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Teacher Perceptions of the Teacher Perceptions of the Oracle Academy ProgramOracle Academy Program
Elspeth Payne, MAElspeth Payne, MA
AACE E-Learn 2007AACE E-Learn 2007
What is the Oracle What is the Oracle Academy?Academy?
Curriculum entirelyonline: no books
No objectives published by Oracle
Intensive teacher trainingWith qualifying exam
Proprietary curriculum
Only the US considered(out of 18+ countries
participating)
Only the first year considered here (of 2+)
Underwritten by for-profit corporation
Terms to KnowTerms to Know
Academy: Oracle Academy ProgramAcademy: Oracle Academy Program Institute: in-class training for high Institute: in-class training for high
school teachers school teachers Pre-Institute: Curriculum training Pre-Institute: Curriculum training
using telephone/internet conferencesusing telephone/internet conferences
Terms to KnowTerms to Know
Adjunct: Cadre leader/high school teacher Adjunct: Cadre leader/high school teacher who assists instructionwho assists instruction
Cadre Leader: High school teacher Cadre Leader: High school teacher certified by Oracle to teach the Academy, certified by Oracle to teach the Academy, who leads pre-Institute training sessionswho leads pre-Institute training sessions
Data Modeling: First-term curriculum – Data Modeling: First-term curriculum – how to design a databasehow to design a database
Structured Query Language: Second term Structured Query Language: Second term curriculum. Universal programming curriculum. Universal programming language for all relational databaseslanguage for all relational databases
Should we teach IT at the high Should we teach IT at the high school level?school level?
Does a technologically literate person make better, wiser, or more Does a technologically literate person make better, wiser, or more valuable choices? (What’s tech literacy?)valuable choices? (What’s tech literacy?)
What do we want from it?What do we want from it?Do IT courses encourage kids to finish high school? Go to college?Do IT courses encourage kids to finish high school? Go to college?
Do IT courses in high school encourage kids to take technical courses Do IT courses in high school encourage kids to take technical courses in college?in college?
IT jobs mostly require postsecondary degrees; globalization is IT jobs mostly require postsecondary degrees; globalization is affecting our IT markets but we still expect to growaffecting our IT markets but we still expect to grow
What jobs can they get if they never go to college?What jobs can they get if they never go to college? 2002 - 2012: 2.5 million job openings in computer science, 2002 - 2012: 2.5 million job openings in computer science,
engineering, physical sciences and mathematics but they require engineering, physical sciences and mathematics but they require 4-year degrees (min.)4-year degrees (min.)
Should we teach IT at the high Should we teach IT at the high school level?school level?
Using factory work as an example of career Using factory work as an example of career employment possible without HS degree:employment possible without HS degree:
2001: only one in five manufacturing 2001: only one in five manufacturing workers did not have high school degreesworkers did not have high school degrees
31% of manufacturing workers have post-31% of manufacturing workers have post-secondary educationsecondary education
By 2012: 40% of factory jobs will require By 2012: 40% of factory jobs will require post-secondary edpost-secondary ed
What’s in it for Oracle?What’s in it for Oracle?
No stated objective besides encouraging girls and No stated objective besides encouraging girls and minorities to be comfortable with technologyminorities to be comfortable with technology
Per Oracle: each teacher receives $250,000 in-kind Per Oracle: each teacher receives $250,000 in-kind donations: training, curriculum, database managementdonations: training, curriculum, database management
Course licensing fee is low ($500 per course per school per Course licensing fee is low ($500 per course per school per year)year)
High schools and school parents are marginal market for High schools and school parents are marginal market for Oracle productsOracle products
Program graduates are not candidates for Oracle jobsProgram graduates are not candidates for Oracle jobs
Academy Pros and Cons For Academy Pros and Cons For The High SchoolThe High School
No supplies needed, it’s all onlineNo supplies needed, it’s all online Oracle takes responsibility for curriculum standardsOracle takes responsibility for curriculum standards Familiarizes teachers with internet as mediumFamiliarizes teachers with internet as medium May promote public engagement by familiarizing May promote public engagement by familiarizing
accessaccess Can encourage students to take professional Can encourage students to take professional
certificationcertification Attracts motivated kidsAttracts motivated kids Might renew a teacher’s professional interestMight renew a teacher’s professional interest Students get a chapter of History of OracleStudents get a chapter of History of Oracle Oracle claims some curriculum aligned with SCANS, Oracle claims some curriculum aligned with SCANS,
NCTM, and NWCETNCTM, and NWCET The lab must be upThe lab must be up
The School SettingThe School Setting
Six suburban high school teachersSix suburban high school teachers Five had dual enrollment programs (only Five had dual enrollment programs (only
