District Management Journal
Despite billions of dollars invested in classroom technology, there remains little evidence of significant impact. In this issue, our Spotlight article delves into the question: will the promise of technology finally be realized in schools? We explore the factors driving the adoption of classroom technology, the various solutions available to schools today, and the best practices districts can implement in order to more successfully utilize technology and tap into its full benefits.
Also in this issue:
Interview: In 1997, Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen pioneered the theory of disruptive innovation, centering on the idea that big companies often fail to recognize the opportunity for new technology. As the influential management framework grew in popularity across a variety of industries, Christensen and colleague Michael Horn opened the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation. They believe that emerging technology has the power to enable a new, personalized, student-centered model of education allowing each child to realize his or her full potential. In this candid interview, Christensen and Horn speak with DMC about their vision of technology in the classroom and its influence on the future of learning.
Case Study: Under the leadership of Connie Hayes, superintendent of regionally organized collaborative Northeast Metro 916, six Minnesota districts embarked together on a mission to examine current special education practices, compare these to best practices, and identify strategies to improve their special education programs. Working as a group helped the participating districts to bring about faster, bolder, and deeper change than is typically seen in districts working on their own.
