Ed Tech Funding
Since the beginning of SpEd 312 starting, I have been convinced that technology is completely necessary and vital to be in the classroom. But one concern of mine was “where do we get this money from?” We see classrooms across the state that struggle to keep information updated. (I’m pretty sure my home high school still has pluto in the textbooks!) There is a constant need for new, underpaid teachers and constant threats to cut school budgets if they do not meet state requirements. But, there is still a demand for updated technology and constant criticism to those who cannot or will not make changes toward this. In a blog by Doug Johnson, an answer is proposed. ”We in education spend millions on dry textbooks, drill-and-kill software, inumerable paper worksheets, and useless testing. What if we took just 10% - or even 5% - of our budgets and spent in on things that actually got kids excited about learning - like an immersive trip to the stars, really good library books, educational games or field trips to interesting local history sites.” This sounds like a fantastic idea! But the question is, “is it feasible?” Do boards of directors feel comfortable throwing millions of dollars at hardware and software that they are not familiar with. Would parents be responsive to the phasing out of text books? I’m thinking, not so much, or so the majority would cry. Although this is a great solution, I think it will be a long process. We may see in the next generation what we want to see now.
Tags: Doug Johnson, education, technology
February 25, 2008 at 5:47 pm
As a current college student and future educator I also find this topic to be problematic. On one hand, in order for students to be able to function in modern America, they need an extensive understanding of available technology. On the other hand, schools seen to get jipped out of funds and technology is expensive. The question is how to get the most technology education while spending as little money as possible. I think a partial answer to this dilemna is to use open-source software. It’s free online and is generally of good quality. Check out this site to start. http://www.edubuntu.org/Screenshots
February 26, 2008 at 5:00 pm
At this point, I believe it is less of an issue of the inability to obtain the money, rather the reluctance of those signing off on funding for fear of having the money being wasted. There is a somewhat newer solution to the problem of outdated resources: electronic textbooks. It is a double edged sword, however. On the one hand, there is the ability to update resources as deemed necessary, but then there is the issue of providing computers to students so that they can access the electronic textbooks. It may not seem like it is coming fast enough, but the technology is getting to the point where computers and other resources can be made efficiently, cheaply, and purposefully for education. Once the issue of hardware is tackled, then, as Stephanie mentioned, there is a ton of great open-source software out there. I am currently a student with goals to become a teacher, and one of my professors has been working on an open-source electronic textbook, in which there will be two versions: a wikipedia inspired, user editable version, and an official version. This would solve the problem of having outdated resources and also the cost. The issue then becomes, who will tackle an open-source textbook for each individual need. This is where teacher to teacher collaboration becomes important. With the growing ease of use and accessibility of the internet (and several thousand crossed fingers), this goal seems almost achievable. Unfortunately, at this point, I don’t feel that there is any immediate solution.
February 26, 2008 at 8:33 pm
I think that would be a great idea, divert some of the money schools spend on resources with an expiration date. Why spend money on books that will be outdated within a couple of years? Why spend so much on paper worksheets when they could be done on a computer for far less, and be reusable and changeable. Doing everything by computer really would be more cost effective after the initial investment then students and teachers would have a constant stream of up to date information. The only problem is the people who grew up and went through school without computers and don’t think they are necessary. They just have to be convinced that times are changing and computers are more cost effective, more up to date and more flexible than printed text. It might take a while, but I believe that it can and will be done.
February 26, 2008 at 10:22 pm
I think online textbooks are a great way for teachers to share information with each other and display a plethora of information. In my current Technology in Education course, our instructor is putting together an online textbook that includes information from a wide variety of reliable sources. This makes it very easy for us students to view all the information that he intends for us to know. This is also a much more cost effective alternative to us college students who are paying 130 dollars for textbooks. I think that it will take some time for our school administrators to notice all the different changes that are needed to incorporate more technology into our schools. It seems like there is a huge delay with new technology and that technology being instilled in our school system. I hope that our administrators will soon see just how much technology can enhance our classrooms.
February 27, 2008 at 2:31 am
I do believe that speding some of funding on technology is not only feasible, but will also prove to be beneficial. I understand the dilemma educators and board members are in when they have to make choices between the traditional resources for students (paper books, worksheets, ect.) and the new and possibly more complicated resources (hardware, software, online games, ect.). What I believe educators and school systems need to realize is that we are moving forward into a technology dependent age. Students not only need to be comfortable using technology, but they also will be more excited about learning and most likely learn better with these resources. Traditional teaching strategies and resources need to make way for the new and improved technological ones. I believe a portion of the funding absolutely should be spent on technological resources.
