Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT; NCLB II-D)

Ohio Educator Comments

May, 2006

Technology is a life skill for students in today's world.  It should be one of the highest of priorities where funding is concerned.  It has been proven successful in raising achievement and self esteem for all students regardless of their economic status or family situation.

Beth E. Brown, Technology Resource Teacher, Rockhill Elementary School, Alliance

Our schools use Riverdeep Destination Reading K-3, Riverdeep Destination Math K-8, and Skills Tutor Reading 4-8. These programs have helped increase student achievement in math and reading. Students have greater access to technology through wireless mobile labs. Instructional centers were created in each classroom: teacher laptop, data projector. SMART Boards and CPS (Classroom Performance System) have been purchased for some classrooms. All schools have portable videoconferencing units. Teachers participated in extensive staff development on technology use and integration. These grants had a huge, positive impact on our district for our administrators, teachers, and students. It changed the culture of our schools, changed our teaching styles, and changed student learning. It allowed us to bridge the digital divide, providing up-to-date equipment and quality programs for our students. The EETT grants are the best thing that has happened for our staff and students. We are eternally grateful and hope to have this initiative continue in the future for schools of tomorrow.

      Carole Eaton, Instructional Technology Specialist, Canton City School District

I teach at E. J. Blott Elementary School in Liberty Township, Ohio. We received an EETT grant this year and it has made all the difference in our kids.  Before this grant our students had zero experiences with a computer or any of the benefits that comes with it.  This year our students are able to visit the lab for 90 minutes per week.

      Christina Stambaugh, E.J. Blott Elementary School, Youngstown

My school received the grant in the 04 and 05 school years.  We have empowered teachers to use laptops and on-line software to help to increase our math and reading achievement scores.  Students are participating in more engaging lessons with Pupil Response systems and Smartboard lessons.  Our students have become very tech savvy, and our teachers have been rejuvenated to create lessons with their computers and to prepare our students to be technology literate by eighth grade.  Please consider funding the EETT grant to help other schools to prepare their students for the future.

Diana Vanicek, Teacher, Canton City Schools

I work in a school district rated excellent, yet I encounter high school students DAILY who cannot type, use a word processor, or send an email. These skills are IMPERATIVE to the world we live in. We MUST provide technology education if our students are to compete in the global economy. No longer are we hoping for our kids to be able to compete against others in their city, state or university for jobs - we are hoping that they are prepared to compete against students from all over the world. Even though our district is 'excellent,' we NEED continuing funds for technology education, especially since it is not a part of the skill set deemed 'important' by standardized tests. Contrariwise, there are no skills that are more important than these.

Heidi MacNeal, Intervention Specialist, Madeira City Schools, Cincinnati

Our achievement test scores have made significant increases in the last two years that we have received funding through the EETT grant.  We went from academic emergency to continuous improvement in 2 years.  In a school where there is 80% free and reduced lunch, technology has brought us up to a level playing field with other affluent buildings and districts.  We use technology every day and have 2 labs in our elementary building.  We have chosen to integrate many computer programs both on line and software based to improve achievement test scores and skills based learning.  It has drastically changed the way teachers teach and the way students learn.  They are now able to go at their own pace and have more power over their learning. Each year our achievement test scores have improved and the only thing we changed was adding more technology each year. EETT has allowed us the money we wouldn't have had to purchase major equipment and programs which integrate into the standards at each grade level. It provided opportunities for teachers to be highly qualified in the areas of technology integration into their content area.  Teachers use the information gathered from these programs to drive student learning. With a click of the mouse they can SEE what their students are struggling with and what they have mastered. We were also able to purchase Smartboards which have greatly enhanced teaching in our building. I believe that without technology we would still be spinning the wheels in the same spot looking for answers. We found our answer in technology and we need to continue growing with and adding new technologies all the time to help our students succeed in the 21st Century.

Misty Sampson, Alliance City Schools

I cannot put into words the changes and successes we have had in our schools that received grants through this funding.  When looking at the schools that have received it and comparing it to those that have not, the teaching methods are completely different.  Students are leaders in their education in those schools with grants.  Teachers are facilitators.  The confidence and usage of technology has greatly increased in both students and teachers.

