It's a sign of the times, I suppose, that many of those involved in primary and secondary education want the latest technological innovations their school boards, or what ever, can afford.
My parents went to one-room schools until high school. My brother and I had no computer and did calculations on a slide rule. Somehow all of us mastered the material taught, learned how to evaluate expositions and arguments, the importance of civic responsibilities -- voting, volunteering, and learned how to think for ourselves. Our technology were blackboards & chalk, pencils, pen & ink, lots of reading, writing & math. Typically we had more homework on weekends than on weekdays because there was more time to do it.
We also had in common dedicated teachers, who were, I believe, more concerned with our mastery of the curriculum -- including how to think for ourselves -- than in their rights and pay as teachers.
Ours was by no means an ideal world: we had our share of knife-wielding roughnecks, regular absentees, smart-mouthed classmates, smokers of controlled substances, etc.
Other factors in our success: a two-parent, loving home; motivation, persistence, competitiveness. We knew we'd make more of ourselves (and more money) if we went to university & that our parents couldn't afford to send us.
Technology is but a means to an end. Qualified, dedicated teachers and a supportive home are necessary, but not sufficient conditions. Youngsters have to want what schools have to offer & there's much more competition for their attention & "recreation" than when my brother & I were in primary & secondary schools.
I wish I had a key to motivating those in school. The Gateses have taken a step in improving education. Will others follow their example?
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation launched a $20 million new grant program to boost education technology, but the real key is going to be the content for these tools.
Under the grant program, the foundation will aim “to help dramatically improve college readiness and college completion in the United States through the use of technology.” The grants will range from $250,000 to $750,000.
In an interview with CNET News, Gates was asked about technology’s role in the K-12 set and the idea of one-on-one computing. Gates said:
Like a lot of things in K-12, because you don’t have strong measurement, identifying which things make a real difference–it’s not as well-known as you like. There are some great laptop schools where things have gone well, and as laptop costs come down, you’ll be hearing more about tablet-type devices, Netbooks, iPads in the classroom.
But it’s the material that shows up on those devices that really counts. That’s where the foundation is focused. We’ll have another RFP early next year that is more focused on K-12 online material.
All things being equal why wouldn’t the grants for content come before the ones focused on technology?
Gates said that hybrid teaching models are just starting to emerge. That content theme is critical. Marvell co-founder Weili Dai said the same thing. The tools don’t mean much without the content—and of course a good teacher using the technology.
