Teachers today must be able to prepare themselves to face the new challenges that technologies are placing upon the educational environment. Students are "digital natives", technology has become a part of their daily life and therefore, they crave the stimulation and the challenge it presents when it is applied to their learning situations. As Boss and Kraus (2007) state, "The context may have evolved, but the goal of engaging and motivating the whole student is more important than ever" (p.22). With the assistance of state, district, and campus level leaders, teachers need to be provided with the tools and instruction necessary to assist them in integrating important technological applications into the classroom environment in order to meet this important goal. This ideal is covered in the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology section entitled Educator Preparation and Development. Here it is explained how teachers need to be provided with continuous professional development to acquire the skills needed to change their current instructional practices to meet the needs of the 21st Century Learner.This professional development must include new ways to teach students based on current research, how to integrate technology into all foundation and enrichment subjects through practical applications, and teachers' progression through training must be monitored and documented with support and further training provided should they require it. It is the responsibility of the various stakeholders throughout the educational community to provide for these needs through various avenues to support the teachers acquisition of the appropriate skills to integrate and support the use of technology within the classroom. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) should ensure that requirements and standards for professional development fully integrate technology across all subject areas, The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) should revise requirements for teacher preparation programs to include integrating technology into all aspects of teaching and support new certification standards that deal with technology. Community service centers or district level educational centers should provide standardized professional development through a variety of mediums that support the integration of technology into learning, and higher education needs to design and implement new teacher preparation programs that highlight the standards that teachers are going to need should revisions be made to such programs mentioned above. Professional development in the area of technology could also be broadened to online and distance learning opportunities for teachers to collaborate with the public and private sectors in hopes of enriching theirs as well as their students educational opportunities with technology in the classroom.
Boss, S., & Krauss, J. (2007). Real projects in a digital world. Principal
Leadership, 8(4), 22-26.
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