Futurekids: Difference between revisions

_{Technology education}

Futurekids, Inc. is a privately-held international professional development and educational software company headquartered in El Segundo, California, which focuses on technological literacy and computer literacy in today’s technology driven world. Technology and computer literacy involve critical thinking skills utilizing technology, and provide the tools for educators, children and youth to prepare for the 21st century. Educators today must be prepared to use technology to create learning experiences that are real, rich, and relevant, and counteract the potentially harmful impact of instant media gratification.^[1] Futurekids is recognized nationally and internationally for school technology solutions that work.^[2]

Founded in 1983, Futurekids was among the first computer and technology training programs in the United States, with a focus on tutored computer learning centers and pre-school technology learning in response to the general public’s need for basic computer skills training. In 1996, the company was purchased by Robert M. Davidson and Janice G. Davidson, PhD, education entrepreneurs and founders of Davidson & Associates, one of the first educational software companies and makers of the popular Math Blaster and Reading Blaster series. Moving into the new millennium, Futurekids continued to be inspired by the opportunities of 21st century education.

Futurekids currently offers professional development programs and K-12 technology curriculum in schools in 65 countries on six continents . The company focuses on the integration of technology and the use of computers in the educational process to provide 21st century learning skills by empowering educators, students, administrators and technology partners to be successful with technology as a learning, instructional, administrative and communication tool. Futurekids’ 45-hour professional development course, Foundations in Teacher Technology Education, used extensively in the Los Angeles Unified School District ^[3], Pennsylvania ^[4] , and other districts around the world and offered through Dell training and technology certification, is certified in a number of universities for continuing education units (CEUs) needed for teaching re-certification in the U.S.

In 2008, the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA) selected Futurekids’ Real Journeys in Technology curriculum as a 2008 CODiE awards finalist among educational software in the best instructional solution in other curriculum areas category, a category that awards the best education technology solution for students in grades preK-8 in non-core curriculum areas. Content solutions include art, foreign language, music, technology or multi-disciplinary topics. The SIIA annually recognizes excellence in software development.

Futurekids’ products and services are aligned with district, state, national and international technology standards, including the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE); the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA); Project Tomorrow, a national nonprofit educational organization with a vision to insure that today’s students are well prepared to be tomorrow’s innovators, leaders and engaged citizens of the world; and the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), a voice for K-12 education leaders who use technology strategically to improve teaching and learning.

With education squarely in the crosshairs of global technology providers, Leslie Conery, deputy CEO of ISTE, asks “How do we prepare students for living in a global society and increasingly complex world? What new knowledge and skills are needed for productive collaboration in the 21st century? And what types of learning environments foster the development of those skills?”^[5]

In 2004, Platinum Television Group selected Futurekids for a segment on Todays Family, a series that celebrates successful parenting solutions with an approach that informs, enlightens and broadens the perspectives of today's parents. The segment focused on “Building a Solid Foundation” and informed parents about technology education, encouraging them to ask their local schools to utilize the technology.

In 2005, Futurekids worked with Intel Corporation and other technology and national youth organizations in creating the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, an advocacy organization whose mission is to serve as a catalyst in positioning 21st century skills at the center of U.S. K-12 education by building collaborative partnerships among leaders in education, business, communities and government. In November 2007, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills launched Route 21, an online, one-stop shop for 21st century skills-related information, resources and tools. “Americans increasingly recognize that the U.S. education system can and should do more to prepare our young people to succeed in the rapidly evolving 21st century. Skills such as global literacy, problem solving, innovation and creativity have become critical in today’s increasingly interconnected workforce and society.”^[6]

Futurekids also participates in Intel Corporation’s Schools of Distinction Award (SODA), an award presented to two high schools, two middle schools and two elementary schools who excel in math and science education each year.

In 2006, Adobe, Intel, Lenovo Group and Futurekids created a web portal, 21st Century Connections, dedicated to delivering technology solutions that will help students learn 21st century skills. The site links students, teachers and administrators to the latest resources, creative tools and educational leaders behind digital learning. A major goal of the group is to work directly with educators to overcome the disconnect that typically exists between a district's investment in technology and its ability to integrate that technology into teacher preparation and instruction.

