As I sit here in a hospital birthing room awaiting the arrival of my second child I can't help but notice the new and improved technology that is used. Computers are all over. The IV bags are each hooked to a computer that monitors how much fluid enters the body. Another bigger computer monitors the babies heart rate, my wife's blood pressure, and the strengths and intervals of contractions. A different machine requires the nurse to scan the patients bracelet bar code to whatever medicine being administered. The nurse says this is to ensure that the right patient get the right medicine and the right amount. Yet another machine acts almost like a vending machine and requires the nurse to put in a code to get out medical supplies. These technologies all around me were not all in this hospital room 13 months ago when we had our last child.
I'm certain it did not take the hospital 5 years to decide to go to improved technology. They probably weighed the pros and cons of new technology and made a decision to try it or not. There is risk any everything but some newer technologies are designed to help minimize this risk to patients. I'm thrilled that the medical field can adapt and change with improving technology. For the sake of our health, I think we would all agree, we want the best doctors who have the best technology at their disposal. So, if we expect the medical field to keep up with changes why too wouldn't schools want to stay current? Why does it take school so long to change and adapt to the world around them?
I suspect that schools are slow to change in-part because the adults in the building go on with business the only way they know how. This is the way they were educated and took classes. We are all guilty of this. Education obviously worked for educators or they would not choose to go back into the profession. Furthermore, the lack of change in schools could be attributed to lack of resources, administrative supports, vision, or other factors. The below graph shows a recent study conducted by Dr. Scott McLeod from Iowa State University. The study depicts what his research finds about reasons that schools are not progressing related to technology.
I'm not suggesting that schools should jump on whatever bandwagon comes along. I'm not suggesting that schools should spend overwhelming money on technology verses teachers. I'm not suggesting that our current model of public schools doesn't work for most kids. What I am saying is that most public schools today do not even know what type of future they are prepare students for. Furthermore, most public schools today try to shove more content down to students rather than give them the knowledge about resources and skills to use these resources to be successful in any changing world. The reminders are all around us, the world is changing. Are we setting students up for success in this changing world? How do we know? What should we be doing differently?
No force than knowledge, armed with strong knowledge of man is invincible.Do you think so?
Posted by: New Balance Shoes | September 14, 2010 at 01:37 AM