Guthrie, J. (2003, March 17). Computers Idle in Public Schools. USATODAY.com. Retrieved March 10, 2010, from http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2003-03-17-guthrie_x.htm
Article Summary:
James Guthrie, a Vanderbilt University professor of public policy and education, has traveled around the country to different schools and has seen that computers are not being used as much as they can be in public schools. Teachers are still using "old" technology such as overhead projectors and chalkboards. Nine out of ten public school classrooms are connected to the internet. Schools have one computer per five students. All this access and students aren't using it. Teachers are not trained to use the technology, so students are missing out on using it. Public schools are spending $20 billion a year on professional development, but very little of that is being used to train teachers to use technology. Guthrie suggests that the $2 billion that taxes raise annually to put internet and computers into public schools should be diverted to the schools that actually use it and away from those that aren't. His idea is to create competition for the money to encourage people to use it more effectively for our students' benefit. Perhaps losing the money will get the attention of school leaders and will encourage them to use technology more often.
My Thoughts:
The article says that only schools with an extraordinarily dynamic principal or superintendent are using technology to full advantage for student learning. In our district, we have a great group of people that are leading the charge, so to speak, for increasing technology use in the classroom. T3 or Teachers Teaching with Technology is our district's way of encouraging more teachers to use technology and is providing the training to do so. Every year, more and more teachers are signing up to be part of this technology movement. Students at every level in our district are benefiting because of it.
It surprises me that there is so much money going to waste. I didn't know that $2 billion a year comes from a phone tax and that there are federal grants that are matching these funds. It seems ridiculous to have the money and the classroom connections and not train our teachers to take advantage of it. This is the digital age and we need to be able to keep up with it in order to prepare our students for their future.
Article Summary:
James Guthrie, a Vanderbilt University professor of public policy and education, has traveled around the country to different schools and has seen that computers are not being used as much as they can be in public schools. Teachers are still using "old" technology such as overhead projectors and chalkboards. Nine out of ten public school classrooms are connected to the internet. Schools have one computer per five students. All this access and students aren't using it. Teachers are not trained to use the technology, so students are missing out on using it. Public schools are spending $20 billion a year on professional development, but very little of that is being used to train teachers to use technology. Guthrie suggests that the $2 billion that taxes raise annually to put internet and computers into public schools should be diverted to the schools that actually use it and away from those that aren't. His idea is to create competition for the money to encourage people to use it more effectively for our students' benefit. Perhaps losing the money will get the attention of school leaders and will encourage them to use technology more often.
My Thoughts:
The article says that only schools with an extraordinarily dynamic principal or superintendent are using technology to full advantage for student learning. In our district, we have a great group of people that are leading the charge, so to speak, for increasing technology use in the classroom. T3 or Teachers Teaching with Technology is our district's way of encouraging more teachers to use technology and is providing the training to do so. Every year, more and more teachers are signing up to be part of this technology movement. Students at every level in our district are benefiting because of it.
It surprises me that there is so much money going to waste. I didn't know that $2 billion a year comes from a phone tax and that there are federal grants that are matching these funds. It seems ridiculous to have the money and the classroom connections and not train our teachers to take advantage of it. This is the digital age and we need to be able to keep up with it in order to prepare our students for their future.
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