LeBaron & Collier Chapter 9

I think it is good when different businesses try to work together with school to help provide different technologies and other products. These partnerships can be very beneficial to schools, especially ones that are in urban settings and can not afford different technology products. Before a school comes into partnership with a business, I think they should make sure that the business has the best interest of the students in mind. I know that many of these businesses are looking for some type of financial gain from these partnership but they should make sure that students are receiving an educational gain from it. As John Richards (2001) mentioned schools are places where students need to feel safe. Its up to the schools to ensure they are putting the students first when entering into different business partnerships and beware of the traps and land mines mentioned by Richards (2001).

I currently do not have my own classroom but I have noticed how the schools that I substitute in prepare their students for the SOLs. At one school they use the last 30 minutes of school for their SOL review time. During this time, teachers review concepts by reteaching, review sheets, games, and practice tests. The only technology that I have seen used for SOL review is the computer game “SOL to Go”.

Richards, J. (2001). Strategies for creating successful corporate partnerships. In
LeBaron, J.F. & Collier. (eds). Technology in its place: Successful technology
infusion in schools. San Francisco, CA: Jossey- Bass.

LeBaron and Collier Chapter 5

I agree that many teachers may find it difficult to integrate technology into the classroom because they do not have a vision of technology in the learning process. Many teachers are having a hard time seeing exactly what they need to do with these new technologies. I believe that ongoing staff development is important when it comes to integrating technology. Technology is constantly changing and upgrading and teachers should be kept up to date with the current trends. There is so much that goes into integrating technology. Not only does teachers need to learn how to use technology, they also have to be able to teacher their students how to use it. There are also the issues of which technology to use for particular lesson and proper evaluation of new software programs. Maybe a few times throughout the school year there should be staff development sessions focus mainly on technology integration.

Of the 4 different approaches technology integration that was mentioned, I think I like the inquiry and action research for technology integration the best. This is because it seems with this approach the teachers are able to research the technology and other strategies that would work best with their curriculum and the learning of their students. The teachers know what is needed within their schools and would be able to work in study groups to try and meet some of their needs through the integration of technology.

Collier, C. (2001). Staff development for technology integration in the classroom. In
LeBaron, J.F. & Collier. (eds). Technology in its place: Successful technology
infusion in schools. San Francisco, CA: Jossey- Bass.

I think it is sad to see the many differences among schools across the nation. I do not think that all schools should be exactly the same but I do feel that every child should have the same educational opportunities no matter their background or where they might live. But as Eileen Gallagher (2001) mentioned, technology is expensive. Because of this many urban schools children are missing out on a number of these opportunities. For children who attend urban schools that can not afford these technologies, they may eventually be left behind, the working environment, by those students who may have had these opportunities. The United States is one of the riches countries in the world so I do not see why any of our schools should have to struggle for money; but sadly it happens.

Before reading this chapter, I did not realize the different challenges many urban schools face when it comes to technology integration. I agree with Gallagher (2001) about we needing to find a way to provide technology to urban school and any other schools that may be in need. We are in the technology age and many businesses are going to require that their employees know something about technology. It is up to the schools to prepare our youth for the job force. But this can not be done in schools where the average of student per computer with Internet access is 20 to 1 or worse 67 to 1 (Gallagher, 2001).


References
Gallagher, E. (2001). Technology for urban schools: Gaps and challenges. In LeBaron, J.F. & Collier C. (eds.). Technology in its place: Successful technology infusion in schools. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.