Technology Counts

Few Articled provide real insight as to how teachers should be planning and implementing technology is their classrooms. Many articles are repetitive and many only contain one or two substainent pieces. The article entitled “ Technology Count 2007: The Evolution of Ed. Tech” is an online question an answer session that is from begging to end a gold mine of useful information. Kevin Bushweller professor of computer science and education at the University of Michigan moderates the session. Margaret Hinoy director of the center for Children & Technology and Cathleen Norris professor of Technology and cognition at the University of North Texas contribute to the article.
There are many topics that are addressed in the piece, noteworthy items include technology and standardized tests, charter schools, funding, professional development, educational philosophies, good & bad use of technology, and legislation. Hinoy, Bushweller, and Norris provide great insight into all of the above listed. Their experience allows them to predict which roads educational technology will take, and how they will affect education in America. The group recognizes that new teachers will have to be given as many strategies as possible to integrate technology into their classrooms. As younger teachers become a larger portion of the teacher population, strategies for proper technology will be taught using a distance education system. All agree that the technology plans for school districts must be developed as long- term substantial technology use. Not as they put it “ short- sighted, inexpensive band aid planning.” Blogging will become a mandatory use of technology and will be included into state educational standards. Popular Internet uses for entertainment will be included into education such as video projects utilizing site like youtube. According to Cathleen Norris the trend of course content curriculum will gain even more momentum fueled by technology use in the classroom. And finally the group foresees in the long tern the elimination of multiple- choice tests.
This article provides many fascinating predictions, and useful tips for working with education technology. All topics of discussion cannot not be discussed because the group literally touches all end of the technology spectrum. The group also discusses charter schools like the Marin School of Art and Technology. Notably how these schools use of software such as MermoryMiner, and will continue to grow in popularity. They discuss how distance educational techniques will be continue to be established as discussed in the prior entry about adaptive hypermedia. Bushweller, Hinoy, and Norris agree that as students becomes more accustomed to working with educational technology, when they graduate and pursue a career employers will be utilizing the same technology for job training. The group does a wonderful job of hitting all the topics of discussion relating ed. technology.

http://www.edweek.org/chat/transcript_04_04_2007.html

Bushweller, K. (April 2007). Technology counts 2007: the evolution of ed. tech. Ed Week. Org.