National Technology Education Plan

Questions for Karen Cator:

1.  Are there strategies in place for dealing with administrators and teachers who are intimidated by technology and therefore aren't eager to use and explore it in their classrooms and schools?

2.  How will the plan be affected if the republicans gain control of the White House or Senate?

3.  Are there plans in the financial budget to update and replace current technology being placed in the classroom, when it becomes outdated?

While watching the video of Karen Cator speaking about the National Technology Education Plan I couldn't help but become excited about what the government wants for our schools.  However, I also experience a bout of skepticism which will be discussed later on.   Karen Cator discusses how important technology is for the United States to once again  compete with the top countries in the areas of innovation and achievement.   For many years the United States has been slipping down on lists that rank countries for innovation, achievement, and educational gains.  Technology can be the idea that helps bring the United States back to the top, however it must be implemented correctly and it appears the National Technology Education Plan tries to outline how to do just that.
              I read the plan and watch the presentation with some apprehensions for a few reasons.  Three of those reasons are funding, the present, and college graduation rates.  I work for a school district in that is in the top ten largest in the country.  However we are cutting budgets, increasing class sizes, and decreasing professional development and planning time. The National Technology Education Plan appears to need money and time for professional development and planning but they don't seem to exist.  Which ties perfectly to my next point, the present.  The National Technology Education Plan was written two years ago, so we are essentially already working on the plan and have been for quite some time.  In the last two years, I haven't seen a single piece of new technology enter my school and believe me we could use it.  We have also ended contracts with companies (due to budget cuts) to fix and update technology we already own, rendering it outdated or out of service.  Lastly I am skeptical about this plan because it seeks to increase the graduation rate of 2 and 4 year colleges by 2020.  The students who will graduate from a 2 or 4 year college in 8 years are already in middle school.  They already have their educational foundations which they received in elementary school before this plan was created and therefore may be below the expectations of the plan.  In order for the projection to be accurate the time line should be of students who have not yet entered school and therefore would be in school the entire length of the plan and the expectations and goals of the plan.