As we enter 2008, I can't help but wonder what might be in store for Arkansas schools as far as technology integration is concerned. There are several encouraging initiatives on the horizon.  I have had the privilege to serve for the last four years with the TICAL committee at the Arkansas Department of Education. Among the goals of TICAL is the dissemination of technology information to educational leadership. With so many things cooking on educational reforms stove, it is very difficult to push change to an administrator who has no experience or knowledge base for a program.  A conference in late February will offer administrators the opportunity to get some of this information first hand. (Link: http://www.portical.org)
Another exciting initiative that I am excited about is the effort by Southwest Coop to formalize technology inservice programs offered by educational coops. This project will enable coops to select local trainers who will deliver consistent and similar content in each coop. This should eliminate the duplication and disjointed technology professional development programs we now have.
Both these initiatives show promise. In Arkansas we have in place some great and very inexpensive tools for making technology work for teachers and students. We have for too long reinvented the wheel and started over. It is my hope that in the new year that educational technology integration moves from pep rallies to practice.

 

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