one sure it applied to Oracle)one sure it applied to Oracle) All attracted college-bound studentsAll attracted college-bound students 1 of 6 had Title I funding1 of 6 had Title I funding 5 of 6 in improvement5 of 6 in improvement Graduation rates 76-84 percentGraduation rates 76-84 percent Students aren’t encouraged to take Oracle Students aren’t encouraged to take Oracle
Certified Professional exams though Certified Professional exams though Oracle will pay for first attemptsOracle will pay for first attempts
The Teachers:The Teachers:Computer Science Background Computer Science Background Teacher CS BackgroundTeacher CS Background
6 had undergrad degrees, 5/6 in Business 6 had undergrad degrees, 5/6 in Business Administration or an ed degree in Business Administration or an ed degree in Business AdministrationAdministration
5/6 had Masters: 2 in vocational ed, 1 in 5/6 had Masters: 2 in vocational ed, 1 in Supervision and InstructionSupervision and Instruction
0 had degree in computer science0 had degree in computer science Only 1 had exposure to Oracle previously Only 1 had exposure to Oracle previously
through workthrough work All expressed personal interest in computersAll expressed personal interest in computers
The Teachers:The Teachers:CertificationsCertifications
Teacher certificationTeacher certification 6/6 state certified, one in process for 6/6 state certified, one in process for
National BoardsNational Boards 1 has Cisco and Microsoft Office certification1 has Cisco and Microsoft Office certification 0 have Oracle Certified Professional 0 have Oracle Certified Professional
certificationcertification 3-20 years of experience per teacher3-20 years of experience per teacher The Academy does not contribute to The Academy does not contribute to
meeting state certification or HQ meeting state certification or HQ requirementsrequirements
The Teachers: The Teachers: RecruitmentRecruitment
Teacher Recruitment to the AcademyTeacher Recruitment to the Academy Administrators recruited each of them: 2 department Administrators recruited each of them: 2 department
chairs, 2 principals, 1 as terms of job transferchairs, 2 principals, 1 as terms of job transfer 1 reported his school was approached by District 1 reported his school was approached by District
central officecentral office 2 had any understanding of what Oracle was before 2 had any understanding of what Oracle was before
starting the programstarting the program If the school couldn’t find a volunteer it wouldn’t have If the school couldn’t find a volunteer it wouldn’t have
the program (timing)the program (timing)
The TeachersThe TeachersThe Preparation ExperienceThe Preparation Experience
The Institute The Institute 3 new to Academy 2006-7 school year3 new to Academy 2006-7 school year 9-16 weeks of Pre-Institute9-16 weeks of Pre-Institute 1 got to use student supervision time to prepare1 got to use student supervision time to prepare 1 had to add DSL at her home1 had to add DSL at her home 2 were challenged to coordinate telephone and 2 were challenged to coordinate telephone and
internet conferences and technological internet conferences and technological connectionsconnections
None knew what to expect from InstituteNone knew what to expect from Institute
The Teachers:The Teachers:Oracle CurriculumOracle Curriculum
Teaching Oracle’s CurriculumTeaching Oracle’s Curriculum 2 in Business, 1 Business/IT, 3 in IT 2 in Business, 1 Business/IT, 3 in IT
departments (Is Oracle business application or departments (Is Oracle business application or computer programming?)computer programming?)
3 in IT focus schools3 in IT focus schools 1 Oracle teacher per school1 Oracle teacher per school No professional networkNo professional network All find the given curriculum too long and cut All find the given curriculum too long and cut
materials (soft skills such as resume writing materials (soft skills such as resume writing are covered in other classes)are covered in other classes)
Student recruitment and course viability issuesStudent recruitment and course viability issues
The Teachers:The Teachers:Class PrepClass Prep
Weekly PreparationWeekly Preparation 30 minutes to five hours per week30 minutes to five hours per week All provide additional materials (avg. 10 All provide additional materials (avg. 10
pages/week)pages/week) 2 bring in guest speakers2 bring in guest speakers 1 is preparing his “own book”1 is preparing his “own book”
Lab EquipmentLab Equipment Teacher is first line of defenseTeacher is first line of defense 2-3 days reported for IT Tech to arrive2-3 days reported for IT Tech to arrive
The Teachers’ StudentsThe Teachers’ Students
Student QualificationsStudent Qualifications 15-19 students per class (1 had only two 15-19 students per class (1 had only two
students in Academy)students in Academy) Student drops are a concernStudent drops are a concern 5/6 took juniors and seniors only5/6 took juniors and seniors only 3 require prior coursework3 require prior coursework All students are college bound (some to All students are college bound (some to
community college, none to proprietary community college, none to proprietary vocational colleges)vocational colleges)
Some get dual creditSome get dual credit AssessmentAssessment
Quizzes and tests all onlineQuizzes and tests all online
The TeachersThe TeachersBenefitsBenefits
RemunerationRemunerationNo remuneration for No remuneration for training timetraining timeNo salary increaseNo salary increaseUnclear whether Unclear whether schools would pay for schools would pay for re-test fees if they re-test fees if they needed themneeded themOne has been One has been promoted and feels promoted and feels that teaching the that teaching the Academy helpedAcademy helped