February 27, 2008 at 4:19 pm
I have always thought school’s textbooks to be out dated. The problem with textbooks is the are always getting updated. I think the positive thing about software textbooks is they can be constantly updated and thre is no worry about loosing the pages. The problem is funding for these resources. I really believe it will be a long time before there will be a lot of agreement when it comes to paperless classrooms but who knows what the future holds. The only major problem I see with integrating technology into classrooms is the poor districts that are being held back. No child left behind and lack of funding are causing some school districts to fall significantly behind when it comes to technlogy. I just hope one day there wil be enough funding to support every schools’ thrist for technology.
February 28, 2008 at 4:58 am
I do agree witht the fact that there is a huge reluctance in the parents and I really don’t see this going away in the near future. So many parents are in the mind set of learning from a textbook and the fact that students need concrete objects in front of them I think that making the jump to not having concrete objects to use is such a huge jump for them to even come to terms with and that is why there is so much reluctance. Hopefully, within the next generation the thought of moving to more technology based learning won’t be so abstract and we can see this leap towards learning be taken. My only concern on this issue is the gap it will cause between poor school districts and rich districts. There is already a gap in learning due to budget in these schools, by moving to technology based learning will this create even more of a gap between the education students are getting in the two different school districts?
February 28, 2008 at 5:34 am
As a student and future teacher I see the benefits of technology has in the school of not only the future, but also of the here and now. I am also sad to face the simple reality of the fact the politics play a major part in all aspects of education. So when it comes to funding it more not what we want to do, but more what we can do and many have that old mentality “ if it is not broken why fix it”! Matter a fact I am a student a major university in the Midwest and for 10 years it has been trying to get help in funding a new library to accommodate it growth since it is in a very conservative area of the state it has mostly Republican constituent. However with a Democratic leader much of the state funding has gone else ware so the need is still there. So as you go high tech I feel politics will make more and more schools fall behind.
February 28, 2008 at 4:37 pm
I think the idea of using money used for textbooks rather for technology. The internet is such a valuable resource or information that I think that in many ways the internet is a better place for teachers to find info for their students than a textbook anyway. The internet can provide different contrasting viewpoints that textbooks usually do not offer. This way a teacher can pick and choose what they want to present to their students. Rather than follow the textbook and have little opportunity to present other ideas, the teacher can find specifically hand pick articles and stuff to fit their cirriculum. Textbooks also do not offer videos and these can be found readily on the internet. On the internet we can also find ways to relate the current issues on our world or nation to the lesson and back it up with articles and other current information. I know that this is still possible with using textbooks but it is more flexible and readily available on the internet.
February 29, 2008 at 6:00 am
I think it’s time for board of directors to start treading in unfamiliar water. most kids hate going to school, and a lot of that reason is because of boredom. it’s so true that so much money is spent on these “dry” textbooks that no one likes to read when some of that budget could be spent on field trips. when you said “field trips” it brought back a lot childhood memories of school field trips. those were some of my favorite school memories; i was having a lot of fun, and what? learning too?? i think it’s a great solution also, i’m on board with you!
February 29, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I do think that this will be a long process, but a process i believe needs to take place. Kids need to be exicting about learning, otherwise they will not learn. Give them something that will capture there imagination. However, cost is going to be a huge factor and right now most places do not have the money to provide for the necessary needs. It is something that definatly needs to be considered
February 29, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I could not agree more. There is plenty of money in the education budgets if only it were used properly for the changing times. We need to try and push education in the direction of technology like the rest of the world. We can no longer sit back and allow education to be 5 years behind the rest of society in updating technology. Lets utilize this unbelievable resource of free information known as the internet to instruct our students. Text books are an obsolete part of education just as the abacus was when calculators came into existence. Besides the issue of money, technology is much easier to relate to kids and keep their interest during a lesson. How many students do you know that enjoy reading text books on their own time? I can tell you that just about every kid today likes working on the internet.
February 29, 2008 at 8:44 pm
You make some amazing points. The things i gathered and cant agree with more is that Money is tight and money will always be tight. We spend way to much on the same old same old. And change should and hopefully will be made soon. A student that is excited to learn and on fire for a certain topic is WAY more effective that one who is bared in a textbook that had the same info as the one there mom read 30 years before. Times are changing and we need to step up and get students excited to learn in the ways of today. I am going into education myself and believe that most people reading this also are. We as a group need to step up and take a risk for the sake of the students so that they can succeed in there own way.