Education Technology's Dirty Little Secret - Classroom 2.02024-03-28T17:40:06Zhttps://www.classroom20.com/forum/topics/education-technologys-dirty?commentId=649749%3AComment%3A257822&feed=yes&xn_auth=nocomes down to consume someone…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-01-11:649749:Comment:2593812009-01-11T07:10:28.038Zgarybhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/garyb98
comes down to consume someone else's content or comment( as we are doing here) or create material from the diverse usual sources.<br />
<br />
the apple is a creation machine..the netbooks are consume/comment machines eg forget movies!<br />
<br />
the appropriate tool for the job is only way to go with entrenched approaches, if money is not the issue but education and curriculum then it's a different answer to the question
comes down to consume someone else's content or comment( as we are doing here) or create material from the diverse usual sources.<br />
<br />
the apple is a creation machine..the netbooks are consume/comment machines eg forget movies!<br />
<br />
the appropriate tool for the job is only way to go with entrenched approaches, if money is not the issue but education and curriculum then it's a different answer to the question Here are just some ways our s…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-01-11:649749:Comment:2593552009-01-11T06:43:23.973ZCarl Andersonhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/CarlAnderson
Here are just some ways our school district has been addressing some of the issues you bring up:<br />
<br />
•unwilling teachers:<br />
<br />
Last year I was hired as a technology curriculum integration specialist. A big part of my job is to help show teachers how technology can be useful to them in the classroom. A big part of this has been helping the late adopters find ways to first integrate technology in their own professional and personal lives. Not everything I show teachers has to do directly with how it can…
Here are just some ways our school district has been addressing some of the issues you bring up:<br />
<br />
•unwilling teachers:<br />
<br />
Last year I was hired as a technology curriculum integration specialist. A big part of my job is to help show teachers how technology can be useful to them in the classroom. A big part of this has been helping the late adopters find ways to first integrate technology in their own professional and personal lives. Not everything I show teachers has to do directly with how it can be implemented in the classroom. I also try as best I can to let teachers make their own classroom connections with technology. I find if I spoon feed people integrated lesson plans that either they never get properly implemented or the teacher's scope of application for a specific tool becomes too narrow.<br />
<br />
•finding time:<br />
<br />
This was a huge frustration for me last year. As part of my contract I was supposed to offer voluntary tech training in the mornings before school. At best I would have 1-3 people attend these sessions. Usually it was just the superintendent and I. What I found was not so much an unwillingness to learn new technologies or integration strategies but rather the time was more valuable for teachers who were already stretched too thin to be used to prepare for their classes. I decided to move this online. Now, instead of offering sessions in the mornings I make myself available in this time but send out weekly recorded lessons either using YouTube or Screencast-o-matic. When I did that teachers could assess the session anytime they wanted. I found asynchronous participation to be 5 times more effective.<br />
<br />
We also implemented an online teacher training program where teachers can complete online modules related to technology integration that are constructivist in their approach. Teachers completing a module come away with self-created resources they can implement in their classrooms. They also receive a stipend after completing so many modules in this training. This has made tech PD more efficient.<br />
<br />
•lack of resources & lack of funds:<br />
<br />
Last year I was able to triple the number of computers we had in our building through computersforlearning.gov. This program provides surplus and used government technology equipment free to schools. We found free computers still in very good condition from the Bankruptcy Court, NASA, NOAA, the IRS, and the Trade and Patent Office. These machines came wiped clean so we had to install all of our own software. This also was no problem since there is enough quality open source software out there to satisfy most of our student's needs. We are also pushing cloud applications which are also free and not dependent upon one particular operating system. Our district (30,000) kids do…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-01-11:649749:Comment:2591032009-01-11T00:01:23.018ZNancy Boschhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/nbosch
Our district (30,000) kids does a great job in providing the hardware--new machines every three years. My 500-kid elementary school has 3 student computers in the classroom, 2 labs, and three wireless carts. Now, if kids in the general classrooms actually used them for more than typing and powerpoint and testing, we'd be set!!
