RE: Technology training for teachers

If the expenditure of federal funds has been so effective then why hasn't it shown up in the classrooms at both the university and k-12 levels in the southern areas of the most populated state in the union?  As a District Technology Leader (DTL) working with my counterparts from the two largest counties in the continental US I have seen numerous instances of what is described as "basic knowledge and skills".  These skills turn out to be the ability to use a word processor and perhaps a specialized program for reading or math drill.  At the university level, I have seen a slight improvement from the ISTI study several years ago that showed that less that 10% of faculty felt comfortable in demonstrating technology to teach in their subject areas. However, my concern is that teachers at all levels appear to be stymied in tapping the educational power that technology can provide.  Transferring one's notes to a program like PowerPoint is simply another type of blackboard. Converting those notes to meaningful multimedia that ties together resources from around the world is a more effective use of basically the same technology.  Students taught to handle the volumes of available information and distill it into a significant project might more closely match the needs of tomorrow's citizens.  As to why teachers are not using the technology there could be many thoughts.  Is the equipment and software available at the classroom level?  Did the teacher actually receive the application training at the university level?  Unfortunately, the requirements for the technology portion of the teaching credentials appear to be broadly interpreted by various universities and does not yet appear to be utilized to any significant extent by staff in other classes in which I've sat.  Is there a way that we can help both the universities and the K-12 classrooms expand the application of the technology?

I agree with Dr. Towner that ongoing support for the discovering of and the training of the application of technology is needed.

Yes more universities are providing some technology institutes for in-service teachers, but what will happen when those 2 to 3 year federal grants dry up? The partnerships between universities and school districts needs to be encouraged and supported.  How can the California Master Plan be constructed to ensure this partnership?