I absolutely love what David Warlick said in his blog post about technology and how teachers view tech integrators (Warlick. 2010). He says that "21st century learning is about the experience, not about the tools you are using," and I completely agree. So many times I hear teachers complain about having to integrate technology and want to either make excuses or push it off on someone else. I think that for the most part, teachers are just scared to try something that they don't trust to help engage their students or make things easier in the long run. Unlike their students, teachers don't use technology as frequently or to the same degree. Our students have grown up with technology in almost every aspect of their lives. We have to decide if we want to fight it or learn how to use it so that it can benefit our kids. While teachers may use technology at school, I doubt they are using it as much as the students outside of school.
Education is changing all the time partly due to new technology that has come out and partly because of research being done that has lawmakers constantly questioning what is best for students and then updating or reworking the standards. I think that in the future, teachers will have to start doing more to keep up with what students are using outside of school just to be able to relate to them. I can already see a disconnect that is occurring when teachers have no clue what students like or are into outside of the classroom. If teachers can get to the point where they are comfortable using different technologies daily, they will be able to focus on the experience of 21st century learning, rather than the tools. Ultimately, that is what it's all about.
References:
D. Warlick. (2010, August 16). Technology for 21st Century Learning: Part 1. Retrieved from http://2cents.onlearning.us/?p=2712
I agree that some teachers are afraid of using technology because they aren't very comfortable with it themselves. They might be afraid of technology failing in class and not being able to work through problems that arise with the technology. The technology integrator should be a person who could help teachers implement specific technology within the classroom and be of assistance within the classroom as well as outside the classroom.
ReplyDeleteJulie,
ReplyDeleteI agree, I appreciated Warlick's comment regarding the experience and not the tool. I also agree that teachers are scared of the technology in some cases. I also find that teachers see the technology as the easy way out - give kids a few websites to look at or have them use the word processing, all so they can get some grading done. I try my hardest to circulate amongst my students while they complete the various assignments I embed. I don't want them to see me as hovering, but I do want them to know that I am paying attention and that I'm keeping an eye on them. Everyday I try and find the experience that represents a happy medium, keeping kids engaged while teaching them something along the way...at times I wish those who wrote the content standards thought about kids today and not just the content!
Great post,
Megan
I completely agree, technology is not about the tools but about the experience. Some technology tools can be overrated if the tool does not support the learning goals or outcome. As a technology teacher, I have seen many teachers start a lesson with technology focusing more on students using technology than why they are actually using it. Finding the balance of interesting technology to support learning goals can be challenging, but the learning goal should not be forgotten.
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