Using Technology to Increase Student Learning

By Linda E. Reksten

This is a practical, jargon-free pathway for principals to create the best possible environment for implementing and teaching technology.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803968140
• ISBN13: 9780803968141
• Release Date: March 2000
• Publisher: Corwin Publishers
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 11.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

The Disney School Model Works!

.There is increasing pressure from educational policymakers, the media, politicians, taxpayers and parents to implement a continuous flow of educational reforms. Technology is at the forefront of school reform. Governmental leaders say that every school and library should be connected to the Internet. Business leaders demand that new hires be computer literate. Parents believe that knowledge of information technology is critical to their children's education. In addition to these demands regarding the importance of implementing an educational technology program in schools, there is a clear caveat coming from these same constituencies: Investments in educational technology must result in improved student performance.For technology to be used as a tool that will measurably increase student performance, three basic elements must be in place:1. The school environment must be conducive to the kinds of changes that students and teachers will need to make.2. The curriculum of the school must be organized for effective integration of technology.3. A workable action plan must be in place.Dr. Reksten guides school principals and their leadership teams towards integrating technology into the school curriculum in a practical manner that will improve student achievement.The author relies on the work of highly regarded researchers and practitioners to build the foundation for her case that, with the appropriate leadership, implementing a dynamic plan for integrated technology and concept-based instruction could be a powerful tool to improve student achievement. The author studied the work of Deming whose ideas on quality work and collaboration converted post-war Japan from an inferior producer to a formidable competitor. Later, Glasser applied these same quality management principles to education and identified the Leader Manager concept. The school principal, Dr. Reksten maintains, as the Leader Manager for the school, is responsible for creating the kind of school environment where quality educational technology can thrive.The setting for applying these theories was Walt Disney School in Burbank, California. As school principal, Dr. Reksten was able to build her own leadership team using teachers who were receptive to change and wanted to work collaboratively. Starting with the students in mind, the school leadership team developed a technology plan for Walt Disney School.The technology plan was dynamic, established specific student expectancies and benchmarks, and used a concept-based instruction approach where the student acquires knowledge that can be broadly applied across disciplines, rather than simply learning stand-alone facts within each discipline. The plan focused on helping students develop integrated process skills, where knowledge would be applied across disciplines at each grade level, transferred up grade levels as education continued, and eventually transferred to future employment.This book is written as a tool for helping schools devel