The State of Education in Tennessee: Investing in Technology to Enhance Instruction
Technology
devices as
educational tools
are as critical
today as paper,
pencils, and
encyclopedias
have been in the
past.
Priorities for 2014
Technology can be a powerful education tool
to enhance instruction and personalize student learning. To realize the full potential of
technology, districts and schools need to be
equipped with the proper infrastructure, devices, and training to ensure seamless integration throughout the day.
1. It is important to use technology as a vehicle for quality instruction and content
and for individualizing student learning. The upcoming PARCC assessments
should serve not just as an end goal but
as a catalyst for ramping up technological
capacity in districts across the state. All
Tennessee students should have access to
the types of opportunities and advancements that technology can offer.
2. Investing in technology must be an
ongoing priority that goes beyond a
one-time purchase. Students need daily access to technology and should be
trained to use it. Teachers also need
training and daily access to technology. It
is critical that educators understand how
to use technology to improve instruction and transform how students learn.
Fostering strong relationships and communication between school districts and
their county commissions can help ensure
agreement on how to strategically invest
funds in ways that