Changing an Outdated Educational Policy - Essay Example

Education policies EDUCATION POLICIES The education policies refer to the laws set by the government that govern the operation of the education system. Such laws aim at ensuring schools fulfill the learning objectives that the education department sets. The policies would describe the purpose for individuals to attain education and to what level. In terms of technology, education technology policies are the laws that guide and direct the use of internet in schools to improve education delivery. The government provides computers and internet to schools for educational purposes. Education technology policies have been a challenge to the use of technology in schools. The policies set to guide the transfer of technological practices in schools have not been a success. The old educational policies in technology have put computers in schools, however, the system itself is not adequate enough to accommodate the transition from old practices to the new practices. This paper outlines the weakness of the outdated use of internet in schools and recommendations to embrace k-12 education policy in the school systems. Schools have different technology education policies. However, they all have a similarity as the government gives the general policies to be in use, in the respective schools. In Pender County schools, there is a restriction in the use of computers and internet (Student technology policies, 2004). The school policy is that the student will only use the school internet only during the beginning ten days after schools open. This is only after they are aware of the policies set by Board in charge of education (Student technology policies, 2004). A students use of the school can be stopped if he does not sign the technology use policy available in the first ten days. The parents, too, can stop a students use of internet in school. The parent has a right to raise a complaint to the administration that could lead to the students’ ban from use of the internet while in school (Student technology policies, 2004). According to the policy, all the information retrieved from the internet is a property of the school in question. This includes all the emails and internet downloaded information that any student or other staff members may have. The school system has a right to retain the data for a period of three years and even longer if it is business related. As such, it would be difficult to allow privacy in the use and running of the internet in school. The students and employees can be allowed to have hard copies of the data that they may be in need of (Student technology policies, 2004). This would allow the students to access information that they need during the period that they are not allowed to access the internet. The administration allows the students to use wireless devices for whatever purpose. This includes personal use in communication. Other portable devices could be in use with supervision of the instructors. However, the school administration has a right to search any device if there are reasons to believe that one has gone against some laws pertaining school internet use (Student technology policies, 2004). The K-12 system refers to an online learning system that allows students to receive education online. It offers a variety of courses that range from kindergarten to college. It is effective for students who wish to supplement class learning with online learning, those who wish to take summer classes, and those who want to have private learning at home online (How k-12 works, 2014). It is a virtual school with well trained, qualified teachers who get assigned per student. The teachers can do everything that happens in physical classrooms like having office hours, grading students giving assignments and grading the students. In addition, the school adheres to the state laws and provide the same curriculum as that provided by physical schools (How k-12 works, 2014). The education policy mentioned above have major differences when compared to k-12 system. As k-12 system uses the internet entirely for learning purpose, the above policy uses internet for research and communication purposes. Students have a restricted time to access internet, and the right of access can be revoked any time by the administration. The k-12 system has measures that ensure that access of the internet is mandatory and has no restrictions whatsoever. The school should come up with policies that would transform the use of internet and boost its benefits in educational purposes (Student technology policies, 2004). The above mentioned school technology policy cannot match the success of the k-12 curriculum. The policies available limit the amount of time and space for the students to access internet in schools. The school structure in particular, is not in good shape to embrace the use of technology in school. The structure that was designed in the last century did not put in place measures that would allow an easy incorporate computers and internet during learning. In that case, the policies should change the structure in a way that it matches the structure used in the k-12 school system. It would be difficult for students to grasp important information in the forty-five minute lesson when the students use technology. As such, there are a number of recommendations on the policies that would allow maximum use of technology in schools. To ensure that the students majorly use the internet for learning objectives, there should be an introduction of a school display and distribution policy. While using computers in schools, students must first seek permission