iPads without science – Letter to the Beach Reporter by Mitch Williams

The following letter to the editor was published in the Beach Reporter newspaper (TBRnews.com) on Thursday, March 29, 2012 in the Letters section. The Beach Reporter has a strict 250-word limit.

iPads without science

For four and a half years, I taught Mira Costa’s technology courses, including AP Computer Science, and Video Game Development, applying high school math to 3D graphics. So, I had vested interest in MBUSD’s technology plan.

I certainly support technology in education – previously, I was manager of software for “Math Blaster,” the top-selling children’s educational video game.

MBUSD’s commitment to technology brought hope. However, that fell apart when, in September, an employee was badly injured by an electrical shock from the lab’s high voltage lines. As a teacher, I was never informed by MBUSD, though they knew the dangers as this computer lab was featured in the Proposition BB video in 2008.

After a three-week delay, we returned to the outdated computers. As MBUSD Deputy Superintendent Rick Bagley wrote to the State of California “these computers were largely inoperable” and “none of them were usable.”

And I was expected to teach with this? We were 30 percent of the way through the calendar year before MBUSD acted, still leaving us with only 24 PCs for 31 students. I complained, was reprimanded, exhausted my resources, and knew it was hopeless.

MBUSD’s core technology plan, centering around classroom iPads not computer science, was the most expensive, least integrated, highest maintenance costs, and lowest return on investment. Naturally, MBUSD never sought faculty input, but then, I am only an engineering instructor of 10-plus years with UC Berkeley and UCLA Extension, while MBUSD administrators are iPhone users, which in their minds makes them technology experts.

Mitch Williams
Redondo Beach