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The
Changing World and the Importance of Quality
Education
Changing
demographics and national priorities in the 21st
century will result in a continual increase in
support for education throughout the world. Levels
of success may be measured locally, but the real
determination of a nation's commitment to quality
education will be evaluated globally
We need to view global education in the same
competitive terms that we view sports events, and we
need to generate enthusiasm for funding support as
though our future depended on it...for it does. |
Our students' competitors ARE NOT In
another school
district,
but
are being educated in
other countries
The 21st Century has already proven to be influenced by population growth, changing
national demographics, limited resources, increased
individual expectations and a greater dependency on technology.
Countries throughout the world view these changes as
having significant economic (and political) implications
and look to an educated populace to gain
incremental advantage. With over 1 billion children
( with only 6% in the U.S.) of school age worldwide
the challenge is daunting, but the rewards to those
countries that recognize and respond to this opportunity will be
significant.
Technology and low cost global communications provide the
means
to provide a quality education to all, regardless of
location. Those countries that can best marry these
capabilities with the desire to increase the educational
level and opportunities of
its residents will be the future leaders among global
competitors. Changes in the economic
positioning of nations can be shown to be related to their level of education commitment
in the past 20 years.
Globally, there will continue to be education challenges.
Economic constraints, a lack of a sufficient quantity of
qualified teachers, and in some countries a lack of
political will are but three of the challenges to be
addressed. However, these weaknesses are not universal,
and the assumption should be made that these weaknesses, where
they exist, will be addressed.....with competitive
implications for the US.
The United States cannot afford to be less than fully
committed to the objective of being THE global leader in
student outcome. Although this is
a time of increasing financial challenge, this is NOT the time
to constrain our investment in education. To do so would
make it increasingly difficult (if not impossible) for the
United States to
meet its economic goals, and to develop technologies
necessary for commercial and military leadership while continuing to
provide and expand necessary services to all citizens,.
There are sobering statistics that support this position - More
than 50 percent of America's current science and engineering
workforce is approaching retirement, while by the 12th grade
American students score near the bottom in international math
and science tests. At the same time our global leadership
is being challenged by nations with far more school age
students. It is our challenge to learn from, build upon
and leverage the education qualities that work well in the US
and other countries. At the top of the list is an
examination of the use of
technology in the classroom by other countries, and its impact
upon all facets of global competition.
ITEG:
A Company Perspective
The
Integrated Technology Education Group believes that
cost can be reduced, student outcome improved and
the total learning experience excited by considering
ALL aspects of education technology as an integrated system. This requires
increased recognition of the linkage between
building design, the classroom environment, student
ergonomics, teacher training, technology, and more. With a
systems approach to the unique challenges imposed by
the education process improved results can be
derived from the nation’s multi-billion dollar
annual education investment.
The ITEG team looks forward to
supporting all parties explore and implement this integrated view of education.
In addition we are in a position to provide government and and other organizations
with the knowledge and skills necessary to analyze, document
and suggest
responses to the potential economic, commercial and military
implications of enhanced education initiatives by
other countries.
Al
Zeisler -- President, ITEG, LLC
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