- In 2017, why is technology still a class kids go to to learn to use a tool and not an integrated part of the lessons we teach?
This is something I always question! I think that education is so behind in how technology is used that, it's still taught because that's what we've done for the past 10-20 years. Many schools don't want change, even though we always want what's new and what's the best. In my district we are blessed with technology, but it's just given to teacher without any idea or rhyme with how to use it. As a younger teacher, I am a digital native so it isn't hard for me do research and figure it out for myself, when some teachers just don't understand how to use it except for a replacement for a pencil and paper or for a book.
- How can integrating technology into our teaching enrich instruction and help promote learning?
I think that it can really utilize those skills that the kids already have. They are experts and we shouldn't hinder that ability because of our insecurities when it comes to using technology. iPads and computers offer so many new and different ways to teach different subjects that we need to start taking advantage of them. Our jobs as teachers is to prepare our students for their future. Their future is going to include careers where this technology is used and they may even be pioneers in new ways that it's used. When we are behind as schools, we are putting our children behind.
Technology can make lessons more engaging if they are creating videos and learning in a way that they create. By fostering these abilities we can really see our students shine.
This sentence you shared, "Many schools don't want change, even though we always want what's new and what's the best", helped me think and do some evaluating. Change is a difficult thing for people because it means leaving the familiar, and that can be scary for some. It's also true that most of us want the newest and best because we think we're keeping up with the times and what every good school district has. I've come to understand that with privilege comes responsibility. It's a privilege to acquire the newest and best technology tools, but irresponsible and wasteful not to use it for learning purposes.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right! We are totally blessed to be given these items, but we aren't using them the way they should be used!
Delete"In my district we are blessed with technology, but it's just given to teacher without any idea or rhyme with how to use it." <<THIS!!
ReplyDeleteMy district had a TON of technology that got used very infrequently because they didn't train teachers on how to use it! We had wonderful access to a lot of tech, but little teachers took advantage of it. Now, the training was offered...But it was optional, seriously! I went to a lot of these trainings because I was genuinely curious, but the same teachers that weren't using technology almost never went, therefore increasing the "knowledge gap" between teachers when it comes to technology.
Agreed! I told my principal next year that I would be doing Google apps with my kindergartners. She then tried to sign me up for a Google App training. Super basic skills that I already knew. She wanted me to go so that I could teach incoming teachers how to use the apps. I'm like, they need to be the ones that are going because I don't need trained in something I know how to use. Things like this need to be taken advantage of, when they aren't. Then teachers complain because they don't know how to implement the technology into their lessons besides the replacement method.
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