Week 2 Assignment Posting #1

Educator Preparation & Development, or EP, is one of the 4 key areas of the Texas STaR Chart. The STaR Chart is a special online resource tool used since 2004 to help teachers self-assess their use of technology across the curriculum. Teachers can define their educational technology profile using the EP descriptors. These descriptors present varying stages of development for teachers to rate themselves in technology proficiency. Teachers who have received some training for electronic attendance, gradebook and mail; who have done little or no follow-up to large group professional development; who have no more then 9 hours of technology professional development annually and who have only an introductory knowledge of technology concepts would be rated Early Tech.

Developing Tech characteristics include teachers who receive professional development in integrating technology into the curriculum, helping with classroom management skills, and increasing teacher productivity. Also, teachers who attend large group sessions with follow-up activities and opportunities to have feedback or coaching in the classroom could fall into the Developing Tech category. Additionally, Developing Tech teachers are proficient in 2-3 of the SBEC Technology Applications standards and attend 9-18 hours of technology professional development annually to become able to modify instruction through the use of technology and the way they can adapt materials for web-based content.

Advanced Tech teachers attend professional development to become proficient in integrating technology to include advanced instruction in specific interest areas. Proficiency in four of the SBEC Technology Application standards and 19-29 hours of technology professional development are indicators of an Advanced Tech teacher. Advanced Tech teachers cease to think of technology separately, but as one with their lessons and instructional methods. These Advanced Tech teachers have also trained in creating and delivering online lessons.

A Target Tech teacher continues technology professional development, but also collaborates, mentors and teaches other educators and encourages student-led learning activities. Target Tech teachers are proficient in all five SBEC Technology Application standards and attend 30+ hours of technology professional development annually. Project-based individualized activities become the norm for the Target Tech teachers. Target Tech teachers are also able to seamlessly integrate web-based lessons to support learning objectives.

Sadly, the EP area has not only stopped gaining ground on our HS campus, but also taken painful steps backward. We had a score of 14 in 2006-2007 that increased to 18 in 2007-2008. However, 2008-2009 saw a decrease by 11 points for a score of 7. My theory, as District TAKS Coordinator, is that so much emphasis is being placed on TAKS inservices and professional development to produce "Recognized" and "Exemplary" campuses since incorporating the Special Education students' scores into AEIS and AYP that few are attending Technology inservices.

Statewide data indicates that the number of Early Tech teachers is decreasing; showing that more teachers are improving their Technology skills, while the Developing Tech area has hovered around the same percentage for the last 3 years. Advanced Tech has slowly increased in the last 3 years while Target Tech has remained virtually the same at approximately .6%.