Share your success stories about increasing use of IT.
February 24, 2010 10:59 AM Subscribe
I'm the techie guy for a school in the UK. We have lots of computers, but they're not used very much. How can I help improve this?
I often suspect the importance of computers in schools is over-rated, but I would like to encourage the academic staff to use them more regularly where appropriate. The school policy is that IT should be used to some extent in all subject areas, and we have invested heavily to make this possible.
Have you successfully helped others at your workplace of intelligent and motivated (but often technophobic) people make better use of the IT facilities, particularly in an academic setting? Please share your success stories! (Failure stories also welcome if they might be instructive.)
I often suspect the importance of computers in schools is over-rated, but I would like to encourage the academic staff to use them more regularly where appropriate. The school policy is that IT should be used to some extent in all subject areas, and we have invested heavily to make this possible.
Have you successfully helped others at your workplace of intelligent and motivated (but often technophobic) people make better use of the IT facilities, particularly in an academic setting? Please share your success stories! (Failure stories also welcome if they might be instructive.)
Roughly 95% of the traditional (that is, not computer lab) classrooms in my college's facilities include a computer for the instructor and a digital projector.
These digital projectors easily replace the older style stand-alone projectors and their associated messes (transparency sheets, etc.) by allowing the instructors to simply project printed media or use the computer to project something from within Word, PowerPoint, Excel, a web browser, and so on.
When I am in a computer lab once a week for one of my accounting courses, we are able to follow along individually with PowerPoint presentations. They are projected and we can download them from our class's online Blackboard.
In other courses, we've used them for our own presentations while we addressed the class. Easier than hauling in a computer from IT.
In my English course, we use Blackboard to post one-paragraph essay responses, which would otherwise be too small to bother with printing, but messy and harder to read written by hand.
My accounting courses also tie in with their textbook and almost all assignments and tests are done through it (McGraw-Hill's Connect). Overall, students and instructors alike have been very positive about this set-up.
posted by asciident at 11:38 AM on February 24, 2010
These digital projectors easily replace the older style stand-alone projectors and their associated messes (transparency sheets, etc.) by allowing the instructors to simply project printed media or use the computer to project something from within Word, PowerPoint, Excel, a web browser, and so on.
When I am in a computer lab once a week for one of my accounting courses, we are able to follow along individually with PowerPoint presentations. They are projected and we can download them from our class's online Blackboard.
In other courses, we've used them for our own presentations while we addressed the class. Easier than hauling in a computer from IT.
In my English course, we use Blackboard to post one-paragraph essay responses, which would otherwise be too small to bother with printing, but messy and harder to read written by hand.
My accounting courses also tie in with their textbook and almost all assignments and tests are done through it (McGraw-Hill's Connect). Overall, students and instructors alike have been very positive about this set-up.
posted by asciident at 11:38 AM on February 24, 2010
I think the most important way to increase the use of the computers is to find relevant software for each potential user. Whether it is grading software, web sites with teaching material or some sort of communication package, there needs to be a specific thing for them to do. Instead of investing in more hardware, have the director of curriculum choose software.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:39 AM on February 24, 2010
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:39 AM on February 24, 2010
I think the most important way to increase the use of the computers is to find relevant software for each potential user. Whether it is grading software, web sites with teaching material or some sort of communication package, there needs to be a specific thing for them to do.
Perhaps more importantly, the software, web sites, etc. have to also provide a demonstrable improvement in the instructor's ability to perform their jobs. Far too often, technology solutions are trotted-out where the main promise is that the instructors can do more stuff. However, it's rare that the "more stuff" is better stuff. It's just "more", hiding behind the common rubric that technological solutions are inherently better.
Then there's the complexity issue where the software may provide somewhat better results, but the complexity and effort/time spent working with the software isn't an equitable trade-off for the instructor.
posted by Thorzdad at 11:58 AM on February 24, 2010
Perhaps more importantly, the software, web sites, etc. have to also provide a demonstrable improvement in the instructor's ability to perform their jobs. Far too often, technology solutions are trotted-out where the main promise is that the instructors can do more stuff. However, it's rare that the "more stuff" is better stuff. It's just "more", hiding behind the common rubric that technological solutions are inherently better.
