As we begin our course in 21st Century Technology in Educational Organizations, we must ask ourselves several questions. Where have we been provides us with perspective on what technololgy means to us as a profession? What technology is emerging that may have significant impact on teaching and learning? and Where are we headed with technology? In our first class one of the students pondered the possible intrusion of technology on the personal relationship that is critical to effective teaching. How do we balance the need to ensure that our students retain their oral and written skills, while simultaneously incorporating technology into the curriculum? Because many of us entered the profession long before technology became a more prevasive presence in classroooms, we do not always understand how to appropriately use technology as a tool to enhance student performance. We also need to be mindful that the skill set that students bring to class through the use of technology at home and in the community creates a need for all of us to become aware of what is there, what is on the horizon, and how to use and understand technology in a way that maintains the unique teacher-student relationship, while at the same time providing students to apply those skills they have in a meaningful way int he classroom.
Dr. Moody
Looking at where we have come from for me means a world without the internet and computers that were bulky. I don’t remember computers when I was very young like today's children. Today’s students are coming into school more capable with technology than I ever thought would be possible and I believe it is due to the availability of computers as well as how simple they have become. It scares me to know that there are so many technology tools out there that I have no idea about. How will I possibly keep up with them and changing technology. How will I be able to and have time to learn enough to keep up with the students we have in our classrooms. While it seems like an overwhelming task it is one that is important to incorporate in the classroom to accomplish differentiation of teaching. There is an entire population of students who we are trying to engage in education and technology just might be the way to do it. The thought of where technology is heading is mind blowing since the possibilities seem endless.
ReplyDeleteTo piggyback off Dr. Moody’s computer story…I remember my dad bringing home one of the first Apple computers with floppy drives made for personal use! The technology I know has come so far since then. I am amazed by this new age of children and how they have never known anything except for the digital/multimedia age. It is no wonder that the students are bored stiff with the paperwork and testing that keeps coming their way. These children are wired differently than children of the past and we as educators need to become current with our “best practices” by incorporating our teaching with technology that is fun and exciting for them. I am very excited to see where technology is headed and how I can take these concepts and skills and apply them with my six-year-old students. I hope to learn some things in this class that I could use to engage and sustain my students’ learning attention the way a video game would rope them in.
ReplyDeleteCapitalizing on technology is definately the direction we as educators need to take. I do still believe that technology needs to be a tool in the classroom but we can not forget some of the "old fashioned" hands on experiences either. We must teach the kids to use the tools appropriately as well. I have experienced kids who cut and paste text, change a few words and are truly surprised to hear that that is plagarism for example.
ReplyDeleteStudents love using the computers but some resist it too (shocking to hear but true). I think the ones resisting sometimes like being creative in a different way. We can't assume all prefer computers for all presentations and I hope we don't forget that.
Using technology as a venue for students to communicate ideas with one another is excellent, but this communication should not replace class discussions (don't think this is an issue as a rule - obvioulsly does occur with on line courses but we are not teaching in that venue).
I have been fortunate to have the use of a slate which allows me to move around the classroom while presenting material or problems rather than be stuck at the front of the room. Our school recently purchased IPEVO which is like mini Elmos - allows me to project anything from text to objects and be interactive (one teacher used the IPEVO to allow her to zoom in on squid parts during their disecting lab (the students sill were disecting their own but she could create visuals which would have required a microscope for each person to see certain aspects that would also have required more time).
Next fall I will be one of over 30 teachers, guidance counselors, administrators and special ed teachers starting in the new Freshmen Academy at Pinkerton. At no time in my teaching career has the question "where are we headed?" seemed more significant or appropriate. This impressive building is filled with 21st century technology just waiting for us and our students. For the "immigrant" in this digital age, meeting the needs of my students with the technology they require is a task I hope I am up to.
ReplyDeleteAs teachers we must find the balance between the need for technology in the classroom and that ever important relationship between the student and the teacher. In the new academy, one of our goals is to reduce the number of freshmen failures. Can technology help to engage students who otherwise are turned off by the traditional approach to education? What I am sure of, is that as educators, we must be willing to learn and grow as the technology changes. To not embrace the innovations in technology would be a mistake. Deciding how to use that technology, while not losing the personal part of teaching, that brought most us to this profession in the first place, is going to be the real challenge.
