The USA is failing our schools, the result is the students are are not getting to move to the head of the class. We are behind in all aspects of learning. 14th in reading, 17th in science, 25th in math. This study from 35 developed nations. I am writing this as NBC is broadcasting their 2011 education nation conference this week. I wrote this blog in March 09. Opening the flood gates with broadband in education.
One of the biggest problems is tenure. Some of these teachers are not ready for the classroom of tomorrow.
The teachers of tomorrow will be younger with IT skills, Ip, marketing, and ultra computer literate. The same reason we are behind in technology, 17 th in the world of broadband, is the same reason we are behind in education.
What ever the reason for the lack of smarts these administrators have about how best to educate, this is much easier than they are making this process to move us forward and bringing technology in the class.
One thing our students have is computer, and social networking skills. This is what they know, and like, so build around that.
Facebook has created an education platform, these schools need to be using it. Every school needs a page, every classroom in that school, and every student should be utilizing this social platform for it's intended use. Let these students and teachers build on this, and make their class the best it can be. Some teachers may want to broadcast live to other schools or classrooms via livestream, or ustream. Let the students push out the video to other classes, you will find out what is and is not working through the social aspect.
This is so simple, find a class, lets say a science class anywhere USA, that is excelling for what ever reason. maybe the teacher's personality, broadcast this teacher to classrooms around the US, and see what students are saying about it. The students will grade their curriculum, not the administrators. And now you know what is working. Students and classes can interact with this, by Q/A.
It's time to get technology in the hands to those that already have a grip on it. Trust me school's will have a new path that students will rally around. So broadband is the key to this becoming the fix for education. Not new books, or it's not in our budget. Put this in the budget, or our students will forever loose the future.
I think that schools should have been first with this technology. As they the students are our future. Students are incredibly computer literate, it's time that the class gets caught up.
This is also where public safety can benefit. Schools are always used for shelters during times of disaster.
This is another good reason for broadband in schools. If a disaster hit a community, and communication was down, from wired infrastructure, the schools can open their network to the public, for emergency use.
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