Technology's Role in School Reform

Technology's Role in 21st Century Learning Workshop

Technology can be a powerful lever for school reform, at the classroom, school, and district levels. However, too often technology is implemented poorly and then applied in ways that only buttress traditional practice.

Technology can be used to:

• Change Teaching and Learning
• Restructure Schools
• Support Whole District Reform
• Drive State and School District Education Reform
  
• Provide powerful tools to build Coalitions (Email Groups, Web Sites)

Powerful examples of these practices are:

LINC to the Future 2 (archived), Boston's five-year technology and learning plan, 2001-2006. Also see LINC III Pillars for Success: Access | Information | Innovation (2006-2009).

Business and Education for Schools and Technology (B.E.S.T.), the organization leading policy development and legislative initiatives in Massachusetts. Archival website.

Technology Goes Home@School and Technology Goes Home, two exemplary initiatives to bring technology into the homes of students and families in Boston. These programs are managed by the Boston Digital Bridge Foundation, with key partners Mayor Thomas Menino and the Boston Public Schools.

Stages of Technology Implementation

There are now many advanced schools and districts in the US and the rest of the world. This Stages of Technology Implementation (updated 2010) chart utilizes the CEO Forum STaR Chart's methodology for Early Tech, Developing Tech, and Advanced Tech stages, but expands the Target Tech indicator category into four sub-stages: Ubiquitous, Early Network Effects, Significant Network Effects, and Replication and Publication.

Survey of Educational Technology Applications and Infrastructure

This survey instrument (2010) rates educational technology student applications, teacher applications, and infrastructure elements on a scale of 1 (Minimal) to 5 (Ubiquitous) for current level of utilization in your school or district and for desired future level.

Articles by Bob Pearlman on Technology's Role in School Reform

• Five Riveting Ideas. Five innovative education leaders (Milton Chen, Bette Manchester, Rick Martinez, Bob Pearlman, and Beverley Royster) share their ideas about technologies that could improve the instructional landscape in this country in the January-February Issue of EDTECH Focus on K-12 magazine.
• "The Role of Technology and Facilities in Redesigning the American High School" (PDF), Winter 2002
• "Technology At High Tech High (San Diego)" (PDF), 2001
• "Can K-12 Education Drive On the Information Superhighway?", Education Week Commentary, 5/25/94
• "Restructuring with Technology: A Tour of Schools Where It's Happening", Technology & Learning, January, 1991
• "Technology's Role in School Restructuring", Electronic Learning ,Guest Editorial, June, 1989