US Secretary of Ed Question #4: Govt. Role in Educational Technology - Classroom 2.02024-03-29T13:38:40Zhttps://www.classroom20.com/forum/topics/649749:Topic:23183?commentId=649749%3AComment%3A23512&feed=yes&xn_auth=noPerhaps one of the ways the f…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-12-13:649749:Comment:882022007-12-13T03:00:34.445ZBlancahttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/Blanca
Perhaps one of the ways the federal government can help in supporting the use of technology in our educational system, is to help create and standardize assessments that include technology. Digital natives with access to the Internet are comfortable using technology to write, create, dream and access information (see MySpace, Facebook, Webkinz, and RuneScape). Assessments created in digital formats can be created in a way that makes sure they address standards and challenge even the most…
Perhaps one of the ways the federal government can help in supporting the use of technology in our educational system, is to help create and standardize assessments that include technology. Digital natives with access to the Internet are comfortable using technology to write, create, dream and access information (see MySpace, Facebook, Webkinz, and RuneScape). Assessments created in digital formats can be created in a way that makes sure they address standards and challenge even the most capable learner. Made available to parents and educators they can be used to capture a classroom, a culture and a community. It is difficult, in my opinion, to be able to capture the ability of every student and every learner in a standard format. States that take the time to form and implement digital assessments are taking the opportunity to address the needs of digital natives in their own language. The evaluation of these assessments, especially when used in conjunction with individual portfolios, can help students take control of their own learning and help teachers address their needs.<br />
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More importantly, in a digital world, where there is access to digital media, and where we have the ability to document our own learning process, why don't we? Having access to this data allows us the ability to target and address areas where we see deficiencies. Is it more difficult to grade an assessment that is multi-layered, uses technology and is project based? I don't think so. When designed well, assessments should provide an overall picture of a student learner. 21st century skills (as defined by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills) can be monitored in various ways. Formative and Summative assessments are still very important to the learning process in terms of understanding what knowledge and skills a student has obtained. Addressing assessments and leading the way for assessments to take on different forms is one way the federal government can help make a difference in the use of technology in education today.<br />
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Another way the federal government can support the use of technology in our educational system is to ask states to provide individualized education plans, used today in addressing children with special needs, for all learners. This plan has been used in addressing needs of students and has proven successful. It ensures accountability in that every learner needs to show progress throughout their educational career. The task of evaluating individual student progress is made arduous in an institution where students spend 10 months in one classroom, 2 months out of school, 10 months in another classroom, and so on so instituting mandatory looping/or and other strategies would be one way to address this.<br />
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Government also has the ability to shape instructional technology by mandating that educational programs in universities include instructional technology education coursework. In many areas colleges have created their own educational technology programs. First, the amount of coursework mandates a 36 credit course because of the nature of how much technology is learned in these programs and how much research there is on technology and its uses in the classroom. Secondly, in order to ensure the integrity of an educational technology program, members of these department are protective of their coursework. But educational technology does not stand apart from an educational program in terms of instruction. Educational technology is all about instruction. Teachers are graduating education programs with a 3 credit course on how to use technology but most lack confidence in application of these strategies in the classroom. Professional development, for those districts able to afford it, can only go so far. Educational programs at the university level need to be revamped if we are to see a large impact of technology in instruction.<br />
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It is a difficult task, to determine what the federal government's role in supporting the use of technology in our educational system when the governance of schools is held by local government. In some cases, funding for technology initiatives like eRate, have left schools dependent on federal funding. In others, progress would have been impossible without it. In terms of equity eRate has afforded even the most remote areas of the U.S. access to the world. Keeping initiatives like eRate alive is one way the federal government has supported and continues to support technology in education.<br />
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Without standardization, we see that the lack of some state departments to address technology in schools has left some states more advanced in its use than others. Concerning monies, In some districts technology initiatives may have little impact because the total cost of ownership of these initiatives isn't usually addressed. In order to sustain technology programs you need more support than a one year budget will afford you. When the operability of schools is dependent on monies that they are not sure they'll have in the coming year, this can prove a huge challenge to the implementation of effective technology practices. When you look at the impact of technology in education it is difficult to give recommendations when the overall effect of every suggestion goes beyond impacting instruction. There are issues to address financially. Only through policy, procedure, trial and error will the federal government be able to support technology in schools effectively. One would think that using the technologies available today we should be able to come up with a strategy, that both state, local and federal governments can agree upon. The Federal Government has a…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-06-13:649749:Comment:269952007-06-13T15:50:08.389ZJanice Friesenhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/jfriesen