As a relative novice in technology, I noticed that what I consider cutting edge and what my students consider cutting edge is very different. Putting together an exciting PowerPoint presentation is not much different that just lecturing to students. The fact that I am all excited to see the words fly in and out from the screen does not mean that my students find it exciting. So, not only are we faced with finding new technology to excite our students into learning, we must also be cognizant of the fact that what is new to us, may be ordinary to our students that have grown up with technology.
ReplyDeleteBringing technology into the classroom does not mean that we have to abandon teaching techniques that we have found successful in the past. We must simply incorporate those techniques into the technology. If we truly believe that memorizing perfect square numbers from 1 to 20 is essential to a students understanding of a math concept, that we should continue that practice. We can, however, find interesting ways using technology for students to present and practice that skill. Many teachers believe that using technology is abandoning their tried and true method of teaching. I do not feel this is the case. In the past students created posters, now they create web sites. The material hasn’t changed, only the medium that is used to present the material has changed.
The one line that jumped out at me is this one. To appropriately use technology as a tool to enhance student performance. That is exactly what I want to do with my classes. I want to know what works and use that. Not just use technology for its own sake but for inproving instruction and learning. I do not think giving every student a new lap top will inprove test scores or learning. It needs to be used appropiatly and in connection with some activity or assignment. Remember how amazing poer piont presentations were when they first came out. Now everyone is pretty sick of them. They really are just notes on the board.
ReplyDeleteI do have reservations about what we "give up" in order to utilize technology in our classrooms. Before anyone tries to convince me of all the wonderful benefits please note that I am fortunate enough to have an interactive white board, a document camera, individual response units in my classroom , and a rolling mac lab that is for the use of the four 5th grade classrooms and therefore often available, These tools are in addition to time I can reserve in the computer lab. I use technology in my lessons every day but am still concerned about trends I see in many students. Writing skills seem to be weakening and as others have noted students are often bored with more traditional teaching methods. While these amazing tools are here to stay and we should use them to enhance teaching not every job in the future will solely rely on the ability to use technology. As an example one of my sons repairs computers for a living - he still needed to have a face-to-face interview and write a coherent cover letter to get hired. He now has to engage customers in an appropriate manner before he ever touches the computers. When his boss has a group meeting he talks to them about the agenda in much the same way traditional teachers talk to their classes. So I want to do it all - I don't want to produce students who cannot write well or speak to an audience but I don't want to under-utilize these great tools....
ReplyDeleteMy first computer experience was in college in the mid 1970's when my math class from a small college, went into Boston University to "see" their computers in action. The "computer" filled a room the size of a classroom. We went into another room, where a professor programed a "turtle" to move around the floor. We were taught a few Basic commands and typed them into the keyboard and monitor stations and watched as our commands made the turtle move. In the 80's, our district gave workshops to teach teachers to program a Commodore computer to use in our classroom. In the early 90's my preschool children were playing games on a personal computer in our home and I was beginning to put aside my electric typewriter and use the computer as a word processor. No more correcting tape; a miracle!
ReplyDeleteToday, I have a projection cart with laptop and mobi, 5 other laptops and a desktop computer in my classroom. The school has a lab and several other technological devices that I have been shown at staff meetings and could not even tell you the names of them. My word processing skills have advanced to creating many a lovely powerpoints, weekly newsletters with pictures, not just clipart, and I thought I was doing great. But to say the least, the technology world is quicly passed me by. I see that my own children, now in college and grad school, have no difficulty adjusting to new technologies. They use the latest phones without a blink of the eye--never needing an owner's manual. My son is actually enrolled in a four year program to earn a Bachelors degree in Game Design. Yes, we are spending thousands of dollars for him to pursue his passion of creating video games. My students in fourth grade have cell phones, ipads, computers, etc. and use them all and with as little thought as using a toothbrush.
It is not the use of technology that is the problem. I do not believe this generation will ever have to "learn" how to implement and use the next new device. It is all the other byproducts of technology that worry me. I do not mean just the toxic waste in our landfills! What about the ethics, the safety and as Shawne says, the grammar and communication skills? My children's emails have lower case i when refering to themselves. When playing on line games and doing all their banking on line, are they being exposed to predators and thiefs? How can we in education instill the proper use and ethics needed? I do not think AUPs accessible from a district websites are going to be enough.
I think educators do need to be aware of technology and recieve as much training and practice as possbile to be somewhat up to date; but we still need to look at what students need to succeed in the world. Computers and blogs are no more than paper and pencils; teachers are still responsible for teaching a curriculum that will give students the necessary tools to be productive citizens. They need to read, write, understand math concepts, have a sense of history and citizenship, be able to work in cooperative groups at the very least. We do need to communicate and interact with others--the how may change--but not the skill of communicaton.
