June 27, 2006

Response to Hearing on Improving Classroom Instruction through the use of Technology

Amanda McDonald Crowley
Executive Director, Eyebeam, art and technology center

Good afternoon. It’s a pleasure to be here to testify today about the importance of technology and, from our perspective, the arts within the school system.

These days, one would think that no one would argue this point. Study after study has shown that students who have arts and technological training in the mix perform better across every indicator. Furthermore, artists and cultural practitioners have long been key innovators in the use of new technologies.

And yet the City Council’s own reports have shown that historically, when push comes to shove, it is the arts that are relegated to the margins.

These same reports show that technology, which fares somewhat better than the arts, still suffers from insufficient resources to keep the public school system up to date with hardware and software, while striving to reduce the number of students sharing a computer.

One figure that I saw estimated that it would take nearly $200 million just to reduce the ratio from 1 computer for every eight students to 1 computer for every 4 students in the NYC public school system.

That’s still a lot of competition for scarce technological resources.

As we live in a world surrounded by more and more digital technology it becomes increasingly important to understand that our role as educators is to provide technology in support of existing content areas like language, arts, science, and math but equally importantly, it is to guide young people in a critical understanding of the technology they use.

We must work with young people to assist them to be not simply consumers of technology but equip them as active participants, contributing to cultural, social, scientific and economic content enabled by technology.

Eyebeam has always regarded itself as a partner in this endeavor with the students & teachers of the NYC public school system, the School Board, the parents, and now the City Council.

It's no longer enough to just spend some money on computers, software, and an Internet connection. Effective technology integration for K-12 classrooms today should include a critical understanding of the technology itself, particularly when it comes to information.

Given that we are living and working in a city with some of the greatest technology innovators in the world, we should exploit every opportunity to partner young people with the creative people who are pushing the technology and inventing tomorrow's state of the art.

Eyebeam Art & Technology Center was founded in 1997 to be just the kind of place where creativity would thrive at the nexus of art & technology.

It comprises three core aspects: Education and Learning Lab; Research & Development Lab; Production Studio.

At Eyebeam, the Education and Learning Lab came first, a place to foster collaboration with the public school system, cultural institutions, and community organizations.

Eyebeam placed its earliest emphasis on meeting the art & technology needs of underserved public school students, those least able to bridge the digital divide.

Eyebeam has been dedicated to providing learning experiences that leverage the power of technology particularly in these communities.

And, importantly, our focus has always been BOTH upon the student and the teacher with artists as the lead educators.

We involve students in tasks that elicit higher-order thinking, that build on a mastery of basic concepts and skills acquired in school and at home.

We are interested in using digital tools to foster creativity, to provide opportunities for students to be active participants, using technology to create meaningful projects.

Eyebeam provides direct involvement with the arts and artists.

At the moment, there are 23 artists and creative technologists working at Eyebeam on a fellowship or residency.

It is they who are among the key innovators of information technologies.

It is they who challenge the technologies, pushing them beyond the current boundaries.

At any given time, at least 4 of these artists are dedicated teaching artists who are working in the Education and Learning Lab.

They are artists who have their own practices at Eyebeam and who also share their skills and knowledge with the next generation.

As an example of what we are talking about: the wireless transmission of environmental data from sensors in one's own neighborhood to computers in the classroom might help students understand ecology and public health issues in ways that aren't discernible through a textbook.

Current Eyebeam artist in residence Brooke Singer is prototyping portable air quality measurement kits that could be used to monitor various air pollutants in areas at risk.

Think of what kind of impact this technology could have on our neighborhoods with high asthma rates like Central Harlem, Willamsburg-Bushwick, and Crotona-Tremont.

Eyebeam’s experience spans the full range of the school age population, with the exception of pre-school.

Among the programs we offer:

Digital Day Camp: a month-long summer program for high school students that melds art, technology and social issues.

During one of our DDC programs, Eyebeam Artist Cory Arcangel taught young people not just how to disassemble and reassemble their portable gaming devices but then how to program their own games – a different approach to what the video game industry might intend.

After-School Atelier: a program that teaches teens digital imaging techniques.

They also get hands on training in the advanced technologies we employ including 3D printing and fabrication, laser cutting, 3D modeling software, data visualization, physical computing.

Girl’s Eye View: a program for girl’s only, taught by female artists, addressing the tendency for girls to move away from technology when there is competition with boys.

We have seen in our Education Studio the power of creativity unleashed with the most remarkable results among students who are less experienced with the technology.

With the proper mix of time, access to state-of-the-art technology, and lively and challenging mentorship, time and again we watch as these young people find their voice as creators and thoughtful critics.

Unlike standard metrics applied to test technological mastery, the proof at Eyebeam is in the creative expression.

Through the creative process, we see these students express themselves and become more connected to the cultural community.

We are here this afternoon to encourage the Council to do everything in its power to ensure sufficient resources for the most modern technology infrastructure and the training that goes with it across the system.

Technology in education is not just a matter of employability, but one of social and civic awareness, empowerment, and responsibility.

When the basic foundation is laid within the school system, Eyebeam’s job of creating the next generation of artists and informed citizens is made that much easier.

I thank you for the opportunity to appear before you this afternoon.

Amanda McDonald Crowley
Executive Director
Eyebeam
http://www.eyebeam.org