Update from TCEA2011

By Classroom Aid Inc.

Feb.14, 2011

Policy House bill 2488 approves on open source textbooks on secondary level

Electronic textbook available for downloading free of charge Eligible university determines the level of qualifications with TEKS Allows the Commissioner of Education to purchase a state-developed t

extbook Commissioner shall provide a license to school or district Eventually open source textbook will be an option to districts, and TEA e

ncourages the best interest to research it sooner about necessary infrastructure and professional development.

H.B.4294 : state textbook fund can be used to purchase equipments to support instruction for digital textbook State will pay for electronic textbooks on Commissioner’s list District’s may choose from either the SBOE list or the Commissioner’s list For Texas, etextbook will be available in classrooms this Fall.

Obama Calls for New Education Technology Agency (news) The Obama administration wants to establish a new agency with the U.S. Depart

ment of Education to support the creation of education technologies and to promote their adoption by teachers

Trends in education It’s all about digital content, software, paperless

management… everything will be digitized and should be connected seamlessly for teaching and learning

It’s all about sharing (social learning) It’s all about free resources and tools (cost down) It’s all about student-centered (response systems or 1:1

or BYOD), teacher-designed education It’s all about flat classrooms without boundaries, learning

anytime & anywhere

Needs Teachers’ Professional development : 1st priority

Technology isn’t to replace teachers, only those teachers don’t learn new technology will be replaced

Continuing learning and social learning are answers Texas “ProjectShare” for teachers PD and collaboration Lots of teacher communities and social tools are there

Cost down : school budget is strained To prepare teachers and students for 21st century, it’s needed to

Do More For Less !! Total solution and experience sharing

Integration of technology pieces (H/W and S/W) Quality content is king (too many choices) Collaborative tools