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- Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
- Path: sparky!uunet!gatech!paladin.american.edu!auvm!ASUACAD.BITNET!ATMRP
- Message-ID: <EDPOLYAN%92122210185088@ASUVM.INRE.ASU.EDU>
- Newsgroups: bit.listserv.edpolyan
- Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 09:56:43 MST
- Sender: Professionals and Students Discussing Education Policy Analysis
- <EDPOLYAN@ASUACAD.BITNET>
- From: Rick <ATMRP@ASUACAD.BITNET>
- Subject: Re: Inequities
- In-Reply-To: Message of Fri,
- 18 Dec 1992 16:40:55 EST from <apembert@VDOE386.VAK12ED.EDU>
- Lines: 29
-
- Anne and Jack, Multiply your horror stories by a very big 'factor' and think to
- yourself "this can't be happening". I worked as a computer trainer in a five s
- tate territory in the Southwest. Multifunctional Resource Centers serve the Tit
- le VII bilingual community's needs--- or so they say. My job was to serve the c
- omputer needs of our 100 client schools. Teacher training is only part of the e
- quation. Often computers are purchased by administrators. They have the money a
- nd think they know what is needed by their school. Most of the time they don't
- ask anyone. Often they have a buddy who is linked to the computer company.(ie W
- YCAT, or a dealer-distributor like TEAM, ComputerLand and such). The computers
- often come from Apple or whoever but the dealer-distributor gets an installatio
- n contract from Apple. Good ole' boy stuff. Even if administrators ask teachers
- , many teachers don't want to use the machines. You can provide all the trainin
- g you want but they still don't want to use them. Even if teachers want to use
- computers, they frequently ask "but what about essential skills?" or similar
- Q's that let you know they are afraid of getting into trouble, teaching to the
- tests and administrator's expectations. Solution? Only partial 'bandaides' from
- me. I tried to focus my training on a few teachers who wanted it. Gave them
- all I could and followed with 'coaching/team teaching' sessions with their kids
- and classrooms. As for Jack's querry, I wrote a negative evaluation report on
- a bilingual project for just that reason. Not using the machines. Cost me an
- evaluation constract but I sleep good at night. Tried for a year to persuade
- them to use the machines. Spent lots of training resources on teachers there.
- No cigar. Squeal on them if they don't do what they said they were gonna' do.rp
-
-
- Rick Peek
- Arizona State University
- ATMRP@ASUACAD.BITNET
- (602) 921-2950
-