Thomas Boysen, Chief Learning Officer, GlobalScholar
Technology can help the nation's schools improve student achievement and measure performance beyond the use of standardized tests, according to a panel of experts.
Some panelists suggested starting with the technology students are already familiar with — their own. "We have to figure out how we can integrate the tools that kids bring to school, like by having lessons they can listen to on an iPod," Carlos Garcia said. "Imagine if we could find a way to use text messaging in an instructional way. In education we′re just so far behind where we could be."
Judy Burton said her organization's public charter school network uses a combination of technology and focusing on student performance to enhance instruction and measure adherance to state standards.
"We′ve changed our grading system from being based on a teacher's assignment of work to a student's proficiency on a state standard," Burton said. "Via technology, we won′t communicate a specific grade about how a student did on a book report, but how they did in relation to a state standard."
Marlene Canter also advocated focusing classroom technology on measuring student achievement. And Donald Knezek recommended measuring achievement beyond the use of standardized tests. "We measure what kids can do on standardized tests, not how many college-level classes they′ve taken or what they′ve actually learned upon leaving high school," he said.
Another recommendation by panelists is to provide tools allowing teachers to instruct at all levels within a classroom, not just to the median. James Konantz suggested using technology to help teachers base instruction on individual students' needs.
Engaging students is a significant challenge to overcoming low student achievement, panelists said. "We aren′t engaging students the way we should; it′s an antiquated way of teaching," Canter said.
Panelists said education must go beyond textbooks to involve other mechanisms. "Textbooks are a resource but not even a primary resource for us," Burton said. "We rely on concrete learning experiences."
In the end, the panel agreed that, while technology has its benefits, effective teachers are most important. "You must have an effective teacher in front of every classroom. If you don′t start there, no matter what technology you use, you won′t be successful," Burton said.
Global Conference 2013
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair, philanthropist Bill Gates and Strive Masiyiwa of Econet Wireless discuss advancing prosperity in Africa.