Our district (30,000) kids does a great job in providing the hardware--new machines every three years. My 500-kid elementary school has 3 student computers in the classroom, 2 labs, and three wireless carts. Now, if kids in the general classrooms actually used them for more than typing and powerpoint and testing, we'd be set!! Thanks for posting this list.…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-01-10:649749:Comment:2590892009-01-10T23:41:44.021ZAntwon Lincolnhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/AntwonLincoln
Thanks for posting this list. Very complete and helpful. I thought #9 <b>Most importantly, the district's initiative to integrate technology in classroom instruction has not been compartmentalized into a single initiative. All activities and discussion regarding technology, is within the context of the other district initiatives.</b> District's that think like that may get the most out of their technology initiatives.<br />
<br />
Antwon
Thanks for posting this list. Very complete and helpful. I thought #9 <b>Most importantly, the district's initiative to integrate technology in classroom instruction has not been compartmentalized into a single initiative. All activities and discussion regarding technology, is within the context of the other district initiatives.</b> District's that think like that may get the most out of their technology initiatives.<br />
<br />
Antwon Tammy hit on a very important…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-01-09:649749:Comment:2580942009-01-09T12:47:49.738ZAntwon Lincolnhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/AntwonLincoln
Tammy hit on a very important point. LEADERSHIP. It will take focused leadership on every level to help move the vision forward.<br />
-Community Leadership<br />
-Classroom Leadership<br />
-Site Leadership<br />
-District Leadership<br />
-Business Leadership<br />
-State Level Leadership<br />
-Federal Level Leadership<br />
<b><u>and you</u></b>!<br />
<br />
If you have time, the report that Tammy brought to this discussion is fascinating.…
Tammy hit on a very important point. LEADERSHIP. It will take focused leadership on every level to help move the vision forward.<br />
-Community Leadership<br />
-Classroom Leadership<br />
-Site Leadership<br />
-District Leadership<br />
-Business Leadership<br />
-State Level Leadership<br />
-Federal Level Leadership<br />
<b><u>and you</u></b>!<br />
<br />
If you have time, the report that Tammy brought to this discussion is fascinating. <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cosn.org%2Fresources%2Fgrunwald%2Fdigital_leadership_divide.pdf&ei=mUNnSbeyOYT6MpjXpZ4H&usg=AFQjCNEeQuvCJ7728w7dRMSZrlBW3TJmQA&sig2=JKgQOyNAXPw-hlwnWJIFGA">CoSN. Digital Leadership Divide: Without visionary leadership dispa...</a> Check it out!<br />
<br />
Moving forward will be challenging. But someone needs to lead the way.<br />
<br />
****************<br />
I am loving the ideas on this discussion, and encouraged by the challenges. Keep them coming. The community is benefiting from your willingness to share. If you know of anyone who could benefit from the posts of those who contributed, LEAD THEM THIS WAY. We just might be on to something!<br />
<br />
Thanks<br />
Antwon The one item that really jump…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-01-09:649749:Comment:2578222009-01-09T00:49:26.149ZTammy Stephenshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/TammyStephens
The one item that really jumped out at me in your list of the challenges to effectively using Web 2.0 was the phrase, "unclear visions of the role of technology". I think everything else hinges on this.<br />
<br />
A related article that supports this idea: CoSN. Digital Leadership Divide: Without visionary leadership disparities in school technology budgets increase. Washington DC: CoSN.
