There was an excerpt in Chapter 5 from the US department of Ed which concluded: We have not realized the promise of technology in education. Essentially, providing the hardware without adequate training in its use - and in its endless possibilities for enriching the learning experience - meant that the great promise of Internet technology was frequently unrealized. Computers, instead of transforming education, were often shunted to a "computer room," where they were little used and poorly maintained. Students mastered the wonders of the internet at home, not in school. Today's students, of almost any age, are far ahead of their teachers in computer literacy. (p. 10)
I can only speak from my experiences, but this rings very true at my school. Actually, this year was even worse. There wasn't even a computer lab to go to, because our temporary facility didn't accomodate it. Unfortunately our district isn't very friendly to us, a small charter school, so we also lack in the professional development classes that our offered to the county employees and are left to find opportunities on our own.
Luckily I have found new resources in this book that I am able to share with my staff and hope they will take the time to look it over. This along with workshops and conventions will help our staff move forward with technology and all that it has to offer.
I am so happy you are sharing and feel comfortable to bring the new resources to your admin and staff. Keep fighting the fight. It is a small battle, but it is well worth it! Always start small and dream big!
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