オオサカ ダイガク ダイガクイン ニンゲン カガク ケンキュウカ キョウイクガクケイ

Department of Education, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University

Computers are taking increasingly prominent roles in education and as such the management and effective use of computer resources have become important issues for school administrators. Personnel capable of maintaining large-scale technological infrastructures and responding to the needs of faculty and administrative staff have to be hired. Also, training programs and support infrastructures have to be designed and implemented. Managing these tasks is beyond what most members of a traditional school district's teaching and administrative staff are qualified or capable of so it has become necessary to bring in people with these special skills. In the United States, a position called a "School CIO" has been created to fulfill this role. This paper discusses a research project carried out to study the pioneering development and current state of the School CIO position in the United States. The study found that the School CIO position was inspired by the business world and is spreading in school districts with increasing usage of computers in education. Interviews with School CIOs revealed many benefits to the establishment of School CIO positions not limited to improved management of technology, including improved student grades, more knowledgeable staff, and better communication with the local communities.