Teaching & Leraning as part of the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology

Teaching & Learning
This focus area includes: patterns of classroom use, frequency/design of instructional setting using digital content, content area connections, technology application TEKS implementation, student mastery of technology application TEKS and online learning.

2008-09: Key Area Total - 13, Key Area STaR Classification - Developing Tech
2007-08: Key Area Total - 12, Key Area STaR Classification - Developing Tech
2006-07: Key Area Total - 12, Key Area STaR Classification - Developing Tech

Teachers use technology for direct instruction on a daily basis and to access resources for curriculum or lessons in the classroom. Technology is also a great tool for students to use in order to communicate & present information. We need to go a step further to make sure that we focus on making connections with our student’s lives & know how each one learns. Simply put teaching and learning must be done differently. We can no longer teach the old way where everything is teacher directed. This, however, remains in practice even after all the staff developments and research that has shown that it is not effective. The role of the teacher needs to change to allow for a more student centered way of learning and teaching in which technology can play a major role. This is important because it is not only preparing the students for a lifetime of learning but also helping the teacher to meet the needs of all students. I recommend that teachers find ways in which to involve their students within the teaching. Teachers need to bring technology into the classrooms in ways that students can understand and that are "real" for them.