Technology can be used as a supplemental learning tool for most subjects. Some teachers are not sure how to incorporate technology into the curriculum, or even how to use some of the technology that is available. In some cases a teacher my know how to incorporate the technology in the lesson but may not feel comfortable using the technology themselves. Teacher needs to be confident in using the tools that are available for them. I am excited to be taking this course so that I will be able to incorporate more technology into my classes. Not only will I benefit from learning what is new in the technology world but I will also be able to bring the knowledge back to my students.
ReplyDeleteI think back to when I was in college (not really that long ago) and research was just starting to be done online. I spent hours in the library looking through periodicals and microfiche to find what I needed because the internet seemed unreliable and foreign. I think that it is not only the technology that is so different, but that information is so readily available to students today. At times in school, it must seem like we are torturing them with our lessons and activities that they need to wait until the end to get an answer.
ReplyDeleteI agree with dhudak, that it is important to make sure we are using technology for a purpose and not just for the sake of using it. I have found that having students show you what they know and how they can use technology is a great relationship builder in a classroom because it breaks down the barrier between teachers and students that says teachers are in charge and are the ones that must know everything about everything. Students love to show off their skills and once you have engaged them, it is sometimes easier to get them to do what you want them to do with the technology.
I am excited to see what is currently out there in tech world and what we will be coming in the near future.
In response to Dr. Moody’s post regarding technology integrations in the classroom I believe we have to be very careful in how we choose to use technology as educators. I have been lucky enough to have technology in my educational setting growing up, but it has come a long way since I was in grade school. I am privileged as a teacher to have a document camera and a rolling lab in my classroom that I use every day with my students. When these tools are not working I feel the impact and am reminded of how much I rely on them and use them to help support my curriculum. With that being said I believe it is important to balance the use of technology and basic skills with our students. It is important that they know how to use different modalities of communication. I think it is vital that schools continue to use technology when they have the opportunities because I believe every job in the future will require the use of these skills.
ReplyDeleteI am excited to continue in this course because after the first class I was eager to come home and try some of the new tools we were introduced to. If I can relay this same excitement to my kids by using these tools with them I feel that I can motivate them and get them excited and engaged in their educations.
I feel like I'm stuck in the middle of two realms. I grew up without a computer. We had an electronic typerwriter when I was in elementary school and Junior High at home but floppy disks and Apple computers at school with the Oregon Trail. Then in high school I had access to a computer for typing documents and checking e-mail with dial-up. Yet, I can't imagine what college would have been without a computer, personal color printer, internet, and instant messenger. Now I can't imagine not having my laptop at my fingertips to search the Internet for whatever I want to know and my unlimited texting plan... yet I do not have a fancy phone with access to the Web. I do not know about about all these free technological sites. I'm actually nevous that I'm falling behind with technology yet I'm the one my department comes to in regards to technology. Help me please!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, thought-provoking, and meaningful blog responses. The most common themes focus on both the how and why we will use technology as a tool to enhance teaching and learning. My first exposure to technology was when I was in the Air Force (63-67) and I was required to review the work of others and provide feedback relative to violations of policy and practice. The greenbar paper with six layers of carbon paper ran on a giant dot matrix computer. While we have come a long way since those early days of computers, I have come to understand that change is hard, particularly since the rate of change is accelerating far faster than many had anticipated. Keeping up with the pace is sometimes challenging and often stressful ...particularly when vendors are frequently trying to "sell" the latest and greatest technology to schools. What I have learned during the time Nicole and I have been working together is that partnerships are truly beneficial in any effort to introduce new technologies, new websites, new creative tools, etc. The techy (Nicole) and the pragmatist (me) are seeking to balance our goal of exposing you to exciting tools, while trying to illustrate their value in teaching and learning.
ReplyDeleteAs a PhD candidate at UNH I used the Dimond Library card catalog for several years. I traveled to UNH almost every weekend to review articles, books, etc. It was only when I was writing my dissertation in 2000-2001 that the I bought a pen that copied text and I brought the pen home, connected it to my computer and downloaded the sentences or paragraphs I needed. Now the library is mostly an electric depository that can be accessed from almost any location. My how times change.
