I listened to the final presidential debate and then read the 22 page transcript this morning. There was significant debate on jobs, tax cuts and breaks, budgets and national debt, Joe the Plumber, economic crisis, energy both oil, nuclear and alternative, climate change, school yard fight over who threw first nasty ad punch and who has character flaws, judges, and abortion/adoption.
Finally half way through page 19 the QUESTION WAS ASKED:
SCHIEFFER: Let's stop there, because I want to get in a question on education and I'm afraid this is going to have to be our last question, gentlemen.
The question is this: the U.S. spends more per capita than any other country on education. Yet, by every international measurement, in math and science competence, from kindergarten through the 12th grade, we trail most of the countries of the world.
The implications of this are clearly obvious. Some even say it poses a threat to our national security.
Do you feel that way and what do you intend to do about it?
The leading response was that education had more to do with our economy and primacy as a military power than any other factor. So far so good. Then a rehash of all the theories, programs and imperatives of the past 25 years!
Issues Addressed: Invest more, throwing money at problems is not answer, adequate funding, recruit new generation and higher pay for good teachers, early childhood education, choice and competition, math and science teachers, college loans, charter schools, more professional development, get rid of bad teachers, higher standards and accountability, failed schools is a new civil rights issue, college affordable, non-examination or trained teachers in classroom (Troops to Teachers, Teach for America), a better school system, parents more responsible, turn off the TV, local control served us well, need federal help, Head Start, unfunded mandates like No Child Left Behind, unfunded special needs, vouchers, fund reforms, reform at a level that effects all 50 states, helping 2000 students is good.
Technology was addressed when talking about coal, oil and healthcare, but not education. There was talk of reform, but not innovation driven transformationi [0].
According to a 2003 US Dept. of Commerce study Education is 50th out of 50 industries studied for information technology intensity and productivity:
www.esa.doc.gov/2003.cfm [1] Go to chapter 4 and pp 57 to 58 and you will find that it is even worse.
Telephone and Telegraph (what’s that?) has a leading score of 22.21, coal mining at 28th scored 0.57 and education had a 0.06.
Fortunately for our incoming president, educational technology based innovation does take place at the state level. Arizona is the only state that has a critical mass of unique assets to that can deliver the national transformational answer.
Check out this incomplete list of Arizona people, organizations and enterprises in national leadership (no particular order). Please get back to me with your additions or corrections. This is a work in progress.
Helen Padgett Professor at ASU West, President of International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)
Cathy Poplin Director of Information Technology, Arizona Department of Education, on Board of Directors for State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA)
Key Kay President e-Luminate Group, Tucson, Partnership for 21st Century Skills policy and training.
Steve Zylstra, President , Arizona Technology Council, driver for STEM P-20 education and eLearningi [1]
Alex Devereux, President, Greater Arizona eLearning (industry) Association, Arizona has a $3 Billion economic cluster of dozens of eLearning enterprises with Pearson the global leader in K-12 digital curriculum and Apollo (parent of University of Phoenix) the global leader in online learning.
Two STEM Centers – One at ASU the other at Science Foundation Arizona.
Arizona eLearning Task Force – Appointed by legislature and governor to address ten year K-12 system transformation. Only state this forward looking.
Ron Schott, President, Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council studying, advising and advocating on statewide broadbandi [1] infrastructure development.
Wilson School Elementary District – 15 years of eLearning system experience with 1:1 computer/student and data that shows an average academic performancei [1] increase of one letter grade for Arizona’s most challenged student population.
Many other traditional schools transforming to eLearning like Empire High in Vale and Scales Elementary in Tempe. (What about Snowflake?)
Fourteen virtual schools with many years of experience.
The largest number of charter schools, many eLearning based, of any state.
Dee Andrews Senior Technologist, Air Force Researchi [1] Laboratory (Mesa, and Dayton) Simulation and Distributed Mission Training Research.
Arizona Technology in Education Alliance one of the oldest and most influential nationally of all the state technology directors associations.
Governors Council on Innovation and Technology subcommittee studying and reporting on eLearning.
Susan Patrick (ex Arizona) President of North American Council for Online Learning (NACOL).
I figure that with all this history system level innovation and assets in Arizona we could develop an eLearning policy and roadmap for our new president. Who knows, if it works at the national level, maybe it would generate an implementation boost at our Arizona level.