Why Is Educational Technology So Far Behind?
July 18, 2008
Money obviously commands more attention that children do. At least that’s certainly what it looks like as we take a stroll around the Internet.
When I go to Amazon.com, the site knows me. It anticipates my future tastes and purchases based on purchases I’ve made in the past and behaviors of other similar customers Amazon has encountered. Similarly, ITunes makes some pretty good guesses as to what I want to hear next by gleaning information from my past listening habits.
So why is there no academic site out there that offers a comprehensive K-12 math (or earth science, or spanish, or whatever) program that quickly learns where kids are at and immediately begins to take them through a progression of learning based on their zone of proximal development? Why are we still downloading worksheets from EdHelper or playing that infernal Math Baseball on Funbrain or watching videos on BrainPop instead of having a website that nails down, over time, that Johnny is a visual learner who is strong on the basic math facts but struggles with multi-step story problems and logic problems, and then works to cure it through targeted (visual!) practice?
Why, in a web 2.0 world for consumers, does the internet still look like a web 1.0 brochure in terms of academic opportunities for kids?
Entry Filed under: Differentiation, Education, Elementary Education, Fifth Grade, First Grade, Fourth Grade, Gifted and Talented, High Schools, Homeschool, Internet, Learning, Math, Public Schools, School 2.0, Second Grade, Secondary Education, Students, Teaching, Third Grade, homeschooling, ideas, school, technology. .
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1.
Erik Jacobs | July 18, 2008 at 2:54 pm
You pretty much hit the nail on the head… there isn’t necessarily the right money in it… yet.
Now, that being said, look at how learning centers like Kaplan have been performing poorly lately. Perhaps we will soon see these tools ushered in in an era where parents would rather have their kids learn at home on the computer instead of shuffling them off to yet another after school activity?
2.
Mathew | July 18, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Excellent points. I think we haven’t left worksheets behind in the physical world and so it’s hard for many educators to leave them behind in the virtual world. What we get are programs designed to offer “differentiated worksheets” which really don’t do much to engage or inspire.
3.
mpullen | July 18, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Erik — I think the money would roll in if a company actually managed to do something like what I’ve described. But no one has proven it, so no one trusts that the money would come.
Mathew — that’s EXACTLY what we get right now: “Differentiated worksheets.” I wonder if part of the problem, too, is that it often isn’t active educators who are running major educational websites (since running those websites is often a full-time proposition).
4.
dcowart | July 19, 2008 at 11:15 am
It is not web based but our district uses math software called FASTT math, which does require a server to store information. Anyway, it does learn the student’s strengths and weaknesses in math by giving a series of tests that evaluate what the child is ready for. It only differentiates by ability not by learning style. It also only focuses on math facts. It is a nice supplement to our existing math program. The students like it because it is fun. It also gives a decent diagnostic report about student progress. My point, you are right that this kind of technology is effective and should be available to children.
5.
WebWalker | July 19, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Wow! What a terrific observation!
6.
Required Reading at The C&hellip | July 20, 2008 at 10:29 am
[...] Why Is Educational Technology So Far Behind? at The Elementary Educator When I go to Amazon.com, the site knows me. So why is there no academic site out there that offers a comprehensive K-12 math program that quickly learns where kids are at and immediately begins to take them through a progression of learning based on their zone of proximal development? [...]
7.
Sue | July 20, 2008 at 11:33 am
I think the onus remains on the teacher to explore deeper into Web 2.0 to find sites that offer educational challenges to children. Some suggest that the concept of Web 2.0 only exists in that the Web has evolved into the ability to access sites that are “community” based and are collaborative, or social mediums, such as blogs. (Wikipedia) Perhaps what you suggest will only be developed after consistent usage by students. Right now that is being stifled by some administrators, teachers, school districts, and parents, and of course the financial component.
8.
Tracy | July 22, 2008 at 6:48 am
Check into Quantiles - Also, Mathscore.com
9.
Rebecca Haden | July 22, 2008 at 6:50 am
It may not be so much the lack of money as where the money is. Amazon has largely done away with the little local bookstore where the booksellers knew you and saved the books they knew you’d love. An Amazon-esque educational experience could do away with schools as we know them — that is, schools with layer upon layer of expensive admin and legislation and New Programs, each hailed with a change of buzzwords and a new T-shirt for everyone.
Who’s going to back that?
10.
Jennifer | July 22, 2008 at 7:49 am
There is one for math - http://www.aleks.com and my child loves it!
11.
Educational Technology, P&hellip | July 22, 2008 at 8:52 am
[...] 22, 2008 My previous post asked the question, “Why is educational technology so far behind?” Through the [...]
12.
Roberta | July 22, 2008 at 9:55 am
Already we have received some valuable sites to address the math issue…we need to network. Together we are better and the children benefit. Thank you.
13.
Kat Kam | July 22, 2008 at 10:23 am
Our school uses a school wide program called “Success Maker” that has both math and reading components. It initially takes students through a series of problems and determines their learning level. As this program continues, it seeks mastery of concepts through repeated introduction. Our students see significant gains throughout the school year. The program is fun and they look forward to their 15 -20 minute time slot per day. I can print reports for both myself and their parents showing the gains as well as the areas of difficulty.
14.
DEBBIE WILKERSON | August 12, 2008 at 8:47 pm
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD SIGHT FOR MY 5TH GRADER, COULD YOU SEND ME THE SIGHT?