This document discusses the area of Educator Preparation and Development on the Texas STaR Chart. It focuses on what skills teachers need to be effective in the 21st century, including professional development, educator capabilities, and understanding of technology. The document notes that most schools in Texas rate themselves as "developing" in providing professional development and support for teachers to integrate technology. It recommends increasing opportunities for relevant professional development, training teachers at least twice per year, and requiring technology courses for educators.

1. The area of Educator Preparation and Development on the Texas STaR Chart focuses on what do the teachers of tomorrow need to know today to be an effective teacher in the 21st Century. This area addresses things such as Professional Development, Capabilities of Educators, and Levels of Understanding. Professional Development is looked at in many different ways. First, has the educator participated in professional development that prepares them to use terminology effectively and how to use district software. Another area that professional development is rated on is what type of development is offered. Is it in small group or are many different methods used to provide this type of training to all memebers on campus. The total number of hours available to staff is also considered in the ranking of this area of the STaR Chart. Do teachers receive less than 9 hours per year in training focusing on technology all the way up to being offered 30 or more hours. The last area that focuses on professional development is if and to what extend has staff learned and used online professional development.Capabilities of the Educator and the Levels of Understanding and Patterns of Use make up the remaining areas of the STaR chart for this category. These areas look at how educated and to what extend does the educator use technology in the classroom. Teachers must demonstrate the SBEC Technology Applications Standards in order to rate high in this area. To what extent is the technology being used in the classroom is an area that should be focused on making huge improvements in. From 2005-2006 school year until the 2007-2008 school year the majority of the state is rating themselves in the area of developing. This rating means that overall professional development is available and most teachers can demonstrate two to three of the SBEC Technology Applications. I find it interesting that over the same period of time those rating themselves in the Target area have decreased in percentage points to an almost nonexistent. I feel that this can be attributed to some feeling that they have enough training and therefore stop seeking professional development in the area of technology.In order for the area to show some improvement there needs to more of a push on what type of professional development is offered. Not only should there be more opportunities but also more topics that a teacher can participate in. Development does not just need to be in what is currently available but also the opportunity to investigate what could be used. Also training needs to be held at least twice a year for those teachers that struggle more with the SBEC Technology Applications. They need to feel comfortable using technology in order to actually use it in the classroom.One of the areas in the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology is Educator Preparation and Development. I chose this to discuss because I feel it is one of the most important areas included in the document. In my experience, teachers in my district are not equipped as well as they should be to teach technology to students. We do not get enough time in staff development in this area. Educator Preparation and Development consists of teachers becoming prepared to use technology daily in the classroom. Teachers need to understand the many uses of technology and how it will affect the lives of the students they teach. Universities need to make sure that programs that prepare future educators include the technology link.Our district is moving toward technology but it seems at a slow pace. Our classrooms are set up for technology but the staff is not well trained. The trends are showing that many schools are catching up to us technologically. If we want to remain ahead of the game we need to get our teachers up to par with technology.My recommendation for my district is to have mandatory technology classes each semester. If teachers were required to learn how to use the tools we have they would be more comfortable using them in the classroom. I also feel the district should give compensation to those who are already using technology in the classroom on a regular basis.I Choose the Topic of Infrastructure this area involves the following sub populations:Students per computers Internet Access Connectivity/Speed Other Classroom Technology Technical Support Local Area Network / Wide Area Network Distance Learning CapacityOur current Campus Key Area STaR Classification status is Advanced Tech and the Key Area total reflecting that status is 17. The campus statewide majority of 57.2% is at the status of Advanced Tech as well. The status means that \"
4 or less students per computer. There is a direct connectivity to Internet in 75% of classrooms and library. Web Based learning is available. All rooms are on LAN/WAN. There is one educator per computer.\"
(statewide chart) I feel that as a campus we are at the top of this Key area and very close to being fully emerging as a Target Tech Key Area. The difference is that The Target Tech Area means that every student has on-demand access. This Level of Progress will be meet after the complete roll out of our vision 20/20 grant of every student in the 6th - 12th grade having a personal laptop during the academic school year. This our greatest strengths area but it will also be the area that we will reach our goal of level of progress status being Target Tech this year.Lydia Hinojosa One of the Key areas of the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology that I would like to focus is Key Area number 2: Educator Preparation and Development. I feel that this area is crucial for the teachers in order to be efficient in the integration of technology throughout the content areas. There are six different preparation areas of developments teachers have to focus on: Professional Development Experiences, Models of Professional Development, Capabilities of Educators, Access to Professional Development, Levels of Understanding and Patterns of Use, and Professional Development for Online Learning. According to the Texas Campus STaR Chart, Trautmann Elementary scored at a developing stage in 2007-08 and has consistently been one of the weakest areas during the past three years. The Campus Statewide summary also reported that the level of progress was at a developing stage in technology with a 74.2 percent. This indicates that technology integration into teaching and learning is lacking in the classroom. This point out that technology is not supported by administration, lack of TEKS alignment in technology applications, staff developments are not being provided, administration does not ensure the proper use of technology in the classroom, and only 40% of educators meet SBEC standards. Recommendations for ImprovementFocus on campus and district Vision

2. Staff Developments

3. More technology planning time allotted for teacher planning