Every year numerous K-12 schools launch pilot programs to implement technology in their classrooms to help enhance student learning and improve academic success.
While many pilot programs have proven to be successful in schools throughout the country, there have been plenty of failures, too. About a year ago we learned the reasons behind L.A. Unified School District’s (LAUDS) failed $1.3 billion iPad initiative: not enough training, poor network security, and overall insufficient planning.
LAUDS is of course not the only school district to have its pilot program fail. Numerous schools have deployed thousands of devices into its classrooms without a plan and have set themselves up for failure.
After speaking with numerous schools about their technology initiatives, both successful and unsuccessful, there is one piece of advice I have heard over and over, and that is to start slow.
Implementing large quantities of devices into every classroom is often overwhelming for teachers, students and IT managers. Providing training to teachers takes time, and when there is a large amount of teachers in need of training, the longer and more difficult the training process becomes. When school districts start small with their technology implementation, such as choosing one school or a few grades to participate in a pilot program, teachers are more easily provided adequate training, thus improving their use of technology in the classroom.
In addition to training difficulties, school districts that choose to implement large amounts of technology into numerous classrooms in a small period of time often risk losing site of the goals of the technology program. Instead, network problems, inadequate training and other issues distract schools from using technology to help enhance student learning.
Furthermore, starting slow with technology integration helps schools learn from any problems that evolve in the initial phases of the implementation, paving the way for success for any future plans to integrate new technology in classrooms
Implementing too much technology too fast can lose schools thousands, if not millions of dollars. If you’re thinking about implementing technology in your school, consider starting small. Be sure to gauge the results of the initial implementation and see what adjustments need to be made for future implementations. Perhaps most importantly, teachers need to be prepared to use the technology to help students learn better, and need support to work through both instructional and technical issues throughout the implementation.
The bottom line is integrating thousands of devices will not improve your school, preparing your teachers and students to use the new technology to enhance teaching and learning will. The easiest way to do that is to start slow.
Rachel Quetti is the editor of K-12 TechDecisions, aimed at helping K-12 professionals make better decisions about technology purchases for their classrooms, schools and school districts. Rachel joined the TechDecisions team in 2015 and covers the latest technology trends in the K-12 market.Get in Touch: [email protected] More by Rachel Quetti
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