Michael Dell identified three points to improve technology in education in his remarks before the Texas Statewide Education Summit, February, 16, 2007.

The first is to develop technology as a SKILL. To help young people succeed in today’s global economy, they need to have the math and science proficiency and technical skills required to compete. ... India’s focus on math and science education has been an integral part of the economic success it’s enjoyed.

The second point is that technology is also important as a delivery mechanism. Today’s technology can help teachers deliver content to the classroom in an exciting and consistent way. ... in Mexico. We’re installing computers, software, interactive whiteboards, projectors and printers in more than 48,000 fifth and sixth grade classrooms. ... In districts like Round Rock ISD -- right up the road -- we’re working with schools to install what we call “Intelligent Classrooms.”

... the third point……the role of technology as a management tool. ... Ideally, districts would have access to:

• IT and business processes that ensure frequent data capture and access

• Various levels of data for use at the state, district, system, school, department and classroom levels.

• Strong assessment and curriculum systems that provide frequent assessments aligned to state curriculum

• A way of distilling data into user-friendly reports or scorecards (so you don’t have too much data and too little information)

• And the training to ensure that teachers and staff can translate data into an action plan (e.g., How should this change my classroom instruction next week/next month/next semester?) ...

The focus in Austin Independent School District is on improving data-driven decision making at the campus level. ... They are developing and implementing a set of scorecards, tools, and professional development tools to help teachers and principals to better understand student needs, target students with differentiated instruction, and track the results so that high school redesign can achieve its goals of increased student performance.

... the Internet Generation – our children today – are poised to leverage technology in revolutionary ways. But we have to work together so children can translate that technical proficiency from their personal lives to their school work, and then later to their careers.

His words seem consistent with efforts of many public and private school educators. He does infer that schools that do not move in these directions may graduate students unable to find employment in an information based industry. Hmmm, I wonder if the latter is a politically and morally acceptable outcome.

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