I couldn’t agree more with bstribling…the only difference-I KNOW I have fallen behind. Colleagues, students, family members, and friends are all soo much more “tech savvy” than I am. It has actually become a running joke for them-and an ever growing fear for me. Up until just a year ago, I didn’t even have the internet at home!! Personally it was an expense I didn’t need, but more importantly, I just wanted to sort of “disconnect” on the weekends. If the need really required me to be online, I had friends and family in the area that I could use for an evening.
ReplyDeleteMy fiancé purchased a Verizon MIFI card that we are now able to link up to, and my “bucking the real world” is no longer. Here’s a more realistic problem…since last week, I have wondered how I was actually going to get on line and respond to this blog because we are blocked at school. I am not a procrastinator but the fear of not being able to get on and figure it out has prevented me until just now doing the homework assignment. This morning I woke up to another snowy day and plenty of time to figure out how to get to the point I am at now. I couldn’t figure it out, though!! It took forever and I felt more lost than ever-I am unbelievably embarrassed to admit that. I just didn’t know what to do!!
At the age of 31, I can have a great discussion with my students and actually relate to them on a very personal level because I am not that far removed. BUT, they are speaking a different language when they mention anything having to do with computers, social networking, etc. I am petrified of this class because the task of “catching up” is daunting to me. My biggest fear is to learn something and become comfortable with it only to find out I have missed the boat on the next new thing.
Once I was on the cutting edge of technology - I had an electric typewriter in college and used it to type papers for others for my pizza and beer money, I worked with one of the first mainframes at college(it was huge..), used word processing when it was almost brand new, taught one of the first computer literacy classes at PA - but about the 2nd round of VCR's I lost it and have fallen woefully behind.
ReplyDeleteI would love to use more technology in my classroom, but alas being in one of the portables makes that option difficult. Also, the process of having to sign up for a computer lab days in advance, having an interactive white board in my classroom that is not hooked up to anything, and no wireless capability doesn't help. That being said, I think we need to be careful that students are engaged no matter what type of teaching is being used. Many jobs are people oriented (the slide from the lecture last week was very interesting), so we also need to make sure that the students use of technology is not in a vacuum - that we ensure they have all the tools in their toolbox to make them successful.
I am definitely an immigrant in the digital world and a novice one at that. I remember getting an electric typewriter for my high school graduation and being excited that it wasn’t a manual! That being said, I’m so excited and yet sometimes intimidated by how quickly technology is changing. I teach very interpersonal and personal human development subjects and feel that one of my strengths is being able to connect with my students on those two levels. That level of interaction and need for personal and social connectedness will never go away no matter what new technology or gadgets our visionaries invent. So – my vision of my classroom as we are flying through the 21st century is one in which I/we can still connect on a personal face-to-face level through discussions and exploring the questions that all adolescents struggle with, but I am also excited about adding more ideas to my teacher toolkit to help them connect appropriately in other ways in and out of the classroom on-line and off to have healthy, happy relationships and become competent and productive parents and workers with children.
ReplyDeleteToday's technology is unfamiliar to teachers. They had a very different experience of school. I assume their experience was positive, based on results... they chose teaching as a profession! However, their idea of effective education naturally reflects their own experiences.
ReplyDeleteMany teachers use technology. Email is used, smartphones and texting aren't uncommon, BlackBoard is used and many teachers have a class website. Even this minimal use is far from universal, though.
There are many reasons for this. A major reason is: a major overhaul education would be necessary, requiring courage and buy-in. This is an obstacle.
I think teachers' own educational experiences, combined with general unfamiliary with modern technology, results in a lack of recognition for the potential of a technologically integrated classroom. If a teacher had an effective experience without technology in her own schooling, she is likely to think, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".
Also, because few teachers are familiar with modern technology, and so the psychological 'fear of the unknown' factor probably rears its head. Of course, people tend to fear what they don't understand. and what people fear, they tend to avoid.
A major culture shift is required in education. the obstacles mentioned above are just the tip of the iceberg. Society, circumstance and time will eventually force this change. The only question is, when?
Regarding the question of what technology is emerging that may have significant impact on teaching and learning,
a better question might be what technology is emerging that would not have an impact. New technology emerges constantly, while existing technology continues to evolve and improve. I propose that the constant evolution of technology will, itself, have a huge impact on teaching and learning.
You tube, blogs, BlackBoard and discussion boards generally are a few of the more obvious examples. Also, TeacherTube, wikis, and the massive amount of OpenCourseWare.
