TIE - "Technology Integrated Education":
An example of extensive coordination across the charter schools
Page created June 2010; last updated Nov 4, 2011
In her book “The Gulen Movement: A Sociological Analysis of a Civic Movement Rooted in Moderate Islam” (Springer, 2010) Helen Rose Ebaugh presented a view that is very much in line with the public façade that Gulen’s supporters wish to maintain:
“Like all the other Gulen-inspired institutions…there is no central organization or formal structure that administers and oversees the schools.”
Despite this statement, there is a very clear coordination across Gulen charter schools. Consider how precisely the same text about the "TIE" program, developed at the Accord Institute, appears on the websites (accessed in 2010; some links may have changed since then but documentation has been saved) of a number of Gulen schools in different geographical areas:
Magnolia Science Academy
“Technology Integrated Education (TIE) is the distinguishing program of Magnolia Science Academy, which integrates Math, Science, Social Science and Language Arts classes with technology education in a fun and comprehensive way.”
Bay Area Technology School, Oakland CA (link verified Nov 2012)
“Technology Integrated Education (TIE) is the distinguishing program of Bay Area Technology School, which integrates Math, Science, Social Science and Language Arts classes with technology education in a fun and comprehensive way.”
Beehive Science and Technology Academy, Holladay UT
“Technology Integrated Education (TIE) is the distinguishing program of Beehive Science Technology Academy, which integrates Math, Science, Social Science and Language Arts classes with technology education in a fun and comprehensive way.”
Accord Schools
“Technology Integrated Education (TIE) is the distinguishing program of Accord Schools, which integrates Math, Science, Social Science and Language Arts classes with technology education in a fun and comprehensive way.”
Pacific Technology School, Orange County CA
“Technology Integrated Education (TIE) is the distinguishing program of Pacific Technology School, which integrates Math, Science, Social Science and Language Arts classes with technology education in a fun and comprehensive way.”
Paragon Science Academy, Chandler AZ
“Technology Integrated Education (TIE) is the distinguishing program of Paragon Science Academy, which integrates Math, Science, Social Science and Language Arts classes with technology education in a fun and comprehensive way.”
Richmond Education Foundation, Virginia
“Technology Integrated Education (TIE) is the distinguishing program of our school, which integrates Math, Science, Social Science and Language Arts classes with technology education in a fun and comprehensive way.”
Sonoran Science Academy, Davis Monthan, Arizona
Sonoran Science Academy, Ahwatukee, Arizona
“Technology Integrated Education (TIE) is the distinguishing program of Sonoran Science Academy, which integrates Math, Science, Social Science and Language Arts classes with technology education in a fun and comprehensive way.”
Lotus School of Excellence, Colorado
The exact phrasing is not used on this website, but under a bullet list entitled “How Lotus is Different,” they include “Technology Integrated Education”.
IT Academy of Triangle, North Carolina
This is a proposed charter school; its website also mentions TIE.
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In the above list, we have only shown one sentence of text that is identical across the websites. In fact, nearly all these websites have these exact paragraphs in common, with only the school name altered:
"Use of multimedia devices and other technology resources in all classes enables powerful learning situations that aid students in extracting meaning out of complexity. Technology Integrated Education (TIE) is the distinguishing program of Beehive Science Technology Academy, which integrates Math, Science, Social Science and Language Arts classes with technology education in a fun and comprehensive way.
"Technology Integrated Education (TIE) aims to teach basic knowledge of computers and teach skills while integrating computers with core classes. Students gain an understanding of how computers operate and learn basic skills to successfully use programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Furthermore, they learn how to design websites and effectively use the Internet. Through the development of computer skills ranging from typing skills to using the Internet, they are able to take advantage of technology available for them today."
CONNECTION TO INTERNATIONAL GULEN SCHOOLS
Time International School, a Gulen school in Malaysia, was found in Nov 2012 to be using the same line on its website:
"Technology Integrated Education (TIE) is a distinguishing program of Time International School, which integrates Math, Science, Social Science and Language Arts classes with technology education in a fun and comprehensive way."
