Technology reaches more students; teachers' progress lags

The nearly $800 million invested in technology for Maryland's elementary and secondary schools over the last seven years is starting to pay off, according to a new survey by the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education.

With an average of one computer to every four students and 93 percent of classrooms in the state connected to the Internet, access to technology is at an all-time high.

But access does not ensure technology skills are being passed on to students. The onus is on the teachers to take advantage of the access and develop their skills, the report said, and teachers aren't making great strides in their skills or use of technology.

The role of technology is changing the classroom. It is not just an incidental frill, said June Streckfus, the Roundtable's executive director. But without trained teachers, computers are just expensive investments.

The 93 percent of Maryland schools with Internet connections compares to 23 percent in 1997, when the Roundtable, a nonprofit group of business leaders focused on improving education, started tracking schools' progress.

Baltimore City trails most other jurisdictions this year, however, with only 65 percent of its classrooms connected to the Internet and one computer for every five students.

Streckfus blames Baltimore's disappointing results on a city government delay in installing computers in some 40 city schools.

In general, the report found, greater access to technology has led to enhanced use.

This year, for example, 42 percent of the 1,368 surveyed schools said their students use computers for word processing just about every day, compared to just 34 percent last year.

The percentage of students that use the computer to gather information from more than one source has jumped in the last year from 36 percent in 2002 to 49 percent this year.

Even the more complex use of technology in Maryland schools - those that entail the critical and problem-solving skills needed in the workplace - is on the rise.

The number of schools, for example, that said this year their students use computers to manipulate, analyze and interpret information increased 50 percent from 6 percent in 2002 to 9 percent this year.

Teachers, however, are making less noticeable progress in developing their technological skills and knowledge. According to the report, 67 percent of schools say their teachers are at an intermediate level or higher in Internet use this year, compared to 64 percent in 2002. In terms of technological integration in the classroom, the number increased from 65 percent in 2003 to 69 percent this year.

When we analyze what the teacher skill level and knowledge is, it is clear they are not feeling comfortable, said Streckfus. Just a few years ago less than 50 percent had ever been on the Internet.

Instead of using technology simply to record grades and attendance, teachers need to integrate technology as a tool for teaching in the classroom, said Streckfus, who would like to see all teacher training incorporate the use of technology.

Information for the survey was collected between October and December of 2003 by the Roundtable.

The study released yesterday is the seventh in a series of annual reports designed to track the progress the state has made toward implementing the Roundtable's technology plan for schools.

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