What's on your short list of technology books?
Monday, February 9, 2009 at 06:00AM Another query via e-mail last week:
Mr. Johnson,
I heard you speak ... a couple of years ago and really enjoyed listening to you. Then today I was asked a question that I just knew you would be able to answer. We are needing to purchase a book or two over the subject of how technology can improve academic achievement. I figured that you probably have a list of books that you could suggest that you could quickly sent to me - at least I hope that is the case. And thank you for your time - and for being such an "up-to-date" and knowlegeable resource.
Melissa
My inadequate response...
Hi Melissa,
I appreciate your confidence and kind words, but I really don't maintain such a list. There are lots of books with lots of ideas - all with very, very little empirical evidence to back up claims of improved student performance/achievement. (One of the problems is there is no consensus on “academic achievement.”)
Some places you might start are reports rather than books. I would recommend reading:
- "Technology in Schools: What the Research Says" by the Metiri Group
- Ensuring the Net Generation Is Net Savvy by George Lorenz and Charles Dziuban for Educause
I would also skim through the book titles at ISTE to see if any look like they suit your needs. ISTE is a credible source of information on educational technology.
I wish I could be more helpful. Sounds like a great question for Blue Skunk blog readers!
All the best,
Doug
OK, astute readers. What would you recommend Melissa put on her short list of books about technology's impact on student achievement? I feel like I am somehow overlooing the obvious.
Books 
Reader Comments (6)
I would highly recommend Everything is Miscellaneous by David Weinberger. It's not a "technology" book but instead is deals with how organizing and managing information has changed as a result of our new web-based tools for producing and distributing data. Weinberger's book won't tell you how to raise test scores but he does offer some excellent insight into how teaching and learning needs to change as a result.
I have really thought deeply lately about Clayton Christensen's book: Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns.
He does what has been needed for a very long time; for someone from outside the institution and objectively place a framework around the issue of school reform.
It will not lead to any enlightenment about technology and student achievement, but does a fantastic job of identifying in very objective terms why technology has failed to reform the institution in any meaningful way.
The book talks about the massive concept of "school" - how its structure makes it difficult to achieve its mission, how competing interests hinder change, and how our monolithic model is designed against any learning theories. It leads us to a structure which promotes a "do it the same" model as opposed to any true differentiation. To do otherwise is too hard in our current structure.
He then explains how what conditions might need to be present for schools to finally break out of the monolithic structure. In my personal opinion, I think he underestimates the complexity even though he has identified it in a way that I am not sure others before him have.
A great read for anyone who wonders why technology has not been the solution they have been sold.
The Cluetrain Manifesto is now old, but so true and it really had an effect on me.
A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink is a must read
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell was just recommended at a conference. He is the author of Tipping Point which I think has influenced how leaders see things.
Just what first comes to mind,
Janice
While I too like the books and other writings mentioned abpve and think of them as important reads, I don’t know that any go to the original question of books related to how technology improves student achievement. This is a tougher assignment than it looks.
Doug
Like the last bunch of comments, I don't have an answer (but perhaps just another question to pose.)
I think many of us (myself included) used to think about using technology for technology's sake to improve education and learning. Tech isn't a magic bullet to improving academic achievement. Instead of focusing on how technology can improve academic achievement, look to ways of differentiating instruction to improve achievement. Once you've identified ways forward to differentiate your instruction - look for technologies to support these ways forward. I believe this is one of the true ways to utilizing technology to improve achievement.
Hi Dave,
Funny that I am working over some old columns for a book and 10 years ago I was predicting technology would allow IEPs for every student. What's taking so long?
Doug