lives in integrated in technology which needs to connect to teaching and learning in American classrooms. The main failure of education is the failure to engage students in this manner. The plan lists two main goals: to increase college graduates from 39% of the population to 60% and to decreased the achievement gaps between various racial groups. Education needs to close the disparities between students' lives in and out of school. "What should learning in the 21st century look like? ("Transforming American Education, 2010)." The technology plan analyzes five key areas that need to be addressed: learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity. Overall, education is no longer a one size fits all. Technology needs to be utilized to individualize instruction, assess thinking and learning in new formats, develop capacity with teachers through collaboration and professional learning, build new and better resources for our schools, an d maximize productivity within the educational system. The new research and development in this field needs to integrate learning science, technology, and education.
This plan is an excellent assessment of the current status of education and technology and outlines attainable goals in order to prepare our students to be 21st century citizens in the United States. Most teachers would acknowledge the plan presented as a necessity for their field, but the question becomes how do we put this plan into action and impact my classroom? The schools need the budget, resources, capacity, and leadership in order to implement change. It is going take a shift in all levels of education and government in order for this transformation to occur.