Technology Plans in Education

The Roles and Purposes of Technology Plans in Education

     With the increasing use of technology in the classroom, education systems and educators are

finding it necessary to implement Technology Plans as part of their overall vision for their schools. These plans are much like blueprints and guidelines that allow leadership to effectively incorporate, assess and improve their school’s technological capabilities to help ensure that both teachers and students are receiving and exhibiting the proper skills and knowledge that will provide for robust futures in the digital age. The Department of Education set up a National Education Technology Plan (NETP) that is designed to help improve teaching and learning. The Plan is composed of goals in five different areas: learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity. By reviewing and understanding this plan, individual school districts and/or schools can devise their own plans that work in accordance with their specific needs and within their funding capabilities. It is important, therefore, that educational leadership take a proactive stand on how a technology plan can foster the best practices and outcomes in their schools. This information can then be transferred into an action plan that ensures that administrators, teachers and students are receiving the maximum benefits from the use of technology.