5352 Blog Posting #1

EDLD 5352 Week 2 Blog Posting #1

I picked Infrastructure for Technology as my area of focus from the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology. The Connected Texas Initiative was created to provide broadband coverage statewide. It provides grants for broadband access, hardware, and software purchases. The results of the 2010 update indicated that only 1% of schools rated as early tech which entails: 10+ students per computer, dial-up connectivity, and no web-based learning. Thirty percent of schools were in the developing tech category. This includes 5-9 students per computer, internet in 50% of classrooms and the library, WAN/LAN access in most classrooms, and one teacher computer per classroom. Sixty-one percent of schools rated as advanced tech with four or fewer students per computer, internet connection in 75% of classrooms and the library, and web-based learning availability. Only 7.6% of schools have reached target-tech level with on-demand access for every student, direct connectivity in all rooms, web-based resources in multiple rooms, and all rooms connected to a WAN.

My school has a teacher computer in every classroom that is connected to the internet and the WAN/LAN. However, we have too many students for too few computers. Therefore, we are in the developing tech area simply because of our high student to computer ratio. Within the next two years, the freshmen class will be moved to a ninth grade center. This will reduce the number of students per computer and should place our school in the advanced tech area.

It seems that broadband connectivity is improving in the state of Texas and across the nation as telephone, cellular phone, satellite, and cable television providers compete for market share to provide internet to every home possible. This will increase infrastructure outside of the schools to include potentially every home in the school district. My district is very fortunate to have so much access available. The local city government is even trying to increase its free wireless access to many areas in my school district. Some members of my school administration are worried about students having access to wireless internet connections over their phones when this service expands far enough to reach our school. I think that would be a blessing for our school. We have a very limited wireless network which cannot support all of the mobile computer labs we currently have. Having extra support from the city wireless would allow all of the laptops to work and would allow students to use their own smart phones to increase learning in the classroom. In my opinion, we need more advances in infrastructure to ensure that students are using technology to the maximum extent possible to support learning.

Citations:

Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/technology/EktronAttach/FinalCombinedLRPT2020.pdf
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=5082&menu_id=2147483665