The Federal Government has a HUGE role and makes a GIANT difference in the effectiveness of the use of technology in schools. The Federal Government can assist in these ways:<br />
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1. By setting the agenda-IF the agenda is to increase standardized test scores-like the NCLB agenda it will destroy the use of technology for teaching. The Federal Government can set an agenda that involves learning foreign languages, global awareness, project based learning.<br />
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2. By focusing fiscal decisions in ways that…
The Federal Government has a HUGE role and makes a GIANT difference in the effectiveness of the use of technology in schools. The Federal Government can assist in these ways:<br />
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1. By setting the agenda-IF the agenda is to increase standardized test scores-like the NCLB agenda it will destroy the use of technology for teaching. The Federal Government can set an agenda that involves learning foreign languages, global awareness, project based learning.<br />
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2. By focusing fiscal decisions in ways that encourage effective use of technology.<br />
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3. By supporting states as they attempt to support school districts that are using technology effectively. So many states have NO $$$ budgeted for technology. The ONLY money comes from the federal government. The federal government needs…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-06-11:649749:Comment:264562007-06-11T02:59:07.832ZDean Mantzhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/dmantz
The federal government needs to dedicate funds to school districts specifically for technology integration. Districts could then dedicate personel for this role and establish monthly professional training sessions. The most common issue I hear is that school districts do not have the funds for establishing a consistent technology integration program and teachers feel that they do not have the time.<br />
As mentioned by Skip, our educators of today need to be confident in the integration of 21st…
The federal government needs to dedicate funds to school districts specifically for technology integration. Districts could then dedicate personel for this role and establish monthly professional training sessions. The most common issue I hear is that school districts do not have the funds for establishing a consistent technology integration program and teachers feel that they do not have the time.<br />
As mentioned by Skip, our educators of today need to be confident in the integration of 21st Century skills that engage the students mentally and physically. Too many students sit in classrooms and just listen and take notes. As an educator, I realize there are some students that learn best that way. That is why some of the best professional technology education programs concentrates on differentiated learning. Even as a strong believer in technology integration, not all projects or lessons need to be student centered and always use new technology. But the key ingrediant to be successful to being successful is a balanced mixture of technology and higher level order of thinking lessons. I want to propose some soluti…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-06-05:649749:Comment:252552007-06-05T19:36:41.126ZScott Beiterhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/Skleros
I want to propose some solutions that can be implemented in the almost immediate future:<br />
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-Promote and protect open source programming-<br />
Imagine how much money your district could save on licensing costs.<br />
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-Establish a safe and separate education oriented www/internet-<br />
Think of how much easier using technologies would be without the fear of illicit and inappropriate content.<br />
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-Fund More Research-<br />
As was stated on another post research needs to be conducted as to what technologies and practices…
I want to propose some solutions that can be implemented in the almost immediate future:<br />
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-Promote and protect open source programming-<br />
Imagine how much money your district could save on licensing costs.<br />
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-Establish a safe and separate education oriented www/internet-<br />
Think of how much easier using technologies would be without the fear of illicit and inappropriate content.<br />
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-Fund More Research-<br />
As was stated on another post research needs to be conducted as to what technologies and practices work and which can be discarded. Is it worth the cost of getting every student a laptop? Do Smartboards increase student achievement/ understanding?<br />
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-Direct Connections Between K12/Universities/Industry-<br />
Student teaching and internship programs nationwide should be evaluated. Do these programs help teach future teachers to use technology? Universities and companies need to sponsor more programs and internships for students. The ones in my district are good, but don't go far enough. These can be encouraged with tax incentives and leadership. Funding so that schools can a…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-05-31:649749:Comment:238042007-05-31T21:42:11.858ZTina Bulleighhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/bulleigh
Funding so that schools can afford to receive more training, and provide the tools (and up keep of the technology) in the classrooms. Also there are sites like 4teachers.org that are great support tools-keep those sites up and for free!
Funding so that schools can afford to receive more training, and provide the tools (and up keep of the technology) in the classrooms. Also there are sites like 4teachers.org that are great support tools-keep those sites up and for free! This is a great idea!! Skip,…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-05-31:649749:Comment:236952007-05-31T16:28:13.405ZConnie Weberhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/connieweber
This is a great idea!! Skip, what a wonderful resource this would be, and how beneficial it'd be for the nation if we could get this out.
