The Texas House Committee on Public Education on Wednesday held a hearing on the future of technology in public education. Conveniently, it was part of an “EdTech Expo” where vendors could display the many snazzy products on which Texans can spend their public education dollars. The committee then heard testimony from some of the many happy consumers of said products – representatives of school districts participating in a variety of state- and locally funded technology immersion initiatives.
Kristin Pearson, a math teacher in Forney ISD near Dallas, testified she was “amazed” by how quickly her sixth-grade students were engaged by online content. “My students right now have all the skills employers want,” she said. That included opening e-mail programs, adding attachments, making PowerPoint presentations, and even adding transitions between slides in PowerPoint. “They taught me and they taught each other,” she said. “I have students who can insert music into PowerPoint presentations. I still can’t do that!” Whether the students were any better at math, though, went without mention.
Most who testified agreed that the Legislature needs to appropriate $300 per student per year for technology, or $165 million per year. This is the amount suggested by the Texas eLearning Initiative, a task force formed by committee Chairman Kent Grusendorf, R-Arlington, to study the issue. And if Grusendorf’s enthusiastic reaction to the testimony is any indication, there will be some happy, happy vendors come the spring session.
This article appears in December 17 • 2004.