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Fewer than One in Nine teachers... ouch!


At the turn of this century, Michigan took a bold step to get computers into the hands of school teachers. This article, "Michigan Rethinks Laptop Giveaway Program", does not sound encouraging. Most disturbing to me is the following:

"The state’s track record thus far is dubious. In 2000, on the heels of the tech boom, then-Gov. John Engler set aside $110 million to give laptop computers to Michigan’s 91,000 public school teachers. While that may have been a nice perk for teachers, a survey conducted by Michigan Virtual University found that fewer than one in nine teachers felt they could use the laptops to enhance their lessons. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the program has resulted in no significant jump in student achievement."

Anyone have a copy of that survey? (Inquiring grad student wants to know)


Posted by Paul Chenoweth on May 25, 2005 04:44 PM |

Comments

I don't have that particular study, but the Education Week Technology Counts annual survey results are pretty scary and may have some other bits of data that you find interesting.

Posted by: Todd | May 25, 2005 05:24 PM

Todd,

Thanks for the link to the Education Week information. I have not read it all, but from what I have read, it doesn't make our (US) use/strategy of technology in education look good compared to many parts of the world.

Posted by: Paul | May 26, 2005 09:43 AM

Found this interesting...I'm researching generational differences as reflecting in teacher beliefs and approaches...Personally, as an early genX-er, I never used any technology prior to college graduation other than those huge monster-machines in the basements of our dorms! (Oh, and that Tandy dad bought at Radio Shack so we could play Pong.)But I love what computers can do for my classes, however, I know many who aren't really sure where to start. Now there's the kicker!

Posted by: Juli | May 31, 2005 01:24 AM

Julie,

You are singing my song! *smile* Should we expect teachers like you to take the initiative to learn new technologies so that classrooms (more importantly, classroom performance/learning) can be improved? It may be happening 'under the radar', but I haven't witnessed any mandates to better prepare teachers on the college level or on an in-service basis. For many, I suspect, it falls under the one-more-thing-I-have-to-do-and-not-get-paid-for-it category.

Thanks for taking time to comment. I would be interested in your research findings. Let's keep in touch.

Posted by: Paul | May 31, 2005 04:42 AM