November 2001 — Features
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Lessons Learned: An Inside Look at Four of the Top Technology School Districts in the Nation
There has been much debate about the great digital divide that separates those schools that can afford the latest technological resources and those that can't. The Ohana Foundation believes this divide can be conquered through the collaboration of educators, researchers, businesses and opinion leaders. The foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to unlock the opportunities of learning for all children through technology. The Hawaii-based organization envisions a world in which all students and teachers have access to quality educational tools. To recognize those who have successfully bridged the digital divide within their own communities, the Ohana Foundation created the Technology and Education Leadership Awards. In October 2000, the Ohana Foundation honored the best of the best in technology education at the National School Boards Association Technology & Learning Conference in Denver, Colo. Twelve school districts from around the country were selected as national finalists to showcase their technology programs.
Award Eligibility and Selection
To gain a better understanding of the state of technology in our nation's schools - and identify true leaders in the field - the Ohana Foundation commissioned the Center for Information and Communication Sciences at Ball State University in Indiana to conduct a thorough study of the nation's schools. The study represented the culmination of five years worth of research on the impact of technology on educational excellence. The Ball State University researchers evaluated public and private schools from across the nation. And researchers subsequently interviewed hundreds of educators, consultants and other experts, including representatives from state departments of education in all 50 states. After an initial screening, researchers conducted additional due diligence interviews to better understand how these candidates incorporated technology into their school system. From this research, three school districts from each of the 50 states were selected as the best in their state. After additional evaluations, the list was pared to 50 finalists, which was narrowed to 12 national finalists.
To be eligible, school districts had to have successfully demonstrated the integration of a variety of technological tools, such as the application of video, audio and digital technologies, as well as distance learning. Winners shared the philosophy that networking was an important part of innovation and were dedicated to the idea that connectivity leverages the power of technology. In addition, each school district displayed leadership qualities by demonstrating the willingness to take risks. Because technology for its own sake is no solution to the needs of education, the school districts also fully understood the importance of integrating technology into their curriculum. Finally, teacher training had to play an important role in technology implementation.
Technological Leaders in Education
From Anchorage, Alaska to Opelika, Ala., the 12 national finalists stand out as technological leaders in education. And from these 12 finalists, four outstanding school districts were named national winners of Ohana Foundation's Technology in Education Leadership Awards. Here are the four winners and their stories:
