The Current State of 21st Century Education Technology 2011-2012 – Paving a Road to Success
Remember filmstrips, movie reels, overhead projectors and transparencies? These are the “tech tools” that I remember from my school days. Not an interactive anything anywhere. It was simple. Teachers and professors had to decide between blackboards or overheads, black, blue or maybe green ink and that was about it.We’ve come a long way from those days, and in many cases new technologies have quickly replaced the old. There is however a wide variation on how advanced school districts are in terms of their education technology implementations. One thing is clear; no matter how limited resources are, all school districts have formed a set of goals around education technology. If we expect to reach any of these goals, we have to understand the underlying factors that can affect the character and complexity of a problem. These factors will in turn affect how we approach a particular problem and the solutions that are applied to reach our goals.From a 30,000 foot perspective, there are commonly three key components to an education technology solution; Hardware, Software and Training (the often forgotten, but many times most important component).In today’s education tech world, you will not get very far without the three vital components mentioned above. These are however, merely the tools that we will use in reaching our educational goals. If you were to place all of the best hardware, software and training materials in a room, they would not magically yield higher test scores, achievement and graduation rates all by themselves.You might think that what I’ll be saying next will have to do with people and how they can be the difference makers. This of course is true, but the actual focus should be on what these all important people are doing (and unfortunately in many cases not doing) in order to achieve our collective educational goals.Many of us have lost sight on the “education” in education technology. It’s right there in front of our eyes and we still manage forget that this is about properly educating students and enabling them to reach their fullest potential.The following list contains some of the most common pitfalls that we see on a day-to-day basis as education technology integrators. These are the processes and activities that have proven to be inefficient, ineffective or counterproductive to education technology goals.1. Having no goals to begin with – This situation is all too common. A school district is hard-set on implementing and/or upgrading their education technology resources, but nothing is tied back to curriculum goals. The purchase and installation of projectors, interactive whiteboards, response systems, classroom sound systems etc is not the implementation of a solution, it’s simply a purchase. Avoid asking yourself “now what?” once the smoke has cleared. Achieve this by creating a real implementation plan that is tied to long term educational goals and state standards. All of the best education technology hardware manufacturers have researched education requirements in detail and have designed their solutions accordingly in order to help schools reach these goals through the use of their products. Ask your technology provider questions related to your educational goals and only engage with those who understand your goals and can tell you how their products will help you reach them.2. Cookie cutter approach – Let’s outfit every classroom and every teacher with the same exact technology tools. And let’s not stop there, let’s do it all at once so everyone is happy and nobody feels left out. Makes sense – right? Well not exactly. Administrators and Tech Directors don’t want to hear grumblings about inequities or create an environment of haves and have not’s even for a short period of time. This would be disaster – or would it?One of the best examples I can think of is interactive whiteboards or IWB’s. These boards are incredible tools and can greatly enhance a learning environment when implemented properly, but the addition of this technology tool is not always a “no brainer” in all learning environments. Companies like SMART Technologies and Promethean may disagree, but in the end, if the educational goals of their customers are being met, it will be a win-win situation for all involved – especially the kids.This is a trend that is difficult to break. It is fairly easy to understand how this has come about since politics can many times trump logic.Learning activities can vary greatly from room to room and from subject to subject. The learning goals for math will likely vary greatly from the learning goals in science class versus foreign language classes. Science room environments may vary even further based on whether you are dealing with Physics, Chemistry or Biology.The variances can run even deeper based on other district based requirements, room arrangement or teaching style of an individual teacher.Taking a step back to do some real analysis and planning may help you and your schools get on a more accurate track in terms of matching technology tools to actual academic goals. To say that “we’ll figure that out later” adds to the risk that you will leave a critical requirement unaddressed.3. Making all decisions from the Top Down – Not that you would do this, but too many Tech Directors or IT Managers make district wide decisions without gathering any input from the end users of technology. In this case it is of course teachers that would help drive accurate requirements from the bottom up that would complement the decisions being made from above. This will no doubt take more time and effort, but in the end it will likely uncover more detail and accuracy to your requirements that will help minimize risk and decrease the chances that you’ll miss a requirement or waste time and money spent re-working your initial solution with an unplanned “Phase 2″ of your implementation.4. No Training or Professional Development (PD) Plan – You might be lucky enough to have a real go-getter on your staff that takes the ball and runs with it, creating your training program in the process. These self starters do exist, but you can’t count on training and PD taking care of itself. Full adoption and use of new technology tools requires planning AND management of the plan. If done correctly, your educational goals are met and everyone comes out looking and feeling like a champion.5. No