This is a great idea!! Skip, what a wonderful resource this would be, and how beneficial it'd be for the nation if we could get this out. I really do like the idea of…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-05-31:649749:Comment:236792007-05-31T15:01:59.776ZSteve Hargadonhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/SteveHargadon
I really do like the idea of showcasing success stories for educational technology, and providing resources for duplicating those successes. We don't have to agree on every definition of success to really benefit from such a resource. Does such a resource already exist? Does it have a dialog component?
I really do like the idea of showcasing success stories for educational technology, and providing resources for duplicating those successes. We don't have to agree on every definition of success to really benefit from such a resource. Does such a resource already exist? Does it have a dialog component? ...the federal government's r…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-05-31:649749:Comment:236502007-05-31T12:38:05.033ZGP Witteveenhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/GWitteveen
...the federal government's role in supporting the use of technology...<br />
The heart of our federal system is to redistribute wealth from have's to have-not's.<br />
It is to spotlight best practices and either push or pull for the bar to be raised to that point.<br />
Keywords for the US.ED role: leadership (vision, initiative, intelligent articulation/directing), enabling (pilot >institutionalization >evaluation), and monitoring. In more concrete terms, the Department of Education needs the keenest…
...the federal government's role in supporting the use of technology...<br />
The heart of our federal system is to redistribute wealth from have's to have-not's.<br />
It is to spotlight best practices and either push or pull for the bar to be raised to that point.<br />
Keywords for the US.ED role: leadership (vision, initiative, intelligent articulation/directing), enabling (pilot >institutionalization >evaluation), and monitoring. In more concrete terms, the Department of Education needs the keenest people, and political tools ('politics is the art of the possible'), and sustained funding. David has stated what I belie…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-05-30:649749:Comment:235122007-05-30T23:44:32.733ZSharon Bettshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/sharonbetts
David has stated what I believe to be two of the most important functions of government and technology education:<br />
--support for students to achieve the technology literacy skills necessary for success<br />
--equal access to the tools.
David has stated what I believe to be two of the most important functions of government and technology education:<br />
--support for students to achieve the technology literacy skills necessary for success<br />
--equal access to the tools. I believe that we need to thi…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-05-30:649749:Comment:234812007-05-30T20:25:48.040ZDaniel Bassillhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/tutormentor
I believe that we need to think "out of the box" when we think about technology and learning. Any business who has invested in technology can tell you that it's not the original cost of technology that kills them, but the constant upgrades and the costs associated with training and using the technology effectively. Many leaders do not plan for these costs, and thus are not using their investments as effectively as they might.<br />
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I think education leaders should consider this with great concern.…
I believe that we need to think "out of the box" when we think about technology and learning. Any business who has invested in technology can tell you that it's not the original cost of technology that kills them, but the constant upgrades and the costs associated with training and using the technology effectively. Many leaders do not plan for these costs, and thus are not using their investments as effectively as they might.<br />
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I think education leaders should consider this with great concern. Wiring all schools and providing hardware (computers, servers, printers, etc.) is a huge expense, which the taxpayer may or may not be willing to pay. However, since this expense has to be repeated over and over again as computers and software needs to be upgraded, schools will constantly need to find new tax dollars to keep their technology current with rapidly changing trends.<br />
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While all of this is happening, the businesses around most schools are buying new technology and upgrading it regularly. Their employees are innovating new ways to use this technology in solving problems, learning, communicating in teams, etc.<br />
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Thus, why not use Federal incentives to motivate businesses to make their space and technology available to youth during non-work hours and on weekends, and to encourage employees to serve as volunteer tutors, mentors, organizers and leaders of workbased programs that teach k-12 kids to use the technology in all the ways it is use for real world applications.<br />
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I belive that such a concept could make first rate technology and tech mentoring available to more kids in high poverty neighborhoods than any existing plan, and at a far lower short and long term cost to the taxpayer. I write about ways business needs to be involved in pulling kids to careers in my <a href="http://tutormentor.blogspot.com">http://tutormentor.blogspot.com</a> blog and in the Tutor/Mentor Institute section of <a href="http://www.tutormentorconnection.org">http://www.tutormentorconnection.org</a>