“Educators today are faced with myriad changes driven by forces outside their control. Changes are not always understood or supported by teachers though the impact … can be profound” (Thompson, Jr., 2003, p. 102). Change can be uncomfortable for anyone; however, the integration of technology into education is a change that is worth its discomfort. Several book reviews, edited by Jay C. Thompson, illustrate the need for school reform in different areas. There is no one solution that would repair the issues facing these schools, but the integration of technology would be a step toward their goals of success.
What is success? What does it look like for a school? Generally success is “the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors” or “attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like” ("success", 2010, figure 1). Barbara Korth, a contributor to Liane Brouillette’s book, Charter Schools: Lessons in Reform, describes success as “an evolving multivoiced, logically diverse concept” (Thompson, Jr., 2003, p. 4). Some struggling schools have found that an increase in their technology has helped them to find improvement in student achievement (Bronston, 2009). When it comes to a school’s success, student achievement is most certainly has a significant influence. In Frederick M. Hess’s book, Revolution at the Margins: The Impact of Competition on Urban School Systems, he examines the dynamic that occurs when schools in the same geographical area compete for student enrollment (Thompson, Jr.). One reason parents may choose one school over another is sure to be its higher success. In attempt to achieve this success and enrollment, a school should consider integrating more technology.
Technology can offer great...
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Eng, P. (2009). Census bureau: Home PCs on the rise. Retrieved June 13, 2010, from http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=98281&page=1
success. (2010). In Dictionary.com. Retrieved June 13, 2010, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/success
Thompson, J. C., Jr. (2003). Change in public education: What impact is it having upon teachers?. educational HORIZONS, 81(3), 102-106. Retrieved from http://www.pilambda.org/horizons/v81-3/books.pdf
Thompson, J. C., Jr. (2003). Controversy and school reform: Lessons in developing greater effectiveness. educational HORIZONS, 81(4), 1-5. Retrieved from http://www.pilambda.org/horizons/v81-4/books.pdf
Valdez, G. (2005). Critical issue: Technology: A Catalyst for teaching and learning in the classroom. Retrieved June 4, 2010, from http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/te600.htm
In the text, The Death and Life of the Great American School System, author Diane Ravitch explores her ideological shift on school reform and the empirical evidence that caused this shift. Once a proponent and contributor of testing, accountability, choice, and market reforms, Ravitch’s support began to diminish as she realized that these current reforms were not viable options. She came to realize that the new school reforms focused entirely on structural and managerial adjustments and that no focus was given to actual learning.
Reforms in education always occur when the educational system is in a period of unrest or crisis. Century after century show how hotly debated this topic is. Moreover, individuals, including, business leaders, parents, school boards and presidents feel they have the right ingredient to solve the problems of our educational system. It is unfortunate, but history is repeating itself, and we are now in a period of crisis in the education system in the 21st century (Tyack and Cuban, 1995).
The issue of whether charter or public schools are more beneficial for students has been an ongoing debate. The question that arise is which type provides a better education. Having gone to a charter high school myself, I got to see and experience first-hand the benefits of going to a charter school as well as realizing the issues charter schools face here in Oklahoma. These problems need to address in order to guarantee that students are getting the best education that they can get. We are facing an epidemic today with our education system and charter schools could be the solution. There may be opponents to the idea of having charter schools, but they have been wildly successful lately and are quickly expanded throughout the states. This is due to the fact that charter schools can benefit people economically, educationally, and as well as socially.
Education experts have spent many years planning and revising learning material and assessment tools to meet the ever-changing social and economical teaching and learning demands in the United States. Rapid growth in technology means that change is constant in the field of education. Educators learn very quickly that change is one aspect of their position that is inevitable, and that effective transformation by stakeholders at every level is necessary in keeping with these demands. Whether one approaches the crisis in American schooling from the perspective of experience in schools, or from analysis of the market forces in the private sector and the factors necessary for institutional innovation, or from the movement to empower poor and minority communities, it is clear that what we call “public education” must change (Grego, 2011).
