Comments on: AAPS Pitches Case for Tech Improvements

By: John Floyd

John Floyd — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:50:31 +0000

I would feel less hesitant about supporting the millage had the Board of Ed not decided to increase the pay of various already-highly-paid administrative employees, starting with the Superintendent, and including members of her “cabinet”. These decisions have not left me with a strong sense that the district is able to spend money well, or wisely.

By: Jim Rees

Jim Rees — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:10:52 +0000

Too bad the district has to build its own 10g network. The City and the University have also built their own networks because they couldn’t buy the needed bandwidth from anyone. The US seems to be lagging behind much of the world in providing network infrastructure. I wonder how much this has to do with regulations intended to protect the profits of the current providers.

By: Liz Margolis

Liz Margolis — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:54:24 +0000

For anyone who wants to learn more about the tech bond and how technology is being used in schools please visit AAPS News or this link to AAPS Tech Stories. [link]

By: Steven Norton

Steven Norton — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:43:02 +0000

Well, I’m not a big fan of testing, particularly when it is used as the sole measure of quality or growth rather than a diagnostic tool. But the fact is in the short term that the state legislature is well along the path to requiring this kind of testing, and Dr Green’s point is valid in that trying to do this maxed-out our current computer hardware. (Many of the computers in AAPS are older eMacs based on the Power PC platform, which Apple has since abandoned for Intel chips. Software that runs on Power PC machines is getting harder to find, and – as they are no longer made – these machines are much slower than current software usually assumes.)

I do wish that the district was offering more examples of how technology is being used in the classroom to enhance and enrich learning. I’ve heard lots of anecdotal examples, but it would be great to see some presented more formally. I suspect that if people saw how teachers were using tech in the classroom today, they would better understand why planning for future technology is really important to our children and community.

By: schoolsmuse

schoolsmuse — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:14:40 +0000

Paragraphs 2 and 3, above, should be identified as quotes from the article. Sorry!

By: schoolsmuse

schoolsmuse — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:13:49 +0000

It is really too bad that Dr. Green is putting this forward as a reason to support the tech bond.

Passage of the tech bond, she explained, would streamline the implementation of the Northwest Evaluation Association’s Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test, which was recently rolled out in the district. Green said the MAP is being used to give teachers instant feedback on their students’ skill sets three times per year so that teachers can group students more flexibly to maximize learning success… and

Next, Green pointed out that many students could benefit from additional online or distance learning opportunities. Those benefiting from those opportunities include struggling students – who want to make use of software for credit recovery or remedial skill-building, such as Read 180 and e2020 – as well as students who want to take a greater number of classes than can be scheduled in a standard school day. “We could have young people who want to take vocal music and orchestra take additional classes online,” Green suggested. “[Online learning] is not just for strugglers, but those who want to move forward as well.”

Considering that I am opposed to the NWEA MAP test and the amount of testing going on in the district, and
Considering that nationally, initial evaluations of online learning show students learning less than in traditional contexts, and
Considering that currently high school students are restricted by the district in the number of classes that they can take–

her arguments do not make me want to support this proposal, despite the fact that I think the *infrastructure* investments are important.

I’m also interested that in the article Robert Allen “invited the parents present to participate in the tech committee in the future.” It has never been very clear to me how parents can join committees–or indicate their interest in joining them. In the last round of budget cut discussions people were asked if they were interested in joining committees, but (as someone who indicated interest), no invitations were forthcoming. However, I would hope that the invitation to join the tech committee is sincere.