Comments on: Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) and the Stimulus Package

By: Steve Spaeth

Steve Spaeth — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:58:40 +0000

I wrote an extended response to these ideas in my blog:

… Harper’s message excited me; he identified a potential source of support for MSAD 75 iTeams to use an evidence-based approach to help enhance the learning of all students in our district and, by example, the state. GenYES clearly has a marketing strategy here but I believe in the approach so, I looked at our state Department of Education’s site to learn more. I found several references to EETT but no current activity. Through the grapevine, I heard that the Department may focus on extending the Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI statewide 1-to-1 laptops and professional development) from middle schools to high schools. While I appreciate and benefit considerably from the MLTI, we need support for innovations at all levels in the system. …

http://scspaeth.blogspot.com/2009/03/iteams-and-economic-recovery.html

By: Joe Corbett

Joe Corbett — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:45:15 +0000

“The hope is that by using existing EETT mechanisms and rules, this money will quickly make its way to states, and then out to districts and service centers, creating or saving jobs and expanding technology-enhanced learning opportunities for all.”

Hope is what a lot of people are clinging to these days and history will tell you hope alone is not enough. Believe me I know because I am one of those people who has many hopes for our future, but during these frustrating times I sometimes struggle to act on behalf of those hopes. This Stimulus bill is important on so many levels, especially to the Ed. Tech. community, so I’d like to see our web 2.0 savy communities pro actively reaching out to members of congress to make sure EETT standards and practices are not only met but exceeded. Please check out Wes Fryers blog post “U.S. Educational Technology Funding Updates” http://tinyurl.com/cs6xmo , there you will find some tips to help you reach out directly to elected members of congress.

By: Briana205

Briana205 — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 06:07:28 +0000

It’s nice to know more money is being provided for technology to be integrated into schools across the country. A HUGE problem with using technology in the classroom is the fact that several school districts just don’t have the money in their budge to do so. Adding this significant amount to funding will hopefully bring us one step closer to integrating more technology into schools.

As for the issue of integrating technology into the classroom being beneficial, it is how and when the integration is presented. A teacher cannot fully rely on the whole lesson being taught using technology. Instead, every teacher needs to learn when it is appropriate to use technology. It should be used to enhance the lesson, not teach the lesson. The teacher should never depend on technology, but instead use it as an aide.

By: jill205

jill205 — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:45:41 +0000

I agree that EETT funding should be put towards educational technology in the classroom. I am currently a Math major student with an emphasis on secondary education and I am currently in a computers in education class and we have read and discussed a lot about integrating technology into the classroom. I feel it is very important to use technology in the classroom to aid the students learning. But I feel integrating technology has to be properly done by the teacher….the lesson plan should not be based on technology but instead technology should aid a teachers lesson plan. And technology should only be used in a lesson plan if it aid the students learning, so i feel it is vital for teachers to learn more and read about integrating technology into classrooms so that they know how to use technology properly in the classroom. Therefore, I feel some of the funding money should go to updating classrooms with technology and also teaching teachers how to properly use the technology that is integrated into their classroom. If a teacher is not properly taught how to use the technology they are using in their classroom it could possibly hurt instead of aid the students learning.