Talkback on Tech

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) wants educators to speak up about changes they'd want in the way technology is used in schools. But some practitioners are skeptical that their response to a new federal survey will make much of a difference.

"The solicitation doesn't even ask for [the respondent's] name, and the questions are predefined," says Steve Hargadon, who runs Classroom 2.0, a social network for educators with 1,082 members to date. "There's no way for feedback once the answers are submitted. That's probably not the best way to engage educators in a dialogue."

The survey, consisting of just four questions, is being distributed to school officials, among others in the education community, nationwide. At the same time, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spelling is holding roundtable chats with educators to discuss ways to marry technology with federal educational goals.

Education technology, however, has received its share of blows in recent months, with the release of a controversial study in April that indicated that software has had very little benefit on student learning. So tech advocates have been pushing back. While many are hopeful about the new round of interest by the DOE, Hargadon says that the process needs improving if Spelling and her team want solid answers.

So Hargadon created his own version of the federal survey on the Classroom 2.0 site, allowing visitors to comment on other's responses, while encouraging the federal agency to also take part.

As of early June, a question asking what the federal government's role should be in supporting technology in our educational system had elicited 14 responses ranging from "money" to providing "equal access to the tools" and "showcasing education technology success stories."

"I consider this a hopeful strategy," says Hargadon. "I believe meaningful change can only come from an engaged dialogue and not from a top-down mandate."