ichigan is exploring a new approach to putting
technology to work in education by equipping nearly all of the
state's teachers, rather than just students or computer labs,
with laptops or desktop computers.
"If our teachers are using technology, there's some important
modeling going on" for students, said Jamey Fitzpatrick, vice
president of development and education policy for the Michigan
Virtual University, which has been tapped to implement the
program.
Michigan Gov. John Engler spearheaded the Teacher Technology
Initiative earlier this year. State lawmakers approved $110
million for the program late this summer, and the Michigan
Virtual University is in the process of implementing it. Nearly
90,000 full-time Michigan teachers will be eligible for their
own laptop or desktop computer if their school district decides
to participate in the program.
"We didn't want teachers using the computer as a doorstop,"
said John Truscott, Mr. Engler's spokesman. "We want to avoid
the digital divide."
While Maine Gov. Angus King and private companies such as
NetSchools have proposed putting a laptop in the hands of every
student, Michigan is the first state to make that commitment to
its teachers. The reasoning for the teacher-centered approach,
Mr. Fitzpatrick said, is that once educators integrate
technology in their personal and professional lives they will be
better equipped to teach students how to use it.
"This is more than just giving a computer to each teacher,"
he said. "We're going to give them ample time to use this
technology for personal and professional purposes. Those skills
will translate into classroom use."
Mr. Truscott added that Engler made his proposal just as
major corporations such as Ford Motor Company and Delta Airlines
announced that they would offer computers and Internet access to
their employees as a way to increase their technological skills.
Since nearly every school in the state is wired to the Internet
and has fully stocked computer labs, giving teachers more
personal access to technology was the logical next step, Mr.
Truscott said.
"The teachers have to be able to work with them," he said.
The Teacher Technology Initiative will provide school
districts up to $1,200 per teacher to purchase a laptop or
desktop computer. The districts will then loan the machines to
the teachers on a long-term basis for them to use for the
classroom and their homes. In addition, teachers will be given
software, dial-up Internet access and Web-based professional
development for their new computers. Teachers must complete a
Web-based assessment of basic technology skills and describe how
they plan to use the computers to enhance their teaching. They
must also sign a fair use policy outlining proper uses for their
computers and that it must be returned if they resign or retire.
The Michigan Virtual University is contracting with the state
to provide basic computer courses to teachers online. Mr.
Fitzpatrick said that effort is the beginning of developing a
statewide professional development infrastructure for teachers
that better meets their needs.
"It will really allow teachers to get professional
development when they need it," he said. "We're talking about
just-in-time learning for teachers."
The $110 million in state funding is a one-time investment,
and school districts that choose to participate will have to
come up with money to maintain and replace the computers in the
future.
Tom Giblin, superintendent of East Lansing (Mich.) Public
School District , said it is a reasonable offer, adding that
school districts need to make room in their budgets to address
new technology needs.
"Technology tools ought to be a high priority in the budget,"
he said. "The money is shifting. That 's just good common sense.
We can't continue to fund things the way we did 30 or 40 years
ago."
State lawmakers also approved a $1,000-per-student
expenditure increase that will raise per-student spending to
$7,300 by next year, Mr. Truscott said. That funding increase,
he added, should be enough to help school districts maintain the
new laptops for their teachers.
The investment in teacher-centered technology will ultimately
translate into a better education for students by enabling
teachers to automate administrative duties like grade books and
communicate better with parents, Mr. Giblin and Mr. Fitzpatrick
explained.
"We don't have more time or money, so the best thing we can
do is reorganize the time and money we have," Mr. Fitzpatrick
said.
As a parent, Mr. Fitzpatrick said, he will begin to expect
more out of his children's teachers once they become more wired.
"This will begin to raise expectations," he said. "If I know
every one of my son's or daughter's teachers have access to the
Internet, parents will begin to expect more. They'll expect to
e-mail teachers and see their Web page. That home-school
connection is a significant link."
