I wanted to post this video because my phone interview with Matt Federoff referred to it. From his perspective moving to an Open Content school should solve the issue of funding for our moves to 1:1 Computing. I hope you all enjoy.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Planning for the Journey: Two Final Articles You Want to Think About Before You Set Off on the "Road Less Traveled".
Two final articles will help you before you set out on the exciting adventure of 1:1 Computing: Student Devices Save Districts Money and A Practical Guide to Implementing 1:1. Both of these articles will help you plan carefully before running down this uncharted road into the 21st Century.
I want to quickly summarize these two articles for you, so you know that the basic content of these articles, but please make sure to read them completely to really work through the different suggestions.
1. Student Devices Save Districts Money:
On this note, you might want to hear from Matt Federoff said in my interview with him about how student devices will cost less than traditional textbooks.
2. A Practical Guide to Implementing 1:1
I hope these articles and a quick overview will help you in planning your journey well. As many proverbs and words of wisdom from ages past advise, you must "count the costs" before you begin your journey, or you risk not only ridicule, but also ultimate failure in your endeavor.
I want to quickly summarize these two articles for you, so you know that the basic content of these articles, but please make sure to read them completely to really work through the different suggestions.
1. Student Devices Save Districts Money:
a. Lay a wireless infrastructure foundation.
b. Pilot a bring-your-own-technology program.
c.Offer a community device purchasing program.
d.Individualize instruction
e. Be Flexible
f. Be creative
On this note, you might want to hear from Matt Federoff said in my interview with him about how student devices will cost less than traditional textbooks.
2. A Practical Guide to Implementing 1:1
a. Go Slow to Go Fast
b. Build Your Infrastructure
c. Choose Your Platform Carefully
d. Think About Sustainability
e. Make Sure You Have the Political Will to Proceed
f. Consider Your Deployment Issues
I hope these articles and a quick overview will help you in planning your journey well. As many proverbs and words of wisdom from ages past advise, you must "count the costs" before you begin your journey, or you risk not only ridicule, but also ultimate failure in your endeavor.
The Path to Funding: More than Two Roads!
While Education itself stand at the divergence of two roads, those seeking Funding for the next generation of Educational technology stand at the convergence of many different roads. In the world of funding, there are a plethora of options for the schools seeking to traverse into the unknown world of 21st Century Education.
For those beginning this process I would strongly encourage you to visit:Guide to Digital Learning. This document will guide you through many of the important decision you need to consider as you begin this journey.
I want to take just a moment to summarize the information found in the above mentioned article which specifically relate to Funding 1:1 initiatives.
The Many Roads to Funding:
1. Federal Funding:
2. State Funding:
3. Local Bond Levies:
4. Technology Financing:
5. Philanthropic Grants:
6. Parental Purchases:
7. Creative Strategies:
I want to make sure you realize, these are not my ideas, they come from the document Guide to Digital Learning. Make sure that you go check this article out. I think this will really help you in your journey down the "road less traveled."
For those beginning this process I would strongly encourage you to visit:Guide to Digital Learning. This document will guide you through many of the important decision you need to consider as you begin this journey.
I want to take just a moment to summarize the information found in the above mentioned article which specifically relate to Funding 1:1 initiatives.
The Many Roads to Funding:
1. Federal Funding:
It is possible for most school districts to transfer up to 50 percent of the federal formula grant funds they receive under the Improving Teacher Quality State Grants, Educational Technology, Innovative Programs, and Safe and Drug-Free Schools programs to any one of these programs(technology programs) or to their Title I program, without separate approval.
Title II, Part D: Enhancing Education Through Technology Program. "Its primary goal is to improve student academic achievement through the use of technology in schools...Under EETT, the U.S. Department of Education provides grants to State Education Agencies (SEAs) proportionally based on their share of funding under Title I, Part A.
IDEA: provides funds for the educational success of children with disabilities.
2. State Funding:
To help schools fund technology programs, most states have either re-directed Title II Part D funds to specific statewide or regional projects or have simply transferred the competitive part of the Title II Part D funds to eligible school districts on a competitive basis.
3. Local Bond Levies:
Issuing a bond means that a locality is going to sell shares in a particular project to raise money for the project...Issuing bonds allows school districts to: borrow large amounts of money, specify the time frame for borrowing, and determine within limits the amount of annual payments...Issuing bonds is a complex procedure...The state also needs to approve the bond sale. Ultimately, the school board is responsible for incurring either bank or bonded debt. The voters must be convinced that this is a wise investment.
4. Technology Financing:
Technology Financing, or leasing, gives schools two choices.
1. Straight Lease: a district pays for equipment for a specified time and then returns it.
2. Lease/Purchase: district either owns the technology or purchases it for a very small residual amount at the end of the contract
The advantage of financing is being able to acquire the technology without paying the full purchase price at one time. For districts not issuing long-term debt, financing allows them to make payments from the general operating budget over periods generally extending from 36 to 60 months.
5. Philanthropic Grants:
Foundations, corporations, and non-profit organizations may also be a good source of financial assistance for technology in schools and districts, especially in the form of grant programs. While each organization has unique priorities, districts should write proposals that address those priorities specifically. In general, philanthropic entities are interested in providing start up funds for initiatives that are clearly focused, internally supported and financially sustainable.
6. Parental Purchases:
While not an option for all schools, this does lower the cost for schools when trying to initiate a new program.
7. Creative Strategies:
Much could be said on the following topics but I am just going to list some of the different creative options out there.
Use the Current Budget
Combining Funds
Partner with Business
Forming Consortia
Local Foundations
I want to make sure you realize, these are not my ideas, they come from the document Guide to Digital Learning. Make sure that you go check this article out. I think this will really help you in your journey down the "road less traveled."
The Path to Funding 1:1 Initiatives: Two Roads Diverged in Education
The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
In the world of education, we stand at the divergence of these two roads. One road will lead into the unknown possibilities of 21st Century education, while the other leads down the more familiar lanes and comfortable dusty roads that have often been traversed over the past 100 years of public education.
For those who seek to take the "road less traveled", the road towards 21st Century learning and teaching, there is often one major obstacle that stands in the way of this great adventure: Funding! Many long to be able to tell the great story of how their school system was able to begin the great journey into the world of 1:1 computing, and the new age of education; and yet they struggle to see how in this time of financial struggle, and budget cuts that their school could ever take that first step down that "road less traveled."
This page has been designed to help those whose seek to take that first step down that undiscovered road, and help them understand how to remove the obstacle of funding that lays at the very beginning of this long journey of transforming education into a new era.
TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
In the world of education, we stand at the divergence of these two roads. One road will lead into the unknown possibilities of 21st Century education, while the other leads down the more familiar lanes and comfortable dusty roads that have often been traversed over the past 100 years of public education.
For those who seek to take the "road less traveled", the road towards 21st Century learning and teaching, there is often one major obstacle that stands in the way of this great adventure: Funding! Many long to be able to tell the great story of how their school system was able to begin the great journey into the world of 1:1 computing, and the new age of education; and yet they struggle to see how in this time of financial struggle, and budget cuts that their school could ever take that first step down that "road less traveled."
This page has been designed to help those whose seek to take that first step down that undiscovered road, and help them understand how to remove the obstacle of funding that lays at the very beginning of this long journey of transforming education into a new era.
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