The web search and our position on technology as an effective instructional tool.
Mary Ann Avelar-Flores 5350

(1) Undertake an Internet search of websites addressing issues of cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis of educational technology and share your finds via email with the class.

Wilkinson, Gene. "Excellence Though Educational Technology: Some Prior Considerations." ERIC Clearinghouse on Information Resources. ED254212. 030 Huntington Hall, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY. 1984. http://www.askeric.org/plweb-cgi/obtain.pl

This article addresses issues that should be considered when proposing technological solutions to the problems of public education. Three basic approaches of technology utilization are discussed:

• Additive Approach where technology is added to regular instruction as supplementary or enrichment activities and are not necessarily for the achievement of basic instruction outcome. This method does not have a significant impact on student achievement, and represents an added expense which is not cost-effective

• Integrated Approach where carefully selected materials are integrated into regular instruction and provide an essential element leading to the achievement of basic instructional outcome. Technology and the teacher are mutually dependent. This approach requires extensive planning and preparation by the teacher, but has the potential to create a significant increase in student achievement.

• Independent Approach where instruction is redesigned so that basic instructional outcomes are achieved through active interaction of students and technology without the direct intervention of the teacher. Although this approach represents a major initial cost to the school system, it has the greatest potential for increasing the cost-effectiveness of education.

Romiszowski, Alexander. "Telecommunications and Distance Education." ERIC Clearinghouse on Information & Technology. ED358841. 4-194 Center for Science and Technology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY. 1994. http://www.askeric.org/plweb-cgi/obtain.pl

This article discusses the fourth phase of the development of distance education. Replacing the first phase which was correspondence courses, then the second phase being open broadcasting supported by correspondence instruction and print materials and the third phase teleconferencing systems. New technology are ensuring that it will be possible to adapt to telecommunication based communication easily and at acceptable costs making education through technology cost-effective to many learning institutions. These new technologies are user-driven, with groups of students forming because of common interest and with instruction responding rapidly to the demands of society. The costs of telecommunication are falling whereas the costs of educational spaced, staffing and transportation of students are rising. Over time the economical equation will favor the increased use of telecommunications-based education.

Schamber, Linda. "Distance Education and the Changing Role of the Library Media Specialist." ERIC Clearinghouse on Information Resources." ED327221. 030 Huntington Hall, Syracuse, NY. 1990. http://www.askeric.org/plweb-cgi/obtain.pl

This article discusses how a school library media specialist can contribute to developing a solution to the diminishing number of future teachers and growing K-12 enrollments and the funding shortages in which public education is experiencing. Distance education would provide a solution for both of these problems while at the same time making instruction cost-effective.

(2) Develop your own particular position on technology as an effective instructional tool, and share your perspectives via email with other classmates and the instructor.

Excellence can be achievement through technology if the applications of the techniques of educational technology are placed, redefine the teacher's role in instruction, and restructure student's method of learning, and a determination by all involved to make it work. The primary obstacle to effectiveness in distance education programs is not the structure of courses in technology, but the non-involvement attitudes of individuals. Cooperation and networking of all kinds are essential to program development in distance education. Teachers, students, administration, library media specialist must work closely with government officials, technical experts, university media centers and database vendors. Also, demographic and economic trends indicate the there will be fewer teachers and a growing number of students, therefore, distance education seems to the most viable solution to a growing concern. Teachers will use the media to transmit conventional instruction and employ a combination of integrated in independent use of media of instruction. Students may spend a portion of their time either receiving basic information in a large-group setting or work on individual activities by means of microcomputers.