Nancy Donaldson

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

• Downes, S. (1998). The economics of online learning. Retrieved March 12, 2001 from the World Wide Web:
  http://www.atl.ualberta.ca/downes/future/economics.htm

  This article weighs costs against savings of implementing an online learning program.

   

• Morgan, B. M. (2000). Is distance learning worth it? Helping to determine the costs of online courses. Retrieved on March 12, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.educause.edu/asp/doclib/abstract.asp?ID=URL0003

  This article looks at the costs associated with distance education and discusses what areas must be considered, what effects online courses may have on an institution, what costs are involved in the establishment of this type of venture, and also examines costs and possible problems that may be encountered with ongoing course offerings. The author has developed an online interactive worksheet to help administrators calculate the price tag for creating an online program. The entire article may be downloaded in pdf format from: http://multimedia.marshall.edu/onlinecosts/distancelearning.pdf

   

• Tissue, Brian M. (1997) The costs of incorporating information technology in education. Paper presented to Summer On-Line Conference on Chemical Education, June 1 to August 1, 1997, Paper #4. Retrieved on March 12, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.chem.vt.edu/archive/chemconf97/paper04.html

  This article discusses the costs and benefits of incorporating computer and network technology in science education.

   

• Melmed, Arthur, Editor. (1995) The costs and effectiveness of educational technology: proceedings of a workshop, Critical Technologies Institute, November, 1995. Prepared for Office of Educational Technology, U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved on March 12, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.ed.gov/Technology/Plan/RAND/Costs/

  Paper includes cost comparison tables, cost per student, and other information taken from schools pioneering technology in education in 1995 and earlier.

(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.

Telecommunications technologies allow students to overcome the barriers of gender, racial, and cultural stereotyping to communicate with their peers around the world based on their interests. I think this is the most important contribution technology has made to education. However, there is still much work to be done in providing access to technology tools for underserved segments of society. As educators, we should serve as the voice for our underprivileged students and work to ensure that all students have an opportunity to benefit from technology as an instructional tool. Another viewpoint on technology as an instructional tool that I support is included in the Texas Board of Education's Long Range Plan for Technology 1996-2010:

We don't buy glasses; we buy vision. We don't buy awnings; we buy
shade. We don't buy a newspaper; we buy information. It isn't the product
we want. It's what the product will do for us. We buy something or pursue
something, not because we want the thing itself, but because we want what
that thing will give us or do for us. (Max Anders in The Good Life:
Living with Meaning in A "Never Enough World"
Reprinted from A Report to the 75th Texas Legislature by the State Board of
Education Long Range Plan for Technology 1996 - 2010)

I believe that the technology used to deliver instruction should be "transparent" and that the emphasis should be placed on the learning goals of the instruction rather than the tools used to achieve those goals. However, in order for the technology to be "transparent," instructors must first be proficient in the use of technology. This calls for a greater emphasis on staff training in the use of technology as an instructional tool. I believe that technology training for instructors should be a major area of focus and fund investment for schools in order to bring about needed change and improvement to the current educational system.