The task of comparing the National Educational Technology Plan 2010, the 2010 State of Michigan Education Technology Plan, and the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) Strategic Plan (http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency.cfm#iltech) was a bit daunting at first. But upon closer examination, common themes began to emerge.
The most common theme among the three plans was learning. For example, the National Educational Technology Plan (2010) calls for "engaging and empowering personalized learning experiences for learners of all ages" as well as "leveraging the power of technology to support continuous and lifelong learning" ("Executive Summary", para. 3). Additionally, the first of the five essential components referenced throughout the document is Learning: Engage and Empower.
Likewise, in the State of Michigan Educational Technology Plan Goals (2010), Teaching for Learning is listed as the first of the five goals (p. 3); while the ACRL Strategic Plan cites Learning as its first goal under for the Higher Education and Research strategic area.
Of particular note, I was surprised to find that the state plan didn't emphasize assessment as much as the national plan. "The National Education Technolgy Plan 2010 (NETP) calls for revolutionary transformation rather than evolutionary tinkering"...and "urges our education system at all levels to be clear about the outcomes we seek" (p. 7).While the second component listed in the national plan is Assessment: Measure What Matters, the state plan only alludes to assessment under the their fifth of five goals: Data and Information Management. I was pleased to see that the ACRL Strategic Plan recognizes the need for assessment by "improving techniques for assessing learning outcomes" ("Strategic Area: Higher Education and Research", para. 1).
Perhaps most pleasing of all, was the discovery that the ACRL Strategy Plan recognizes the importance of technology as evidenced by their goal of Information Technology described as "Academic and research librarians are leaders in using information, academic and instructional technologies to create and manage information resources and to deliver library and information services" ("Strategic Area: The Profession", para. 1).
The ACRL Strategic Plan also highlights what they call "mega - issues" which are defined as "questions that span areas with the the Strategic Plan". The forth mega issue listed is "What role will ACRL play in ensuring that the professional is leading technology change rather than responding to it?"("Strategic Area: The Association", para. 7).
I'd like to think that ACRL and its members will rise to the challenge and lead the way as innovative technology leaders in the library profession. As an ACRL member myself, my choice to pursue a masters degree in Educational Technology has been reaffirmed just by knowing that this well respected professional association acknowledges the importance of becoming technology leaders and innovators. I'm on my way!
Bibliography:
2010 State of Michigan Educational Technology Plan: Teaching for learning in a digital age (2010, February 9). Retrieved from http://techplan.org/STP%202010%20Final.pdf
ACRL Strategic Plan 2020: Charting Our Future. (2004, June 26). Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/about/whatisacrl/strategicplan/index.cfm
McKenzie, Jamie. "The New Texas Miracle." 2005. JPG file.
U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Technology. National Education Technology Plan 2010: Transforming American Education Learning Powered by Technology. (2010, November). Retrieved from http://www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010
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