Angie Wagler, Technology Integration Specialist, Stark County ESC/SPARCC, Canton

The world is changing. Education hasn't. Today's schools closely resemble those of 50 years ago but the business place is vastly different from that of just 20 years ago. To be competitive, we must raise a technologically advanced population.  . . .  I beg you to reconsider your funding parameters.  All you have to do is read the statistics to know our nation is slipping academically. You have the power to stop this.  . . .   Fund technology today…for everyone!

Catherine Metzber, Technology Coordinator & Professor, Whitaker Elementary, Cincinnati

Our teachers and students have gained more technology skills in one year of implementing the mentor/coaching model REQUIRED in our EETT grant, than in 23 years I've spent as an technology educator.

Christine Zess, Instructional Technology Facilitator, Sandusky City Schools

As a low wealth district we have benefited from EETT in two buildings. Great strides have been made in READING and MATH especially in elementary grades using online tools purchased by EETT funds. The school rating went from Academic Watch to Continuous Improvement.

Jan Horning, Technology Coordinator, Alliance School District

K-12 technology programs in Ohio are at a critical juncture.  Just as we are reaching critical mass from exceptional governmental programs such as Ohio SchoolNet, cuts in technology funding at the Federal, State, and local levels threaten to crush their goals.  As a parent, I am very concerned.  . . .   While we are all, legitimately, focused on the curricular value of technology, I would like to comment on the daily business operation value it also offers.    When our district recently suffered a 2 hour 'network down' period, I took the opportunity to poll all our staff members on the impact working without the data network (only) had on them.  On average, the respondents reported they were 52% less productive without the data network.  Fifty-two percent!  Multiply that times the total annual salaries and benefits of a school district, and you see a staggering return on the monies spent on technology.  Note also that this was lost productivity from the failure of the data network alone . . . Nor does it include the main value we are hoping to achieve with technology:  improved student learning.

Joseph R. Schiska, Director of Technology, Whitehall City Schools

I work with many special needs students who often are unable to read and write through mainstreamed ways. Technology learning has opened up a plethora of ideas, knowledge, and ways to communicate. Many of the students with ADHD, ODD, and various other diagnoses are willing and better able to participate in projects, discussions, writing assignments through technology. It brings the world into the classroom and allows many underprivileged students the opportunity to experience countries, people, and places they would never be able to visit/ interact with.

Judy Learny, School Nurse, Loveland City Schools

We're living in the 21st century, it's the Information Age! How can we prepare students if we take steps backwards? Students need technology to prepare for their future. Let's move forward and provide students with the education and support they need. It's everyone's future investment.

Julie Reeher, Computer Lab Teacher, Lakeview Schools, Cortland

Students today live in a high tech world. The jobs that will be available to them will have some type of technology involved. Schools need to prepare students for their future, not our past. To do this, funding is needed on an ongoing basis because schools rely too heavily on property taxes that aren't there anymore.

LaDonna Stouder, Instructional Technology Supervisor, Northwest School District, Cincinnati

As a researcher and evaluator, I have seen the impact that EETT funding has had on schools and students. Teachers are becoming more comfortable with technology and students are becoming more technologically literate.  Please do not suspend funding.

Lori Gerstein Ramsay, Senior Research Associate, Metis Associates, Columbus

Technology integration is one key component in the ongoing campaign for excellence in education.  It is vitally important that schools receive needed funded in order to produce citizens that can compete in a global economy.

Lori Weekley, Technology Integrator, Jackson Local Schools, Massillon

As our agricultural society changed to an industrial one, so our industrial society is changing to a technological one. Without access not only to mere technology, but also to the LATEST technology, our young people will fall farther and farther behind their counterparts in the countries that stress technological learning.

Toni Harper, Library/Media Specialist, New Lexington

As an English teacher, I use technology to create video essays, documentaries, audio essays, the school yearbook, the school newsmagazine, as well as help students to utilize the ever-changing technology that impacts their life. I was a graphic designer for 13 years prior to teaching, and it is essential to relate to students using technology that they use to communicate everyday. The use of technology must be used within a school to connect students' world and to prepare them for society.

Tracey Ward, English/Journalism Teacher, Olentangy Liberty High School, Powell

Technology, used well, is an intelligence amplifier. As such it is critical to the education and lifelong success of all our citizens. Poor funding = poor implementation, leading to lifelong deficits.

William A. Beasley, Professor of Education, Cleveland State University