Comments on: Why Do Our K-12 Schools Remain Technology-Free?

By: Simon Bostock

Simon Bostock — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 13:29:12 +0000

Janet’s right – school’s primary function is just as much socialisation and baby-sitting as it is education.
And Clark’s right – many teachers lack the skills or sufficient understanding to separate the tool from what the tool actually does.
But just as powerful is the sense among many of our most impassioned educators that technology is like TV, and it rots the brain.
Educators, often self-servingly, see education as an ideal. It reminds me of Ray Bradbury’s idea of science fiction:
I’m not writing to predict the future, but to prevent it.

By: Hillary

Hillary — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 06:25:26 +0000

In our district, our computers are generally 7-10 years old, many of the most useful Web sites are blocked because of legal issues and possible misuse by students (no access to things like student e-mail, Google Docs or blogging software online, and certainly no social media allowed…I can’t even edit my class Web site at school), and we don’t allow the usage of any personal electronics (Smartphones and laptops are out and could even cause a discipline issue for the student). In most cases, with the exception of the age of the present technology, legal issues have prevented a lot of meaningful technology from entering the K-12 classroom, at least where I am.

By: Brian

Brian — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 14:00:45 +0000

I recently had the opportunity to visit a high school that had smartboards throughout and learned the K12 had plasma touch screen smartboards in every class. The price was much more reasonable than I expected and a teacher gave me a demo – showing how they incorporate everything from lesson plans, presentations, games and quizzes with remote controls to morning video announcements by the students broadcast to every classroom. This was a private catholic school but I found it very impressive – much higher tech than our corporate conference rooms – and we are a global leader in medical technology. Maybe sometimes it just takes someone to champion the cause and demonstrate the benefits and ROI.