EDUC 649 – Unit 3Computers as Cognitive Media

Group Members: Katie Pircher

William NelsonLindsey GreeneChad Peterson

Streamline Academy

Streamline Academy High School has three computer labs with state-of-the-art equipment and resources. The school has been open for five years, during which time they have enrolled students in an array of computer classes. Students choose from courses such as introductory computer class, website authoring, video editing and production, software programming, internet commerce, computer-based bookkeeping, and publication authoring. The classes have been a big hit with the students as they are always the first to fill up during the elective class selection process. However, for the past three consecutive years the annual standardized test scores in reading and math have declined. Principal Curt Mudgeon is livid after being reprimanded in front of his fellow principals at a recent district meeting. He has decided that Streamline can no longer afford to offer any computer classes with such low scores in reading. Computer knowledge is not assessed on the standardized tests and, although the classes are popular, the school and principal are not judged on many of the skills associated with them. He has requested that the labs be converted into general use classrooms and the computers dispersed to classrooms throughout campus. Instead of offering electives, all students will be required to take double blocks of either math or English, depending on which of these two they did the poorest on when they last took a standardized test. Principal Mudgeon has convened an academic committee to discuss his plans, of which you are a member.

A. Can you make a case for the importance of the computer classes in contributing to student success on standardized tests?

All standardized tests are now (or will be very soon) taken on a computer. Yes we need to look at previous test scores and teach the core subjects, but we could do that online. Teaching computer skills while teaching core subjects.

Also, there is no proven causation between the increase in students taking computer electives and the decrease in test scores.

B. Can you think of any reason why eliminating the computer classes and going to double-blocks of math and English might not result in improved test scores?

Students may become demotivated by losing their electives and having those classes replaced with core subjects that they do not like or struggle in.

Implementing double-blocks may be intimidating and students, especially those struggling, may feel overwhelmed and may be unmotivated with so much time in one subject.

C. What are the pros and cons of taking the computers out of the labs and distributing them amongst the other classrooms?

● Pros○ Students and teachers would then have more access to technology and the wide

range of resources provided by the internet ○ With more time focused on English and math, students may receive better scores

on standardized tests.

● Cons ○ Students are not gaining skills needed in many career fields○ Some teachers may not know how or want to implement the technology in their

classroom, wasting good technology○ Whole class access to computers and computer-based lessons may become more

difficult to facilitate

Mash Middle School

Mash middle school serves a community with extremely high poverty rates. Hiring teachers to work at Mash has been very difficult due to the perception that teaching there presents enormous obstacles to success, such as low test scores, high crime rates, uninvolved parents, and high truancy rates. Several classes are taught the entire year by long-term substitutes, and even in the classes where permanent teachers are in place, there is high absenteeism on the part of the teachers due to stress and sickness. Due to the high number of unfilled teaching spots, the principals over the years have been required to accept placement of tenured teachers who have had major and irreconcilable differences with administrators at other schools. Many of these so-called “must-hires” are usually disgruntled about being placed in this location and they let the students, administrators, and faculty know it whenever they get a chance. All of this results in a dysfunctional relationship between faculty and administration, inconsistent instruction, and often an unpleasant classroom environment for the students.

At the beginning of the prior year, Principal Jackson was hired to improve the declining test scores and make the school functional again. After spending his first year in contentious conflicts with union representatives over improving classroom climate, he decides to try an innovative approach to improving achievement. He hires a company to create web-based instructional modules for the core subject areas. He then offers these web-based courses to his students in computer labs run by technology experts instead of teachers. Participation in this particular class format is completely optional, and the students must maintain good grades to

remain enrolled in subsequent semesters. These classes operate similar to an in-person class session except that the content is delivered via computer videos. The company provides online support for questions that students may have, which is monitored by expert teachers.

Principal Jackson’s rationale for this approach is that computers are more reliable than human beings. While they can occasionally break down, they are usually very reliable. They never have a sick-day, bad attitude, or personal conflict. They provide consistency in learning by delivering instruction the same way, every time. They don’t complain about benefits, or object to a new instructional method, or go on stress leave. And there is no union representative complaining that they are working too hard. He contends that in an environment where learning has fallen victim to human shortcomings in the past, this new approach provides students who want to learn with some consistency and gives them a fighting chance to be successful.

D. Do you agree with Principal Jackson’s view that the environment he has created is better than the one that existed for his students previously? Provide your rationale.

While the new system does address some of the problems Principal Jackson was facing before such conflict between teachers and administrators as well as inconsistent instruction, there are many issues that this new method doesn’t address. For one, while inconsistent instruction is worrisome, teaching something the same way, every time fails to address students individual needs.

We do recognize, however, that encouraging students to learn through programs like the one Principal Jackson has established is a step in the right direction. Where there was a state of overwhelming apathy and lethargy before, Jackson has managed to inspire a group of his students to take their learning more seriously in order to participate in this new program.

E. Is there anything about Principal Jackson’s approach that you believe may cause problems or negatively affect student learning?

Many at-risk students need to know they are cared for and the possibility of building a relationship with a teacher is better than it not being a possibility at all. Students who are truant tend to lack accountability in most areas of their lives. Expecting these same students to attentively sit in front of a computer screen is unrealistic.

Having all learning on a computer also neglects the importance of small- and large-group work. This quality to get along and work well with others is important both for school environment success as well as in the working world.

F. Are there ways that you might alter or supplement Principal Jackson’s program to address concerns you may have about it? What are they?

There should be two individuals who are always on campus to be ready to fix technology problems that will occur.

Another option might be a hybrid version where the computer classes are alternated with classes taught by the most reliable teachers. This would increase consistency for the students while tapping into the limited access the school has to good teachers.

Principal Jackson could hire teaching assistants or tutor type of employees to patrol the classrooms to help with individual needs. This would be best accomplished by teachers even if they were in a tutoring type role.