Using Technology to Engage Learners Heather Schilling Edtec 670 Dr. Mullen 17 June 2005

Background 9 th – 12 th grades 548 students enrolled Rural community/college town Mixture of blue collar/white collar families 74% of students go on to college Trimester schedule 95% white/2% multiracial/1% Hispanic/1% Asian

Classroom Use of Technology All faculty and staff have a computer Most use computer for word processing and research/Some use it for PowerPoint or electronic grade book all teachers must use Power School

Curriculum Integration of Technology Approximately 25% of teachers fully integrate technology into curriculum – others use it once in awhile Examples: Art teacher and science teacher are the most innovative

Impact on Instructional Pedagogy “If the way we think of change is limited by imaging things very much like the ones we know, or by confining ourselves to doing what we know how to implement, then we deprive ourselves of participation in the evolution of the future. It will creep up on us an take us unawares. This is not a personal criticism of any individual: everyone working in the field of education inherits a timidity that has been inherent in the culture of the field.” –Seymour Papert (1998) – “Technology in Schools: To Support the System or Render it Obsolete”

Impact on Instructional Pedagogy Technology Plan indicates a desire to engage learners Constructivist theory of learning Constructivist teachers 2x as likely to have their students use computers on a weekly basis (Becker, p. 20) Mr. Clark – science teacher

Student Gains in Learning Curriculum chairmen will integrate technology into curriculum to meet state standards No organized effort to distinguish the benefits of technology – assumptions made ISTEP scores have declined from 81.4% passing in to 68.9% in Correlation?

Initial and On-going Staff Development Formal –Technology available ($229,000 corporation technology budget) –Training sessions available –Technology plan outlines three year plan Informal –Administrators encourage use of technology –Laissez-faire attitude

Acceptable Use Policy Filtering software to receive cheaper Internet rates “Network and Internet Access Agreement for Students” - computer use is a privilege OSIO – in fall 2005 Teacher use is NOT monitored