“Twenty-five Los Angeles computer learning centers will benefit from a public-private partnership that will give computer training to teachers and parents. The learning centers are being funded by the Technology for Learning initiative of the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE). Major support and funding are provided by the AT&T Foundation, along with other corporations and foundations.
AT&T executive Morley Winograd answered Craig Ishi-hara’s questions about this project:
Is the computer training free to the community?
LACOE’s training currently is provided free of charge to teachers, parents and other community members selected to participate.
Is the training a formal class, or more like a laboratory that people can use during flexible hours?
Teachers participate in formal nine-day workshops involving hands-on technology training. The workshops use a ” trainer-of-trainers” model, meaning that teachers who participate create a plan for delivering a minimum of 10 hours of technology workshops become Technology Teacher Leaders. Parents participate in formal three-day workshops that also use the “trainer-of-trainers” model. Parent participants agree to return to their local schools and work with a minimum of 20 additional parents. Parents who complete the workshops become Parent Technology Leaders.
Is it open to everyone?
Administrators at “technology-ready” school districts in Los Angeles County are invited to select a team of two teachers to participate in the workshop. School districts are determined to be “technology ready” based on responses to a LACOE-administered survey. Participating school districts commit to support their Teacher Technology Leaders in a number of ways, such as having an existing technology use plan for the school site and/or district and providing on-line computer access. Parents are selected to participate in the workshops based on teacher recommendations.
What will be taught, when will the training be offered and who will teach the course?
Teacher training focuses on how to integrate new multimedia and telecommunications technologies into the curriculum, how to use technology to increase teacher productivity and how to manage educational technology resources. Parent training focuses on creating awareness of educational technologies, how they are used and why they are effective as instructional tools. Workshops are ongoing throughout the year. Training is provided by LACOE staff and consultants who are educators with expertise in the area of educational technology.
In the Detwiler Foundation project, how much of an upgrade can be expected for the existing computer clinic?
There is no computer clinic in the Detwiler program; refurbished computers are donated to K-12 schools. The upgrades vary, but are usually 486s or Pentiums for computers to be used in school curricula and 386s for computers to be used of Internet access only.
What kind of standards-driven reform, if any, will be expected of the schools involved in the program?
AT&T feels that both the LACOE and the Detwiler programs are excellent examples of the application of communications technology to improve teaching and learning, which is itself an element of systemic school reform. Both programs could potentially lead to the creation and adoption of standards as far as technology is concerned.
We realize that AT&T sees this as an important project for the community. Can you explain why, and what AT&T hopes to accomplish from this partnership?
By serving as regional points of access to technology training and multimedia resources, the AT&T/LACOE Technology Centers also lay the groundwork for the infrastructure that is required to connect our schools and communities to the information superhighway of the future. In effect, the centers take the LA County schools closer toward their goal of moving, along with associated communities, into the top 10 percent in the nation of in access to and use of technology.
Today’s technology becomes obsolete quickly. What is AT&T’s long-term commitment to the project to ensure its viability in the future?
The AT&T grant to LACOE provides funding for a three-year project. However, as with all of our educational support activities, AT&T strives to fund programs that will have as far-reaching and as long-term an impact as possible. This may include additional funding at the end of the grant cycle.”