Effectiveness of Educational Technology

Michigan’s Freedom to Learn Initiative (FTL) had a study done by CREP out of the University of Memphis and found significant instances of FTL students outperforming non-FTL students in math and reading tests and FTL students had knowledge needed for 21^st century workforce.  The study also showed FTL had positive impact on student motivation, learning and achievement.

From Texas TIP, economically disadvantaged students became more technology proficient than their counterparts not in TIP.  The report from TIP also had no prove of student satisfaction whether immersion school or not.  They also have shown less discipline problems in schools with immersion.

From the Apple website, students in 1 to 1 environments show greater independence and self-directed learning.  The students are more engaged and motivated with improvements in attendence and have fewer discipline problems.

 Milken publication report showed computer based instruction students scored in the 64th percentile on achievement tests compared to those without who scored in the 50th percentile.  The report also said students learm more in less time when they receive computer based instruction, which is a great indicator of technology effectiveness.  The students also like their classes more and develop better attitudes in computer based instruction.

The thing that really rang a bell with me was an article by Karena O'Riordan on a link from the Metiri Group - Research Findings.  The article said a big part of the effectiveness of technology is the "how" it is incorporated into the learning environment.  If  a person just puts technology in to put it in, then the teacher will not have success with it unless they understand technology and use technology to take learning to a different or the next level.

As with any study, a person can show good and bad of each.  One report talked about how computers improved attendence while another said in the first three years of a four year study the attendence was actually worse.  I feel students learn different today.  I feel we need to find ways to motivate students and technology can do it.  I do feel a big way is "how" to incorporate technology into the classroom.  With technology there may be times the teacher learns from the students or a student which at times can be difficult for teachers.  I think all the information I read did not surprise me.  I don't think we will ever know if technology improves education or not because I feel if we were to go back we would be suppressing our students, kind of similar to what the governor of Maine said in some of their reports.

I think all sorts of reports like this are beneficial in justifying the use and expense of technology in our schools.  A lot of the reports talked about professional development for teachers.  With the 4-day school week, we have incoporated more professional development for our teachers in lines of technology, but we have made the majority of it optional.  Since we made it optional, we have had the majority of teachers at the professional development sessions with a positive attitude.  The extra time has allowed the teachers to use the technology, become comfortable with the technology, and use it more in their classroom.  If a teacher is not comfortable with technology, then more times than not the lesson will not be effective.  Every teacher can not incorporate all the same technology and all the same amounts of technology into the classroom.  All teachers are not the same, but we can find more ways to incorporate technology into every classroom effectively.  In our small school setting, it is nice to have research findings like the ones we read for class to justify the expense for technology, but in our school the parents know if technology is being used effectively in the classroom or not and that can justify the expense of technology more than anything.

DHS Technology

Does your school district have an Internet Acceptable Use Policy?

Yes.  Our school Internet acceptable use policy is part of our sixteen page technology handbook which is handed to every high school student and parent every year before the begining of the school year.  We are in our fourth year of the one to one tablet intiative program.  We updated our high school technology plan when we began the intiative program.   We even have a student/parent pledge that they have to sign everyyear with a reminder of the guidelines and main points of the acceptable use policy. 

We update these policies every year.  Some of the policies at times feel like they are not needed for a small school like us, but then we will have an incident that proves we need the policy in place.  This is the first year the junior high students have the same policy as the high school students.  Prior to this year, the junior hgih students used the old policy, which did not cover a lot of things for a good Internet acceptable use policy.  Our elementary students still sign the old policy but they are not on the Internet near as much as the older students, and they are supervised the entire time they are on a computer in the school.

Does your school district have an Internet Publishing Policy?
Yes.  We have a publishing policy.  This is the policy of the three which is very general.  So, it covers a lot (we hope) but it is not too specific.  In doing some research on this, the Internet publishing policy at our school could definitely be improved. 

Does your school district have a Distance Education Policy?

Yes.  We have a distance education policy.  We have put our policy in line with NSU's since many of our distance education classes are through Northern.  This policy manual has actually shrunk since I have been at Doland school.  You can not say that for all policies!!!  The current policy even though shorter, I do think is better.  It is really straight forward and covers all areas.  Our students can not say anything about it being to long and not understanding the policy.  We have an additional policy in place in the event the distance education class costs money.  If we can not offer the class and it is not a make up class, the student must sign an agreement.  The student must get a "C" in the class or better.  If they do not get a "C," they pay for the class.

