Ipod touches and the National Educational Technology Plan

 Noteworthy:

Ten ipod touches arrived to help us leverage data management and assistive technology tools.  I am hoping that as we discuss how we might use this technology we also discuss how we can use technology to better improve teaching and learning.  As you may or may not know, we have been in discussion with Apple's PD guy, Jim Moulton, and over the next few months will be developing a professional development program for technology:  Next year will be the year to implement, use and help transform our teaching and learning experiences using technology.  To assist further, the new National Educational Technology Plan , entitled Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology, just came out from the U.S. Department of Education, and it recommends among many things:

• Be clear about the outcomes we seek.
• Collaborate to redesign structures and processes for effectiveness, efficiency, and flexibility.
• Continually monitor and measure our performance.
• Hold ourselves accountable for progress and results every step of the way.

Although I have only skimmed the executive summary, I am curious how it jibes with the National Education Standards (NETS).  In any event, we have some potent guides for successfully integrating technology not to mention this essential question asked by the new plan: “Do teachers and students have access to the information and resources they need that are appropriate to their roles and what they are learning?”

As of the present,  we hope to deliver Macbooks to the elementary teaching staff by next Fall.