If you cannot come to Boston on the 24th, please send written testimony, on letterhead if possible, to Sen. David Magnani and Rep. Lida Harkins (State House, Boston 02133 or dmagnani@senate.state.ma.us and lida.harkins@state.ma.us) Please also send a copy of your testimony to your state senator and representative and to Bunny_Lawton@mail.ab.mec.edu.
What to say? Be very specific about how the bill will affect learning in your classrooms or, if you run a business, how better prepared graduates will affect your business' future. Explain how technology changes the classroom dynamic and fosters ed reform. Give details or tell stories from your experience. Legislators want to know about the effects on people's lives.
ASK LEGISLATORS TO MAKE THE CST BILL A PRIORITY Throughout the winter/spring town meeting season, it is important to inform legislators of the technology needs in your schools. Invite them to the schools, show them your plans, let them know about local funding issues that will come up in town meeting. Explain how state grants are an important leverage for local dollars. Ask your legislator to make the Community and School Technology Bill a priority so that your schools will get $35/student in matching grants and a lower-cost, higher speed connection to the Internet. (See details of bill below, after Update, or check the website (http://best.prospect.com) for the bill's language and other background information.)
CEO FORUM CALLS FOR MANDATORY TECH TRAINING FOR TEACHERS. The CEO Forum on Education and Technology has recommended that technology training for teachers be mandatory by 20002. A nationwide Education Department survey found that only 20% of teachers felt they could use technology in the classroom. The CEO Forum report also said that while drill and practice on computers doesn't raise achievement, students who use computers in more complex ways (such as simulating a science experiment) do have higher test scores. The report is posted at http://www.ceoforum.org.
KIDS AND TECHNOLOGY DAY AT STATE HOUSE MAY 24. MassCUE has announced May 24 as Kids and Technology Day at the State House. Twenty teams of students and teachers will demonstrate effective uses of technology in classrooms. Contact Priscilla Kotyk for more information (978-264-4700x3453 or Priscilla_Kotyk@mail.ab.mec.edu) Even if your school cannot send a team, why not have students write to your legislators about how technology makes learning more effective for them!
BEST MEETING DATES: March 23, April 13, May 18, June 22. Meetings are at 8 a.m. in the Cafe at 200 Fifth Ave., Prospect Hill, Waltham. Please let us know if you plan to attend.
BEST COORDINATORS:
Beth Lowd 617-332-1978 lowd@massed.net
Dan Kehoe 781-934-6051 dankehow@neaccess.net
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B.E.S.T. - Business and Education for Schools and Technology A coalition of
twenty-three organizations supporting educational technology in Massachusetts
schools. P.O. Box 389, Kingston, MA 02364 E-mail: best@prospect.com World Wide
Web page at http://199.232.160.15/best/techbill.html
and http://best.prospect.com
Please re-distribute the Update as widely as possible in Mass.
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