Then there's the complexity issue where the software may provide somewhat better results, but the complexity and effort/time spent working with the software isn't an equitable trade-off for the instructor.
posted by Thorzdad at 11:58 AM on February 24, 2010
Response by poster: @JohnnyGunn:
"find relevant software for each potential user" I think that's definitely part of what I'm asking about, but the problem is I'm not an academic so it's tricky to know what might be appropriate. If you or anyone has any ideas about how to find the software and how to introduce it (so as not to come across as arrogant, etc) I would like to know.
"Instead of investing in more hardware" This also is exactly where I'm coming from: we've probably spent too much on hardware and I want to spend the next year or two encouraging its use for meaningful tasks. I just successfully argued for a reduction in my ongoing hardware budget o_O
Thanks to all for the help so far, please keep ideas coming (esp. ones which get into the nitty-gritty of what and how).
posted by BrokenEnglish at 12:17 PM on February 24, 2010
"find relevant software for each potential user" I think that's definitely part of what I'm asking about, but the problem is I'm not an academic so it's tricky to know what might be appropriate. If you or anyone has any ideas about how to find the software and how to introduce it (so as not to come across as arrogant, etc) I would like to know.
"Instead of investing in more hardware" This also is exactly where I'm coming from: we've probably spent too much on hardware and I want to spend the next year or two encouraging its use for meaningful tasks. I just successfully argued for a reduction in my ongoing hardware budget o_O
Thanks to all for the help so far, please keep ideas coming (esp. ones which get into the nitty-gritty of what and how).
posted by BrokenEnglish at 12:17 PM on February 24, 2010
Best answer: We've had pretty good success at incorporating a Moodle server at our school. It involved a lot of training for both students and teachers, but the majority are now using it regularly for class assignments, quizzes, discussions, surveys, and more.
With the introduction of our 1:1 Laptop program in September, we'll be providing each student and faculty member a laptop with a whole suite of software installed on it. The most exciting piece of software, for me, so far, has been Evernote. This "digital storage locker and web-clipper" has completely transformed how many of our users interact with the web. The ability to be able to clip or drop almost anything into an Evernote notebook has improved note-taking, research, collaboration, and synthesis of information, across all disciplines and grades. It's really great software, even if you don't have a 1:1 program.
We also successfully use TurnItIn.com for digital paper-grading and marking. Our science teachers use Geometer's Sketchpad frequently. Our math teachers use MathType and Word. We have an iPod touch lab at our primary school that our youngest students adore. There are so many excellent educational iPhone/iPod Touch games available at the App Store.
I think the key is your success is going to be spending as much time as possible training your faculty in technology integration. Cluefull schools typically have one or two technology integrators who specialize in this kind of work and have abundant experience designing and modifying curricula to include technology. For example, way more than 50% of our faculty's professional development time, over the last two years, has been focused on technology integration into the curriculum. Every June, we have a week-long Technology Institute where faculty are trained in a wide variety of software applications and technology integration. We also offer sessions on ideas like "combatting distraction" and "coping with recalcitrant technology." Anything to help get them "on board" the inevitable technology train.
There are quite a few places online where Tech Integrators and School Tech Instructors gather to share information, ideas, and best practices: Tech-in-Ed Ning, isenet Ning, and the like. Best of luck to you. Hope this helps!
posted by mrbarrett.com at 12:27 PM on February 24, 2010
With the introduction of our 1:1 Laptop program in September, we'll be providing each student and faculty member a laptop with a whole suite of software installed on it. The most exciting piece of software, for me, so far, has been Evernote. This "digital storage locker and web-clipper" has completely transformed how many of our users interact with the web. The ability to be able to clip or drop almost anything into an Evernote notebook has improved note-taking, research, collaboration, and synthesis of information, across all disciplines and grades. It's really great software, even if you don't have a 1:1 program.
We also successfully use TurnItIn.com for digital paper-grading and marking. Our science teachers use Geometer's Sketchpad frequently. Our math teachers use MathType and Word. We have an iPod touch lab at our primary school that our youngest students adore. There are so many excellent educational iPhone/iPod Touch games available at the App Store.
I think the key is your success is going to be spending as much time as possible training your faculty in technology integration. Cluefull schools typically have one or two technology integrators who specialize in this kind of work and have abundant experience designing and modifying curricula to include technology. For example, way more than 50% of our faculty's professional development time, over the last two years, has been focused on technology integration into the curriculum. Every June, we have a week-long Technology Institute where faculty are trained in a wide variety of software applications and technology integration. We also offer sessions on ideas like "combatting distraction" and "coping with recalcitrant technology." Anything to help get them "on board" the inevitable technology train.
