ASSIGNMENT 4

this is the link to my com 300 page

Bringing technology gaps in the public schools districts 

Millions of children in the public school district still have no access to computers in their schools.  Laptop computers have been deployed for a while in some progressive school districts, but not others. Why some educators emphasize good teaching over tech gadgets, some teachers have aimed to blend the two and the results have been astonishing. I strongly believe that the digital divide is a big part of the overall academic performance gap in our ethnically diverse society. Therefore, it needs to be addressed in public schools. A recent study of how e-learning systems affect students’ learning outcomes was conducted and an elaborate two phase study was designed. The firs study created a constructive e-learning environment (CEE) and discovered how students expected their learning outcomes under this environment. CEE is composed of three constructs, which are explored, collaborated, and constructed. The statistical results showed high level of students expectations on every construct. This learning environment was then deployed in the classroom environment. The purpose was to compare the learning outcomes and knowledge development of students who studied the course using CEE with those students who learned it under a traditional learning environment. The results showed that the students who used the CEE had better learned outcomes and knowledge development that the students who did not.

  It is evident that technology in the classroom can be a catalyst for improvements of the students learning capabilities. Without the proper equipment and infrastructure, students and teachers are unable to use technology to enhance learning, leading to frustration and disillusionment. “We’re expecting our 21-century students to function in 20th- century classrooms,” Barbara Thalacker, the state education technology director, said. “If we don’t put more money into this state, that is known for high technology across the board, we’re not equipping our students with 21st-century skills.”  While there continues to be a digital divide in public education nationally, most school staff and students today have access to up-to-date computers and operating systems, if not at home, then at their public library. They use the latest operating systems and applications to create PowerPoint and video presentations, write research papers and build websites. The difficulty arises when students bring these projects to school only to discover they are unable to run them properly on the computers in their classrooms and computer labs. This hinders the learning process and contributes to discouragement. Addressing this deficiency requires costly upgrades and software changes.  The first step in implementation of any computer replacement plan is to educate the key players in the school district about the need and implications of failing to enact the proposal. These might include the superintendent’s cabinet, department heads, the finance department and the school board. The most critical component leaders must address is whether the source of funding is ongoing or one time only. Leasing, rather than buying, new computers makes sense financially because it allows the district to ease into the financial commitment and prevents the district from having to go through the same process every few years.Schools struggle to keep up with advances in technologyAndrew BeckerSTAFF. Oakland Tribune. Oakland, Calif.: Nov 15, 2006. pg. 1