National Educational Technology Plan review

The National Educational Technology Plan (http://www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010 ) calls for revolutionary change to our education system. Specifically, the plan calls for all students to have personalized, engaging learning experiences using technology tools. Additionally, teachers are to be connected, collaborating online rather than isolated in one classroom. The plan also addresses assessments, and discusses the need to use available data to monitor strengths and weaknesses. A reliable infrastructure is necessary to enable learning experiences to occur around the clock, not just during the traditional school day. Another goal set out in the plan is to transform administrative processes to take full advantage of the available technologies. To begin working towards these goals quickly, the Department of Education can turn to the corporate world and research agencies and use some of their findings and strategies in the education sector.

One of the main concerns noted in the plan is planned budget cuts. It takes money to change the face of education, and as districts are being forced to cut back, an already daunting task seems nearly unfeasible. Another concern is the need to change the practice of creating equal-sized classes that last for an entire school year with all students learning the same material at the same place. The daunting goal here is that students would direct their own learning at their own pace, with the teacher facilitating. I fully agree with the ideas set forth, but am still cautiously curious to see how quickly we are able to implement the needed changes.