The Technology Plateau and Beyond

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The Technology Plateau and Beyond

• Tim Fish, McDonogh School
• (tfish_at_mcdonogh.org)
• Permission to post granted Tim came to The
  Chapin School on April 4, 2005. He has also
  posted a breeze version of this powerpoint at
• http//mm.eduadvisory.breezecentral.com/p90394184/
  
• "Tim Fish" lttfish_at_mcdonogh.orggt on Monday,
  December 26, 2005 wrote
• gta) talk about you and the plateau and
• the content of your presentation to
• gtChapin from April 2005
• Yes, go ahead.
• gtb) post your presentation on a
• Summercore Web page
• Go ahead ... please maintain all credits
• gtc) include the attached picture
• Sure.

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1994 - 2005
Discussion
What has technology done for education and
society? How has it changed your life as a
teacher? How has it changed learning for your
students? What have we gained? What have we
lost? Have we lost more than we have gained?
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1994 - 2005
What has changed?
For Teachers Increase in personal and
administrative useTeacher comfort with
technology has improved Teachers expect students
to use technology Much of the glitter has worn
off For Students Connections are
everywhereComputers are social machines Glow
time has explodedEvolution of the web text
text and images video and audio
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1994 - 2005
Have we realized the transformative vision for
technology as it was expressed in 1994?
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Faculty Adoption Levels
Typical
Chapin
10 15
4

• Level One Non-user
• Level Two Personal, Professional User
• Level Three - Isolated Integrator
• Level Four Frequent Flyer

40 60
36
20 30
40
10 20
21
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Faculty Adoption Levels
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Ships at Sea Schools before connectivity
Before 1994
10
Climbing the cliffs NetworkingHardware
purchasesSkill training for teachers and
students Build it and they will come
1994 - Present
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Kicking the Can Perfecting the network, printing,
user files, administrative functions,
etc. Building trust in the system
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The Plateau Completed in one to three class
periods Students and teacher need little training
Stable technology utilized (word processing,
research, etc.) Similar to the way things have
always been done now the computer is
introduced High degree of standardization between
students Technology is introduced at the end of a
unit of study to summarize learning Not usually
cooperative
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Examples of Plateau Technology Typing a one to
two page paper in Microsoft Word Taking notes in
Microsoft Word Corresponding with email Using the
Internet to conduct research for a term
paper Creating a simple spreadsheet in Microsoft
Excel as part of a science lab Creating a simple
PowerPoint slideshow as part of a history
assignment
75 80 Avg
What percent of technology use at Chapin is on
the plateau?
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Discussion
Why is the percentage so high?
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Finding Harmony with the Plateau A robust
plateau creates the framework for a technology
integration program. Curriculum should drive
technology, not the other way around Look for
ways to bush-up the plateau
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How do we get beyond the plateau? What are the
key ingredients? What are the major hurdles?
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Key Ingredients to reach beyond

• Vision and Leadership
• Curriculum, evaluation, technology
• Making sure that the tracks are headed in the
  right direction
• Supported Access
• Reliable stuff put in the right places
• The train has to be in place and ready to roll
• Collaborators
• Supporters who help teachers design, implement
  and evaluate the appropriate integration of
  technology
• A tour guide is always helpful when exploring new
  territory

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Collaborator

• Builds relationships with teachers
• Integration Agriculture
• preparing the soil
• planting the seeds
• weeding the garden
• reaping the harvest
• planting again

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Going Beyond The Launch Pad
The right people are on the train The train has a
clear hedgehog direction Collaborators are
available The team is ready to explore
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Examples of Plateau Technology Typing a one to
two page paper in Microsoft Word Taking notes in
Microsoft Word Corresponding with email Using the
Internet to conduct research for a term
paper Creating a simple spreadsheet in Microsoft
Excel as part of a science lab Creating a simple
PowerPoint slideshow as part of a history
assignment
75 80 Avg
What percent of technology use at Chapin is on
the plateau?
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As curriculum moves up the mountain there
is an increase in

• Student independence and creativity
• Risk
• Cooperative development / interdependence
• Amount of instructional time required
• Amount of new learning required
• Level of student engagement and interest
• Cost