Managing the New Tools in K-12 Teaching and Learning

Managing the New Tools in K-12 Teaching and Learning: How Technology Can Enable School Improvement is about how to manage technology for learning at the district and school levels. It provides an overview of the components of learning technology; these include student devices, networking, software productivity toolkits, electronic curricula and resources, and data system infrastructure. And, it discusses how we can manage our technology efforts more effectively to help our students attain the benefits of this technology. The book concludes with case studies of how this is being done at pioneering districts.We are now at a tipping point in implementing learning technology on a larger scale. This is happening very quickly! Historically, learning technology was driven by a strategy of “technology integration,” where we called on individual teachers to each determine how to use technology in their classes and make changes in their own ways of working. But to successfully implement technology on the scale we need requires top-down as well as bottom-up efforts. Managing the New Tools in K-12 Teaching and Learning focuses on how districts and schools can now use technology to bring about the big improvements in learning we are all striving for.

Schulz’s work goes beyond the basics of how to use technology with students and steps back to view how technology can be a positive impact on the entire educational system. There are a great many checklists that educational leaders can use to help guide technology implementation within their own school or district. Schulz does a great job in explaining a wide range of terms that educators take for granted. Often, the text uses graphs and tables to support its explanations. Overall, an exciting resource for those involved in using technology to improve instruction at the building or district level., As we move beyond the question of “if” schools need to change to “how,” this book offers a clear and comprehensive guide for the role of technology in enabling this transformation. Schulz demonstrates a deep understanding of the challenges involved. He provides a systemic view of school transformation, arguing for a more strategic application of technology to change the processes of teaching and learning and the institutions of education. This book serves as a purposeful and well-conceived blueprint for the use of digital tools, strategies and planning processes, driven by a clear vision and set of goals for learning transformation., The K-12 education system is failing a large number of students today. Fundamental changes in the way we create and deliver instruction in the K-12 environment are necessary. Schulz makes the case that technology must be used to attack this situation and effectively support new and innovative approaches to instruction, and that educators must combine top-down and bottom up-approaches in solving this problem. Planning (including all stakeholders) at the administrator/district level combined with excited teachers who receive effective systemic professional development is necessary. Through research and discussion the author provides approaches which are modeled in the case studies the he cites. This should be a very useful book for educators who seek to implement change in their schools and districts and use technology effectively and efficiently as a very important part of the solution to educating more students effectively and with rigor., Schulz has authored what likely is the most comprehensive, yet practical guide available to managing information and educational technology today. He combines his experience in the field with insightful advice, rich examples and current resources to offer a roadmap that leaders and practitioners can use to guide their learning transformation journey. He captures the confluence of forces driving the need to change the way we support learners and learning, and offers a practical vision for responding effectively. If you are looking for answers to your technology implementation and management questions, this book is a must read.

Jerome A. Schulz is a consultant on the use of information technology in K-12 education, local government, and nonprofit organizations. He served as the Manager of Application Development for the Milwaukee Public Schools and began his career as an elementary school teacher with the Chicago Public Schools. Visit https://managingtechnologyink12.wordpress.com for more information.