Using Technology to Transform Education | Page 3

Taking Note March 2013 The Power of Technology Today, computer technology and internet access have the ability to connect students from diverse locations across the globe to one shared universe of knowledge. Since the mid-1990s, states across the country have focused on increasing access to technology and in particular the internet. According to the U.S. Department of Education, in 2010 all public schools had at least one computer with internet access that was used for instructional purposes, and more than half of all public schools had laptops available for students. The vast majority of schools are using this access to technology for online student assessment, gathering instructional materials from the internet, engaging students in learning with new technology, and using the internet to provide standardized assessment results and data for teachers to inform instructional planning. Tennesseans can look to our own schools and educators for examples of classroom practices that effectively integrate technology. The table on page 2 outlines strategies for using technology in the classroom to achieve multiple goals and provides specific examples from Tennessee. In addition to supplementing the traditional classroom experience, technology is transforming the way that education is being delivered. Each year, K-12 students take nearly 2 million courses online, and, in the 2010-11 school year, approximately 250,000 students were enrolled in full-time virtual schools.v Technology is also being used as a vehicle to create more educational opportunities for students that are tailored to their individual interests, abilities, and learning styles. While research on technology use in education is limited, studies have consistently found that technology can help to engage students in their learning. Researchers at the University of Memphis found that students in classrooms that used technology were more often engaged in cooperative and project-based learning, and that the level of student interest and engagement in academic content was higher than in classrooms where technology was not actively integrated. Comparable analyses of programs in Florida, Michigan, and Texas found similar effects.vi Tennessee has made progress in increasing access to technology and the internet, but more work remains to ensure that all students have equal access. We must also focus on providing schools with resources aligned with their needs and teachers with the appropriate training to make the best use of computer-based and online learning. Challenges While technology is emerging as an effective strategy to enhance teaching and learning in the 21st century, there are two key challenges that prevent the leveraging of this resource: infrastructure and training. The Foundation for Excellence in Education’s Digital Learning Now state report card gave Tennessee low marks for infrastructure that supports digital Page 3 learning, in part because current state law does not require schools to have high-speed internet access or provide teachers with internet access devices. SCORE has found, through our First to the Top progress monitoring work, that there is variability across the state in terms of technological capacity, but even the more digitally advanced districts are concerned about the system’s ability to accommodate whole-school online testing. This underdeveloped infrastructure inhibits the ability of districts to administer new, online assessments aligned with the Common Core State Standards, higher and more rigorous academic standards that Tennessee is currently implementing. It also limits the extent to which technology can be used to meet other school and district needs, like individualized learning for students, professional development for teachers, and greater access to advanced and college-level coursework. Governor Haslam’s proposal to allocate $51 million to education technology in the 2013-14 fiscal year has the potential to help districts address their infrastructure and training needs. In addition to the financial investment, there must be a clear strategy in place to ensure the funds are used most effectively across the state. While infrastructure and access are important, we must ensure that teachers have the training they need to incorporate new technology. A 2012 report from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation found that teachers believe technology is an important tool to supplement traditional instruction, but feel intimidated by the need to keep pace with the ever-changing technology landscape. Responses from teachers indicated that they are overwhelmed at times by the new technologies available and are still struggling to make the best use of the tools that are already in their classrooms. Furthermore, teachers “cited inadequate training as a reason they would not use technology to support their teaching.”vii Recommendations To prepare students for success after high school, Tennessee has committed to a comprehensive education reform plan. Schools and districts throughout the state have been using technology to support all components of this plan, from using technology to individualize learning so students can meet higher academic standards to using technology to connect teachers across the state to share innovative practices. However, there are several steps that policymakers, educators, and communities should take to help advance technology integration across all schools and districts in the state: Use technology to support clearly identified needs in school districts. District leaders need to have a strategic plan in place as they work to integrate technology in schools. Investments in technology should be tied to district needs with a clear understanding of 1207 18th Avenue South, Suite 326, Nashville, TN 37212 — tel 615.727.1545 — fax 615.727.1569 — www.tnscore.org