TIE 532
Essential Conditions
Craig A. Cunningham, Ph.D.


 

The International Society for Technology in Education has developed a list of Essential Conditions for the use of technology in schools. They are:

  • Vision with support and proactive leadership from the education system
  • Educators skilled in the use of technology for learning
  • Content standards and curriculum resources
  • Student-centered approaches to learning
  • Assessment of the effectiveness of technology for learning
  • Access to contemporary technologies, software, and telecommunications networks
  • Technical assistance for maintaining and using technology resources
  • Community partners who provide expertise, support, and real-life interactions
  • Ongoing financial support for sustained technology use
  • Policies and standards supporting new learning environments

The North Central Regional Educational Laboratory has deveoped its on list of 6 essential conditions:

  1. Forward-thinking, shared vision. How is the education system building a shared, community-based vision that prepares students to learn, work, and live successfully in a knowledge-based, global society?
  2. Effective teaching and learning practices. Is the vision being translated into practice through learning environments characterized by powerful, research-based strategies that effectively use technologies?
  3. Educator proficiency with effective teaching and learning practices. Are educators proficient in implementing, assessing, and supporting a variety of effective practices for teaching and learning?
  4. Digital Age equity. Is the digital divide being addressed through resources and strategies that ensure that all students are engaging in an educational program aligned with the vision?
  5. Robust access anywhere, anytime. Do students and school staff have robust access to technology—anytime, anywhere—to support effective designs for teaching and learning?
  6. Systems and leadership. Has the education system reengineered itself into a high- performance learning organization?

 

The CEO Forum has developed a scale to rank the readiness of schools to use instructional technology. The four levels are described in a chart available here (and are summarized here)::

  1. Low Technology schools offer students computers which lack sufficient memory and processor speed to use common web browsers or access multimedia content. Computers are usually in a lab environment, rather than in classrooms. Low Tech teachers have little or no technology training. Low Tech schools may look on the cost of technology for education as a one-time capital expenditure and lack long-term technology plans.

  2. Mid-Tech schools often use computers to encourage students to complete traditional class work. Most students do not use computers regularly, and software is not regularly upgraded. In these schools, computers are "extras," used by students for isolated, fragmented activities. Students report that computer use is routine, sometimes boring, and only remotely related to the curriculum. Computers are rarely used for research or creative functions. The main barrier to technology integration in Mid-Tech schools is the lack of professional development and technical support. A majority of teachers in these schools have had no technology-related professional development.

  3. High Technology schools offer students networked multimedia computers that are connected to the Internet and World Wide Web in the classroom. Many teachers have integrated technology into the curriculum and students use technology to research, create and communicate. High Tech school may lack on-site technical support, which causes teachers to loose time with students over technical problems.

  4. Target Technology schools integrate technology throughout the curriculum. Students and teachers use current digital resources both in the classroom and online. Students and teachers use digital means to communicate with each other internally, as well as with parents, students, teachers and experts around the country. These schools provide on-site technical support and exhibit an ongoing commitment to educator professional development. "The common element in these schools is an excitement about collaborative learning that engages students in relevant, real-world problem solving." (source: http://www.edb.utexas.edu/resta/syllabus/itpm_sample/m4_3.html)

Can you guess which level your school is at?

To refine your guess, complete the Interactive STaR Chart for your school. Copy and paste the results into a message as a reply to the message "STAR RESULTS" on the course message board at http://my.nl.edu. Be prepared to discuss with the class.

 

Resources

CEO Forum on Education and Technology (http://www.ceoforum.org/)

Interactive Star Chart (http://iste.org/inhouse/starchart/index.cfm?Section=STaRChart&CFID=153741&CFTOKEN=53820863)

ISTE Essential Conditions (http://cnets.iste.org/students/s_esscond.html)

More on ISTE Essential Conditions (http://www.edb.utexas.edu/resta/syllabus/itpm_sample/m4_3.html)

NCREL's 6 Essential Conditions (http://www.ncrel.org/info/nlp/lpf02/engauge.htm#table)