EDUCATION TRENDS

Computer Access

United States students have better access to computers than students do in nearly every other industrialized nation according to a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation in Development. The report also notes that girls in the United States are more comfortable with technology than girls in other countries. Of the 32 nations in the study, American students were among the most literate in terms of what was referred to as "top level literacy skills," which included understanding complex text, evaluating information, and drawing on specialized knowledge. Six percent of American students were "below basic," a figure that is consistent with most other industrialized nations. Details on the 2002 "Education at a Glance" report can be found at www.oecd.org

Source: eSchool News, October 31, 2002 www.eschoolnews.com

Technology Spending and Internet Access

Quality Education Data, Inc. (QED), a subsidiary of Scholastic Incorporated, released its annual report on technology spending in American schools at the National School Boards Association Technology and Learning Conference in November. The report notes that while schools in general are struggling financially because of state shortfalls in revenue, the expenditures for technology have remained consistent with previous years. We continue to spend about $7 billion a year nationally on technology in our schools. In fact, we experienced a slight increase from $6.45 billion in the 2001–02 school year to $7.185 billion in 2002–03. Apple’s Macintosh is the single most common brand of instructional computers in our schools; however, for computers to be bought in 2002-03, Dell is the leader with a 35% share, while Apple has 21%. In addition, 43% percent of the districts surveyed are now using wireless devices. Moreover, Internet use is widespread:

• 99% of public schools are connected to the Internet


• 91% of public school classrooms are connected to the Internet


• 96% of teachers use the Internet as a teaching resource.

Source: QED Press Release, November 15, 2002 www.qeddata.com

UN Study Ranks USA Low

UNICEF recently completed a study that evaluated the industrialized nations in the world to determine the quality of their education programs. The study looked at the scores on five tests taken by students ages 14 and 15 years old to determine their abilities in reading, mathematics and science. South Korea received the highest rating, and Japan was second. Of the 24 nations, the United States was 18^th, and Germany was 19^th.

The 1995 and 1999 results on the Third International Math and Science Study (TIMSS) and the scores on the 2000 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) were used. The study also factored in the International Adult Literacy Surveys of 1994 and 1998. The US finished low on all of them.

Source: "UN: Korea, Japan at Top of Best Schooling List; U.S., German Toward Bottom," by Alexander G. Higgins, Associated Press, November 26, 2002

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Broadband Internet Usage

In my various presentations across the country, I have noted that before such innovations as the Semantic Web can be implemented, we will need an expansion in the power of our individual computers. As we move from Moore’s Law to Gates’ Law, technology capacity will begin to double as quickly as every nine months rather than every 18 months. Today, the United States trails other nations in the expansion of its broadband Internet usage. The United States is seventh out of 27 nations in a recent study of broadband subscribers with a 10.4% penetration rate. Compare that to South Korea with a 51% broadband penetration rate, Hong Kong with 26%, Canada with 19.7%, Thailand with 18.2%, and Sweden with 13.4%.

If America is to continue to be a world leader in information technology, I believe we need a national policy on broadband expansion. Individual companies are reluctant to invest in it unilaterally because other companies, including their competitors, will benefit. A national initiative could address this issue.

Source: "Coming Global Burst in Broadband," by Michael Katz www.medialifemagazine.com, August 2002

Oh, What Cell Phones Can Do

Information technology is moving toward what is known in the industry as "convergence" the phenomenon of multiple functions being incorporated into a single piece of technology. We are beginning to see this in cell phones. Sprint has rolled out its PFC Vision Line of mobile phones that offer an optional camera. The camera takes digital photographs and sends them electronically or stores them online. The new T-Mobile Pocket TC Phone will let you access your calendar and office correspondence, listen to music, browse the Web, send instant messages, and download e-mail as well as make phone calls. A wide variety of products with even more functions will arrive on the market in the coming months. Interestingly, this add-on of functionalities is in contrast to the tendency of PDAs (personal data assistants) to focus on simplicity and ease-of-use rather than expansion of functionality.

Source: "The Next Generation of Cell Phones – You Make the Call" by Buzz McClain, Arrive magazine, November/December 2002

Biometric Scanning

Biometric scanning devices are cropping up everywhere, including in schools. These devices use sophisticated sensors or optical technology to read fingerprints, eyes, and faces. At San Francisco International Airport, 18,000 employees scan their hands through biometric machine readers installed at more than 180 entrances as they come to work each day. The nation’s largest supermarket chain, the Kroger Co., is pilot-testing fingerprint readers for customers to pay their groceries. In the Philadelphia school system, biometric time clocks have been installed to track the coming and going of thousands of workers. Next year they will expand this biometric finger reading to all 30,000 employees. In my opinion, over the next couple years we’ll find scanning of fingerprints and eyes becoming commonplace in the workplace, in retail establishments, and in a wide variety of security-related situations.

Source: "Finger Scanning Technology Monitors Schools Employees" by Rhea R. Borja, Education Week, October 23, 2002

100% Proficiency???

NCLB requires 100% of students to be at a proficiency level in reading, writing, and mathematics by the 2014-15 school year. The U.S. Department of Education is beginning to rethink that requirement. States and local districts have noted that it will be impossible for 100% of students to achieve this for a number of reasons. Here is one example: A child who does not speak English moves into the district from another country shortly before the state test is given. Who will be exempt from the 100% requirement and how that decision will be made are important policy issues on the horizon today.

The NCLB provisions for adequate yearly progress (AYP) for all students are based in large measure on schools that have been successful in accomplishing this. The 2003 Model Schools Conference (June 29-July 2 in Orlando) will showcase schools that are doing what the legislation requires. In addition, general sessions will address the key issues in implementing NCLB. For more information, please go to www.leadered.com/model_schools.html.