Technology in its Place: Successful Technology Infusion in Schools A Summary of Chapter 3: Technology for Urban Schools Brian Mellott

Needs Infrastructure High-speed internet Communication wiring Dedicated electrical lines Funding Teachers Effective Technology Literate

Infrastructure

High-speed internet

Communication wiring

Dedicated electrical lines

Funding

Teachers

Effective

Technology Literate

Infrastructure Challenges Aging buildings and infrastructure Number of schools Personnel needed to upgrade school systems with 100+ schools is often unavailable Upgrades occur infrequently

Aging buildings and infrastructure

Number of schools

Personnel needed to upgrade school systems with 100+ schools is often unavailable

Upgrades occur infrequently

Funding Challenges Competing for limited resources Lower income tax base Federal E-rate covers telecommunications wiring and services based on percentage of low-income families with students in school Does not cover other upgrades, computer purchases, or professional development See the following sites for more info http://www.sl.universalservice.org http://www.electronic-school.com/0997f4.html

Competing for limited resources

Lower income tax base

Federal E-rate covers telecommunications wiring and services based on percentage of low-income families with students in school

Does not cover other upgrades, computer purchases, or professional development

See the following sites for more info

http://www.sl.universalservice.org

http://www.electronic-school.com/0997f4.html

Teacher Challenges Effectiveness is often defined through standardized test scores “ What gets tested gets taught” Teachers do not feel inclined to attempt new strategies Urban school systems struggle to find certified teachers, much less the most effective ones Professional development takes a back seat to student programs or facility upgrades

Effectiveness is often defined through standardized test scores

“ What gets tested gets taught”

Teachers do not feel inclined to attempt new strategies

Urban school systems struggle to find certified teachers, much less the most effective ones

Professional development takes a back seat to student programs or facility upgrades

Activity Urban schools have problems recruiting and retaining the best teachers. How do you define an effective teacher? What makes you want (or not want) to stay with your current school system?

Urban schools have problems recruiting and retaining the best teachers.

How do you define an effective teacher?

What makes you want (or not want) to stay with your current school system?

Chicago Public Schools More than 420,000 students Nearly 600 schools (as of 1998) 14%: less than 25 years old 26%: 25-50 years old—upgradeable 40%: 50-100 years old—difficult to upgrade 9%: over 100 years old How do you address these obsolete buildings in a timely fashion?

More than 420,000 students

Nearly 600 schools (as of 1998)

14%: less than 25 years old

26%: 25-50 years old—upgradeable

40%: 50-100 years old—difficult to upgrade

9%: over 100 years old

How do you address these obsolete buildings in a timely fashion?

Chicago Public Schools Chicago Board of Education provides wiring connected to the internet through the Chicago Public School (CPS) gateway Each school develops a LAN that will connect to the MDF (a WAN used for administrative and educational purposes) Funding provided through local school discretionary accounts, bonds, E-rate applications, grants, and low-interest loans

Chicago Board of Education provides wiring connected to the internet through the Chicago Public School (CPS) gateway

Each school develops a LAN that will connect to the MDF (a WAN used for administrative and educational purposes)

Funding provided through local school discretionary accounts, bonds, E-rate applications, grants, and low-interest loans

Chicago Public Schools Centralized technology team dispersed down to regional level Focus on professional development Providing technology training for principals Citywide technology conference Helping teachers develop on-line lessons and classes

Centralized technology team dispersed down to regional level

Focus on professional development

Providing technology training for principals

Citywide technology conference

Helping teachers develop on-line lessons and classes

An Alternative Model Returning control of schools to the local population Problems Limited information sharing Not taking advantage of economies of scale Ineffective professional development

Returning control of schools to the local population

Problems

Limited information sharing

Not taking advantage of economies of scale

Ineffective professional development

Discussion Activity What are the benefits of a centralized versus a decentralized school system model? What model does your school system most resemble? How does it differ?

What are the benefits of a centralized versus a decentralized school system model?

What model does your school system most resemble? How does it differ?

Conclusions Large populations of our nation’s youth live in urban centers with limited access to technology and to high-speed internet access. How can we develop and fund plans to upgrade these school systems and prepare the students for the future?

Large populations of our nation’s youth live in urban centers with limited access to technology and to high-speed internet access.

How can we develop and fund plans to upgrade these school systems and prepare the students for the future?