Kentucky Academy of Technology Education

Anytime, Anywhere, Always-On

Instructional Illuminations

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The Kentucky Education Technology System (KETS) Master Plan lists four common characteristics of projects and initiatives. One of those areas of emphasis is “Anytime, Anywhere, Always-On, Differentiated Teaching and Learning.” The premise for this emphasis is that learning needs to occur not just during school hours or in a classroom, but in an environment that is flexible and accessible--without boundaries. The concept, which aligns “the education experience to highly productive organizations such as business or the military,” requires access to the proper technology tools. In the 90’s Kentucky received accolades for equipping every classroom with a networked computer and according to the current Master Plan is pursuing the “ideal of a student to workstation ratio of 1:1.” The 2008 District Technology Readiness Survey reported a ratio of 2.98 to 1 with 13% of these instructional devices stated to be laptops. Six percent of the devices stay with the students. In addition, 35% of Kentucky districts permit personally owned devices to be brought to school. Seymour Papert, Logo developer and one of the founders of MIT’s Media Lab, was instrumental in convincing Maine’s governor that any ratio below 1 to 1 doesn’t matter. Dr. Papert was quoted in an article by Mike Muir published in the November 2004 issue of ISTE’s Learning and Leading that, “It is only when you implement one-to-one computing that the power happens!”

There are a few districts in Kentucky who have accepted the challenge to provide a 1 to 1 ratio for students. McCracken County Schools is one of those districts currently implementing a new laptop initiative for all high school students in the district.  Jayne Ann Heath, Technology Integration Specialist for the District said, "McCracken County believed we couldn't afford not to do a 1:1 initiative."

One-to-one computing today doesn’t just include high-priced laptop computers. Other devices including mini-computers or net books, PDAs or personal desktop assistants, and cell phones can provide for integration of technology for use in school or just about anywhere else. According to the Pew Study approximately 71% of students ages 12-17 own mobile devices. National findings from the Speak Up 2008 reinforce the fact that many students have tools and want to use them to learn.  The KETS Master Plan also acknowledges that students have embraced wireless devices such as cell phones and iPods and recognizes that even though these devices may pose a classroom management issue, they are on the educational horizon and that “mobile learning devices that use electronic text will eventually replace textbooks.”

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Get a Job!

Core Connections

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By:  Jessica Grace, Henderson County Schools

It is no secret that today's job market is highly competitive. The jobless claims are the highest they have been since the government began keeping records in 1967! What makes a candidate for a position stand out? Of course, the obvious answer is their application and resume. But, these are not all the pieces of the puzzle needed to get an interview and hopefully a job. High school students need to know how to create a career portfolio that includes a personal data sheet, resume, cover letter, and follow-up/thank you letter. Where are our students going to learn this information if we, the high school teachers, do not teach them?

There is no shortage of information floating on the web about this subject. There are even templates available in word to use to create these documents. Those who have money to burn have a great number of people vying to create these documents for them for a fee. There's an old saying, by Confucius, that says "Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you've fed him for a lifetime." By the time the average person is 30, they will have had 8 different jobs! If students leave high school with the knowledge of how to create and update a career portfolio, then they have been "taught how to fish!"

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