Comments on: Survey shows schools need more tech support

By: Kern Kelley

Kern Kelley — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:18:42 +0000

Hi Sylvia,
I couldn’t agree more. This post outlines the best selling points on why to include students in the solution, but I’m not sure how many tech departments are willing. I am fortunate to be in a district where we constantly use and credit students for tech support, but that’s because we have a willing IT Dept. I know many IT Directors that would feel way too nervous or threatened with students in that role. Keep up the great work!

By: Helen Otway

Helen Otway — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 10:40:22 +0000

Hi Sylvia,

I agree that kids are a great resource and potentially great change agents. They are wonderful support in the classroom not only to each other, but also for their teachers. I have worked in a school where kids were given lots of opportunities to learn with the teacher, present to visiting teachers and generally be regarded as valuable members of the school.

I loved my last class of year 4 students (at a different school) who thought it was excellent that they were telling me how to do things on the computer instead of the other way around. What a novelty it was for them!

Thanks for sharing this.
Helen

By: Alec Couros

Alec Couros — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 08:14:28 +0000

Your solution to this problem is good, and thankfully so … option #1 is the death of innovation in schools.

I’ve held this same philosophy, and have been teaching this idea to my preservice teachers for almost 10 years now. I still have the first article on this topic, it was by Janet Coburn titled “Kids in Charge”. While certainly the situation has changed, the thoughts are similar.

Here’s a link to a summary of some of the points from this old article:
http://hb1.eschoolnews.com/funding/funding-news/?i=31758

Thanks for this post. All the best.