When looking at the local and state summary reports, I noticed the section that deals with educator preparations and development. This is the area that evaluates how the teacher is using technology in the classroom as well as how much of the technology budget is allocated for professional development.
The percentage of campuses within the state that were described as Early or Developing Tech in 2007-08 has decreased while those described as Advanced or Target Tech have increased (STaR Chart, 2010). This is an encouraging sign. My own school has advanced from Developing Tech to Advanced Tech in the last three years (STaR Chart, 2010). This, too, is encouraging.
As an educator within the school, I feel underprepared to use many of the technology applications that are available to me. While having the applications is wonderful, I rarely have time to "play with it" in order to learn it. I feel that we need more hands-on, this is how it works, professional development throughout the school year. It has been my experience that educators get overwhelmed with new information the week or two before school starts. Many times teachers are not using technology because they were unable to process what it can do for them. Teachers need to learn the basic uses of the technology. Once they have had an opportunity to use that, then they need to be introduced to some of the advanced functionality of the program.
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