April 2002 — Editorial
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Educators' Acceptance of Computer Technology?
The use of technology as a tool in education for instruction and management is now accepted. But, I remember my own experiences as director of instructional systems and technology for the Philadelphia School District many years ago, when technology was thought to be a frill. Every year, when budgets were submitted and items needed to be eliminated, we had to justify our use of technology. Finally, the superintendent decided to eliminate the programs requiring technology in favor of football and other sports activities. I'm sure other school systems were similarly affected. I met the superintendent many years later, after I resigned, and she admitted she might have been wrong.
Now that technology is accepted in schools, the search for new applications and justification for spending on those applications, hardware and professional development is ongoing. Many conferences, workshops and meetings are held on these topics. At the Florida Educational Technology Conference held in Orlando last month, more than 200 educational sessions and about 500 exhibits provided opportunities for attendees to learn what was happening in Florida, as well as in other locations. I had an opportunity to ask a number of attendees why they were enthusiastic about using technology. In addition to helping them do a better job in teaching and enabling students to be better learners, the following reasons were most often expressed for why they were so passionate about using technology in the classroom:
The need for professional development is recognized and ongoing. Students are using technology effectively, but its use is not universal. Drastic changes in methodology are needed as technology is incorporated into the curriculum. In a survey conducted in the spring 2001 semester at Southwestern University, 97 percent of students said they owned at least one computer and were connected to the residential network. Also, 23.8 percent reported computer use was an integral part of their high school learning most or all of the time, while 31.5 percent said they rarely or never used a computer. Students generally come to the university with word processing and Internet skills. However, they lack the understanding of Internet structure and databases; what a computer can and cannot do; as well as the skills and knowledge to understand and use information technology.
Increasing availability of free resources. Many companies such as National Geographic and Encyclopedia Britannica offer free resources. AOL@SCHOOL is a free online service for K-12 educators. It offers six online learning portals that provide Web sites chosen by educators for professional development, administrative help and resources, as well as the ability to search for subject and age-specific lesson plans. The Regional Technology in Education Consortia (R*TEC) is located in 10 regions of the United States. They provide leadership assistance for K-12 schools and offer a range of technology support, including professional development, assistance, technology planning and guidance in using new technology. The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Student Financial Assistance Programs has launched a new Free Application for Federal Student Aid Web site at http://fafsa.ed.gov, making the application process for student financial aid faster, more efficient and more accessible.
