Comments on: The $98 Million Ed Tech Nightmare

By: rose

rose — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 00:59:14 +0000

Gary, I think that you summed up what is wrong with our schools today.

By: evslink

evslink — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 07:29:56 +0000

There are sure ways to learn but I think it would be better for all of us to accept the changes that comes along the way. Personally, I think it is just right to adapt the modern technology and all that it caters. As the well quoted saying goes “nothing in life is constant but change”, so I think it is just right to embrace and practice what today offers.

By: David Futch

David Futch — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:20:15 +0000

Will,
I love interactive boards and I have seen how they can transform a classroom into an active learning environment. The portable tablet is the answer to get the teacher away from the front of the classroom and allow proximity to students that may be off task. It has nothing to do with being lazy but has everything to do with engaging students. The “clickers” are wonderful tools that engage every student and provide both the student and teacher with immediate feedback on the learning process. And if you have to use the same old questions, so what! Are there really any new questions about the War of 1812? Probably not, but if we can engage just a few more students why not give it a try.

By: Changing ourselves « TIC’d off with the Status Quo

Changing ourselves « TIC’d off with the Status Quo — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:18:00 +0000

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By: Helen

Helen — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:58:21 +0000

I believe we do need to integrate technology in relevant ways. In our HS building, some of us want more access to and training in technology and are fought by administrators who are not technically savvy – and therefore don’t understand the need or see the possibilities for students. Students also will need to be trained in the appropriate uses within the educational setting and guided to discovering that computers are not primarily gaming and social-networking tools. Technology can be utilized to enhance deep learning, and maintain the human connection.

By: The Money Problem « TIC’d off with the Status Quo

The Money Problem « TIC’d off with the Status Quo — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:39:23 +0000

By: Lois Giordano

Lois Giordano — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:28:45 +0000

Your idea of teachers applying for grants to get new tools is really smart. I could see myself observing the use of a tool and then applying to use it myself, with a plan in hand for how I would use it. That certainly builds in accountability and gives the teacher a vested interest in making it work.

By: Clay Burell

Clay Burell — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:38:53 +0000

Boy, Carolyn Foote was at her pithy best with that comment. Bam!

By: Carson

Carson — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 04:08:26 +0000

Technology in our district is a privilege and is seen, by most of us, as a valued tool. There are some that are dragging their feet but the administration is implementing new mandatory technology tools that make it hard for them to resist any longer. Grade book software with the cabablities of uploading to the web is our latest concern. One thing our district does well is to provide the proper training so that those who do not feel as comfortable are able to do what is asked of them. How often do we see our students shut down when they are asked to do/understand something completely foreign to them?? I see the same reaction in many of my colleagues.

By: Lois Giordano

Lois Giordano — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 01:21:18 +0000

I think you have made some relevant observations. Technology changes are initially very stressful, especially when they come too closely to deadlines for using the new technology. I think about some grading programs that got updated or changed dramatically just before school started when we had to use the programs. That drove us crazy. But the district learned from that and offered advance workshops for those interested in serving as consultants for other teachers. Even though I was far from being a “techy” I took advantage of the advance training and was able to assist other teachers in the learning curve. (Made me feel good to be ahead of the technology curve for a change!)

Training and onsite support also are critical. Our faculty members were very collaborative and were always available to help each other get past a technological hurdle. I think that cooperative mindset goes a long way in helping “veteran teachers” like myself get past our fears and feelings of technological inadequacy and move forward to try new technologies. Seeing the success of other teachers encouraged me to try new things. Their encouragement and support–including an occasional high-five–helped me to venture forward and succeed.

By: M. Walker

M. Walker — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:36:53 +0000

Will,
I was forwarded this article by one of the media specialists in our district. Here are my thoughts:
1) Tim hit the nail on the head. I think the biggest problem was that the technology implementation appears to have been “top-down.” Staff were given tools and told to use them. That was very evident in the article, despite being 1/2 a continent away.
2) There are several teachers in our district who wholeheartedly agreed with the sentiments of the article. As a tech integrationist, I need to listen to their concerns, not dismiss them out of hand. At the same time, I have often found that once reluctant staff find an aspect of a tool that they like to use for their own use, they then are ready to buy into using it with their students.
3) One method used by our district is to have teachers apply for “grants” to get new tools, such as Interwrite pads. Part of the grant requires them to come up with a plan for assessing the educational impact of using the tool. This gives people the option, and also makes them accountable for implementation. Those that do not wish to use it need not apply!

By: Matt Johnston

Matt Johnston — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:55:45 +0000

I wrote about this same article here and closed my argument with a similar one that I have seen in these comments–technology is no substitute for substance.

I am sure that there are many teachers out there who have successfully integrated technology and technology based instruction into their classroom. I am also sure that there are teachers who, for whatever reason, never will make that move. The key question is, are they able to provide the necessary content instruction to their students no matter how they present the material?

I know that some teachers are arguing that there needs to be more technological relevance to education content and I am fully cognizant of that need. However, as presented in this article (admittedly a biased view), you have to wonder if the technology is like sweet tasting icing on a poorly made cake.

By: Scott Mooney

Scott Mooney — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:31:55 +0000

The school district I just left, which happens to be both geographically and philosophically very close to the Alexandria School District, is in exactly the same boat. Three years ago tens of millions were spent on putting equipment into the schools and people into the schools to assist teachers with utilizing all that new technology. Sounds wonderful doesn’t it? Well, I was one of those people, and as you might imagine I spent almost 95% of my time fixing printing and network access issues, helping teachers reset their passwords, even making student IDs. The inevitable happened when the district realized they were paying us far more than they were getting back instructionally so we all lost our positions. Now there is no one left in the school to help teachers use the equipment and if the computers were idle much of the time when I was there now they are absolutely ignored.

I wish I could have my old job back like it was supposed to have been, but the new CEO is all about test scores and wouldn’t listen to us, the folks in the trenches, when we tried to show him that we could positively affect student achievement through the use of technology. Oh well, we’re just the ones with the kids, don’t listen to us.

By: Steve Ransom

Steve Ransom — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:53:57 +0000

Will, Wrote about this on Sunday and was ill after finishing the article. One thing that I did love was the quotation by a student who admits that his favorite teacher “blockquote>“isn’t into all this computer stuff. All he uses is the board — the whole board. He’s lively, energetic, witty and really knows his math. He forces you to pay attention; you can’t drift off even if you want to.” I love that. It brings a balance to the conversation about 21st century teaching - that solid teaching must precede effective technology use. Kids know when teachers are forcing tools into learning contexts without learning harmony. But, responsible, meaningful, engaging, relevant teaching must also effectively harness new technologies. More on my thoughts here

By: Carolyn Foote

Carolyn Foote — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:34:48 +0000

Hm, no, I don’t know that cfoote person