Perceived BenefitsPerceived BenefitsNo change in meeting or No change in meeting or PD schedulesPD schedulesRespect from peersRespect from peersNo significant No significant networking opportunitiesnetworking opportunities2 have attended events 2 have attended events they otherwise would they otherwise would not havenot have1 had offer of 1 had offer of exploratory job interview exploratory job interview outside of teachingoutside of teaching
Teaching ITTeaching IT
Teacher as classroom manager
Teacher as learner insteadof disseminator of knowledge
Shift from memorizationto inquiry and study of
relationships
Highly individualizedinstruction
Teacher maintainscomplex IT environment
Asked for special schoolprojects
Review: Teacher Review: Teacher CharacteristicsCharacteristics
They are apparently personally They are apparently personally motivated motivated No salary boostNo salary boost
Personal interest in computersPersonal interest in computers Not using Academy for Highly Qualified Not using Academy for Highly Qualified
standingstanding No CS teacher community per seNo CS teacher community per se All create more materials for classAll create more materials for class Most have advanced degrees (not in CS)Most have advanced degrees (not in CS) None took Oracle professional certificationNone took Oracle professional certification
Curriculum and Curriculum and CommercializationCommercialization
Outside the control of the public education Outside the control of the public education systemsystem
Pedagogy may be unsoundPedagogy may be unsound History of the corporationHistory of the corporation No longitudinal study on the effect of No longitudinal study on the effect of
corporate-sponsored curriculum on students corporate-sponsored curriculum on students or teachersor teachers
No curriculum evaluation availableNo curriculum evaluation available Online curriculum always risks student Online curriculum always risks student
exposure to marketing and advertisingexposure to marketing and advertising
Marketing In Schools: Will The Marketing In Schools: Will The Language of the Market Language of the Market Replace the Language of Replace the Language of
Democracy?Democracy?
What is Education’s Role In Society?
Influence student attitudes
Establish civic valuesTransform racial,
social, and economic inequities
““At a time when adults talk at length At a time when adults talk at length about the need to teach virtue and about the need to teach virtue and character, the willingness to character, the willingness to commercialize public schools speaks commercialize public schools speaks volumes about what adults actually volumes about what adults actually mean by “virtue” and “character”. mean by “virtue” and “character”. (Molnar, 2002)(Molnar, 2002)
Open IssuesOpen Issues
What are computers for, in schools? Drill What are computers for, in schools? Drill and skill, or structures with their own form and skill, or structures with their own form and logic to study?and logic to study?
Student achievement correlations to Student achievement correlations to teacher qualityteacher quality
Incentives for teachers to take on new Incentives for teachers to take on new challengeschallenges
Teacher credentials for dual enrollmentTeacher credentials for dual enrollment Definitions of “Highly Qualified”Definitions of “Highly Qualified”
Open IssuesOpen Issues
Teacher advancementTeacher advancement Cybersecurity, cyberbullyingCybersecurity, cyberbullying Additional projects for the IT teacherAdditional projects for the IT teacher Declining level of overall preparation of Declining level of overall preparation of
teacher workforceteacher workforce Which IT do we want in high schools, how, Which IT do we want in high schools, how,
and why?and why? What do we want this program to do? What do we want this program to do?
Improve teachers? Encourage students? Improve teachers? Encourage students? Teach employers’ new basic skills?Teach employers’ new basic skills?
School ProfilesSchool ProfilesSchool ASchool A School BSchool B
Student pop.Student pop. 18321832 22762276
Honors Honors programsprograms
IB, Magnet, APIB, Magnet, AP APAP
Dual enrollmentDual enrollment YesYes YesYes
Graduation rateGraduation rate 79%79% New school, no New school, no senior class yetsenior class yet
AYPAYP In ImprovementIn Improvement In ImprovementIn Improvement
Title ITitle I NoNo NoNo
Rural/Urban/Rural/Urban/SuburbanSuburban
SuburbanSuburban suburbansuburban
School ProfilesSchool Profiles
School CSchool C School D School D
Student pop.Student pop. 16871687 24512451
Honors Honors programsprograms
APAP Magnet/Magnet/Specialty, Specialty, TalentedTalented
Dual enrollmentDual enrollment YesYes YesYes
Graduation rateGraduation rate 82%82% 84%84%
AYPAYP In ImprovementIn Improvement OKOK
Title ITitle I NoNo NoNo
Rural/Urban/Rural/Urban/SuburbanSuburban
SuburbanSuburban SuburbanSuburban
School ProfilesSchool ProfilesSchool ESchool E School FSchool F
Student Student pop.pop. 642642 14381438
Honors Honors programsprograms
Governors School, Governors School, AP, Talented/GiftedAP, Talented/Gifted SpecialtiesSpecialties
Dual Dual enrollmentenrollment UnknownUnknown YesYes
Graduation Graduation raterate 76%76% 79%79%
AYPAYP In ImprovementIn Improvement YesYes
Title ITitle I NoNo YesYes
Rural/Rural/Urban/Urban/SuburbanSuburban suburbansuburban suburbansuburban
