Teacher Perceptions of the Oracle Academy Program Elspeth Payne, MA AACE E-Learn 2007

What is the Oracle Academy? Underwritten by for-profit corporation Only the first year considered here (of 2+) Only the US considered (out of 18+ countries participating) Proprietary curriculum Intensive teacher training With qualifying exam No objectives published by Oracle Curriculum entirely online: no books

Terms to Know Academy: Oracle Academy Program Academy: Oracle Academy Program Institute: in-class training for high school teachers Institute: in-class training for high school teachers Pre-Institute: Curriculum training using telephone/internet conferences Pre-Institute: Curriculum training using telephone/internet conferences

Terms to Know Adjunct: Cadre leader/high school teacher who assists instruction Adjunct: Cadre leader/high school teacher who assists instruction Cadre Leader: High school teacher certified by Oracle to teach the Academy, who leads pre- Institute training sessions Cadre Leader: High school teacher certified by Oracle to teach the Academy, who leads pre- Institute training sessions Data Modeling: First-term curriculum – how to design a database Data Modeling: First-term curriculum – how to design a database Structured Query Language: Second term curriculum. Universal programming language for all relational databases Structured Query Language: Second term curriculum. Universal programming language for all relational databases

Should we teach IT at the high school level? Does a technologically literate person make better, wiser, or more valuable choices? (Whats tech literacy?) What do we want from it? Do IT courses encourage kids to finish high school? Go to college? Do IT courses in high school encourage kids to take technical courses in college? IT jobs mostly require postsecondary degrees; globalization is affecting our IT markets but we still expect to grow What jobs can they get if they never go to college? : 2.5 million job openings in computer science, engineering, physical sciences and mathematics but they require 4-year degrees (min.) : 2.5 million job openings in computer science, engineering, physical sciences and mathematics but they require 4-year degrees (min.)

Should we teach IT at the high school level? Using factory work as an example of career employment possible without HS degree: 2001: only one in five manufacturing workers did not have high school degrees 2001: only one in five manufacturing workers did not have high school degrees 31% of manufacturing workers have post- secondary education 31% of manufacturing workers have post- secondary education By 2012: 40% of factory jobs will require post- secondary ed By 2012: 40% of factory jobs will require post- secondary ed

Whats in it for Oracle? No stated objective besides encouraging girls and minorities to be comfortable with technology No stated objective besides encouraging girls and minorities to be comfortable with technology Per Oracle: each teacher receives $250,000 in-kind donations: training, curriculum, database management Per Oracle: each teacher receives $250,000 in-kind donations: training, curriculum, database management Course licensing fee is low ($500 per course per school per year) Course licensing fee is low ($500 per course per school per year) High schools and school parents are marginal market for Oracle products High schools and school parents are marginal market for Oracle products Program graduates are not candidates for Oracle jobs Program graduates are not candidates for Oracle jobs

Academy Pros and Cons For The High School No supplies needed, its all online No supplies needed, its all online Oracle takes responsibility for curriculum standards Oracle takes responsibility for curriculum standards Familiarizes teachers with internet as medium Familiarizes teachers with internet as medium May promote public engagement by familiarizing access May promote public engagement by familiarizing access Can encourage students to take professional certification Can encourage students to take professional certification Attracts motivated kids Attracts motivated kids Might renew a teachers professional interest Might renew a teachers professional interest Students get a chapter of History of Oracle Students get a chapter of History of Oracle Oracle claims some curriculum aligned with SCANS, NCTM, and NWCET Oracle claims some curriculum aligned with SCANS, NCTM, and NWCET The lab must be up The lab must be up

The School Setting Six suburban high school teachers Six suburban high school teachers Five had dual enrollment programs (only one sure it applied to Oracle) Five had dual enrollment programs (only one sure it applied to Oracle) All attracted college-bound students All attracted college-bound students 1 of 6 had Title I funding 1 of 6 had Title I funding 5 of 6 in improvement 5 of 6 in improvement Graduation rates percent Graduation rates percent Students arent encouraged to take Oracle Certified Professional exams though Oracle will pay for first attempts Students arent encouraged to take Oracle Certified Professional exams though Oracle will pay for first attempts

The Teachers: Computer Science Background Teacher CS Background Teacher CS Background 6 had undergrad degrees, 5/6 in Business Administration or an ed degree in Business Administration 6 had undergrad degrees, 5/6 in Business Administration or an ed degree in Business Administration 5/6 had Masters: 2 in vocational ed, 1 in Supervision and Instruction 5/6 had Masters: 2 in vocational ed, 1 in Supervision and Instruction 0 had degree in computer science 0 had degree in computer science Only 1 had exposure to Oracle previously through work Only 1 had exposure to Oracle previously through work All expressed personal interest in computers All expressed personal interest in computers

The Teachers: Certifications Teacher certification Teacher certification 6/6 state certified, one in process for National Boards 6/6 state certified, one in process for National Boards 1 has Cisco and Microsoft Office certification 1 has Cisco and Microsoft Office certification 0 have Oracle Certified Professional certification 0 have Oracle Certified Professional certification 3-20 years of experience per teacher 3-20 years of experience per teacher The Academy does not contribute to meeting state certification or HQ requirements The Academy does not contribute to meeting state certification or HQ requirements

The Teachers: Recruitment Teacher Recruitment to the Academy Teacher Recruitment to the Academy Administrators recruited each of them: 2 department chairs, 2 principals, 1 as terms of job transfer Administrators recruited each of them: 2 department chairs, 2 principals, 1 as terms of job transfer 1 reported his school was approached by District central office 1 reported his school was approached by District central office 2 had any understanding of what Oracle was before starting the program 2 had any understanding of what Oracle was before starting the program If the school couldnt find a volunteer it wouldnt have the program (timing) If the school couldnt find a volunteer it wouldnt have the program (timing)