metrics – How do you show that your plan has been successful? Part of proper planning is establishing a pre-determined method of measuring success via a set of well chosen metrics. Not everyone loves numbers by nature, but I’m betting that everyone will love them when they definitively show that planning and implementation has led to success.6. Buying solely on price – Hopefully you have not grown completely cynical when it comes to value. If you spend the time talking to your prospective sales people and service providers, you will see a wide range of offerings presented to you. If you want to do what’s best for your schools, you will spend some time calculating the true cost of a solution where the physical hardware is only one component. If you make your decision solely on the price of hardware, you might be doing a great disservice to yourself, your schools, your project team and your students. Some of the most important value differentiators will have to do with service, support, training and professional development. A quality solution provider will not only sell you the hardware, they will pro-actively support it. They will work with you consultatively and open an ongoing dialogue with you and your staff to assist in reaching your goals. Many providers have dedicated Education Consultants on staff that are familiar with state and federal education goals. This further enables you and your team to map education goals to the use of education technology tools in the classroom.7. Thinking your planned solution is “good enough” – This might apply when buying a car or home appliance when added cost is usually associated with “bells and whistles”, but a classroom is not about getting to point A to point B or how white your shirts can be. True adoption of education technology in a classroom can be a tricky goal to meet and adoption must come with real results like increased test scores and graduation rates. If you are heavily constrained by budget, I recommend creating the best solution possible and starting with one room. If you don’t have the funds to complete an entire room, do it in well thought out phases with guidance from your education technology integrator (remember that thing about added value? – A perfect example). If you continue this process over time, you will end up with quality learning environments in every room vs. a watered down “solution” in each room that yields no actual results.8. Thinking you are “done” – This relates directly to #7 above. It’s important to have a mindset of constant improvement. New and improved technology is constantly being developed. This can offer great opportunity, but it can also create confusion. In the ‘one room at a time’ scenario above, it would be of added benefit to re-evaluate your plan as time progresses. This will give you the ability to fine tune your solution over time. For this reason, it will be important to pay attention to feedback from end-users of technology enabled classrooms. There may be a new and improved technology available or you may have realized that you “over-bought” in a particular area and can then adjust your plan accordingly. Ideally, there will be no changes at all and simply a confirmation that your plans and system designs are sound. If you reach the end of an implementation and everything has gone according to plan, you are still far from being done. As with all technology, there are the elements of hardware maintenance, support and an ongoing training/professional development plan. If you have specific plans in place in all of these areas and actively manage to your goals, your chances for success will be greatly improved.
Loans and Finance Explained
Secured LoansWhat is a Secured Loan and what are the risks?A Secured Loan is a loan secured on the homeowners property very much in the same way as a Mortgage is. A Mortgage on a property is known as the “1st Charge” – a Secured Loan therefore becomes the “2nd Charge.” If a Secured Loan is never paid then obviously the Homeowners home is at risk. With the Mortgage company having the 1st charge they therefore reclaim their money first. A Secured Loan Lender would then follow as they are the 2nd charge. It is worth remembering that a Mortgage and Secured Loan Company would only ever repossess a property as a last resort.A Secured Loan is ideal for Homeowners who are looking to raise finance by using their home as security. Traditionally a Secured Loan can provide Homeowners with a lower APR than that of an Unsecured Loan. Obviously a Loan Lenders APR varies depending on the personal circumstances of the applicant. A Secured Loan can be used for a variety of purposes. The most common Secured Loan purposes are for Home Improvements and for Debt Consolidation.Home Improvement Secured LoanA loan that is secured on the applicants home address for the purpose of Home Improvements. The loan can be used for a new conservatory, renovations, extension or simply for double glazing. Almost any form of home improvements can be funded by a secured loan. You may find that some secured loan lenders will require proof of what you will be using the funds for. This can be provided by simply gaining a written quote from someone who you are looking to have the work done by. Chances are a Home Improvement Secured Loan will actually increase the value of your property so it will be money well invested.Debt Consolidation LoanA loan that is secured on the applicants home address for the purpose of Debt Consolidation. The loan is generally used to consolidate (pay off) all existing credit by putting it into one secured loan and this generally reduces the monthly payments and therefore frees up more of your monthly income to use for more exciting purposes than clearing credit cards, store cards, loans or hire purchases! Sometimes the only way in which the monthly payments can be reduced is by taking the Secured Loan over a longer period than what the existing credit is currently on. This can increase the amount in total that you will pay back but customers who take a Debt Consolidation Loan generally are more interested in the reduced monthly outgoing on credit.A Secured Loan can be used for other purposes besides Debt Consolidation and Home Improvements. They can also be used for a Car, Holiday or Wedding. Generally Secured Loan lenders do not raise finance for Business. For a Business Loan it may be a better route to contact your local Bank or Building Society.
