RUNNING HEAD: TECHNOLOGY COST WORTHY

Educational Technology is it Worth the Cost

Steffie Hendley
EDY 352: Foundations of Educational Technology
Instructor Lisa Sill
January 26, 2015

TECHNOLOGY COST WORTHY

Educational Technology is it Worth the Cost

The purpose of the information that follows is to bring to light the use of
educational technology as an asset to teachers, administrations, and students. The
proof of whether it is worth the cost comes from the improvement of students
performance and a raise in their achievements, including improvement on
standardized tests. The issue for educational technology is how schools provide
funding for the technology necessary for schools to integrate technology
successfully. Funding for educational technology As technology costs grow
and education funds wane, policy makers ask, "How can we justify spending scarce
education dollars on technology?", (Roblyer & Doering, 2010). The cost for
technology include the technology hardware, technology software/programs,
technical support for the technology, and teacher training/workshops in proper use
of technology and its integration with content. Jason Angel asked critical questions
in his research of 25 California elementary schools that had failed to reach AYP
(Average Yearly Progress), as stated by NCLB and the state of Californias
educational board. First, Jason asks if technology is worth spending the money on,
does utilizing technology resources really have a significant Impact on the efforts to
raise student achievements. Second, what types and amounts of technology
resources are necessary to support raising student achievements? Third, what
additional support, funding, budgets should be provided to support a school levels
efforts to raise student achievement. Finally, do state achievement test and state
surveys show a positive correlation between spending money on technology and
high student achievement?, (Angel, 2010).

TECHNOLOGY COST WORTHY

All of these questions need to be answered in order to discover if the cost of

technology can be justified as money necessary to spend to increase student
achievement. Through Angels research he discovered that utilizing technology does
impact the efforts to raise students achievements. Elementary schools that had
been placed on academic improvement courses, due to consistently failing to meet
state standards showed improvement and removed from the improvement list
because of higher scores, due to use of technology. He also discovered the types of
technology used was LCD boards, or white boards and digital cameras. Support
needed was the workshops and training of teachers on how to properly use
technology while integrating it into lessons, as well as an IT person to maintain
devices. The additional funding for use of the technology was $62 per student per
year, (Angel, 2010). Achievement tests showed a positive correlation between the
cost of technology and high student achievement. The schools who utilized the
funding for technology properly, had staff training, and technical support raised
their scores to above standards, after coming below standards for four years. The
impact of technology on student achievements is significant, not only to reach
beyond state standard tests, but to also prepare students for the future.
You can read more about Angels research at:
Angle, J. B. (2010). Adequate funding for educational technology (Order No.
3417988). Available from ProQuest Central. (750330211). Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/750330211?accountid=32521
Here are three other articles that can be useful in understanding the impact of
technology on student success and the funding necessary to achieve that success.
BELLMORE-MERRICK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT RECEIVES STATE FUNDING
FROM SEN. FUSCHILLO FOR INTERACTIVE EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY. (2008, Jul
03). US Fed News Service, Including US State News Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/471420850?accountid=32521
This article explains the amount of funding necessary for a district to purchase
smart boards.

TECHNOLOGY COST WORTHY

Rosenthal, I. (1998). Federal funding for education technology--what's in the pipline
for 1999? Technology & Learning, 18(10), 26-36. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/212086504?accountid=32521
The article shows the federal government increasing the educational technology
budget in 1999, due to the increase in cost of technology and the success of
integrating technology with content on students achievements.
Wilson, T., Stanton, S., & Salpeter, J. (1992). Where to find funding for your
technology project. Technology & Learning, 12(4), 36. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/212127599?accountid=32521
This article provides information on ways to find funding for technology.

References

TECHNOLOGY COST WORTHY

Angle, J. B. (2010). Adequate funding for educational technology (Order No.

3417988). Available from ProQuest Central. (750330211). Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/750330211?accountid=32521