National Educational Plan: Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology

The overall plan called for a transformation in our education system by having clear expectations, collaborating, monitoring, and strong accountability. Learning should engage regardless of content area and promote critical thinking. The plan promote using technology that professional us to prepare our student for future learning and experiences. Learning should shift to a model that is more connected to include technology. Technology can help to shape a stronger educator with a knowledge that ensures learning and success takes place. The report discusses how funding a critical role plays in the overall use of technology in schools. If we want our student to be engaged and productive students, we have to find ways to bridge the gap amongst schools and their funding. It was also discussed that all students should receive access to the core area concepts, but technology can offer differentiation not easily done on a daily basis. Assessment must improve and technology has potential to change this as well. The report suggested that formative assessments can prove more beneficial. Formative assessments can improve student learning in the moment and modify the environment of learning. Online learning can offer opportunities for formal assessments. An online system can offer more detailed information about how students are currently doing. Adaptive assessments are designed to identify the next kind of learning experience that will most benefit the practical learner. The report outlined a very positive aspect for technology: technology can reduce test taking for accountability only. Technology can reduce the number of tests given throughout the year and leave room for more learning and success. Educators will need the support of technology that connects them to data, content, resources, expertise, and learning experiences. There will have to be a shift from the typical training of the educator that includes workshops with little to no follow up. The opposite will have to occur as we proceed. Most teachers leave the profession because of the lack of support. The report states that all educators will need to be prepared with the changes in technology and how to use it in the classroom. It was suggested that the best way to prepare educators is to have them experience technology hands on. There should be technology supported learning experiences that promote and enable the use of technology to improve learning. Ongoing professional learning should support and develop educator’s identities as fluent users of advanced technology, problem solvers, and adaptive socially aware experts in their fields per the report. Educators need more time throughout their work week to engage in professional learning. Technology can help to share best practices among educators from different areas. The plan promotes career long personal learning. The goal is to make professional learning timely and relevant, so that impacts educators and students.