Budget+Crunch

= **About the Budget Cuts** =

// by Leah Rich //
=== Because of the current recession, many teachers are losing their jobs. One way for schools to counteract the lack of funds is by eliminating jobs deemed “unnecessary.” Unfortunately, this means that teachers who specialize in technology are no longer viewed as an absolute necessity. Because of this, it is important that all teachers are educated about using technology. Technology is a part of everyday life inside and outside of the classroom. It is a tool that can provide a better learning environment for both students and teachers. Even though it is advancing every day, teachers can still use technology that is already available to them. Even though there may not be many experienced teachers in the field of technology because of the budget cuts, teachers who are inexperienced with technology can learn how to use it to their advantage. ===

=**Bills and Legislation** =

// by Jennifer Cox[[image:http://www.texasprojectfirst.org/nclblogo.jpg width="150" height="163" align="right" link="http://www.texasprojectfirst.org/nclblogo.jpg"]] //
=== In January 2002, Congress passed the [|No Child Left Behind Act], which supports standards-based education reform. According to the technological portion of this Act, the focus should not be about getting the latest technology and figuring out how to use it, but should be about improving student learning through the use of technology that is already available. === ===  The  [|Enhancing Education Through Technology Act]  was passed in 2001. The primary goal of this Act is to improve students’ academic achievements through the use of technology in elementary and secondary schools. Listed below are several other goals of this Act: === === · It attempts to assist every student in crossing the digital divide by ensuring that every student is technologically literate by the time that he or she finished the eighth grade, regardless of the student's race, ethnicity, gender, family income, geographic location, or disability. === === · It is meant to encourage the effective integration of technology resources and systems with teacher training and curriculum development to establish research-based instructional methods that can be widely implemented as best practices by State and local educational agencies. === === · An additional objective is to support the development and utilization of electronic networks and other innovative methods, such as distance learning or of delivering specialized or rigorous academic courses and curriculum for students in areas that would not otherwise have access to such courses and curriculum, particularly in geographically isolated regions. ===

=**Practical Technology** =

// by Jennifer Cox //
=== New technology isn’t essential to the learning process. In fact, there are many technological tools that are already available to students and teachers. For example, most high school students have cell phones that have access to the internet such as the iPhone or the BlackBerry. In addition, most of these phones have built-in cameras which allow students to upload photos to their computers. The use of cell phone in class provides access to many educational tools. ===



Also, most students have access to Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel, which can be used as educational resources.
=== Access to the Internet can provide limitless learning opportunities. For example, it provides access to interactive lessons and many kid-friendly search tools. It also may cut back on the need for students to buy paper copies of textbooks. According to the [|National Association of College Stores (NACS)], digital books currently account for less than 3 percent of textbook sales. NACS expects that percentage to reach 10 to 15 percent by 2012, while researchers at [|Simba Information] predict that e-textbooks will account for more than 11 percent of textbook sales by 2013. ===

=**Technology Training** =

[[image:http://www.uml.edu/images/it/online-computer-training.jpg width="278" height="197" align="right" link="http://www.uml.edu/images/it/online-computer-training.jpg"]]
=== In order to learn more about how technology can be used in the classroom, teachers can attend [|technology conferences]. These conferences are useful in many ways, such as the following: ===

· Workshops allow participants to practice their recently learned skills on computers.
=== Another way to instruct educators about the use of technology in the classroom is through [|virtual conferences]. These are some positive aspects of this type of instruction: ===

· Registered attendees may participate in real time, but most presentations are recorded and archived to allow attendees to watch as their schedule allows them to.
=== [|Online courses] are also great educational tools. If one is unfamiliar with emerging technologies in the classroom, these courses are great for learning how to integrate all types of technology into creative lesson plans. These are some ways in which the courses are helpful: ===