Blog Post 3--Summary of the National Educational Technology Plan

The National Educational Technology Plan “is not a prescription but rather a common definition and a five-year action plan that responds to an urgent national priority and a growing understanding of what the United States needs to do to  remain competitive in a global economy” (page 7). The plan outlines a model for learning that includes the following areas:

Learning

Engage and Empower learning experiences for all by focusing what and how we teach to match who we teach, how they learn, and when/where they learn.

Assessment
Measure what matters during the process of learning to improve student performance.


Teaching      
Prepare and connect to employ a model of connected teaching.

Infrastructure
Access and enable a comprehensive infrastructure for learning that provides the resources needed when and where they are needed.

Productivity
Redesign and transform the American education system and use technology to implement personalized learning and ensure student progress through the P–16 system.

Plan recommendations build on neuroscience/brain data that is focused on the how and whys of effective learning. Teaching and learning are not viewed as two exclusive processes. “Educators can be engaged in professional learning not only when attending formal workshops or other activities outside the classroom, but also in the very act of teaching” (page 45).  Professional development recommendations also include video sharing, online instruction, Teach tv, and personal learning networks.  

This plan does not give quantitative rubrics to assess progress. Some Long-Range Plan for Technology finding are reiterated, but this plan gives great science supports, recommendations, and recent data to support innovation.   

Resource:

National education technology plan technical working group. (2010, March 5). The National educational technology plan. Retrieved from http://www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010