National Education Technology Plan summary and goals

The NETP provides us with a framework to teach the 21st century learner that is to be empowered by technology with goals and recommendations in five areas: learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity. Great challenges are before us and we must provide financial resources and coordinate them at the national level. Students skills must be heightened skills in Math and Science in order to compete in the global society. In order to meet the economic challenges of the future we must be present today in ensuring that are students are empowered and engaged in dynamic technological settings. Technology has changed so much outside the classroom walls that major steps are necessary in the design and management of instructional programs.



Progressively the plan outlines the following to help us understand what is needed in order to achieve and reach the goals to compete and succeed in the 21st century.

1. Why people need to learn are the standards for students: creativity and innovation, communication and collaboration, research and information fluency, critical thinking, problem-solving and decision making, digital citizenship adn technology operations and concepts.

2. What learning should look like must contain Individualization (paced to the learning needs of different learner), Differentiation (method or approach varies to learning preferences of different learners) and Personalization (paced to learning needs)

3. How they learn - neuroscience of learning contain 3 broad types; learning that, learning how and learning why.

4. Who needs to learn - The underserved: low-income and minority learners, English language learners, learners with disabilities, early childhood, adult workforce and seniors.

5. Lifelong and Lifewide learning - factual knowledge, procedual knowledge and motivational engagement

Learning experiences both in and outside the classroom walls will provide engaging and empowering opportunities in a globally networked society that prepares learners to be active, creative, knowledgeable and ethical participants. Assessment will measure what matters and be used for collaboration and communication to provide feedback for continuous improvement. Increased connections through technology will be supported individually and in teams. Professional educators will expand learning experiences that connects them to data, content, resources and expertise to inspire life-long learning. A comprehensive infrastructure will be available for access 24/7. Effective use of time, money and staff are necessary at all levels to take advantage of the power of technology in the restructuring and redesign process.

The financial crisis in education today concerns me for the future of the 21st century learner. We are all facing an uncertainty of issues that will have an impact on our daily decisions and instructional strategies. As teachers we continue to forge ahead in the face of diversity and will continue to meet the state and national standards to the best of our ability.