Star Chart

There is great debate in our district concerning the need for Technology Applications teachers in our district. I feel the StarChart results give great indication to the need for a full or part time teacher. Currently in our district the lab manager is giving a simple technology applications lesson with online software. This is definitely not the ideal situation. The teachers are repsonsible for these TEKS. However, most of them do not even know that they exist. These TEKS are not revisited again until the Technology Applications class in Eighth grade. The information in these classes is invaluable for most students in their future. Looking districtwide the lowest scores are in all in the developing stages. At the state level, 69.7% of the instruction is developing with minimal technology in foundation TEKS. These skills if taught at the elementary level could greatly improve the students independence at the secondary level. These will allow them skills to complete assignments because the basic technology skills to do them have already been met.
Districtwide we are making great strides in teaching the Technology Applications TEKS in the computer lab time. We now have a written scope and sequence in which most elementary campuses are using as well as online textbook curriculum and other online programs. The lab managers receive regular meetings for updating and explaination of curriculum and upcoming projects.The students are making advances and will be tested for the first time at the 5th grade level.
Even though we are doing what we can to make this situation work, the need for the teachers to include and understand how to integrate these technology skills would be the best possible scenario. Studies show that technology integration of skills is much more successful and proves better at student achievement than having basic instruction of skills. I hope to be instrumental in helping our district achieve more integration and to be help to the teachers.