[IP] Computing in schools
Begin forwarded message:
From: Victoria Davis <coolcatteacher@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: July 4, 2006 8:22:52 AM EDT
To: dave@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: For IP: Computing in schools
Hello, Dave,
I am a computer science teacher and technology administrator at a
private school in South Georgia and am responding to the critique of
Tom Fairlie about the problems with America's public school systems.
I have a few points that I would like to add to an important discussion:
I am at a school with a strong classical educational curriculum AND a
strong technology curriculum. We still diagram sentences AND we use
the newest technologies such as wikis and blogs. Nothing could ever
substitute for a good curriculum AND good teaching. Tools such as
pen/paper and computer/keyboard are just the medium from which a good
education is carried out. Almost all of our students are in the 90th
percentile in all subjects and yet we use computers in every
classroom. So, I would say effective computing complements a good
education and in no way hinders it. If there are problems in public
education, I certainly would not blame the technology.
(Implementation may be poor but the technology is needed!)
However, I will say this. My classroom was transformed this past
year using the new Internet, not by CPU upgrades. I have six year
old Pentium III computers and used it to access tools such as wikis
and blogs that actually improved student learning and helped them
hone their writing skills. Most teachers at our schools get a new
computer every six years also. So, you are right in that classrooms
do not need the latest and greatest in order to teach effectively.
However, they do need something.
Having many friends in public education, the problem is much larger
than technology. America wants to "fix" education and so rather than
"doing something" we have thrown money at the problem. Although, I
am a private school teacher, I feel a comraderie with my public
school counterparts and cooperate with them in projects and learn
from them online. As a fellow teacher, we are kindred spirits in our
desire to see kids learn and to see them transformed by the power of
an education. Most of my friends work much longer hours than I, and
yet spend their time on meaningless paperwork and fill out many forms
to prove that they have effective lesson plans and align with state
standards. All of this paperwork robs them of the energy and spark
to be effective teachers in the classroom. Students of all learning
types have been put in a classroom together and the teacher is
expected to keep up a fast pace. And we could go on...
A 2003 study from the National Governor's Associate as quoted in
Robert J. Marzano's pioneering research paper, The Right Work,
"school reform in the United States is plagued by the misperception
that schools fail because teachers and administrators don't work hard
enough. He
contends that the downfall of low performing schools is not their
lack of effort and
motivation; rather it is poor decisions regarding what to work on.
Stated differently, the
problem in low performing schools is not getting people to work hard,
it is getting people
to do the "right work.""
So, yes, Tom Fairlie is right that many schools are not doing the
"right work." That view is shown by the best researchers on the matter.
However, from my own experience at a school that is succeeding
(albeit a private one), technology (specifically a good conduit to
the Internet) is a vital part, although not the only part, of a good
education. To blame the ills of public education on the
implementation of technology is stretching it a little far. I have
seen many great public school teachers who are transforming their
classrooms through the effective use of technology. They should be
emulated. The best tool for professional development for teachers is
the reading of the vast array of incredible teaching blogs from
excellent educators around the world!
Do not forget the power of transferrence. Students love technology.
When you use technology EFFECTIVELY to teach a subject, the love of
the technology CAN BE transferred to the subject. Adequate computing
systems are simply a necessary tool in the toolbox of a good teacher
and should NEVER be considered a replacement for a teacher.
Yes, the use of technology has been poorly implemented in many
schools but so has reading, writing, and 'rithmetic. You don't stop
teaching something because you're not doing well at it. You fix it!
The effective use of technology to collaborate, communicate, and
participate in an emerging global economy is a vital skill that we
SHOULD be teaching America's students. If we do not teach it, we
will fall further behind in the world class education we aim to teach
our children.
Thank you for the opportunity to contribute
Victoria A Davis http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com
--
Vicki Davis
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