Also in 2006, Futurekids won a bid to provide the State of Pennsylvania professional development services and tools to assist in development of their one-to-one computing initiative for their Classrooms of the Future project. This project was expanded in 2007. Previously, in 2003, Futurekids was awarded a bid, along with Dell, to provide hardware, software and assessment tools to the state of Michigan in their one-to-one education computing initiative.

A number of studies within schools using the Futurekids products and services have shown they provide a high level of training and preparation for 21st century learning. The “Innovation and Best Practice Project” on information and communication technology conducted in Adelaide, South Australia, summarized the role of Futurekids as “It was found that the Futurekids’ curriculum engenders authentic learning and student engagement.”^[7]

A research project conducted by Boise State University, Boise, ID, to determine the effects of a new technology integration program provided by Futurekids on 5th grade students and teachers concluded the “Technology enriched learning environment had an overall positive effect on reducing a student’s anxiety towards computers and raising their level of enjoyment. ... The quantity and quality of teacher computer use in the classroom displayed statistically significant positive growth and was affected by the technology training the teachers received during this research study.”^[8]

The Center for Positive Practices, an organization to assist organizations and social systems in planning, implementing, and evaluating programmatic and systemwide practices, conducted a controlled study of the effectiveness of Futurekids, Inc.’s professional development tools and concluded, “Futurekids professional development participants performed significantly better than a non-treatment control group on posttest computer literacy ...When the computer experience is controlled for pre-program prior computer experience, the results are even more dramatic in favor of the treatment groups.”^[9]

Dramatically higher math and reading scores in the Kentwood Public Schools District (Michigan) were attributed primarily to the initiation of a technology education program in 1993. They choose to partner with Futurekids for this program because “The emphasis on higher-order thinking skills is very apparent in their curriculum. Students perform hands-on exercises on the computer and produce tangible results. Every unit is sequential, based on specific learning strategies.”^[10]

Newsome Park Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, implemented a program to teach children about technology and apply it to their personal endeavors. "The circumstances under which the instructional use of technology results in significant changes in teaching and learning were explored." By using the Futurekids solution, the school enabled thousands of children to gain a higher level of technological understanding and comprehension. In recognition of the program, the school received the 2003 “Virginia Technology Program of the Year Award,” given to schools which demonstrate excellence in technology integration within the classroom. Newsome Park was also recognized as one of 26 program excellence award winners in the U.S. by the International Technology Education Association. ^[11]

Futurekids professional development and curriculum software is available on a variety of platforms, and through direct sale, partnerships/affiliations, and franchising. A turnkey operation, Start 2 Finish, that identifies hardware needs, develops and maintains the system, assesses technology curriculum needs, and provides training for educators, is also available.

Partner companies: Over the last decade, Futurekids has partnered with a number of leading technology companies to provide a range of programs and services that meet the technology needs of the educational community. Current partner/affiliate companies include:

• CDW Government, Inc.: A wholly owned subsidiary of CDW Corporation (NASDAQ: CDWC), seller of hardware and software to meet the unique needs of education and government customers.
• Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation (CITA): CITA provides systems of accreditation that promote quality schools, continuous improvement, and student success throughout the world.
• Daekyo: Daekyo offers early childhood education, individual tutoring and home schooling to students in primary and middle school in the Korean and English languages,
• Dell: A major manufacture of computers, hardware and peripherals.
• E.nopi: The E.nopi program supplements the fundamental learning experience by preparing students for school classes and helping them to achieve maximum benefit from their academic practices.
• ePALS: ePALS Classroom Exchange™ maintains the Internet's largest community of collaborative classrooms engaged in cross-cultural exchanges, project sharing and language learning, linking learners, teachers and academic experts in 200 countries and territories.
• IBM: A leading developer and manufacturer of advanced information technologies, including computer systems, software, storage systems and microelectronics.
• Intel: A major manufacturer of hardware and software, Intel is also a leader in education efforts to improve teaching and learning through the effective use of technology. Through the Intel® Education Initiative, they are working with education leaders worldwide on solutions that support the creation of twenty-first century skills.
• JES & CO: A nationally recognized non-profit organization specializing in research and development on academic standards and dedicated to the 21st Century Education of Youth.
• Lenovo: Manufactures cutting-edge, reliable, high-quality PC products and value-added professional services.
• Microsoft Corporation: A major developer of software products focused on worker productivity applications and software development tools. Microsoft is the global leader in productivity software and solutions.
• Novell: A leading provider of software for open enterprises.
• SchoolNet: A leader in data-driven decision-making solutions that enable school districts to integrate, access and analyze student demographic and performance data across their district, school, classroom, as well as individual student.
• Tiger Woods Learning Center: The Tiger Woods Learning Center shows students how to relate what they learn in school to their future careers, and offers courses that revolve around careers in math, science, technology and language arts.
• Vital Source: A provider of downloadable digital books and learning tools.