There are quite a few places online where Tech Integrators and School Tech Instructors gather to share information, ideas, and best practices: Tech-in-Ed Ning, isenet Ning, and the like. Best of luck to you. Hope this helps!
posted by mrbarrett.com at 12:27 PM on February 24, 2010
Best answer: We're in the process of figuring this out at my school, and all our students and teachers have laptops.
After nearly a year into the project, 3 things strike me as vitally important:
1) Administration's support. They need to be in the front lines, getting teachers to implement technology in their classroom. 2 and 3 are not possible without this.
2) Staff Development. If your staff does not know how to use technology, they most likely will not use it. I consider this the most important facent of a proper technology integration plan, but it is not possible if your administration does not set aside both the money and time to educate the educators. One thing that has helped tremendously in this area is we have a person whose sole job is to assist teachers in integrating technology in to the classroom. She meets with certain teachers on certain days and this is the only thing to talk about. It works on two fronts 1) Teachers aren't always the best about being up front in asking how to use something. Having that personal attention makes it much easier to ask things and 2) teaching technology to a smaller group is a lot easier for that person.
3) Once the staff knows how to use technology, require them to integrate it into the curriculum. Preferably this can be some kind of project that can objectively show the administration that all the money is not going to waste. It can be as simple as a student creating a powerpoint presentation on a book they read.
On preview: Our math department also uses Geometer's Sketchpad and MathXL
Another thing to consider is getting your teachers using web 2.0 tools. They rock and tend to be free. Get a Google Apps program going for the school- awesome way to share docs, cals, e-mail, setup sites, etc. Wiki tools- outs love pbworks. Allows teachers to easily post assignments online and students can submit that way, too.
posted by jmd82 at 12:48 PM on February 24, 2010
After nearly a year into the project, 3 things strike me as vitally important:
1) Administration's support. They need to be in the front lines, getting teachers to implement technology in their classroom. 2 and 3 are not possible without this.
2) Staff Development. If your staff does not know how to use technology, they most likely will not use it. I consider this the most important facent of a proper technology integration plan, but it is not possible if your administration does not set aside both the money and time to educate the educators. One thing that has helped tremendously in this area is we have a person whose sole job is to assist teachers in integrating technology in to the classroom. She meets with certain teachers on certain days and this is the only thing to talk about. It works on two fronts 1) Teachers aren't always the best about being up front in asking how to use something. Having that personal attention makes it much easier to ask things and 2) teaching technology to a smaller group is a lot easier for that person.
3) Once the staff knows how to use technology, require them to integrate it into the curriculum. Preferably this can be some kind of project that can objectively show the administration that all the money is not going to waste. It can be as simple as a student creating a powerpoint presentation on a book they read.
On preview: Our math department also uses Geometer's Sketchpad and MathXL
Another thing to consider is getting your teachers using web 2.0 tools. They rock and tend to be free. Get a Google Apps program going for the school- awesome way to share docs, cals, e-mail, setup sites, etc. Wiki tools- outs love pbworks. Allows teachers to easily post assignments online and students can submit that way, too.
posted by jmd82 at 12:48 PM on February 24, 2010
I teach literature, and I have to say that youtube often saves my bacon. I can find clips of old films that are mentioned in novels, poets reading aloud, fun mashups of literary theory. It might be a matter of looking at individual syllabi, and then showing individual instructors what's out there.
posted by pickypicky at 12:55 PM on February 24, 2010
posted by pickypicky at 12:55 PM on February 24, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks again to everyone who took the time to contribute.
posted by BrokenEnglish at 2:41 PM on February 24, 2010
posted by BrokenEnglish at 2:41 PM on February 24, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
My teen students LOVE this, and I actually give them extra points for submitting work a day before the due date. It makes my life easier as well as I don't get a giant load of marking all at one time. I love having a record of when student homework is submitted, and I can use any e-mail software to show parents in a meeting that their student is, for example, submitting work on time or really late at night or only after due dates. No printed copy of my feedback exists, though I could print one off easily if I needed to.
Perhaps your teachers could brainstorm ways to make existing assignments computer-linked.
posted by mdonley at 11:24 AM on February 24, 2010