Assessment of Educator Preparation and Development of the Texas STaR Chart

The STaR Chart was develpoed in an effort to progress technology learning in classrooms across the state of Texas. By using the STaR Chart teachers and administrators can monitor their progress at a state and local level. The goal is that all Texas classrooms will have the technology available for students to excell. Texas Legislature feels that it is important for all studetns to be technologically advanced when they graduate from high school, and the STaR Chart is one of the tools that school districts use for monitoring their own progress. Educator Preperation and Development is one of the four domains that the STaR chart assesses. This assessment is broken down into four levels of progress. These levels are early, developing, advanced and target technology. Most school districts are still in the developing or advanced level for Educator Preperation and Development. To reach the Target level, schools must show there are regular technology school centered projects, there is vertical alignment of the TEKS, and 100% of the educators meet SBEC standards. Also there must be at least 30% of the budget allocated for professional development.
I personally believe there has been great progress at the local and state levels in the area of Teacher Preparation and Development. Schools go to great lengths to provide technology trainings for their teachers and administrators. This is important, because many of the students of today learn with the use of technology. Whether is be by using a computer or presenting your notes in a powerpoint presentation.
There has been great improvement at my school in the area of technology. I believe this has to continue to improve. Teachers must be willing to learn and adapt, and administrators must push and sell the importance of technology development in the classroom.

Pre-K Technology Applications TEKS

Pre-K TEKS lay the foundation for student performance at higher grade levels. It is essential that Pre-K teachers know and understand these TEKS to ensure success at the next grade levels. By these students gaining knowledge of all the TEKS at the lower grade levels, they will be able to build on a strong foundation for their success. Some of these TEKS that are essential for the success of today's students are the Technology Applications TEKS. Today's students must know and understand how to use various forms of media to communicate and learn. The foundation for their understanding of this technology starts at the PRE-K level. By mastering the TEKS, the PRE-K student should be able to use a computer and effectively search keywords and communicate with a computer. The Technology Applications TEKS are a spiraling curriculum. The student has many chances to build on what they have already mastered. Communication using various forms of computer based technology is one of the ways students can build knowledge from the Pre-K level to their senior year in high school.

Key Ideas for the Long Range Plan of Technology for Texas Public Education

After reviewing the Long Range plan for technology, I was shocked by the amount of time and effort that has gone in to ensuring Texas students are equipped with the technology they need to be successful. I learned that the Long Range Plan for success has many parts and has been carefully thought out and is being executed in the public school system today. I believe that students and teachers alike are excited to use this knowledge and various forms of technology to further education. The best way to educate is to engage the student in learning. If you do not have the studetns attention, then they can not learn. It is that simple. Many studetns of today use technology in their everday lives constantly, and that is they way many of them learn best. I believe it is important that teachers keep up with these different forms of media and use them in their classrooms. Administrators must illuminate teachers on how they can use technology in their classrooms, and be adamant that veteran teachers learn and use these forms of technology.

Week 1 Lamar Assingment

The Technology Applications Inventory is a tool that can be used as a self-assessment for the tools necessary to implement the Technology Applications TEKS. After going through the assessment it was obvious that I need to further my knowledge in this subject. My computer skills are lacking, and I would not feel comfortable trying to teach any Technology Application TEKS.

I assessed my knowledge and skills in the four strands of Foundations, Information Acquisition, Solving Problems, and Communication. I did not feel score well in any of these catagories. I know that this is an area that I will need to show significant improvement in. I knew the least about Information Acquisition.

My strengths in educational technology leadership as a principal would be my willingness to learn more in this subject. I believe that I need to further my knowledge in this area to ensure that all students would receive the education they need to be successful.

My weakness in educational technology leadership are that I know very little about computers and how they work. This has never been a subject that I have ever took much intrest in. There is no doubt that I will need to further my understanding of computers by attending professional development sessions.