It's also important to note there is so much technology out there without an obvious educational connection just waiting for little creative thinking to turn it into a useful tool.
With a bit of planning, incorporating technology into the classroom will dramatically assist students in developing oral and written skills. If the technology integration plan focuses on collaboration as a key element of the classroom, students will be utilizing oral and written skills constantly! Some ideas are (1) a class wiki, which would strengthen writing and editing skills; (2) each student maintaining a blog for the course, which may be in the form of a video blog, written word, or perhaps a combination; (3) the class to go even further and integrate a lot of technology by collaborating on the class website! The possibilities are only limited by imagination!
The teacher-student relationship is a critical part of education. I can understand concern over whether a technology integrated model may have a negative impact on the relationship.
An implementation problem mentioned in the posting is one of logistics: how can a teacher possibly be expected to integrate technology into his or her classroom when the teacher awareness of existing technology as well as user skills?
The solution is simple, and addresses both the concern over preserving the teacher-student relationship as well as the teacher's lack of technical knowledge. As part of the new program, students and teachers could have a role reversal group. This way the students could partly become teachers, explaining and demonstrating to the teacher new technologies. The teacher and student group could then have a collaborative session to brainstorm uses for these technologies in their classroom.
This approach would serve both goals: teachers would learn about the technology, and the student teacher relationship would be enhanced.
Technogolgy is a becoming a very big component in the teaching of students in classrooms. These students that come into our classrooms every day are 21st century learners. There life outside of school revolves around the internet, text messaging, video games with access to chat with other gamers acorss the world and so much more. While reading this blog many questions have popped into my head about how to effectivley use technology in the classrooms. How do we get teachers to see how technology benefits students in the classroom? How do we get the tools such as computers, ipads and such to use in the classroom and how do we keep these tools up to date and effective for both student and teacher? The extensive professional development is another stressor that comes into play with getting teacher comfortable and experts in the field of teaching with technology. Another question I have is how do we allow book and paper time and technogolgy in the classroom so that students can have the best of both worlds? I am very interested to see how some very successful and high performing countries in education such as China use technology in their classrooms. Is more technology the way to go in education? Are we using if for the right reasons and where is the data to see that it is effectivley working in our classrooms across America? I enjoyed this post because it got the juices flowing, now if we can practice these 21st century needs in our classroom sooner than later we all might be a bit more successful!
ReplyDeleteThe more I learn about technology the more I envy students of today's education system. Back in my days (as my dad always says) searching the "web" was a big deal and cutting edge. The information available to you seemed endless. Oh to have a crystal ball! In a few years time the tools that are now available are amazing and actually quite overwhelming. In order to prepare my students for success in today's technologically competitive world, I first need to become familiar with these tools myself. With so many networking sites available I am hoping that the transition will be relatively painless. After all I'm not the only one in this boat. I am up for the challenge! Old dogs can learn new tricks.
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ReplyDeleteI am, and always have been, very excited about the implementation of technology in the classroom. From a very early age, I was interested in technology. I was fortunate to grow up in a school district where we began using computers as early as first grade. I feel fortunate that I have grown up being comfortable with the technologies around me and enjoy using all the new forms of technology that continue to emerge over time. I believe in using technology in the classroom to expose my students to the “new world” that surrounds us on the Internet and through computers that they can use to their advantage when used correctly. I also think that technology in the classroom can help teaching become more efficient. For the past two years, I have been lucky enough to have an Interwrite Mobi interactive whiteboard tablet to use in my classroom. It allows me to use virtual manipulatives and real diagrams and pictures to teach students about the standard content at our grade level. It certainly keeps the students interested, as they learn the new content, they are also learning the technology skills. I don’t think that this form of using technology in the classroom is making the teaching experience any less personal, just more efficient and effective. I believe it’s important for teachers to use technology to reach the learners of today because they are off to a world full of new technologies, and they too need to be ready to use them in the future.
ReplyDeleteI feel fortunate that I work in a school district that has provided all teachers with a laptop. We as teachers are able to create and implement lessons, communicate with parents/other faculty members and utilize the laptops while teaching. For example, we can project a video from YouTube from our computers onto the projection screen in our classrooms. This makes teaching "easier" because materials are at our fingertips. The only problem I see is how much technology is every teacher in my school using. Some teachers are reluctant because they have not had the proper training to use some programs. I don't think that having technology has made teaching less personal. Our students have been raised with the most technology than any other generation. I feel as though they expect to use technology. I also feel that in order for us to keep up with the rest of the world, we need as much technology as possible. Unfortunately, with budget cuts all across the country, I'm not sure this is realistic until the economy gets better.