from the supervisors to allow a display of any publication in school. The supervisors, however, should not use this opportunity to discriminate any student on what to do on the internet. The main intention of this proposition should focus on ensuring that the students majorly use computers and internet for educational purposes. The publications could still be education oriented. This is to minimize the rate at which students make the publications during internet time. In case a student feels that the supervisor is unfair in giving permissions, the student has a right to request the supervisor to review the decision (Shelton & Saltman 2005). The school needs to increase the amount of time that students access internet services. Ten days of a semester is not enough to allow proper learning to take place. This is because the student needs a lot of resources, which are easily available to them in the internet. The internet can allow many students to access the same resources at the same time. Therefore, there should be a new policy that would give students mandate to access the internet throughout the semester. There could be an argument that the is not enough computers for all the students in the school to use the computers at the same time. The new policy caters for such complaints. With unlimited access to the internet, students would access the internet at different times and not at a go. Since the school already allows for wireless devices being in use, it would lower the struggle for computers as others will use their portable devices. Unlimited access to the internet is one-step to achieve the standards of k-12 system in schools (How k-12 works, 2014). This new policy would come with a number of challenges to the teachers, students and parents. Teachers would have to create time between teaching in classes and having internet sessions, where they supervise the students. Students, on the other hand, would have an opportunity to access other materials that may not be educational during learning periods. The internet has a wide variety of information making it difficult to control. The teacher would have to devise thorough methods to grade students, to ensure that the students meet the required grades at their respective levels. The governments current stand on the unlimited use of computers in schools is that it is costly. The schools would need to posses the require technology infrastructure that would facilitate internet use. Once the schools purchase the equipment, they need to cater for their maintenance. In addition, teachers need training that would enable them to incorporate the new technology in classes (Shelton & Saltman 2005). However, several states have moved to introduce the use of tablets and other digital materials. The students too, need to have basic computer skills and learn ways of acquiring the best information on the internet. This would adjust the normal way of learning that most students used to know. The schools will have to write new budgets to include the new measures that ensure constant supply of internet in schools. Apart from the budget, the daily learning routine would need to change to include internet sessions that maximize its use. To implement these policies, it would take quite some time. There should be time for the school board to purchase and install the equipment in schools after consultation with the parents. Then teachers could go for a two-week training to learn the basics in conducting an internet-oriented lesson. This could occur when the schools are closed for vacation (Lingard &Ozga 2007). Conclusion The new policy discussed above would be a step in boosting the education level to the k-12 system level. With the introduction of technology, students can access rich content that could help them acquire better understanding of the concepts learned in class. The K-12 system has provided an opportunity for students to have the ability to access education easily, even at the comfort of their rooms at home. The systems are revised to monitor learning taking place at different environments. The new policies would do the same to the current education policies. Students could maximize their time and enjoy learning in ways that are friendly and easy to deal with. Despite the increased costs that the school administration would have to bare, the new policies are a benefit to the current education curriculum. Several states in the country are already implementing the above policy in their schools. It would take quite some time to fully implement the whole plan. Implementation should begin by training the teachers in the new skills. Then the schools should purchase the necessary equipment and install them in schools as they device new school routines to match the new policies. References Student technology policies. (2004). Retrieved January 27, 2014, from Pender county schools: http://pendercountyschools.net/students/student_technology_policies/ How k-12 works. (2014). Retrieved January 27, 2014, from K-12: http://www.k12.com/what-is-k12/how-k12-education-works#.UuYDS_tRXIV Lingard, B., Ozga, J. (2007). The RoutledgeFalmer Reader in Education Policy and Politics. New York: Routledge. Chapter 7 Revised curriculum of guide for school governors. (n.d.). Retrieved January 27, 2014, from Department of education: http://www.deni.gov.uk/index/schools-and-infrastructure-2/schools-management/79-school_governors_pg/schools_79_governor-roles-and-responsibilities_pg/schools_79_chapter-7-revised-curriculum_pg.htm#education-curriculum-minimum-content-ni-order-2007_alink Shelton, K., Saltman, G. (2005). An Administrators Guide to Online Education. New York: IAP. Read More