It is possible to reach another conclusion with the same information… the same charts could present a case where states/administrations are more willing to put dollars into equipment where the unions are weaker.

I’m all for technology that is used to aid student learning. I think is wasteful and shortsighted to throw a bunch of technology into classrooms and think that will make students better thinkers. I also think that students can be taught incredible things without technology.

Unions are not evil. This is propaganda targeting teachers unions and blaming them for what is likely an issue with school funding. Not with unions. Most of the good educators I know are using and teaching with technology in the classroom.

Virtual/Online schools…I’m not completely opposed to the use of online instruction. However, I think it is a big mistake thinking it can replace actual human interaction in the classroom.

For a brief description of the questionable data Terry Moe has used in the past, you can go to:

http://www.rethinkingschools.org/special_reports/voucher_report/v_sosholw.shtml

There is that old saying, “There are Lies, Damn Lies, and statistics.” However, some data is more reliable than other data, and some collectors and analyzers of data are more reliable as well.

I agree that it’s always a good idea to expose oneself to different ideas, and stay out of an echo chamber.

I just wonder if you might have chosen a researcher with a more reliable and valid history to use up so much of your blog’s space…

Larry

I do believe that presenting it without comment implies endorsement of their conclusions. Perhaps this is not true – only you can say.

But it seems easy enough to pick out some questions immediately without any resort to ideology.

1. What does the Ed Week score actually measure? I’m not sure I accept their choices of what technology means. Who funds their study?

2. What exactly are “state-level virtual schools”. What is a non-state level virtual school? Is this related to state size or urbanization ratio?

3. What does it mean that “data systems” exist “with the capacity to link students and teachers”. What does “link” mean? Is this the kind of system that is created to reward/punish teachers based on student test scores? And what’s a “teacher identifier”?

It also seems to me that these charts would be more useful if the raw numbers of how many states fall into each subgroup were used instead of percentages. Maybe this is stated somewhere in the original study, but leaving those numbers out seems misleading.

For example, in chart B, 50% looks “bigger” than 35%, except that it could be 50% of 2 states (1 state) and 35% of 25 states (9 states) so in this case 50% is actually much less than 35%.

I’m hoping that you are introducing this material in order to say something about it, something that brings your knowledge of the field and current state of affairs to bear on this data.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, what do they define as technology? We know that everything gets lumped into this category, from creativity software to soul-deadening test prep monstrosities.

I think it’s crucial to understand this distinction. Just accepting anything that plugs in or boots up as educational technology means that “we” end up defending their use. It’s a bad corner to be forced into.

I’m hoping you will share your knowledge and opinion on these studies you’ve profiled and highlighted in your blog in light of these issues.

In the two districts in which I’ve served, Union membership/interest is highest when district officials show a lack of desire to work with the teachers. They embody disrespect by handing down mandates without teacher input, making ridiculous demands without providing support, and purposefully breaking apart programs that are doing well. All of these things have happened in my district recently.

Technology requires collaboration. When a disconnect grows between teachers and admin, teachers band together and strengthen the union, and collaboration is practically impossible.

In my experience, strong unions are a symptom, not a cause.

Is their research questionable? Is that an open question? Is ideologically-charged research always questionable? Is there any research that isn’t questionable?

By presenting someone else’s statements without any commentary of one’s own, does that imply endorsement of that other person’s beliefs? Or could it simply be an attempt to highlight some interesting issues while letting others judge for themselves?