Why would I want a Secured Loan instead of an Unsecured Loan?There are many reasons why.Repayment PeriodA Secured Loan can normally be taken over a longer period than that of an unsecured personal loan. Unsecured Loans can normally only be taken over a maximum of 7 or 10 years. Some Secured Loan Lenders will allow the applicant to take the finance over a 30 year period and most will allow the finance to be spread over 25 years worth of payments. Obviously by taking the loan over a longer period reduces the monthly payment to the applicant – although you must remember the longer you take the loan over the more interest you will pay.Loan AmountA Secured Loan amount can often be a lot higher than that of an unsecured personal loan. Secured Loans can be taken up to £100,000 – with some lenders even allowing applicants to borrow more. An unsecured loan lender will normally only lend up to £25,000 which sometimes just isn’t enough. We may surprise you with the amount you can actually borrow. Let Loan Machine do the hard work to find out.Poor CreditIf you have poor or adverse credit then the chances you have of getting an unsecured personal loan are very slim. Poor or adverse credit can include many things, CCJ’s (County Court Judgements), Defaults, Mortgage Arrears, IVA’s, VAR’s, Discharged Bankrupts and Missed Credit Payments. If you have any of these then your best route for gaining finance could well be via a Secured Loan. These don’t necessarily prevent you getting a Secured Loan – there are many lenders that will lend even if you have a combination of CCJs, Mortgage Arrears and Defaults. We may surprise you by finding a loan that you didn’t think you would be able to get. Let Loan Machine do the hard work.EquityEquity in your property will help you obtain a Secured Loan but that doesn’t mean you have to have equity to get a Secured Loan. Loan Machine has access to lenders that will lend finance above and beyond what your property is currently worth – although to do this you generally have to have a good credit rating. But what have you got to lose? We may surprise you by finding a loan that you didn’t think you would be able to get. Let Loan Machine do the hard work.Self EmployedSelf Employed people can often find it very difficult to raise finance. Secured Loan Lenders open the door to the Self Employed. They offer the ability to Self Certify your income. So even if you haven’t been self employed for long or you cannot prove your income via accounts then that does not mean you cannot get a loan. If you are Self Employed with bad credit or adverse credit you may think you cannot get a loan – this isn’t necessarily true. We may surprise you by finding a loan that you didn’t think you would be able to get. Let Loan Machine do the hard work.Low IncomeAlthough all lenders will only lend responsibly to people who can afford it, Secured Loan Lenders generally are more flexible in their criteria. Some Secured Loan lenders will let you use Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Working Family Tax Credit as well as many other incomes to fund a loan application. We may surprise you by finding a loan that you didn’t think you would be able to get.We set up http://www.Loan-Machine.co.uk do the hard work for you.
Everything You Ever Needed to Know About Payday Loans But Were Afraid to Ask
A payday loan is a small short term loan you can use to cover expenditure until your next payday. You can apply online and the decision to loan you the money is made almost straight away. In most cases the whole application can be completed online and the money loaned can be credited into your bank account on the same day as you make your application.A payday loan is an unsecured loan, so it is not dependent on collateral, such as you owning a house or car etc.Generally when you make your first application you can borrow any amount up to £300, depending on your take home pay. You are more likely to be approved the less you want to borrow, so it is advisable to borrow only what you need. Once you have successfully repaid loans with one particular company they may then offer to lend you anything up to about £750 in subsequent loans.Payday loans can provide a useful solution for short term cash flow problems.Who can apply for a Payday loan?In order to be eligible for a payday loan you must be over 18 years old and in employment with a take home wage of at least £750 per month. You must also have a bank account with a valid debit card.Even if you have bad credit history you should still be able to obtain a payday loan as long as you fulfil the above criteria.How do you get a Payday loan?The majority of payday loans are available online, so there is no delay with faxing or posting of documents. The application process is quick and easy to complete. You will be asked for your name, address, details about your monthly income and employment, when your next payday is, along with the amount you wish to borrow and your bank account details.Once you have submitted your application you should hear back from the payday loan provider within minutes. They will email you with their decision to the email address you have registered with your application.Payday loan providers partly make their decision as whether to lend you money dependent on the amount you want to borrow compared to the amount you earn. Only borrow what you need, the less you borrow the more likely that your application will be accepted and the smaller the amount of interest you will accrue.If your application is successful you will be sent, by email, your loan agreement showing the amount that will be lent to you, the repayment date and the amount of interest you will pay on the repayment date. Along with the loan agreement you should also be sent loan conditions. These loan conditions should outline your rights under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 along with details about repaying the loan, cancelling the loan and the