2009 Economic Stimulus Plan & the 21st Century Classroom.
Posted: Wednesday, March 18, 2009
by Josh Leitz
Backbone Communications
We're not going to focus on the specifics of the funding and how it's being accounted for. We are going to talk about how this funding will greatly impact our students!
Due to funding education hasn't been able to keep up with technology. We're not talking about not being able to upgrade to Windows Vista...how about upgrading to Windows XP!! For those that aren't familiar with software releases, Windows XP was released in 2005...that's four years ago! Schools currently with Windows 98 (11 years old!) are trying to find the funds to improve their software.
Aside from the video games and the multimedia, students need to be engaged; they need interactivity in the classroom. How is this done? With technology.
There are many devices available on the market today. mimio is an example of an extremely inexpensive, portable device that turns ANY whiteboard or surface into an interactive board! Did you get that?!? Look up interactive boards in Google. How ridiculous is it to buy a whiteboard when schools already have whiteboards? This device allows schools to keep their whiteboards, save money, and gain the interactivity they need to engage their students. Capture is also a feature in this device. Capturing regular dry erase marker notes on the whiteboard WITHOUT a projector. If you haven't seen this, it's a must!
The 21st Century Classroom and creating interactivity in the classroom doesn't stop with just an interactive whiteboard. Classroom Response Systems, Online Assessments, Computer-based Prescription, off-line extension activities, etc...are all necessary to engage students for the long term.
A term that is being used quite a bit is Universal Screening. This allows for true differentiated instruction. But just providing the teachers with the data to then turn around and teach 25+ students based on their needs is not the answer. Technology can prescribe content helping the teacher really understand where the student needs that one on one attention.
How does this all relate to the 2009 Education Economic Stimulus Plan? I think it's pretty clear. A teacher's objective is to move a student forward both academically and behaviorally. Technology can diagnose, prescribe and monitor. Technology also has the ability to provide the interactivity and teamwork so that true engagement occurs.
We'll have to discuss training and the importance of the teacher's ability to implement this technology another time. The Education Economic Stimulus Package, Plan, Bill for 2009 WILL help students engage and retain their academic skills so that they're successful in the work place.
Educational Software - Intervention & Gifted?
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Sorry to disagree but the additional moneys for education will not improve the lot. What good have additional moneys done in the past? Our rankings worldwide are pitiful in this the greatest nation in the world. Computers will not improve the lot. For heavens sake, the poorest of the poor have computers!Education is teaching children and one doesn't need a computer to see which child is learning and which one is not.A little discipline in the classroom could go a long way in the teaching of our kids. Sadly that is the last thing we have in the classroom today and money is not going to change that one bit!Josh, how do you think those of us in the older generations managed to learn so well in school without computers? How was it possible that there was a time when education in America was respected by the rest of the world?The answer is simple: we were actually taught to read and write, and not just pass tests!NancyNancy,
I appreciate your comment. I do agree with you partly. Especially, "A little discipline in the classroom could go a long way in the teaching of our kids. Sadly that is the last thing we have in the classroom today".
However, the mix of students are different than they were years ago. I was a teacher in the inner city and I had an organized and disciplined classroom. Veteran teachers were asking for my advice how I "control" my classroom. Books like "Tools For Teaching" by Fred Jones and "First Days of School" by Harry Wong are a must.
I agree with you completely that we have many unqualified teachers and the discipline and leadership need to improve greatly.
Here's the issue at hand: Being a teacher, I was expected to teach my 5th and 6th combined class at all grade levels. I had 9 students with IEPs. 6th grade students on a 2nd grade level, 5th grade students on a 7th grade level. And at the same time, those struggling students didn't have any family support.
Only technology can allow prescription instruction that fill skill deficient gaps allowing the teacher to focus on lesson planning and creativity.
You are absolutely right with the bottom line: Teachers need to improve.
JoshJosh,It is the parents more than anything and that is what kids are lacking today.Nancy
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