Upstream costs, downstream savings

Finding Time
Each time I pass the picture I take a few seconds to straighten it. On its single nail, heavy tread makes it tilt. I always have the extra seconds to make it straight, but I never have the precious minute needed to get the second nail to straighten it permanently. In 50 Words

One argument for teachers spending time to learn a complex technology is that once mastered, the technology will eventually result in time savings. As Zach commented yesterday, "I usually try and use the sales pitch - climb the learning curve and you save a ton of time later on."

And I too have preached this sermon for years: upstream costs = downstream savings.

But I am not sure there is any time cost/benefit formula that can be applied across the board to "technology." Taking the time to learn and create a macro for keyboarding a long address seems to have an immediate and direct time savings. Learning to use Moodle to supplement a F2F class that still meets five days a week, I wonder? Or learning to use a Flip camera and to edit video using iMovie and to upload the videos to server to create a source for students to watch or rewatch a lesson? Hmmmmmm, the pay back time seems pretty long to me. Value = time learning/time saved (and figure in a variable for the length of time to reach the savings).

I have two learning tasks this weekend: to figure out as much as I can about my new iPad 3G that arrived on schedule yesterday (thank you FedEx) and to experiment with GoogleWave that we just turned on as a part of GoogleApps for Education. Will either the iPad or Wave make me* and, more importantly, my librarians and teachers more productive - short or long term? Any district technology "leader" ought to make these sorts of evaluations a high priority.

And, yes, I know it doesn't always have to be about productivity. I learned  quickly to stream Netflix videos and find NPR broadcasts on the iPad. Nothing wrong with having fun with a new toy as well.

* I think one can make the case that the "pointy-haired" boss (like me) has some value leading a tech department. Tech "enthusiasts" may overestimate the time/value quotient. I worry when schools place professional CTOs instead of former teachers in charge of a district's tech. Good security, I'm sure, but ...

Comments

[Janice]

This is a very timely post for me. Tomorrow I am presenting a scripted workshop on our new state database for curriculum standards, etc. In the near future our teachers will be required to use the website on a daily basis. it has many good online features like lesson plans that connect directely to the standards and assessments that are already prepared. Nonetheless,I'll be shocked it I don't meet some resistence. I will tell them to "Learn the technology so that they can realize the time savings."Wish me luck!

[Nathan]

Interesting...never thought of pitching it that way to apprehensive technology adopters.

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Janice,

I hope your inservice went well!

Doug

Hi Nathan,

I always try to appeal to the WIIFM - What's In It For Me - with any tech thing (or any change thing period). Time savings is just one of those things that might be in it for them!

Doug