Comments on: Education and Technology: A role for philanthropy http://thecivicfabric.org/2008/08/23/education-and-technology-a-role-for-philanthropy/ Thoughts From the Stair Stepper Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:18:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: John http://thecivicfabric.org/2008/08/23/education-and-technology-a-role-for-philanthropy/#comment-75 John Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:11:03 +0000 http://www.thecivicfabric.org/?p=46#comment-75 John...., take a look at the project we did for e-Tech (http://www.etech.ohio.gov). I was the science advisor and pulled together the people who actually knew what to do... http://www.wviz.org/psi Now, if we could get students involved in writing, design and production they just might learn some of those STEM and 21st Century skills! George Viebranz, Executive Director Ohio Mathematics and Science Coalition www.OhioMSC.org John…., take a look at the project we did for e-Tech (http://www.etech.ohio.gov). I was the science advisor and pulled together the people who actually knew what to do…

http://www.wviz.org/psi

Now, if we could get students involved in writing, design and production they just might learn some of those STEM and 21st Century skills!

George Viebranz, Executive Director

Ohio Mathematics and Science Coalition

http://www.OhioMSC.org

]]> By: John http://thecivicfabric.org/2008/08/23/education-and-technology-a-role-for-philanthropy/#comment-74 John Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:05:19 +0000 http://www.thecivicfabric.org/?p=46#comment-74 John , Thanks for sharing. The consortium has been holding counselor summits over the last six months with the hope that these folks will help encourage teachers in their school to make better use of technology to help their students become more technology literate and to be better informed and prepared to make career choices that are available in today's workforce . We are finding some major gaps in terms of knowledge and awareness in the this area among students ,parents and teachers . You may have noticed in the report that we sent you from the STEMM /21st Century Skills Summit that we helped organize and present last February that there was a recommendation that a summit type event be held that is focused on the workforce area .Without a higher level of awareness about the skill set and knowledge that is needed in today's economy , students will continue to go through their school experience without attaining the skills and knowledge that they will need to be successful . It certainly appears as though the lack of relevance to today's workforce needs causes young people to drift and not invest their time and energy in these important areas .My sense is that until we are able to build a better case for the skills and knowledge that is needed, we will continue to lag being the gains in student achievement that we know are needed . Terry John ,
Thanks for sharing.
The consortium has been holding counselor summits over the last six months with the hope that these folks will help encourage teachers in their school to make better use of technology to help their students become more technology literate and to be better informed and prepared to make career choices that are available in today’s workforce .
We are finding some major gaps in terms of knowledge and awareness in the this area among students ,parents and teachers .
You may have noticed in the report that we sent you from the STEMM /21st Century Skills Summit that we helped organize and present last February that there was a recommendation that a summit type event be held that is focused on the workforce area .Without a higher level of awareness about the skill set and knowledge that is needed in today’s economy , students will continue to go through their school experience without attaining the skills and knowledge that they will need to be successful .
It certainly appears as though the lack of relevance to today’s workforce needs causes young people to drift and not invest their time and energy in these important areas .My sense is that until we are able to build a better case for the skills and knowledge that is needed, we will continue to lag being the gains in student achievement that we know are needed .
Terry

]]> By: John http://thecivicfabric.org/2008/08/23/education-and-technology-a-role-for-philanthropy/#comment-73 John Tue, 26 Aug 2008 03:23:49 +0000 http://www.thecivicfabric.org/?p=46#comment-73 Thanks for the comment Laura. You point to a chronic problem with philanthropy and that is a lack of stick-to-itness. For reasons that are intrinsic to the way distributions are made, Foundations of all types often stop funding after three years. Typically they expect government or some other entity to pick up when they withdraw funding. Teacher training and professional development is where philanthropy and state/national governments must synchonize goals and expectation. Currently, State professional development programs are, well a mess. They are fractured in content and too often determined by erratic funding. When budget cuts are required, Professional development is one of the first to take hits. That explains why there are so many outdated and underutlized computers in classrooms across the country. The corporations effectively dumped the hardware as a teaser to get schools to subscribe to the software. But they made a mistake, like building a building without providing and endowment for its maintenance and upkeep. Monies should have been provided for at least three to five years of carefully developed training programs to help teachers understand how the technology can be used to foster learning. But we can learn from the mistake and leverage funds to correct it, but we have to do it quickly. The issue you raise is critical and one where State and Federal legislators can and must do a better job in providing focus. From my perspective, it is a kink in the current educational system. Thanks for the thoughts, I will write more on this interesing topic, but welcome additional comments from your and/or colleauges who may agree or disagree. Thanks for the comment Laura. You point to a chronic problem with philanthropy and that is a lack of stick-to-itness. For reasons that are intrinsic to the way distributions are made, Foundations of all types often stop funding after three years. Typically they expect government or some other entity to pick up when they withdraw funding. Teacher training and professional development is where philanthropy and state/national governments must synchonize goals and expectation. Currently, State professional development programs are, well a mess. They are fractured in content and too often determined by erratic funding. When budget cuts are required, Professional development is one of the first to take hits. That explains why there are so many outdated and underutlized computers in classrooms across the country. The corporations effectively dumped the hardware as a teaser to get schools to subscribe to the software. But they made a mistake, like building a building without providing and endowment for its maintenance and upkeep. Monies should have been provided for at least three to five years of carefully developed training programs to help teachers understand how the technology can be used to foster learning. But we can learn from the mistake and leverage funds to correct it, but we have to do it quickly. The issue you raise is critical and one where State and Federal legislators can and must do a better job in providing focus. From my perspective, it is a kink in the current educational system. Thanks for the thoughts, I will write more on this interesing topic, but welcome additional comments from your and/or colleauges who may agree or disagree.

]]> By: Laura http://thecivicfabric.org/2008/08/23/education-and-technology-a-role-for-philanthropy/#comment-72 Laura Tue, 26 Aug 2008 02:33:50 +0000 http://www.thecivicfabric.org/?p=46#comment-72 It seems to me that schools went from being places where new things happened to museums of technology. I vaguely remember when only the poorest schools didn't have equipment. Some of that equipment, I know, came from Apple and Microsoft, but then, it seems, the money dried up and/or the time wasn't committed to show teachers how to use that equipment effectively. Or maybe the equipment was there too soon. It just feels that schools--even colleges--are so out of sync. It seems overwhelming to think about how to overcome that. And I think you're right, it has to happen soon, and it will likely happen with the help of philanthropists. Great blog, by the way! Going to follow it from now on. :) It seems to me that schools went from being places where new things happened to museums of technology. I vaguely remember when only the poorest schools didn’t have equipment. Some of that equipment, I know, came from Apple and Microsoft, but then, it seems, the money dried up and/or the time wasn’t committed to show teachers how to use that equipment effectively. Or maybe the equipment was there too soon. It just feels that schools–even colleges–are so out of sync. It seems overwhelming to think about how to overcome that. And I think you’re right, it has to happen soon, and it will likely happen with the help of philanthropists.

Great blog, by the way! Going to follow it from now on. :)

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