...uture of American Public Education looks grim. A change in allocating money to the proper intuitions and programs is a necessity for growth and a well rounded educational system. This will allow all students regardless of location to receive the same tools and resources to obtain a high success in learning. The inherent assumptions and discrimination against poor, minorities, and special education students must be eliminated to provide a equal and democratic school society, which will enrich and prepare these students in becoming prosperous adult community members. Reform should include high standards from administration and teachers, not just from the students. Most importantly, reform should include giving the students, teachers, and families a voice in how we teach the students.
Means, Barbara, and Kerry Olson. “Beyond the Classroom: Restructuring Schools with Technology.” Phi Delta Kappan 77.1 (1995): 69.
Public schools today face several issues that affect the standard of education our children are receiving. They face issues such as teachers with limited experience. Budget cuts, dilapidated facilities, not enough teachers, and school violence, lack of parent participation, and
Underwood, J. (2011). Who Controls Public Schools? What Rules Affect You? Educational Horizons, 89(3), 28.
Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, the American educational system has undergone much transition in response to our changing society. Though there have been many problems raised throughout the years in regard to what our school systems should be teaching our children, there have also been many developments.
Technology is a portion of everyday life. It affects how business is conducted, teaching, learning, and receiving information. Good or bad, everyone uses technology every day. There are many items people have on them on a daily basis, one would be hard pressed to be without. If you were to examine the effect of technology on teaching and learning and acquire an understanding of why technology should be a part of every classroom curriculum, what would the conclusion be? Technology is a great benefit to the classroom, it stimulates our digital generation and allows educators to be more creative with curriculum.
In the years leading up to these results, the United States Educational System underwent many modifications that transformed the way students and teachers viewed their education or the lack there of. This term paper will briefly examine the many changes that the Educational system has endured including: funding, bullying, No Child Left Behind, Dropout rates, college tuition, classroom size, teacher salaries, and the local Portsmouth Public School
Technology is growing every day. We use technology for everything we do, sometimes without even thinking about it. In our world, these advancements are used for communicating, entertainment, and education as well as others. Since technology is so ingrained into our lives, how much we use and depend on it is often not thought about. Our education system is on the front end of using new technology in classrooms. More and more class room and teachers are weaving it into their lesson plans and making it more available for students to use in the classroom. Technology is changing the way students are educated in America and across the world. In this paper I will discuss several ways that this can be seen and improved.
Technology is becoming more and more dominant in our society.Everyday upgrades are being made and new innovations are being discovered. Technology is all around us whether we want it to be or not: it is the vehicles we drive, it can be found in our homes, and can even be found in the grocery store.Every place we look there is some type of technology.I believe technology has had a major impact on our school systems and is still impacting it today.There are those who do not agree, though, that technology has impacted our schools.Eric Gormly writes, “In fact, many theorists point out the overall impact of technology on education has been quite small, manifesting little discernible change in the classroom.” [1]Yes, there are some schools that are not as advanced as others, but many of them do have a significant amount of technology in them.I find it fascinating that so much technology has been incorporated into our classrooms, but I believe that, even with all of the positive aspects that are associated with technology, there are some negative and even dangerous aspects that should be taken into account.I will be sharing some of the equipment that has been used in the schools, how both the students and the teachers use the equipment, and also the positive and negative effects that technology has had on our schools.
Hinde, E. (2003). Reflections on reform: A former teacher looks at school change and the factors that shape it. Teachers College Record, Retrieved from http://qualitylearning.net/community/brownsville/research/Reflections%20on%20Reform%20-%20A%20Teacher%20Looks%20at%20School%20Change.pdf
Whether technological integration has positive or negative impacts on teaching and learning has been paid increasing attention and a numerous research has done to explore the issue. Regarding the issue, the question of if training teachers in the use of technology in classrooms contributes to students’ outcomes is still an endless argument. This essay will explain two reasons why such training brings about positive academic achievements for learners and a number of training guidelines that can be followed.