Journal # 8

"More Than Money Matters" by Nancy Flynn
Learning & Leading with Technology, Nov. 07, Vol. 35, NO. 3

Specifically written for educators and school administrators, Nancy Flynn discusses the pros and cons of establishing a partnership with Corporate America and its schools in this article. It seems that while getting free technology and equipment would be a boon to any school district, Flynn cautions that there are many pitfalls that administrators and teachers need to be aware before they start accepting corporate quid-pro-quo gifts. Flynn lists ten guidelines for effective partnerships. They are: 1) vision 2) tech support 3) curriculum 4) colloboration and communication 5) capacity 6) commitment 7) obligations 8) product promotion 9) assessment and 10) longevity. Many of the principals, educators and tech support at the schools have shared their "wish I knew this before I signed the contract" stories resulting in Flynn ten guidelines. Sadly in many of the examples, school officials told Flynn that they had technology which they were not going to use. Sometimes, they had agreed to a partnership and the school year had started without getting the necessary software or hardware from the corporate partner. However, the school officials biggest complaint was that the corporation expected the principals, teachers and other tech-school administrators to be salespeople for the free corporate gifts. Principals often promoted these products to other school districts; unfortunately in many cases, the products didn't work with the school's infrastructure or the company would not provide the technology assistance needed once the software or hardware was installed or set up. So, the principals and teachers felt "set up." Teachers leaned that, in some cases, they needed to alter their teaching approach to match the style of the computer software program they were using as a part of a lesson plan. There were other problems as well. One principal cited an example that the corporation he partnered with did a "hit and run job." They installed the software, and just left. He had to develop teachers and other administrators as the unofficial tech support just to maintain the program since the company would not provide the necessary training and assistance. This principal cautioned to other administrators that it vital "to build capacity within your building; you're going to have to have some internal leaders. You have to learn it and use it in order to carry it out yourself." To prevent this kind of scenario, Flynn suggests to the educational community to ask questions about short and long-range plans, and to know before you buy.

How else can school administrators avoid costly partnership mistakes?
Instead of just letting the corporation pitch the product to the school district, school officials could rely on word of mouth or check the references, so to speak. They can visit other schools where the technology is being used successfully, and then go to their IT departments and ask those people to see whether or not the software or hardware would complement or be compatible with the other programs that the school district is already using. Let the IT people at the school brainstorm possible uses since they are more likely to understand the cabalities of the software and hardware programs. Too many principals acted like businessmen striking deals with corporations without fully understanding the technology they were accepting.

What are some of the benefits to accepting and giving free tech goodies?
Schools will be in a position to test-drive new software and hardware. If all goes well, they will continue to get even more goodies from their corporate partner. The schools may then be able to market themselves as a "innovation-embracing technology school" which would be a good selling point to parents and other influential people in the district. Additionally, the corporate partner could say that they're invested in the community and its younger generation. This is good p.r. for the corporation, and they have a built-in word of mouth referral program by its new generation of end-users.