The Teachers The Preparation Experience The Institute The Institute 3 new to Academy school year 3 new to Academy school year 9-16 weeks of Pre-Institute 9-16 weeks of Pre-Institute 1 got to use student supervision time to prepare 1 got to use student supervision time to prepare 1 had to add DSL at her home 1 had to add DSL at her home 2 were challenged to coordinate telephone and internet conferences and technological connections 2 were challenged to coordinate telephone and internet conferences and technological connections None knew what to expect from Institute None knew what to expect from Institute

The Teachers: Oracle Curriculum Teaching Oracles Curriculum Teaching Oracles Curriculum 2 in Business, 1 Business/IT, 3 in IT departments (Is Oracle business application or computer programming?) 2 in Business, 1 Business/IT, 3 in IT departments (Is Oracle business application or computer programming?) 3 in IT focus schools 3 in IT focus schools 1 Oracle teacher per school 1 Oracle teacher per school No professional network No professional network All find the given curriculum too long and cut materials (soft skills such as resume writing are covered in other classes) All find the given curriculum too long and cut materials (soft skills such as resume writing are covered in other classes) Student recruitment and course viability issues Student recruitment and course viability issues

The Teachers: Class Prep Weekly Preparation Weekly Preparation 30 minutes to five hours per week 30 minutes to five hours per week All provide additional materials (avg. 10 pages/week) All provide additional materials (avg. 10 pages/week) 2 bring in guest speakers 2 bring in guest speakers 1 is preparing his own book 1 is preparing his own book Lab Equipment Lab Equipment Teacher is first line of defense Teacher is first line of defense 2-3 days reported for IT Tech to arrive 2-3 days reported for IT Tech to arrive

The Teachers Students Student Qualifications Student Qualifications students per class (1 had only two students in Academy) students per class (1 had only two students in Academy) Student drops are a concern Student drops are a concern 5/6 took juniors and seniors only 5/6 took juniors and seniors only 3 require prior coursework 3 require prior coursework All students are college bound (some to community college, none to proprietary vocational colleges) All students are college bound (some to community college, none to proprietary vocational colleges) Some get dual credit Some get dual credit Assessment Assessment Quizzes and tests all online Quizzes and tests all online

The Teachers Benefits Remuneration Remuneration No remuneration for training time No salary increase Unclear whether schools would pay for re-test fees if they needed them One has been promoted and feels that teaching the Academy helped Perceived Benefits No change in meeting or PD schedules Respect from peers No significant networking opportunities 2 have attended events they otherwise would not have 1 had offer of exploratory job interview outside of teaching

Teaching IT Teacher as classroom manager Teacher as learner instead of disseminator of knowledge Shift from memorization to inquiry and study of relationships Highly individualized instruction Teacher maintains complex IT environment Asked for special school projects

Review: Teacher Characteristics They are apparently personally motivated No salary boost No salary boost Personal interest in computers Personal interest in computers Not using Academy for Highly Qualified standing Not using Academy for Highly Qualified standing No CS teacher community per se No CS teacher community per se All create more materials for class All create more materials for class Most have advanced degrees (not in CS) Most have advanced degrees (not in CS) None took Oracle professional certification None took Oracle professional certification

Curriculum and Commercialization Outside the control of the public education system Outside the control of the public education system Pedagogy may be unsound Pedagogy may be unsound History of the corporation History of the corporation No longitudinal study on the effect of corporate- sponsored curriculum on students or teachers No longitudinal study on the effect of corporate- sponsored curriculum on students or teachers No curriculum evaluation available No curriculum evaluation available Online curriculum always risks student exposure to marketing and advertising Online curriculum always risks student exposure to marketing and advertising

Marketing In Schools: Will The Language of the Market Replace the Language of Democracy? What is Educations Role In Society? Influence student attitudes Establish civic values Transform racial, social, and economic inequities

At a time when adults talk at length about the need to teach virtue and character, the willingness to commercialize public schools speaks volumes about what adults actually mean by virtue and character. (Molnar, 2002)

Open Issues What are computers for, in schools? Drill and skill, or structures with their own form and logic to study? What are computers for, in schools? Drill and skill, or structures with their own form and logic to study? Student achievement correlations to teacher quality Student achievement correlations to teacher quality Incentives for teachers to take on new challenges Incentives for teachers to take on new challenges Teacher credentials for dual enrollment Teacher credentials for dual enrollment Definitions of Highly Qualified Definitions of Highly Qualified

Open Issues Teacher advancement Teacher advancement Cybersecurity, cyberbullying Cybersecurity, cyberbullying Additional projects for the IT teacher Additional projects for the IT teacher Declining level of overall preparation of teacher workforce Declining level of overall preparation of teacher workforce Which IT do we want in high schools, how, and why? Which IT do we want in high schools, how, and why? What do we want this program to do? Improve teachers? Encourage students? Teach employers new basic skills? What do we want this program to do? Improve teachers? Encourage students? Teach employers new basic skills?

For a copy of this paper me:

School Profiles School A School B Student pop Honors programs IB, Magnet, AP AP Dual enrollment YesYes Graduation rate 79% New school, no senior class yet AYP In Improvement Title I NoNo Rural/Urban/Subur ban Suburbansuburban

School Profiles School C School D Student pop Honors programs AP Magnet/Specialty, Talented Dual enrollment YesYes Graduation rate 82%84% AYP In Improvement OK Title I NoNo Rural/Urban/Subur ban SuburbanSuburban

School Profiles School E School F Student pop Honors programs Governors School, AP, Talented/Gifted Specialties Dual enrollment UnknownYes Graduation rate 76%79% AYP In Improvement Yes Title I NoYes Rural/Urban/S uburban suburbansuburban