Twenty-First-Century Technology and the Curriculum - Assignment Example

? Twenty-First-Century Technology and the Curriculum Overview K-12 schools are becoming much popular in the United s and the concept of K-12 education is broadening its scope in a very fast pace. As K-12 education focuses on educational as well as physical development, social and technological development of the students, it can prove to be a challenge to students as well as teachers in providing leadership to impose K-12 education. It is a challenge but at time it can help the students as well as the teachers to become multi-skilled. A high quality education is imparted to make students up-to-date about the world. High quality education is undertaken to acquire all round knowledge related to the technological, social, infrastructural and economical advancement among others and most importantly to adopt oneself with the global environment and the ever-changing business world as well as other broad dimensions of life. High quality education is very essential for overall development of the world (Young, Green, Roehrich-Patrick, & Joseph & Gibson, 2003). Curricular policies are to be taken into consideration while performing leadership. Those policies help the individuals in knowing their duties and responsibilities towards their task. Curriculum leadership functions have a very broad perspective. It can be performed by teachers as well students. There are variances in terms of roles that are needed to be performed in this kind of leadership context i.e. for teachers-teaching multiple subjects, looking after physical fitness of students and performing the basic functions of administration, similarly, same goes for students where they need to perform multiple tasks. However, performing different tasks invites hurdles that are faced by students as well as teachers while executing leadership functions with regard to curricular policies. These hurdles may result in non-delivery of output according to performance standards (Glatthorn, 2008). In this paper, the overall use of technology and its components used in schools in the 21st century will be analyzed and studied upon and based on the analysis proper recommendations will be made for implementation of better technology for the betterment of education system of Georgia (Bryan County) Public school system. Moreover, recommendations will also be made for planning and promoting ethics, privacy, and equity of access for all types of students in order to achieve all the parameters for a successful education system. The main stress will be laid upon the public schooling system of Georgia (Bryan County) public schools and based on the findings of the research proper use of technologically advanced teaching methods will be initiated for the betterment of the overall teaching system in Georgia (Bryan County) public schools. Evaluation of School’s setting Georgia (Bryan County) Public school system is a United States based school which caters to all students irrespective of their caste, color and language (Bryan County Schools, 2013). In the modern day context, schools’ setting comprising policies, plans, funding, facilities, equipment, trained administrators and teachers have become paramount factors in order to address the varying needs of the students. Georgia (Bryan County) public schools take care of all the students and staffs in a very unique manner. The policies of the school largely emphasize on equality among all the students. It does not believe in discrimination irrespective of caste, color, race or any other human limitations. The human resource policies of the school are embedded to cater to all the complaints that come from the part of the parents as well as all the staffs who serve the school. The school has sufficient funds which are required to cater to all the basic needs and requirements of the school. Georgia (Bryan County) public schools system comprises all the latest facilities which are designed for customization purposes. The school has enabled itself with latest technologies. These technologies include ’login option’ in the official school website for both parents and teachers which provides a lot of clarity and transparency among the members and parents. Apart from this, the school provides proper transport facilities for students as well as accidental insurance for teachers, students and every staff of the school. The school has enabled itself with all the essential equipments which are required for proper education including well furnished infrastructure, projectors and proper session facilities along with other facilities. There are trained administrators present who are specialized in different fields of education for catering to the educational needs of the studies. However, the present facilities may not prove to be sufficient for making the students fit to face the world in the 21st century and recommendations to increase the technological scope will be made in the later part of the study (Bryan County High School, 2013). Description of the Extent of Technology Used by Teachers and Students, and explanation of The Reasons for Extent of Use by Teachers and Students There are a few of the latest technologies that are being used by the students as well as the teachers of Georgia (Bryan County) public schools. The basic modes of technology that are used in the school are as follows: Use of Projectors: There is all round use of projectors in the school and in different units of the school. There is comprehensive use of projectors for delivering and imparting quality education to the students. Computer Education: Computer is integrated and learning through the