Garrett urges teachers to turn up the technology

From: Tulsa World
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080709_16_A17_spancl553071
By ANGEL RIGGS World Capitol Bureau

She also unveils an online tool to aid educators.

OKLAHOMA CITY — State Superintendent Sandy Garrett called on teachers Tuesday to integrate more technology into classrooms to engage students who have spent their entire lives in a digital world.

She also unveiled the state Department of Education's Time Analysis Tool, an online process designed to help school leaders identify and better plan for school-day disruptions, such as assemblies, trips and intercom announcements.

"Students shouldn't be required to power down to boredom each morning they arrive at school," Garrett said. "And their teachers shouldn't have to struggle to make the most of minutes that are too few and far between."

Speaking to about 3,000 education leaders gathered for the annual Superintendent's Leadership Conference in Oklahoma City, Garrett stressed that today's children have spent their entire lives immersed in technology but are being forced to "power down" when they enter the classroom.

"In order to teach the children well, we must integrate technology into the learning process," she said. "We should be able to individualize rather than standardize instruction."

Garrett also addressed the increasing amount of student testing nationwide and noted concerns that school counselors are being pulled from their jobs to serve as test coordinators. She estimated that schools spend between two to six weeks each spring testing students.

Garrett was interrupted with applause when she said she is supportive of testing as a diagnostic tool and for accountability but wondered whether it was "over the top."

She again was applauded when she pledged to ask lawmakers to hire "graduation coaches" who would mentor students at risk for dropping out of school and for funds to hire full- or part-time district test coordinators.

Graduation coaches are especially needed, she said, as the state enters into "high-stakes" testing that requires students, beginning with this year's ninth-graders, to pass four of seven exams to receive high school diplomas.

Garrett also noted this year's tight budgets for many schools, saying she's "gravely concerned" about the rising costs districts face.