July 1, 2011 - What about Technology in the Classroom

Technology is here to stay in schools.  It seems it’s now a matter of how will we use it for the good to foster learning.  I teach at a junior high and without direction and supervision you can imagine where those kids try to go when they hurry through an assignment or have free time in the media center or computer lab.  Students report being more attentive when their teacher uses a clicker and a power point presentation to teach rather than the old lecture using the white board and overhead.  Students may be more engaged if the teacher uses video streaming rather than a DVD or VHS.  Students really seem like it when teachers create their own interactive exercises using game makers or content generators.  My daughters both use, interactive whiteboards to accomplish the early elementary goals.  I could see teachers using podcasts, blogs and wiki sites to engage their learners.  It is controversial to use social networks sites for learning but there are those that are more conducive to education and can be set up with a closed group.  The big step for our high school is how to build the bridge between learning and allowing students to use their own gadgets such as smart phones and IPods.

No doubt we are not going back words with technology.  People bring their lap tops to church to take notes and tweet question after the sermon.  Why shouldn’t students be bringing their lap tops to school to do the same?  If we don’t keep up with our average student technology users we are going to start losing some credibility and quality attentiveness.

  I believe districts need to help bring teachers on board gradually with their expectations for technology use.  Younger teachers and the technology savvy are all over this subject and glide easily into using it.  Veteran teachers often find it hard to forsake their old ways of teaching and might just resist and choose to coast out and do the bare minimum requires such as grades on Power School and checking their email.  I am a veteran teacher and feel behind.  I know there is more out there I could be using but it takes time and practice to make it natural.  I’m glad I have patient colleagues and classes to help me along.

As Postman mentioned in his article, "Of Ludities, Learning, and Life". we need to stay focused on growing the learner as a whole not just feeding them the information and hoping they catch it by comparing their test scores.  We need great classroom discussions and role modeling of how to behave in groups and to be a good citizen of your school, family and local community. 

I also agree with what Reigeluth concluded in his article, "Beyond Technplogy Integration:  The Case for Technology Transformaion.  He said it needs to be beyond just technology integration.  It must involve educators transforming their teaching and student learning with the creative use of technologies as part of their lessons and that technology should be used if it is really helping educators to accomplish their lesson objectives not just to be hip and fill time.