use of it is imparted to all the students for gaining computer knowledge. Online Lunch Payment Options: There are options available where one can make online payments for lunch in the school. This option is open for students as well as the teachers and can be accessed in the school’s website. Notify Me Services: This service option is available for people who are interested to receive notifications regarding information related to admissions and services being offered by the school. This process helps in maintaining transparency at all levels. Shorten Your To-Do List: This is a very unique option that is available to the parents who can transfer money to the accounts of the students anytime. This process helps the students to maintain proper account balance and thus enables them to avail the services. Sign up options for email updates is also obtainable. Bryan High Administration Login Area: This option is available for the administration department where they can login anytime and deliver updates about the activities. Power School Log-In Options: Separate log-in options for both parents and teachers are made available by the schooling system where they can submit their updates and feedbacks among others about the school’s operational activities Source: (My School Bucks, n.d.). Identification of the Major Gaps (Opportunities for Improvement) That Exist between the School’s Technology Policy/Plan and the School’s Actual Implementation of the Policy/Plan In a broader context, the overall system of Bryan Country Public School System focuses on providing education to the students along with ensuring overall physical, social, academic and emotional development of the students in an extensive manner. Moreover, it also ascertains safe, supportive and healthy educational environment so that the students can discover their self–worth. This aspect can prove to be very challenging for the system of Georgia (Bryan County) public schools if the system has to live up with these aims. In order create such kind of educational environment, technology and its components are required at every level. The overall educational system of Georgia (Bryan County) public schools need to initiate technological enhancement at all the levels for overall educational development as technology is required in every aspect i.e. physical development along with social, academic and emotional development. Recommendation of a Solution for Three Gaps That Would Help the School Achieve its Goal of Preparing Students for 21st Century Technology with Skills to Work in the Global Environment Firstly, in order to develop proper physical fitness in the school, the first thing that needs to be done is to initiate high tech electronic gym equipments in the gyms. The type of equipments should be made compatible with school students. Instead of heavy machines, high tech machines should be made available in the gyms which can be easily used by the students. Secondly, online lecture facilities should be made available to the students along with special trainers who can attend the students during online lecture sessions to address their queries. Thirdly, the schooling system can also use technology and its components for social and emotional development of the students. The schooling system can arrange digital movie facilities in the school premises on weekends. This initiative would prove to be very helpful for socialization of students as well as teachers. These initiatives can prove to be very helpful for students for getting accustomed with technology of 21st century and for surviving in a global environment. Recommendation of a Plan to Promote Ethics, Privacy, and Equity of Access for All Types of Students With regard to planning to promote ethics, privacy, and equity of access for all types of students, it can be recommended to impart quality education about their country as well as the culture of others countries. All the good points in one’s culture are needed to be highlighted to them from the ground level itself. For imparting education on privacy related matters, the students should be taught about all the values pertaining to the benefits of maintaining privacy. Along with the students, the entire system of the school should maintain privacy at all levels i.e. regarding future plans of school, profit margins, rate of interest earned per year among others (American School Counselor Association, 2010). These types of information should not open to the public. The school should maintain fairness among all students irrespective of color, race and caste among others. Although the school never discriminates any student but the system of the school needs to maintain the present decorum related to equality of access and should follow all these values in the coming years as well. References American School Counselor Association. (2010). Ethical Standards For School Counselors. Retrieved from http://www.schoolcounselor.org/files/EthicalStandards2010.pdf Byron County Schools. (2013). Committed to excellence and success in all we do. Retrieved from http://www.bryan.k12.ga.us/Default.asp?PN='AdvancedSearch'&Act='SearchNow Bryan County High School. (2013). Welcome to Bryan County High School. Retrieved from http://bchs.bryan.k12.ga.us/ Glatthorn. (2008). What it means to be a curriculum leader. Retrieved from http://www.corwin.com/upm-data/25545_1204_Glatthorn___Ch_1_excerpt.pdf My School Bucks, (n.d.). My student manager. Retrieved from https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ Young, E., Green, H. A., Roehrich-Patrick, L., & Joseph, L., & Gibson, T. (2003). Do K-12 school facilities affect education outcomes? TACIR, pp. 1-34. Read More