Strategic Direction and Goals

TCET’s strategic goals and directions are developed collaboratively with extensive input from many sources including the TCET Board of Directors, the Texas Regional Education Service Center Technology Directors, the Texas TECSIG Directors, the Texas Centers for Professional Development of Teachers (CPDTs) Directors, the Texas Education Agency Educational Technology staff, and other educators that provided input at the TCEA State Conference, Area TCEA Conferences, TASA and TASB Conferences, and the TCET 21st Century Symposium.

TCET fundamentally believes that educational research and development (R&D) is a process designed to improve the teaching and learning process through assisting educators to discover, develop, or validate new ideas and research-based practices. Research can be either basic or applied, and TCET’s activities are almost exclusively in the area of applied research followed by broad dissemination of new information to educators.

TCET’s role is to evaluate the application of technology in specific settings to determine what works and what does not work. The development activities of TCET are designed to assist in the adaptation and transformation of knowledge from research, and from educator’s experiences, to create products, practices, or technological applications in the K-12 environment.

Importantly, TCET has increased its focus on research efforts that emphasize longitudinal studies of technology initiatives and applications, information dissemination to the campus, and the use of information in decision-making at every level. As the following goals, established by TCET’s Board of Directors, are discussed, these areas of emphasis will be made clear.

GOALS

Through the strategic planning processes described above, the following five goals have been established for TCET:

I: Construct, pilot, assist, and collaborate in the development of 21st Century educational models, incorporating appropriate technologies, and facilitating stakeholder involvement.

This goal focuses on the study of exemplary models of school reform and technology over time, and will include research on the effectiveness and impact of state grant programs such as PET and TIE, the Commissioner's Access Initiative, and federally supported programs such as SCOPE and the United Star Distance Learning Consortium's (USDLC) Engaged Learner Project.

II: Facilitate collaborative efforts with all stakeholders to improve K-12 educational programs via technology.

TCET will continue to facilitate and enhance the formation and implementation of collaboratives that will accelerate the application of technology to the teaching and learning process. This includes a focus on working with the twenty ESCs on a Technology Planning Guide for Texas Schools, and joint programs with TASA, TASB, CPDTs, Just For The Kids, Mentor School Network, and others.

III: Serve as a K-12 technology and educational reform R&D clearinghouse that disseminates research-based information to the community, school and classroom levels.

TCET plans to significantly increase the availability of research information available to Texas public schools through its Internet web site (www.tcet.unt.edu), T-STAR broadcasts, videotapes, CD-ROMs, and hard copy. In addition, TCET will continue to enhance the dissemination of information through local educational conferences, and statewide professional conferences and seminars (e.g. school boards, school administrators, superintendents, principals, librarians, and parents/communities). Special emphasis is placed on the Annual 21^st Century Teaching and Learning Symposium and other key conferences sponsored by Board Members, including TASA, TASB, and TCEA.

TCET will also continue to expand its case studies of applied technology in Texas schools through its IMAGES of Technology in Texas Public Schools, and follow-on research of its popular "What Works …" series of educator guides.

IV: Conduct meaningful, future-oriented, action research and evaluation on the effectiveness and impact of educational and informational technologies.

21st Century model schools, and those receiving Academics 2000 grants, and Texas PET, TIE or TIF grants, will be provided assistance with research and evaluation services to assess the impact of technology in those projects. Additionally, T-STAR's for-credit distance learning programming and support structure are being evaluated for their impact and effectiveness.

TCET will also offer and conduct evaluations for local school districts, through its Technology Management Audit program, an independent assessment of its technology plan, organization, and implementation.

V: Promote TCET to state, national, and international levels through personal and electronic linkages.

The focus here is on expanding TCET's visibility and active involvement in programs beyond state borders, as well as within. This includes participation in national conferences such as Tel-Ed, NECC, ATE, and other ISTE sponsored events.

In 1997 for example, TCET served on the steering committee for the Sixth Annual International Conference on Telecommunications and Multimedia in Education (Tel-Ed ’97) held in Austin November 13-15, 1997, and produced the Conference Proceedings in CD-ROM format. In 1998, TCET is proactive not only across Texas, but across the multiple states involved in the Star Schools' USDLC Engaged Learner Project.

Texas Center for Educational Technology