Technology Integration in Schools

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Recommended: Education change and reform

The following paper will summarize the book reviews suggested for this class. Through this paper two questions will be answered. Do you see an immediate opportunity for technology integration into these school settings? What may be some barriers to integration? These questions will be answered after all book reviews have been read and analyzed. The following paragraphs will go into depth over these two questions.

The first book review was completed by Theresa Richardson, Department of Educational Studies, at Ball State University. Richardson reviewed the book Revolution of the Margins: The Impact of Competition on Urban School Systems by Frederick M. Hess. This book looked at the differences between two public voucher programs and a private program.

While reading this review, it was evident that technology integration would definitely benefit both of these widely different programs. Regardless of the student population, it would be necessary to bring different forms of technology to both types of settings. Students in the voucher schools may not always have the opportunity to use technology at home. However, private school students would most likely have more exposure to different types of technology, mainly computers and the internet. By integrating technology into both settings, the two different groups of students would have the same opportunity to gain knowledge in the use of technology, which later would put them on similar playing fields in both college and the job world.

It was clear that there may be barriers of implementing different technology into the voucher schools. One issue is the funds available to implement technology in the voucher schools, these schools would need to depend on grants for the purchase of te...

... middle of paper ...

...owed opportunities for technology integration. There needs to be an understanding that although technology can and should be integrated into these various situation, it is also evident that each situation has necessary barriers to overcome. As educators it is our responsibility to know what avenues we need to take, in order to make our classroom more engaging and interactive to our students, no matter what their situation.

Works Cited

Brouillette, L. (2002). Charter School: Lessons in Reform. Mahweh, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Hess, F. M. (2002). Revolution of the Margins: The Impact of Competition on Urban School Systems. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press.

Temes, P. S. (2002). Against School Reform (And in Praise of Great Teaching): Getting Beyond Endless Testing, Regimentation, and Reform in our Schools. Chicago: Ivan R. Dee.

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