Is Technology Integration

Essential for Student

Success?

By Matt Balas

Introduction

“Essential” for student success

1. Student Achievement on Standardized Tests

(Oxygen)

2. Preparing Students for the Work Force (Food)

3. Staff Development (Shelter)

4. Funding for Educational Technology (Money)

Student Achievement on Standardized Tests

With Computers

Students scored at the 64th

percentile on achievement

tests

Students learn more in less

time

Students like their classes

more and have a positive

attitude when classes include

computer-based instruction

Without Computers

Students scored at the 50th

percentile on achievement

tests

Students learn less in more

time

Kulik’s Meta-Analysis Study

Schacter, 2002

Student Achievement on Standardized Tests

COMPUTER USE for

Math/learning games

More positive school

CLIMATE

Higher math ACHIEVEMENT

Teacher Technology TRAINING

COMPUTER USE mainly

for simulations

and applications

Higher math ACHIEVEMENT

More positive school

CLIMATE

Teacher Technology TRAINING

Fourth Grade Eighth Grade

Schacter, 2002

Harold Wenglinsky’s National Study of technology’s Impact on Math

Preparing Students for the Workforce

What is our purpose as a teacher?

Preparing Students for the Workforce

Technology

Increase in the QUANTITY

and QUALITY of students’ thinking and

writing

Can help students GAIN employment

Increase student

INTEREST

Used to LINK work

experience with academic

subjects

Grunwald, 2002

Staff Development

Something to think about…

“While attention to choosing the appropriate

hardware and software for the classroom is a

prerequisite, it is the skill and attitude of the

teacher that determines the effectiveness of

technology integration into the curriculum.”

(Bitner & Bitner, 2002)

Staff Development

1/2

• FEAR of change

• TRAINING in basics

3/4

• PERSONAL Use

• TEACHING Models

5/6

• LEARNING based

• CLIMATE

7/8

• MOTIVATION

• SUPPORT

Eight Keys to SUCCESS

Bitner & Bitner, 2002

Funding for Educational Technology

Determining Cost Effectiveness of Educational Technology

1. Can be extremely challenging and difficult

2. Must distinguish between tangible and intangible costs

3. Developed technology should include as many students as possible

4. Schools should conduct a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) study

Funding for Educational Technology

Benefits of a TCO…

TCOProvide

management oversight

Identify indirect and direct costs

Measure and improve

effectiveness

Develop budgetary guidelines

Develop business care

for new initiatives

Inform stakeholders

Gartner, 2003

Summary

Survival Survival

Staff Development

Funding

Preparing Students

Student Achievement

Oxygen

Food

Shelter

Money

LIFE EDUCATION

Conclusion

“Our current expectations for what our students should learn in

school were set 50 years ago to meet the needs of an economy

based on manufacturing and agriculture. We now have an economy

based on knowledge and technology. Despite the best efforts of

many committed educators and administrators, our high schools

have simply failed to adapt to this change. As any parent knows,

however, our children have not -- they are fully immersed in digital

culture.” Bill Gates