What does your district need to do to get these policies up-to-date?
In speaking with our technology coordinator who attends many workshops on this subject matter, she felt that we were fine.  She felt in looking at other school districts Internet acceptable use policies we were right in line and if anything one of the better ones.  The distance education policy is very similar to NSU's and others.  So we feel this is a good thing since they update theres on a yearly basis.  Our publishing policy could use some work, but it is still pretty good.
Can a policy cover everything?  In thinking of technology, this is what I keep thinking.  Technology and the Internet is constantly changing, and our kids are well aware of the changes.  I think policies need to be updated on a yearly basis as ours is, and good judgement is needed in new circumstances.

copyright

Does your school district have a Copyright Policy?
In my class blog, I was reading the student handbook and did not find anything about copyright; however the technology handbook has a little blurb about it.  "Comply with trademark and copyright laws and all license agreements.  If you are unsure ask a teacher, network administrator, or principal."  I think this is pretty brief and general.  We do say something (non-written) to our teachers at the in-service before school about copyright laws.  We do not go into them to indepth, but we have never had any questions about them.

• Does that Copyright Policy need to be updated to reflect technology issues?
I don't know.  I feel it covers a lot by being brief and vague.  I do think we should cover more with students, but this is also something that is taught in some classes.  I guess as administrator it is something all kids get educated on every year.

• Does your school district follow copyright laws?
Yes

• What are your feelings about copyright laws?
I guess I dont have any feelings one way or the other.  I feel copyright laws are something we need to abide by and follow.

NSBA site

The NSBA site has already been implemented into our school.  I am a big fan of the saying "an ounce of prevention is worth more than a gallon of cure."  I think that is how the saying goes, but it is close :).  We are constantly looking for ideas to educate our students on cyberbullying and internet safety.  This site offers new ideas for not only me but my computer teacher (k-12) and the technology coordinator.  It even gives lesson plans and projecst that are not "corny.." 
This is a great site that I have bookmarked and will continue to use throughout the school year.

Quiz #1

1.  Why should a school district have a website?  What should be on that site?
A school district should have a website to market the school.  The school can market its students by giving pictures of students, pictures of students in activities, student accomplishments and students test results (of course not individual results to harm a student).  The website can also have teacher's webpages or wikis along with a teacher's lesson plans and goals for classes. 

Student handbooks, teacher handbooks, athletic handbooks, technology handbooks, links to students gradebooks for parents, DSTEP results, menus, school information, calendars, schedules, etc. the list could go on about what can be on a school website.  I think it is very important to keep the webpage up to date, easy to use and in a way fun to use.  If people enjoy your website, they are more likely to view it on a regular basis.

In my first year as an administrator (about 5 years ago) we interviewed candidates for a couple teaching positions.  We had one of them candidates view our website to find out about the school.  This past year we had more positions open, but we had every candidate except one go out (on their own) and view our website.  So, we have possible future teachers viewing our website.  We have had future students and potential students view our website.  I think it is very important to keep your website up to date and be very useful for people.

2.  How do administrators and school boards keep a current vision of technology and the future?
I think a lot has to do with the administrators, teachers, and the school board being on the same page.  If one of them has an open mind to look into something in the technology line, they will look into it if they know their ideas will be listened too.    If a teacher says they would like to buy ipods for their class and you know they will be used, the school is more likely to purchase them.  The school board is the pulse of the community (or should somewhat be).  So, they have an idea the community would like to go.  If the school board wants to integrate more technology, they can let the administration know and vice verse.
I also think the students play a major role in this as well.  Students know as much as anybody about technology.
Workshops, in-services, and classes can all help see the vision of the future and incorporate the vision into the school district.  If administrators are equipped in the technology (they do NOT have to be experts) then they are more likely to understand it and push for technology.

3.  What information from the CEO Forum website is most useful?  How can that information be used?
The star chart was very useful and the reports were as well.  From both of these, I was able to see where are school was in regards to goals and outlines set up.  I could see our school needs more professional development.  I liked the idea of having teachers look at a report with the goals on the report (but not the year) and see how they are doing in regards to the goals, and then show them the year for the goals to get an idea of their progress.

4  What are Web 2.0 tools?  How can these tools be used by schools to enhance classroom instruction?
The Web 2.0 tools are the tools that allow interactions.  The email, facebook, blogging, podcasts, twitter, etc. are all examples of Web 2.0.  These tools allow the student to connect to their world.  It brings a calming effect and they enjoy the school work because that is what they deal with on a daily basis.  It allows them to go deeper into a subject matter rather than just pen and paper.  It allows them to interface with technology, other students, the class and the subject matter.  I think it basically takes the class to the next level.

5.  What is Cyber Bullying?  What can schools do to help prevent CyberBullying?
Cyber bullying is bullying through the Internet in simple terms.  It is one person demeaning or harming another person in some form through the Internet.  The picking on the kid on the corner of the playground has turned into getting on facebook, email or whatever form of Internet and calling sally every name in the book or threatening sally or lieing about sally in a negative manner.
School can put policies in which prohibit cyber bullying and I am pretty sure this is mandated.  A main thing they can do is educate their students on what to say and what not to say on the Internet.  Another thing school can do is enforce the policy.