Technology and Equity

Interesting discussion this evening facilitated by Steve Langford, CIO at Beaverton School District.  The concept of 3.8 students per computer being the national average seems amazing to me.  I consider our school to be in pretty good shape technology wise, and I'm certain we don't come even close to this number.  However, I do believe our richness is in how our building uses the technology we do have.  Each year more integration of technology into teaching and learning is taking place.  It has stepped beyond the word processing world.  We still have a long ways to go, but it's progress.

But does the use of technology get figured into the equity equation?  If you have a building full of "Robin's old teachers"  that don't want to use the technology anyway, should they be granted more "boxes",  just because the magic formula says they should?  I would like to see buildings do some prioritization activities on how they would use the technology and what is important to the building.  (in relationship to the building's vision and the district's)  This of course is assuming we still have funding for technology.  Maybe enough for those projector replacement bulbs this next year, at least.

But maybe if you replace one of "Robin's old teachers" with a new cheap teacher, (with enthusiasm, desire to use technology, and some teacher training on using technology in the classroom) the difference in salary could be made up for with some technology for the classroom/school.  Even a portion of this salary would provide some great technology.  These would be the catalysts to spread throughout.