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ReplyDeleteI really don't know where we are headed. Sometimes I believe our students are ahead of us technologically. They are great troubleshooters, and learn very well by trial and error. However, some of the basics are lacking. Dr. Moody stated, "We also need to be mindful that the skill set that students bring to class through the use of technology at home and in the community creates a need for all of us to become aware of what is there, what is on the horizon, and how to use and understand technology in a way that maintains the unique teacher-student relationship, while at the same time providing students to apply those skills they have in a meaningful way int he classroom." The skill set is unique. While they can create Wordles and navigate the Internet, they do not know how to format a word document. It troubles me that we might assume the kids actually know less than what we think they do.
ReplyDeleteI have always grown up with technology- so I am very comfortable with trying new things and making mistakes. My father worked for Digital, so we always had a computer in the house. I, personally, enjoy the technological route we are going in as a society. I find it fascinating all of the new and innovative ways to reach children and their families. I do see a struggle with it daily in my school though. Being one of the more technology savvy staff members, I often get called upon to fix problems with old technology that is not being kept up with. How are districts going to keep up with this ever-changing technology in these difficult economic times?
ReplyDeleteI agree that technology has a role in the classroom but that teachers need TIME to be trained on what’s out there and how to use it effectively. Thank goodness I am taking this class!!!! I think that most teachers, who are against change, take this stance because they do not have the time needed for them to learn this new “thing” and implement it. Whether this new “thing” is technology or competencies, both require time that a teacher’s busy schedule does not allow. My school is moving in so many different directions that it is hard to become well-skilled on all the areas that are changing in education. From differentiation, to formative assessments, to competencies, to new evaluations, to goals project, to the implementation of current technology in the classroom, it has all become a bit overwhelming, not to mention the much needed time with family and friends. I would love to learn and implement technology in my classroom and know that in the long-run (for some things) it will save me time in the future but finding the time now is difficult. I am very interested in learning about the blizzard bag approach to snow days and how they use of technology could potentially minimize the number of make-up days needed at the end of the school year. My school is currently looking into this approach and I am anxious to see the process unfold. I also think that incorporating technology is important if we want our children to keep up with the global world.
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ReplyDeleteI too have always grown up with technology. I am generally unafraid of making mistakes with technology. I learned early to backup my backups and now I am generally willing to destroy the machine in my attempts to make it do what I want it to do. I feel as though my students are generally willing to do the same and therefore they are always learning how to do new and interesting things with their technology. As a result some of our required high school classes like Basic Computer Literacy are becoming as obsolete as the technology they utilize.
ReplyDeleteI think the biggest thing is that we have no idea where we are going. Do we really need to educate students on technology when we don't know what technology they will be using when they get older. We as educators in the 21st century need to teach the skills that computers, iPADs, iPhones, smart phones and whatever else there is provide us. Students need to learn 21st century skills like problem solving, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills. The technology skills we are teaching is for technology that is not yet created. A mix of education, technology and interpersonal skills are required for a well rounded education.
ReplyDeleteI believe we do need to increase the use of technology in our classrooms. I think we owe it to our students in order for them to become successful adults in the world they are growing up in. I think we are doing them an injustice if we don’t move into the 21st century. I know many worry that it will take away from the personal relationships with students and others fear we will have to give up the teaching of reading and writing as we know it. I believe if done appropriately with the right balance it will be a win-win experience. I was one of those educators who always said I don’t know anything about technology and thank goodness I am older and will retire soon. I now feel guilty for having such beliefs and making such statements. All of us, no matter how long we have been teaching need to improve and learn about the world of technology that can enhance our teaching and the student’s learning. I think it is the responsibility of all school districts to prioritize the need for learning their teachers have and bring their schools into the 21st century.
ReplyDeleteI think it is even more imperative for our student’s who have learning disabilities and cognitive deficits. These students have not been able to access the curriculum in ways that technology allows them to do. We owe it to them to open the doors of opportunity that technology can provide them.
I think many teachers believe that using technological resources will be more work and one more thing to do. They don’t realize the the opportunities it will give them to actually make their jobs easier. I look forward to the day when the majority of our teachers have embraced the technology in today’s world and enhanced their student’s learning. I hope that day comes sooner rather than later.