The one item that really jumped out at me in your list of the challenges to effectively using Web 2.0 was the phrase, "unclear visions of the role of technology". I think everything else hinges on this.<br />
<br />
A related article that supports this idea: CoSN. Digital Leadership Divide: Without visionary leadership disparities in school technology budgets increase. Washington DC: CoSN. After our computer lab was di…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-01-07:649749:Comment:2567752009-01-07T19:34:08.248ZKevin H.https://www.classroom20.com/profile/dogtrax
After our computer lab was dismantled to make space for classroom, we went a few years with no technology at all -- just broken down PCs scattered about the building. A new principal came in and quickly secured some state grants that allowed our school to move from the lab model (drop your kids off and leave) to the rolling laptop model (bring the tech to your classroom). This has been coupled with new desktops for all teachers, but even that is now a few years old.<br />
What we are missing is more…
After our computer lab was dismantled to make space for classroom, we went a few years with no technology at all -- just broken down PCs scattered about the building. A new principal came in and quickly secured some state grants that allowed our school to move from the lab model (drop your kids off and leave) to the rolling laptop model (bring the tech to your classroom). This has been coupled with new desktops for all teachers, but even that is now a few years old.<br />
What we are missing is more professional development and a tech coach to help teachers understand the integration of tech into their curriculum.<br />
There is no easy answer to the question here ... access is a critical piece of a comprehensive technology initiative in this country. Too many school districts use their technology in a space which is then used for standardized testing, blocking out teachers and students from using it.<br />
I suspect the impending budget-tightening now under way will mean little new funds for technology.<br />
Kevin Speaking for myself, we do ha…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-01-07:649749:Comment:2563792009-01-07T15:38:05.890ZPam McLeodhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/PamMcLeod
Speaking for myself, we do have a line item - a significant one. And when we had building issues this year and last, that more than 30% was cut from that line item each year, including the replacement cycle (only in it's 2nd year, and I fought hard to create that). As you say, times are bad. In our case our community's unwillingness to fund a school renovation or new school, 3 years running, means that our building issues are causing money to be taken from Tech. I'm liking the idea of a reserve…
Speaking for myself, we do have a line item - a significant one. And when we had building issues this year and last, that more than 30% was cut from that line item each year, including the replacement cycle (only in it's 2nd year, and I fought hard to create that). As you say, times are bad. In our case our community's unwillingness to fund a school renovation or new school, 3 years running, means that our building issues are causing money to be taken from Tech. I'm liking the idea of a reserve fund which must be dedicated to technology - Wow..I'll never complain agai…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-01-07:649749:Comment:2563142009-01-07T15:04:47.328ZTamra Lanninghttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/TamraLanning
Wow..I'll never complain again! Hope things are on the upswing for you.
Wow..I'll never complain again! Hope things are on the upswing for you. We are in big trouble at my s…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-01-07:649749:Comment:2562962009-01-07T14:51:37.743ZKevhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/Kev
We are in big trouble at my school. We had nothing when i came on 6 years ago (bought my own projector, my own laptop, all the cabling, etc.) We then got an EETT Grant that put 3 computers in every classroom. We've also purchased speaker systems for each room, projectors for most and Response devices for about a quarter. Now the grant is up and the computers we bought are rapidly dying. We're not sure what we're going to do.<br />
<br />
To add to this fun little story, I have come to find that where…
We are in big trouble at my school. We had nothing when i came on 6 years ago (bought my own projector, my own laptop, all the cabling, etc.) We then got an EETT Grant that put 3 computers in every classroom. We've also purchased speaker systems for each room, projectors for most and Response devices for about a quarter. Now the grant is up and the computers we bought are rapidly dying. We're not sure what we're going to do.<br />
<br />
To add to this fun little story, I have come to find that where maintenance decided to mount my projector (which, is not where I asked it to be) it sits right in the path of both heating vents in my classroom. I cannot run the projector when the heat is on! I don't control the heat (not even the off switch...) so I'm stuck whenever it comes on. I have, once again, had to bring in my own projector so I can set it up elsewhere to avoid the heat issues.<br />
<br />
I'd argue, in light of both of these issues, that money while a problem is not nearly as much a problem as a lack of long-term planning. Our district last year hired a new tech coordinator and the guy, so far, has been awesome. I'm interested to see how he can change the culture over there to think more long term about technology.