Futurekids employs a 5-step process to manage the transformation from low tech to high tech within a school. This process, known as Prometheus Technology, customizes systems and curriculum to match the unique needs of a particular school and school system. While implementing for immediate needs, the process also looks to future planning and needs. The Prometheus Technology incorporates the following phases.

Working closely with the school’s technology coordinator, a Mentor Team completes a comprehensive assessment of the school's technology infrastructure (connectivity, hardware, and software), technology literacy of students, teachers, and administrators, and assessment of learning goals, and the school's educational mission.

Based on assessment results and an ongoing dialogue, the Mentor Team formulates a customized technology plan.

A school technology team leader participates in a personalized week-long training symposium to gain knowledge and tools required to successfully carry out the school's new technology plan.

Through collaboration and support, the school technology coordinator implements the new technology plan. During the process, each school has access to Futurekids' extensive knowledgebase, developed over the past 19 years while working with thousands of schools around the world.

At the end of each school year, the Futurekids team assesses the level of success and correlates the results to the initial technology plan benchmarks. This allows a re-evaluation of the technology plan benchmarks.

Professional development courses and programs include self-paced online programs and 6- to 45-hour training courses to integrate technology into curriculum and key subjects.

School assessment and planning tools enable schools to accurately determine the technology skills of their teachers and students, the strengths and weaknesses of their technology plan, and the limitations and possibilities of their technology infrastructure. The technology assessment programs are the result of years of research and validation by two recognized leaders in the field of educational technology, Cambridge University and Boise State University. Pre- and post-assessments are mapped to ISTE and National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) for all participants.

Individualized learning plans can be developed to focus on the specific technology skills needed.

Through the iAssessment portal, administrators, teachers, and students can work online in individualized or collaborative settings, and communicate with classrooms worldwide. The portal offers both teacher and student workspaces, online classes, and online mentoring.

Tools to aid in the development of technology curriculum are available for administrators, teachers and students. Classroom currents focuses on technology-infused language arts curriculum. Open box training focuses on wireless technology. Real journeys in technology is built around a scope and sequence of 500 learning objectives in ten key technology areas:

• Operating Environments
• Databases
• Wordprocessing
• Spreadsheets
• Graphics
• Internet
• Multimedia
• Programming
• Desktop Publishing
• Applied Technology

Board of Directors: Robert M. Davidson, Co-Founder; Janice G. Davidson, PhD, Co-Founder; Jack Alleweart; Mark Herron

Dr. David Thornburg, Advisor, The Thornburg Center

Dzana Homan, President and CEO: In 2007, Ms Homan was named a board member of the Women’s Leadership Board of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Many resources related to technological and computer literacy focused on educators are available today. A few of these are listed below.

Professional Development Online: Interactive, self-paced courses offered by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD).

Learning Point Associates: A non-profit education association that helps schools and districts plan, organize, and evaluate literacy programs for elementary, middle, and high schools.

Center for Technology in Learning: Focused on improved learning and teaching through innovation and inquiry.

• Futurekids, Inc.
• International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)
• Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA)
• Partnership for 21st Century Skills
• Route 21 Gateway
• 21st Century Connections
• Project Tomorrow
• Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)
• CDW Government, Inc.
• Center for Positive Practices
• Classrooms of the Future: Pennsylvania
• Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation (CITA)
• Daekyo
• E.nopi
• ePALS Classroom Exchange™
• Innovation and Best Practice Project, South Australia
• Intel Schools of Distinction Award (SODA)
• Intel® Education Initiative
• JES & CO
• SchoolNet
• SIIA Codie Awards Finalists
• Vital Source