3 elevator pitches

An elevator pitch, elevator speech, or elevator statement is a short summary used to quickly and simply define a person, profession, product, service, organization or event and its value proposition. Wikipedia 

A value proposition is a promise of value to be delivered and acknowledged and a belief from the customer that value will be delivered and experienced. Wikipedia

My school district will be asking its taxpayers to vote in favor of a $2.5 million technology operating levy in February. A board member at work session suggested we develop an elevator speech that we can give to any citizen who asks why this funding is needed.

That's a good idea.

My problem is that I can think of at least three good elevator speeches that explain why this funding is critical.

1. All students need to be technologically proficient. I can't think of a single job that pays a living wage that doesn't require some kind of technical skills. Business, medicine, law, teaching (yes!), engineering, agriculture, entertainment, film making, marketing - you name it - all use technologies that require high level tech skills. Readin' writin' and 'rithmatic are now the low bar of an educated person. Along with "computer skills" students need to be able to do quality research, exhibit high-level thinking and problem-solving skills, and creativity. With ongoing access to technology in the classroom - and teachers who can demonstrate, teach, and evaluate these skills, our graduates will lack vital employment skills. 

2. All students can have an individualized education. Every child should have an IEP, not just those with extreme needs. Technology can change education from a factory model in which every student is treated as an "average" student to one which can customize learning based on ability, learning styles, and interests. Truly culturally proficient schools will harness resources that make a child's culture an asset rather than a liability. Adaptive and adoptive technologies open doors to students with special needs. Everybody on the same page at the same time learning in the same way has proven to leave too many students performing below capabilities. As a community we cannot afford this - economically or morally.

3. All students need classrooms that are engaging. Many of today's children have grown up immersed in technology that engages the mind, then come to school to find learning to be a passive experience. Students need to be creators of information, effective communicators, knowledgeable coders, and collaborative learners and producers. Our children are visual learners, are motivated through gaming, and like to make, not just consume. Even whole-group instruction can come alive when led by teachers who use technology that make kids active learners. It would be a shame that school is the place where kids stop learning in the ways they find most engaging.

Issues of equity, infrastructure, staff development apply to each reason as well. 

What's a the core of your mission in using technology in thoughtful ways? Individualization and personalization has been increasingly driving my thinking, but each use is important. I believe there can be as many powerful reasons for using technology well as there are thoughtful educators.

So what's your elevator pitch?