Post date: Mar 22, 2010 2:22:52 AM
Met with Carol Cochran on March 18. Had dis-heartening conversation when I realized the amount of red tape and obstacles involved with getting the simplest technology changes off the ground. For example, the iTouches that we all thought each student would be getting are now postponed because of limited bandwidth for the district and the need to demonstrate their effectiveness to board members.
Carol Cochran and Ms. Cooper have the same ideas about the future of technology at our school, but they are also fully aware of the limitations. I also noticed that there seems to be a disconnect between curriculum and technology. I think some of the budget concerns could be covered with other funds if these two groups worked together. For example, the iTouches could be used as Kindles for students' books instead of purchasing large numbers of paperbacks. There is also savings in paper, ink, and many other things when students are working online.
I feel like the technology department needs to do a better job showing everyone else what is possible for not very much money. Just redistributing the computers we already have locked up in labs for no longer required courses (tech apps) would give us enough computers to implement many of the ideas. It does not have to be nirvana. It would be nice if we English teachers could just have 10 computers and a common planning period. Maybe the teachers of the technology classes that are no longer required could be reassigned as technology support for core courses. Students could either use time in their classes to work on other classes' assignments or those teachers could rove and support technology use in other classes.
It wouldn't be a popular decision at first, but it could save money, especially since the number of technology teachers could be reduced, and money spent elsewhere. I don't want anyone to lose their job, but there has to be a better way of allocating limited school resources.
All of this should really be a part of a movement for schools to become less institutionalized and more creative, inspiring places for learning and preparation for life after high school.