Rethinking Computers in the Classroom
By the end of next month, one middle school campus will have a new computer lab with several media kits (including FLIP video camera, Olympus 210 digital audio recorder, Coolpix still image digital camera, and 10 microphones).
The effort is focused on providing equipment to a campus that lacks any kind of lab at all in anticipation of a saturday technology institute. The expectation for the campus is that all teachers go through LOTI Lead Teacher program, an online course. More technology is invested in those teachers, as each of them receive a Macbook, a digital projector, Adobe Digital Studio suite, and a media kit per grade level.
It will move one campus from obsolete hardware to the latest and greatest in a matter of 10 months, with 3 of those being summer. But a part of me is worried that this reality will raise it’s head:
Schools are enthusiastic about the technology’s promise, but short of the money and trained faculty to extract many of its benefits…In many schools, PCs have failed to aid students’ learning or improve test scores, or equip them with the analysis and communications skills that today’s workplace demands, according to studies.
The problems include a reliance on paper lesson plans that don’t factor in technology, and inadequate teacher training and technical support. Also at fault, say educators, is American classrooms’ occupation with teaching kids strategies for raising standardized test scores to meet provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act.That often leaves little room for creative extras.
Source: KTRE.com
Could a plan to address review and blending of tech into paper lesson plans, provide sustained professional learning for teachers, and dedicate technical support at the campus overcome the italicized concerns raised above?
I sure hope so…and is such a hope enough to justify the expense?
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