Summary and Review of the NETP goals and recommendations

The draft plan of the NETP states goals and recommendations in the five key areas of learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity. These goals and recommendations will help meet the demands of our rapidly changing economy and the needs of 21st century learners.

In the area of learning, the plan calls for engaging and empowering learning experiences for all learners. Educators should use technology to provide personalized learning experiences. We are not providing a one size fits all education anymore. Students should be empowered to take control of their own learning. With technology, we are able to open the door to a wider set of educators and learning resources. Learning is not restricted to the classroom environment. In order to become expert learners, we must become proficient in critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, and multi-media communication. Using these real world skills, educators and students are able to be productive members of the 21st century.

Assessment using technology can provide data for decision making. Technology based assessment should be testing what matters, the critical competencies and areas of expertise: critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, and multi-media communication. These assessments not only provide information for the educators to create more effective lessons, it can provide data for students, parents and teachers to review together to create learning plans for individual students.

The plan in the area of teaching calls for technology to help teachers connect with other educators for collaboration and professional development purposes. Through technology, educators have the data, tools, and the opportunities to build online learning communities that will support them in creating a connected environment for themselves and their students in and outside of school. Educators must close the gap of technology understanding in order to improve instructional practices and learning outcomes.

In the area of infrastructure, the plan calls for every student and educator to have available the resources they need to have learning opportunities at their fingertips 24/7/365. A comprehensive infrastructure is important to move us beyond the traditional learning model. The goals of the plan strive to provide learning that is always on and available no matter where you are in the world.

In the last essential area, productivity, the goal is to implement personalized learning through technology and ensuring that it is effective for K-12 improvements in learning. Although the purpose for schools and learning is the same, the role and process of learning has changed and those changes need to be considered. With technology, learning can become more flexible to fit the needs of individual learners.

Research and development also plays an important part in this plan. There are grand challenge problems that require outside scientists and researchers to work toward a solution. These challenges should be coordinated at the national level.

After reviewing the plan, I feel that the goals and recommendations are obtainable with support from all stakeholders in the process. Educators, school leaders, national, and state associations are all going to have to work closely together to make our schools more technologically aware and advanced. The plan is possible but there is still a lot of work to be done. I have concerns about the monetary parts of this plan with the current state of the economy, specifically state education, there are many cuts happening. Are technology budgets going to continue to be funded? Will this plan suffer due to current funding?