Introduction
The National Education Technology Plan clearly outlines the vision the United States’ Government has for technology in schools. This plan was designed to transform American education by empowering and engaging students and educators to become effective in this globally networked society.
After reading this plan and carefully scrutinizing every aspect with a “fine teeth comb”, I believe that my local school board is definitely heading in the right direction. Local school boards have been an integral feature of the U.S. public education system for nearly 100 years, and they are widely regarded as the principal democratic body capable of representing citizens in local education decisions. The formal institutional roles assigned to school boards, and the designated position board members play as representatives of the community, would lead one to believe that the school board has a decisive role in public education policy and school system administration. In the minds of many lay citizens, school boards have considerable influence over educational decisions and provide a key social and political connection to the schooling process.
My School Board’s Involvement in Technology
My school is located in a very upscale community with citizens comprising of doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, teachers, and politicians. Therefore the local school board is well equipped, and is very resilient. The community highly supports the school board and money is always invested in education. Technology is no exception. I spoke with my principal and she was pleased to say that all board members are in agreement that the use of technology in the school will:
1. Increase academic performance.
2. Develop positive relationship throughout the school community.
3. Allow students to get connected with other students across the world.
The Technology Facilitator has been working overtime to education teachers and students on web 2.0, web tools and various soft wares. These can be used in the classroom and also at home. However the emphasis has not been placed to educate board members. They are very interesting in contributing to technology in schools. I believe that it is very important for local school board members to recognize what is happening on the internet and its impact on educators and students. Bearing in mind they too make up the school community.
How should schools educate their board?
The local school board has a vital role in providing leadership for district schools, serving as a forum for citizen input relevant to public education, and inculcating the beliefs, behaviors, and symbolic representations that define the organizational culture of the school system. In this role, the board's responsibilities include adopting a unifying vision and mission, soliciting and balancing the participation and input of members of the community, and advocating on behalf of the educational needs of children at the local, state, and national levels. Consistent with this leadership responsibility, the local school board should emphasize the standard of continuous improvement for its own operations as well as that of the school system as a whole and undertake to evaluate its performance and improve upon that performance. Therefore because of this major responsibility, schools should endeavor to educate them on how technology will be used in schools.
1. Schools should host workshops and also invite local schools board members to be participants. The workshops should entail internet safety, cyber bullying and various social network sites. These workshops will also outline on the negatives and positives use of the internet.
2. Local school board members will visit classrooms, observing teachers and students using various web tools and soft wares integrated in the teaching learning environment.
3. Schools should create social network accounts for board members so that they will be able to communicate via the internet with the school community (inclusive of educators and students).
4. Schools should invite (at least once per quarter) local school board members to teach a lesson to students incorporating the use of technology.
My Vision
To have local school board members interact with students through the use of technology in the classrooms.
Very interesting , I like the 3 objectives of the use of technology and the fact that all are on board with those objectives.
ReplyDeletethose suggestions are very vry good. School board members should interact more with the schools, visit for a day and see what's going on.
Too often decisions are made in abstract, sometimes not practical.
Good to know that your school board is on "board" with the fact that technology needs to be one of the main focus in the school system.
ReplyDeleteAwesome school board you have girl. It reminds me of mine. It is pleasing to see that the school board believes that technology WILL increase academic performance. Great post!!!
You already have much under your belt - your school board understands the importance of technology - great. As long as they see this inclusion as 'helping' student achievement they will be backing the schools 100%. Great graphics my dear. Always look forward to reading your blog. Wonderful job!
ReplyDeleteI really agree with you. If board members are required to make decision about technology implementation, then they should have first hand knowledge of what is already been done. Great blog!
ReplyDeleteSchool board members need to get involved in the process of experiencing technology in the classroom, not just to create tech plans in their offices.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, if students see board members active in the classroom and teaching them the boundaries of our technology plans, they will believe and our future will be brighter as well.
Thank you for your post!
You mentioned that your school "is located in a very upscale community with citizens comprising of doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, teachers, and politicians." The web is impacting these professions as well...which may make the National Ed Tech Plan all that more relevant to them.
ReplyDelete