Journal 7

“Technology Integration: What Happens Now”
By Linda Merillat, Jennifer Holvoet, and Doug Adams

Schools needing assistance with the integration of instructional technology received federal funding for professional development and technical assistance. Included in this funding was a nationwide initiative called R*TEC (Regional Technology in Education Consortia). Unfortunately, much of this federal funding is now being redirected to other priorities. Responsibility for technology integration has shifted to the state-level, with all funding going to the states. However, technology is continuing to change and improve, and knowledge and skills soon become outdated. Without initiatives like R*TEC, it is difficult to make sure that educators are staying current. It is important for state leadership, school districts, and individual teachers to take a more active role in technology integration. Luckily, many of the resources developed during the R*TEC era are still available.


My Questions:

1. As a teacher, how can I make sure that my technology knowledge and skills are effective and up to date?
Even though the funding for the R*TEC program is no longer in place, there are plenty of resources to help me stay up to date with emerging technologies. As this article points out, many of the resources from the R*TEC program are still in place and available on the Web. It would also be extremely helpful to maintain my membership with the International Society for Technology in Education and receive their monthly journal called "Learning and Leading." The articles in this journal will keep me informed about new technology tools and potential uses in the classroom. These articles will also help me to be aware of pressing issues in educational technology.

2. How could I make sure that the district in which I work is implementing technology effectively?
Now that federal funding like R*TEC has been withdrawn, individual school districts will have to take a more active role in technology integration. In the April 2007 issue of "Learning and Leading," author Howard Pitler suggests that a technology audit is a great way for a district to assess the efficiency of its network. An audit would gather useful data on the current condition of technology in the district. With this data, the district could plan for needed changes and improvements.