District Administration - February 2012 - (Page 62)

cio District Mobile Devices Drive Creative Instruction COnTInUED age in which students learn using multiple platforms. First, though, states and districts will have to reinvent their curriculum and the way it’s taught. “For a district to do this well, they have to look at how the device is going to help change the pedagogy,” he says. “It’s important to understand that the device itself isn’t the innovation. People can’t just digest worksheets and stick them on a cell phone and think that’s going to be some kind of breakthrough. Good curriculum has to be rethought—not so much transferred, but more creatively redesigned. It’s a question of our being willing to be creative and recognize the opportunities available, to look at this small computer as something that has new potential to redesign education.” Facing Hurdles While mobile learning devices have grown in popularity in recent years, Don Knezek, CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education, says the technology is still fairly new and changing quickly. Educators, he says, will need time to assess its benefits and limitations. “We’ve seen benefits in the classroom, but we’re still going to need to see a lot of development before [mobile learning devices] reach their full potential,” he says. Developers will need to work with school districts to design a variety of comprehensive and effective software applications to use with the mobile devices, Knezek says. Districts in turn will have to invest in teacher training. Knezek believes the technology will explode within the next decade. “I think every student who doesn’t have access to a digital learning device in five years will be viewed as deprived,” he says. But for cash-strapped school districts struggling in a tough economy, investing in teacher training, mobile devices and pricey wireless plans can seem like a distant dream. Kyle Menchhofer, technology coordinator at St. Marys schools, says the district pays about $24.75 a year for each mobile device, which, when added up, can be costly for a struggling district. The district was forced to slash $3 million from its budget this year due to state funding cuts, but the school board still chose to keep the mobile learning program because of its various benefits, such as an increase in math scores and student engagement. Elliot Soloway, a professor at the University of Michigan, co-developer of GoKnow and a DA columnist, believes mobile learning will need a combination of government funding, visionary school leadership, and a new curriculum before it can truly take hold in classrooms. 3796 1111 ADD FUEL BACK INTO YOUR SCHOOL OR UNIVERSITY BUDGET The Certified School Risk Manager courses are a “must attend” for school & university officials. Prevent unexpected loss from draining your school and university budgets, and use that money to fuel jobs and educational programs. Each one day course can be taken in a traditional classroom setting or online at your convenience. Successful completion of all 5 courses earns you the prestigious CSRM designation. Register at www.TheNationalAlliance.com or call 800-633-2165 $149 Online Courses $179 Classroom Courses 62 February 2012 District Administration http://www.TheNationalAlliance.com http://www.TheNationalAlliance.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - February 2012

District Administration - February 2012
Contents
From the Editor
News Update
District Profile
Administrator Profile
Conversations
Product Focus
What Can U.S. Schools Learn From Foreign Counterparts?
A New Prescription for Fighting Drug Abuse
The Game Changer
The Legal Implications of Surveillance Cameras
CIO News
Mobile Devices Drive Creative Instruction
Products
Crisis Response
Professional Opinion
Problem/Solution
New Directions

District Administration - February 2012