The area of the Texas Long Range Plan that I chose to discuss is Educator Preparation and Development Leadership. This area focuses on the idea that teachers must be able to prepare students for their future in a manner that assures that all students will not simply survive, but truly thrive in the world that awaits them.
Today Texas faces a critical urgency for all professional educators, both current and those who will enter the education system in the future, to have the skills needed to change instruction to meet the needs of this generation of Texas students. An educator taking initiative to increase their personal learning through ongoing professional development or continuing education is directly related to the experiences that are brought to the classroom. Technology can impact curriculum and bring about learning opportunities that would not be possible without the technology. When exploring new methods of delivering instructions, professional learning should include new ways to teach that lead to improvements in student academic achievement. (TEA, 2006).
Professional development must ensure that all educators understand the importance of learning about educational technology and the many possibilities of its use. If teachers and administrators are to transform the teaching and learning process to prepare today’s students for the world they will encounter upon leaving the K-12 system, they must be given the knowledge, skills and tools they need. Education preparation programs must ensure that beginning teachers have received a broad understanding of the many uses of technology in 21st Century classrooms. Local education agencies should continue to encourage educator participation in the Master Technology Teacher program. (TEA, 2006). Parents, communities, and the private sector should continue to collaborate with the education community on technology advancement in the workplace and its impact on teaching and learning.