use the personal information you supply when applying for the payday loan.If you are happy to proceed you sign online by providing details of your name and answering a security question such as your mothers’ maiden name. Then, email this back to the loan provider and the money will be deposited into the bank account you registered at the application process. The money can be deposited in your bank account on the same day you make the application, so this is a very fast and efficient way of borrowing money short term.How do I repay the loan?You will need to repay the loan amount and the interest accrued on the repayment date as specified in the loan agreement. The repayment date is usually your payday, hence the name payday loan.The repayment will be collected by the loan provider by debiting the bank account you registered at the application process, which is the bank account into which you get your wages paid.Repayment over a longer periodPayday loans may be extended if you find yourself in a position to be unable to satisfy all or part of the amount due on the repayment date. If this happens it is recommended that you contact your payday loan provider as soon as possible and explain your circumstances to them. They will then be able to explain your options and how to go about extending your loan.Even if you are not able to fully settle the repayment amount, it is advisable to pay off as much as possible on the repayment date. This will help to keep the amount of interest you owe to a minimum. Some companies may charge you additional fees for extending your loan, you should check if this is the case before you sign your loan agreement.Regulation of Payday Loan CompaniesProperly regulated payday loan companies must adhere to strict laws governing the finance industry.As with any financial product you apply for it is always advisable to check that the company offering the loan is properly regulated. The payday loan company you are applying to should show its Consumer Credit Licence number within its loan conditions and it should also be authorised by the Office of Fair Trading. If you are in any doubt as to whether the payday loan company you are considering applying to is fully regulated then you are within your rights to contact either of these bodies for further information.As long as the payday loan company you are applying to is properly regulated, there will be a recognised body to make any complaints you may have to and you can be assured that you will not be subject to any unfair practices.What are the benefits of a Payday loan?FastOne of the main benefits of a payday loan is the speed at which the cash can be credited to you. The money you need can be available to you in your bank account on the same day that you make the application. This can provide valuable assistance if you have a short term cash flow problem and need money in an emergency.SimpleThe application process is very simple, it takes just minutes to apply for a payday loan and you do not have waste time posting or faxing documents to the payday loan provider, as you would with other more traditional high street loans.Poor Credit HistoryPayday loans are available to people with a poor credit history. This is because payday loan companies do not solely make their decision to lend based on a persons credit history. As long as you fulfil the application criteria you have a good chance of obtaining a payday loan. For many people a payday loan may be the only way they are able to obtain credit, especially in the current financial climate where the majority of lenders are unwilling to provide loans altogether, never mind to a person with a poor credit history.Use of the Loan MoneyYou do not have to tell the payday loan provider what you need the payday loan for. You can use the money for whatever you want. You may need money in an emergency which can not wait until payday for instance; emergency medical or dental treatment, to settle a bill quickly, extra spending money on holiday or even for a romantic weekend away. The choice is yours as long as you make the repayment due on the repayment date.No Upfront CostsThere are no upfront costs associated with a payday loan. You do not pay anything back until the repayment date you have agreed to in the loan agreement.Why does the APR appear high on payday loans?The APR applied to payday loans appears at first glance to be high. This is very misleading, but there is a simple reason why this figure looks so high. APR is an Annual Percentage Rate, and as such is calculated over a whole year (365 days). However, a payday loan is taken usually only over a number of days or weeks.The APR calculation was not designed to apply to very short term loans such as payday loans. It was designed to apply to long term loans in existence for a year or more. It is really a theoretical figure than enables people to compare similar longer term loan products, like mortgages or ongoing credit balances.Rather than relying on the APR rate it is more advisable to look directly at the loan agreement to see exactly how much interest you will be charged for the period of your payday loan. Some companies have a standard interest charge for the amount you wish to borrow regardless of the duration of the loan. It is then up to you to decide whether you will be able to repay both the cash advance you receive initially and the interest amount on the repayment date.To ConcludeMany people do not have savings or access to credit cards or more traditional loans and so the convenience of a regulated payday loan provides piece of mind should the occasion arise that they need some money quickly.If you need money in a hurry, can not wait until payday and are confident that you can make the necessary repayments on the repayment date, this could be the ideal solution for you.Overall, payday loans are convenient, easy to access and offer a viable option for people who require money quickly for whatever reason.