Facilitating the Use of Technology in the Classroom
If Our Educational System is Broken, How Do We Fix It?
More and more as I participate in webinars, discussions and forums around the United States educational system, the talk seems to be around the fact that it is broken. As I think of it, I can not remember one person say that there is not something wrong with it and that nothing needs to change. With that in mind, I ask this, let's stop talking about it being broken and let's fix it.
What works in education that we would not want to get rid of? What does not work.In what does not work, what is you suggestion in how we fix it and how do we fix it so change does not take 15-20 years. It seems like we have fallen behind other countries when it comes to this and no minute can be wasted in fear we will fall further behind. I challenge everyone from this group to get involved in this discussion and give your feedback on where we stand. I would lasolove the view of outsiders. If you are not from the US, I would love to hear what you do that works and does not work as well.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by G Ayala on -
Agree! Lower than 25th place among other developed and developing nations in math and science should be an indicator U.S. cannot produce the engineers needed. The solutions may be in reviewing the basics: curriculum and content. Just because we force every H.S. student to take 4 years of math including calculus (without firm understanding of fractions, ratios and proportions, and minimal mental math (no calculators)) does not mean we will make engineers out of some of them. We spend the most $$, complain we do not spend enough, and cannot show top results. The education industry and their lobbyists are powerful in dictating texts and testing (mandatory standardized state tests) a the state and federal level. When I compare a math text used in a leading country vs. one used in U.S. the difference is overwhelming: the former is half the size and weight, and a fraction of the cost as the latter. What is the difference between a 10-year old Algebra text and a current one? The pictures! But both are useless if the students do not use them and need to buy new revised editions. For whose benefit? Maybe the obvious answer to our education problems is to get politics and selfish business interests out of the classrooms. I am a parent and a math tutor volunteer at my kids H.S. and no one so far has been able to answer my question: what is the correlation between standardized test performance results and academic performance results? Technology will help (I am really impressed with online-distance education/learning) but not if the curriculum and the content do not align with current reality of our students minds.
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Permalink Reply by Mark Steffenson on -
Here is a case study that illustrates just one example of how technology can help in this case with STEM curriculum. Regardless of what technology is used it is vital to leverage cost-effective technology to enable student centered teaching.
http://www.itslearning.net/mckinley-high
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Permalink Reply by Brian Inge on
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Great reference!
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From a technology stand point....
I believe in driving interoperability through Software Defined Networking (SDN) solutions at the state level connecting districts and schools can offer value to the educational community from students, teachers/faculty and parents.
This could be a state level approach to offer support/enhancement to all schools. To compare, Healthcare uses similar models to interoperabilit of systems, data flow, IT infrastructure and coordination of data not only throught one facility but, through out a multiple hospital system. Why not consider a similar model for Education?
• Enabling schools to meet budget limitations with ADARA’s Industry lowest TCO which educates students more effectively
• Securing student information with multiple security provisions
• Securing student researching with content filtering firewall protection
• Delivering Real Time, Multimedia access for students
• Enabling newer learning models to encourage students to excel
• Working with and managing all third party infrastructure
Efficiencies can be further leveraged by utilizing government programs such as the Federal Universal Service Fund, Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund, and associated individual state and local fund resources.
I appreciate any feedback. Thank you.
Brian
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