For those of you out there who have not heard, I won the teacher of the year for Humble ISD’s Career and Technology Center. The question was: “What do you consider to be the major issues in public education today? Address one in depth, outlining possible causes, effects and resolutions.” As you will see my issue (and I have lots of them, lol) deals with the lack of technology integration in schools. What follows bellow is my write up plus some enhancements that could only be found on a blog site. I would really like feedback on this.
There is an alarming lack of technology integration across this country’s public schools. It is wrongly assumed that the kids of today know how to use computers. This is false, the children of today know how to use the programs they like, but once they leave the comforts of MySpace they are as ignorant as the rest of the general populace. Anyone who has been keeping track of the increasing globalization knows that today’s students are facing more competition for higher skilled positions then ever before in the history of this planet. While the typical American school is falling behind in this revolution; the rest of the world is passionately trying to get ahead. One only has to look at the OLPC program (One Laptop Per Child) to understand the scope of the coming competition.
What could have caused the country that invented the Internet and the personal computer to fall behind the rest of the world? One word “complacency.” Apple, Intel, Microsoft, and Google all became the companies they are today by adopting open door policies between those who make administrative decisions and those who are in the know about technology. It is imposable, nor should we expect our superintendents, principles or directors to be current about every educationally relevant technological break through. I teach computers and am completing a master’s degree in Educational Technology and even I have to work on keeping up. What needs to happen in our schools is a re-thinking of technology in education. Those that know about technology must have direct and unobstructed access to those who are in charge. Bill Gates the founder of Microsoft, the richest man in the world, knows how fast technology moves. He knows he cannot keep current on all facets of technology, so he hires those who can. In the computer world if a company has a block between the decision makers and those with knowledge that company dies. Here is the catch; schools and education are in the computer world. We are preparing students for a future were computers will be an every day tool.
My micro-solutions. In my classroom I have put my entire course online: lessons, videos, quizzes, notes, and exams. More and more universities are requiring students to take at least one online course. My class prepares them for that future. They are able to listen to podcasts by others and myself in the industry. The course materials in my class are immaterial to the lessons they learn on how to find, access and learn from the new technology medium.
My macro-solution for American school districts. Open the lines of communication between those who know technology and are up on current and possible future trends, and the top-level administrators. Reexamine computer use and electronic policies. Banning electronic devices is not always in the best interest of the students or the schools. No reasonable person would argue the need to filter web access, but why should school districts ban YouTube when CNN, FoxNews, Political Candidates, and Universities are using it to distribute information?
Lastly, to attract and keep experts in the field of educational technology, school districts across the USA must be prepared to pay them what they could make in the corporate setting, or at the very least pay them more then schools in other countries.
Here is my last thought: If we truly were embracing technology why are you reading this on a piece of paper and not on a computer monitor. For the digital copy as well as the podcast go to http://edtechguy.wordpress.com/
