The rapid and constant pace of change in technology is creating both opportunities and challenges for schools a few of them are listed below
Opportunities
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Challenges
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greater access to rich, multimedia content
increasing use of online course taking to offer classes not available
widespread availability of mobile computing devices that can access the internet
expanding role of social networking tools for learning & professional development
growing interest in the power of digital games for more personalized learning
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schools are forever playing technological catch up as digital innovations emerge that require upgrading schools technological infrastructure & building professional development programs
creating a digital divide based largely on the quality of educational technology, rather than just simple access to the internet
rapide evolution of these also makes it increasingly challenging to determine what works best
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Hottest Issues & Trends in Educational Technology
Technology Infrastructure
- “stated theory behind the reform was that by allowing more options for
connectivity, schools could in theory gain more bandwidth while at the
same time drive down cost because increasing the speed of fiber networks generally involves a one-time upgrade rather than consistent, periodic expenditures to secure more bandwidth via other connections.”
Spring of 2011
data released as part of the ongoing Speak Up research by Project Tomorrow found that restrictive Internet filtering was the top student complaint about Web use in 2010
Five years earlier, the chief complaint was connectivity speed
Federal government’s perceived desire to focus its efforts as a facilitator of infrastructure access has become somewhat controversial among education technology advocates.
especially evident when it became clear that the Enhancing Education Through Technology, or EETT, program, was in jeopardy.
was initially funded at $700 million annually but had dropped to $100 million by 2010 = only federal program within the U.S. Department of Education’s general funding devoted specifically to education technology
it was defunded as part of a federal budget compromise in the spring of 2011 (Education Week, April 29, 2011)
Huge differences in technology infrastructure remain among schools in the United States
Research
Interesting topic due to the fast pace changes that are continuously happening
Vast majority of the studies available are funded by the very companies and institutions that have created and promoted the technology, raising questions of the research’s validity and objectivity.
In addition, the kinds of studies that produce meaningful data often take several years to complete—a timeline that lags far behind the fast pace of emerging and evolving technologies.
The studies that do look at the effects of mobile technologies on learning are often based on small samples of students involved in short-term pilots, not the kind of large-scale, ongoing samples of students that educators and policymakers would like to see (Education Week, Feb. 23, 2011).
1. Intervention classes: Technology is integrated into every
intervention class period.2
2. Change management leadership by principal: Leaders provide
time for teacher professional learning and collaboration at least
monthly.
3. Online collaboration: Students use technology daily for online
collaboration (games/simulations and social media).
4. Core subjects: Technology is integrated into core curriculum
weekly or more frequently.
5. Online formative assessments: Assessments are done at least
weekly.
6. Student-computer ratio: Lower ratios improve outcomes.
7. Virtual field trips:With more frequent use, virtual trips are
more powerful. e best schools do these at least monthly.
8. Search engines: Students use daily.
9. Principal training: Principals are trained in teacher buy-in, best
practices, and technology-transformed learning.
followed by a revised version of the report in September 2010
researchers cautioned that the vast majority of the studies in the meta-analysis = students in higher education, and as a result, the conclusions drawn may not be applicable to K-12 education.
“In fact, a major finding of the meta-study was the severe lack of rigorous research studies regarding online learning in K-12 (U.S. Department of Education, 2010).”
The Speak Up survey, which is conducted annually by Project Tomorrow nonprofit research organization—and Blackboard, Inc.
surveyed nearly 300,000 students, parents, teachers, & other educators
results:
an increased interest from educators in mobile learning, as well as an increase in the number of students who own mobile devices such as smartphones, regardless of economic or demographic differences
an increased interest in online learning and blended learning opportunities, as well as electronic textbooks
E-learning
Online learning in many forms is on the rise in schools of all types across the country.
menu of options often includes:
The International Association for K-12 Online Learning, or iNACOL,
estimates that more than 1.5 million K-12 students were engaged in some form of online or blended learning in the 2009-10 school year
end of 2010 = supplemental or full-time online learning opportunities were available in at least 48 of 50 states, plus the District of Columbia (iNACOL, 2010).
At the end of 2010, 27 states plus the District of Columbia had full-time online schools serving students statewide, according to iNACOL’s report, “A National Primer on K-12 Online Learning.”
Pros
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Cons
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Some schools say it saves money and allows them to offer a wider variety of courses, including Advanced Placement classes
can help with scheduling conflicts when a face-to-face class is provided only at a time when a student already has another obligation
online courses can provide highly qualified teachers for classes otherwise not offered by a school
credit recovery = One of the fastest growing areas of e-learning
some researchers say students have had the most success with hybrid or blended education
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“But full-time virtual schools also face the reality that for many students with two parents working outside the home such a scenario is not an option. Such students often cannot tap into full-time online schools for that reason, and virtual school providers acknowledge that their version of education works best, particularly in the lower grades, when an adult is present to assist.”
However, some educators and education experts have questioned the quality and academic rigor of these programs (Education Week, April 28, 2010).
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Mobile Computing
following factors help make use of mobile devices popular & increased new trend:
Increasing access,
growing acceptance
decreasing cost
the digital divide between the affluent and disadvantaged still exists, mobile devices appear to have the potential to close it, at least in terms of access
“According to the “Horizon” report. The report predicts game-based learning will be widely adopted by mainstream classrooms within two to three years (New Media Consortium, 2011).”
Instead of educational software, e.g. Math Blaster or Reader Rabbit, students and teachers are much more likely to incorporate Web-based educational games into classrooms, which are often available for free
Educators hope that games and simulations will:
provide a way for students to picture themselves in career paths they may otherwise would not have chosen, especially in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects
offer students a way to connect what they are learning in class to (simulated) real-world situations in a safe and low-cost environment (Education Week, March 17, 2011)
may help students learn by helping them visualize processes they otherwise could not see, such as the flow of an electron or the construction of a city
can also promote higher-order thinking skills, such as collaboration, communication, problem-solving, and teamwork (MIT, 2009; National Academies Press 2011)
creating a healthy marriage of an engaging and entertaining game with educational objectives and goals is a challenging process that has yet to be perfected.
To create and design games with the kind of high-resolution graphics and complex situations that children are used to seeing in commercial games takes a large amount of funding and time that educators often do not have.
finding the time and resources to train teachers who may not be familiar with game-based learning is a challenge for most schools.
Social Networking
classes
This article was very informative! Great to see and hear about the timeline of technology in Education. With taking these courses I have become more aware of ALL of the benefits of using technology in our schools and hope to continue to be on board with our districts efforts in making it the most effective for our students.
We are very fortunate in OHLSD and have been providing all that we can to enable all of our students the ability to explore and be exposed to using technology in the classroom. It would be great to have a blog to have a discussion board of what our district teachers use and how they feel it benefits them in their specific classroom.... maybe add this option to Jay and Christians site that they created for PD?
Jeff Dunn's blog, The Teacher’s Guide To Using YouTube In The Classroom, he places significant emphasis on something we may take for granted. Playlists can be used in a variety of ways.
