Information and Communications Technology

1. Information and Communications Technology A Force to be Mastered

2. Definition • Information and Communication Technology (ITC) is all the ways used to communicate with different media • Telephone • Wireless • Computer • Audio/Visual connections • Networks

3. Explosive Growth • 1960s • Rotary dial telephone predominate • Push button (digital) telephones have their start • Aerial TV most common • First communications satellite • Transistor based computers • Improved Mobile Telephone Service

4. Explosive Growth • 1970s • First handheld cellular phone • First cellular network • Cable television more common (roots in the 1950s) • First personal computers (Circuit boards)

5. Explosive Growth • 1980s • Popularity of personal computers • Cell phones more common • Somewhat more affordable • Development of Internet • Connecting people from different regions via the computer • Discman becomes popular

6. Explosive Growth • 1990s • Cell phones make their way into high school student’s hands • Personal computers are common and found in schools • Google begins • Social media development • Instant Messaging (IM)

7. Explosive Growth • 2000s • Cell phone morph into smart phones • Tiny hand held computers which hold many of the same features as a computer • Cell phones are found everywhere • Facebook is developed and launched • Many families have ready access to computers • In their home

8. The Dynamic • Instant access to information • Information becomes readily available to all • Make informed decisions • Compare prices/features • Different way to learn information • Effectively reduces space • The flattening of the world • Using workers differently, in various parts of the world

9. The Dynamic (con’t.) • People are always connected • Social media • Phones • The “need” for information grows • Need instant gratification • Be aware of what is happening next • The WORLD knows what is happening

10. The Challenge (For Schools) • Students are immediately attracted to this media • Always there • A part of their lives • Fearless in adopting the technology • Becomes almost a fashion statement • A way to identify with peers

11. The Challenge (For Schools) • Parents are less knowledgeable • Wide range of users • From will not touch the most basic new technology to advance users of the same • Will use some of the applications • Particularly cell phones and computers for work • Not as likely to use others • Facebook

12. The Challenge (For Schools) • How to adapt teaching strategies to school • Information is readily available • Technology can be used for cheating • Students have a machine to do some of their work • Arithmetic calculations • Media presentations for literature • Class is boring • No connection to what is currently being taught and what comes next in their lives

13. The Challenge for Society • No one has taught the students what is acceptable in the new media • Messages are • Available forever • Found at any time of the day or night • Jumped on by others • Contact is • Instant • Always available • Unless someone shuts off all their devices

14. The Challenge for School Leaders • Preparation of students requires students to be proficient in electronic media • The world will use the devices in many aspects of daily life • Preparation for additional schooling or training • Preparation for daily living • How to adjust to the new way to use information

15. The Challenge for School Leaders • How to prepare staff to work with students and the new technology • Younger teachers are already prepared for the technology • Use it themselves • Are they prepared to separate themselves from their students? • Will they proceed as with their peers? • Preparation for acceptable practices

16. The Challenge for School Leaders • Working with veteran staff • Not all are as familiar with the technology • Some will be masters • Not all see the need for awareness of new technology in the classroom • They didn’t need it so why should students today need it? • Need to motivate all staff to be literate with the new technology

17. The Challenge for School Leaders • Working with the School Board and Central Office • Board members may not see the need to follow new technology • Teach these members where society and the world is headed • Demonstrate the need for literacy

18. The Challenge for School Leaders • Provide sufficient money to keep students prepared for the future in a tight budget economy • A midsize district may have a 3 year plan of up to $20,000,000.00 to support hardware, software and training for the district, not an extravagant amount • A cost per pupil range from $150.00 per student to over $500.00 per student

19. The Challenge for Teachers • Need to keep abreast of the quickly changing technology landscape • Aware of what students are using and how they are using it • Adapt their lessons to meet the changes brought about by the new technology • Provide instruction to meet the needs of a fast paced world

20. The Challenge for Teachers • Need to develop plans for using available technology in a productive manner • Teach students the proper way to interact on social media sites • Develop plans to promote collaboration in the classroom • Work together to solve a problem • Illustrate how information passed between students is never lost • Even when deleted from their account

21. The Challenge for Teachers • Need to develop lessons on how social media can be both useful and destructive • Current events • Events in Egypt were a positive force • Except for those in power • Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake • The World becomes aware in moments • Facebook • Mean comments are hurtful • Adding to the comments enforces the impact • Because you are not present does not mean there is no impact • There may be legal consequences for actions • School district responsibility for comments outside of the school ?

22. The Big Question • How do we as educators prepare students to face the future when there are many forces conspiring to keep technology out of the schools?