tkt8763-01: Bob Hughes Phone Conference...

[Niki Peel <nikipeel@dixie-net.com>]

Words can not express the influence today's phone conference on me
personally…truly a motivational communication.
  Mr. Hughes pointed out several aspects of education and technology. A
few of these aspects hit home personally to my on thoughts and ideas.
  The idea of public education, as Mr. Hughes pointed out, has changed.
Until this conversation, I never really wanted to accept that fact.  I
have struggled lately with the general idea of our society's educational
process. It hasn't been that long that I was in high school. After 10
years I recognize such a difference in our standards of educating.
  Mr. Hughes pointed out two specific problems our country faces with
our education process: 
#1. "Kids are coming to school, today, less prepared."
   I completely agree. I truly believe partial responsibility of these
lies in our standards of educating today.  We are slowing allowing our
expectation of students to dwindle. We don't demand enough, therefore
laziness is the character they develop.  I place a lot of parental
influence on this as well. (of course, I am not sure that is a valid
opinion, since I don't have children.)

#2. "Basic education in this country has all of a sudden jumped to a
higher level."
  This idea, I believe, is as well closely related to the standards we
present today.
Mr. Hughes discusses the evaluation of these problems...because a number
of students are coming out of school less prepared. At the same time
technology is taking us to that next level.
  What I so much enjoyed about Mr. Hughes opinion of this was derived
from the standpoint of society...someone who isn't teaching with
children day in and day out, but deeply involved in process of
educating. He recognizes the needs of the business world (the backbone
of our society) and notices young people aren't prepared for it.  This
is a profoundly, scary thought.
  I, also, would like to mention the idea of equality in education,
especially with technology. I have never considered this idea until
today. I was appalled at my own lack of recognition. Yes, I see it in a
general way--day in and day out. But to recognize it through the eyes of
society takes a different meaning. Mr. Hughes...I honestly believe your
idea of school districts maintaining that level of equality is so
important. You mentioned it as a necessity. I agree...my question is
HOW? How can school districts do this? Where do they begin?
  In recognizing these problems, we must understand where technology is
in our society and where it is in the educational process.  This brings
me to another aspect of the conversation that I was taken with:
 Getting schools to incorporate technology into the everyday process of
educating.
 Lately, I have explored many school districts and read many ideas about
technology planning. I have noticed all too much the fact that the
definition of implementing technology is so different and broad. I have
questioned the assortment of technology planning processes and the
effectiveness it has on educating.
 Mr. Hughes said something very specific and true about implementing
technology in education. He talked about the idea of motivating teachers
to implement into their classrooms.  So many districts are just concern
with meeting the goal of have one computer in every classroom. They do
this when there are teachers foaming at the mouth to have student access
to several computers. One computer is great, but for the teacher with
the creativeness and vision to implement it isn't enough. Then the
teacher without that vision has a brand new incredible machine that
she/he might us to make test out with.  This is a frustration that hits
too close to home.
 I loved the idea Mr. Hughes suggested.  Give the equipment to the
teachers who WANT it. Highlight those people. The teachers, who aren't
willing to integrate technology, let them continue to teach the old
fundamental ways. Because as we all know, implementing technology in
education is the future. (It is becoming the way of the business world;
we must prepare students.) Eventually, those teachers will have to
answer to their students, parents, etc. 
 Rewarding teachers to create a vision of technology implementation is a
vital ingredient missing from technology planning. Those incentives
however large or small will work on the majority. Simple praise will do
wonders!! Remember...I am a teacher.
  Mr. Hughes opened my eyes to a broader understanding of education and
technology in education today. A conversation like today is the
Thanksgiving food for thought. I can honestly say...I am even more
motivated and excited about being an effective educator.

Niki Peel
******* TKT 8763 Seminar in Planning for Instructional Technology  *******
   To subscribe or unsubscribe, e-mail to "majordomo@msstate.edu"
   with the message "subscribe tkt8763-01" or "unsubscribe tkt8763-01".
       Subscribers may post messages to "tkt8763-01@msstate.edu".