Did Your State Make the Grade?
The 2008 State Technology Grades have been released. This State Technology Report is a joint project of Education Week and the EPE Research Center. Each state was surveyed to assess the status of K-12 educational technology across the nation in the areas of access, use, and capacity. The report assigned "grades to the states" for their technology performance overall and in those three categories.
Individual Reports with State-specific findings are available and can be downloaded. Click here for a more detailed analysis of your state.
education
Thank you for sharing this resource. I see that my state is at B+. Of course this doesn't mean much when the computers in our classrooms are 8 years old but, it is nice to see.
Posted by: J.M. Holland | April 28, 2008 at 07:57 PM
J.
I am sorry to hear about your computer situation. Unfortunately, that is an all to common scenario. A B+ - not so bad! Where are you from and what do you teach?
Posted by: Angela Maiers | April 28, 2008 at 08:39 PM
I think the reader needs to be critical in assessing this information. Again, Iowa is unfairly graded because of the lack of state standards thus leading to a lower score on a national report. What this report does not state is that Iowa does mandate technology training and competency reporting for all students at the 8th grade level; it would be difficult at this point to find a district in Iowa WITHOUT technology standards.
Posted by: Deb | April 29, 2008 at 09:37 AM
Deb,
Excellent critical reading! I absolutely agree, data should be analyzed with caution.
What concerns me more than the technology grade is the way students are trained to manage the information that technology affords them. Along with technology training, ALL states need to make a more systematic effort in showing students how to analyze, evaluate, compare, critique the data just as you did hear! It is not a technology issue-it is a literacy issue. Great points!!!
Posted by: Angela Maiers | April 29, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Angela,
Thank you for bringing this to my attention. New York State is beginning the process of revising its core learning standards. I've volunteered to go to a preliminary workshop, and I'll bring the STEM data with me.
I'm convinced that we need cross-curricular embedded technology. Maybe some of this data will underline just how immediate that need is.
diane
Posted by: diane | May 02, 2008 at 07:18 AM