Let's Tech About It

In our week two discussion the focus on assessment we began last week was expanded to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and how it applies to the Texas system of educational standards. The U.S. Department of Education (n.d.) describes ESSA as the following: Passed with bipartisan support and signed by President Obama in December 2015, the ESSA requires states and districts to ensure that all students, including children with disabilities, English learners, and other historically underserved groups, graduate high school ready for college or a career. With the information and resources provided, I was able to put together a working understanding of how ESSA will affect Texas education initiatives and standards currently and moving forward. Researching the TEA (Texas Education Agency) Strategic Plan established in 2017 highlighted the agencies goals in terms of four strategic priorities:         Recruit, support, and retain teachers and principals           Build a foundation

  What Barriers Have I Encountered? At currently 33 years old, I guess I am considered a ‘digital native’ like many younger adults who have grown up with access to technology. Within that time frame I have used and grown accustomed to many technological applications and hardware, all varying in their use, practicality, and importance. Considering the vast amount of technology that has transformed our current societal landscape, I consider myself very fortunate to have had early opportunities to expand my knowledge through available technologies. Fast forward to current times and the digital age is continuously evolving and expanding our ability to harness technology for our benefit and enrichment. But it is not a completely seamless occurrence. Depending on where you might reside in the world, there are substantial barriers that hinder optimal integration of technology. Some of those obstacles that I have experienced throughout my own educational journey have been characterized by th