International keynote:

1

• International keynote
• ICT and the reform of American schools what are
  the challenges?

James Bosco Western Michigan University
Consortium for School Networking
Becta Research conference 2003 Proving effective
practice with ICT
2
Some U.S. Snapshots.

• Computer/student ratio 1 to 3.8

• Students/multimedia comp. In classroom 1 to
  10.8

• 94 schools connected to the Internet

• 90 schools have Internet from one or more
  classrooms

Becta Research conference 2003 Proving effective
practice with ICT
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Some U.S. Snapshots.

• 72 connect via T1, T3, or cable modem

• Instances of effective use of ICT in classrooms
  here and there as a consequence of imaginative
  and dedicated teachers

• There is a widening gap between Internet-savvy
  students and their schools

Becta Research conference 2003 Proving effective
practice with ICT
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Three premises
U.S. schools are not providing the education that
is needed by a vast number of kids attending them.

ICT has as of yet not had the breadth of positive
impact in the U.S. for school reform.
For ICT to have broad and deep impact on school
reform, structural challenges must be met. The
challenges require leadership.
Becta Research conference 2003 Proving effective
practice with ICT
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Structure refers to the policies, customs,
rules, and roles that define how people are
expected to function in the organization and the
enduring components of the organization in their
relationships to each other. Structure is the
accepted organizational conventions as to

WHO is responsible for WHAT work and HOW that
work is accomplished.
Becta Research conference 2003 Proving effective
practice with ICT
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One other premise

In a contest between organizational structure and
individual deviant behavior bet on structure
for what ultimately will prevail.
Becta Research conference 2003 Proving effective
practice with ICT
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It is possible to reform schools How many of
us there are who have left the schools and
university with scarcely a notion of true
learning. I unfortunate man that I am are one of
the many, thousands, who have miserably lost the
sweetest of life and wasted the fresh years of
youth on scholastic trifles.Some people are
certain to be indignant that there are men who
find imperfection in schools, books, and methods
in use and who dare to promise something unusual
and extraordinary .(but) it is possible to
reform schools.

John Amos Comenius, The Great Didactic,1632
Becta Research conference 2003 Proving effective
practice with ICT
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CHALLENGE ONE Curriculum Integration or
Curriculum Disintegration?
Becta Research conference 2003 Proving effective
practice with ICT
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CHALLENGE TWO Focus on Achievement or Focus on
Learning?
Becta Research conference 2003 Proving effective
practice with ICT
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CHALLENGE THREE Professional Development or
Organizational Development?
Becta Research conference 2003 Proving effective
practice with ICT
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CHALLENGE FOUR Fiscal Conservatism or Fiscal
Restructuring?
Becta Research conference 2003 Proving effective
practice with ICT
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CHALLENGE FIVE 19th Century Education Ideology
or 18th Century Education Ideology
Becta Research conference 2003 Proving effective
practice with ICT
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CHALLENGE SIX Research for Advocacy or Research
for Improvement?
Becta Research conference 2003 Proving effective
practice with ICT
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CHALLENGE SEVEN Education for Work-Force
Development or Education for the Pursuit of
Happiness.
Becta Research conference 2003 Proving effective
practice with ICT
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• Bibliography and Pertinent Web Sites
• Text of article Toward a Balanced Appraisal of
  Educational Technology in the US Schools and a
  Recognition of Seven Leadership Challenges
  http//www.cosn.org/resources/bosco_paper.pdf
  Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)
  http//www.cosn.org
• Center for Applied Research in Ed. Technology
  (CARET) http//caret.iste.org
• Educational Research Information Clearninghouse
  (ERIC) http//www.askeric.org/cgi-bin/res.cgi/Educ
  ational_Technology

Becta Research conference 2003 Proving effective
practice with ICT
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5. Technology Counts 2003 http//www.edweek.org
(Info on bandwidth from 2002 Tech. Counts 6.
The Digital DisconnectThe Widening Gap Between
Inernet Savvy Students and Their
Schools http//www.pewinternet.org/reports/pdfs/P
IP_Schools_Internet_Report.Pdf 7. Larry Cuban
Oversold and Underused www.edtechnot.com/notcuba
n.html

Becta Research conference 2003 Proving effective
practice with ICT
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8. The Sustainability Challenge
http//www.benton.org/Library/sustainability/sus_c
hallenge.pdf

James Bosco email address bosco_at_wmich.edu
Becta Research conference 2003 Proving effective
practice with ICT