Fulfilling Technology's Promise to Education Part 2 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Technology spending in education is rapidly growing, with a significant portion being free materials and licensed software, but there is still a need for institutional organization and evaluation.

Key Insights

• 📚 The majority of materials being used in education are free and not well measured, including software and online services.
• 📊 Rapid growth in technology spending in education is healthy, providing opportunities for entrepreneurs to prove the effectiveness of their software.
• 🖥️ The majority of technology spending in education is focused on basic equipment and infrastructure, with only about 10% spent on software.
• 💻 Directors of technology in schools now need both a technology background and a pedagogical understanding to evaluate online courses effectively.
• 🏫 Only 40% of supplemental course materials come from the school or district structure, with the majority being obtained for free or paid for out-of-pocket by teachers.
• 💡 Technology advances in education can be divided into four buckets: textbooks, teaching materials, online lectures, and socialization and connectivity.
• 📖 Textbooks are shifting to online platforms, offering better capabilities for simulations, videos, and interactive features, along with customizability for teachers.
• 🎥 Online lectures from top teachers can be leveraged to enhance teaching, either through reviewing filmed classes or assigning recorded lectures to students.

Transcript

so where you know where it where is this going what are all the different materials that are being created well one way to measure that is to go out and look at what's being purchased now here we miss a large piece of the activity because in fact a lot of the most interesting things I'll say half just to be equanimous about it have our things that ... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How is technology spending in education changing?

Technology spending in education is growing rapidly, with more emphasis on free materials, licensed software, and basic equipment like computers and printers. The amount spent on software as a whole is only about ten percent of the overall technology spending.

Q: What challenges do institutions face in adopting online courses?

Institutions face challenges in adapting to the changing landscape of online courses. Only about 58% of online courses are organized at the individual teacher level, and there is a need for directors of technology with both a technology background and a pedagogical understanding to evaluate online courses effectively.

Q: What is the current state of supplemental material in classrooms?

Only 40% of supplemental material used in classrooms comes from the school or district structure. The majority of material is obtained by teachers themselves, either for free or at their own expense.

Q: How are textbooks expected to change with technology advancements?

The cost of paper-based textbooks is increasing, and there is a shift towards using online textbooks that offer better features like simulations and interactive elements. Teachers will have the ability to assemble custom textbooks using online materials.

Q: How can technology be used to enhance teaching and learning?

Technology can enhance teaching and learning by providing access to high-quality lectures from the best teachers, allowing teachers to improve their own teaching by watching in-depth lectures, and facilitating social interaction and engagement for students.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Education technology spending is rapidly growing, with a significant amount of free materials and licensed software being used.

• Institutions need to adapt to the changing landscape and play a more active role in driving innovation and evaluating online courses.

• Teachers are increasingly relying on supplemental material that they find themselves or have to pay for out of pocket.