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The Edutopia Poll
We live in an increasingly technological world, and K-12 education is doing its best to keep up. From laptops to interactive whiteboards, from iPods to GPS devices, many new tech tools are helping make learning interactive, project based, and fun. Still, there are many obstacles to the implementation of these tools.
Many schools and districts can't afford to put computers and iPods in every classroom. A lot of educators don't have the support they need to use technology in a way that will promote learning. Do you make use of new technology in the classroom, or is it harder than it sounds? Tell us about your experience.
embedded technology
Submitted by science teacher (not verified) on December 1, 2007 - 15:02.
The majority of my curriculum consists of lessons with embedded technology in a project-based learning environment. The older (10th, 11th grade) students have become resistant to technology even to the point of not bringing laptops (issued by the school) to class. Nor do they check e-mail - that teachers depend on to communicate with students and groups about assignments. Their reason? The school filters restrict their access to how they really want to use the computers so they don't see the point in having technology just to "do school work!" I'm not sure I will ever understand teenagers.
Do something!
Submitted by David Phillips (not verified) on November 30, 2007 - 14:01.
First, technology integration, by definition, should be integral to the content, not only a facilitation of learning.
Second, if our students are entering a world and a business environment defined by the use of technology, then we need to be using it daily.
Third, if our districts will not give us the tools, we need to find a way to get them. I teach at a small, poor, country district in Texas. Every teacher has a data projector. Each school has multiple computer labs. As media specialist, I'm doing all I can to put digital media in the hands of the teachers and I'm gradually helping them learn how to use it. The point is that we are finding a way to get technology in the hands of our students and teachers. You may have to go to businesses and recruit small contributions, seek out grants, even small ones, beg parent groups to help raise money--whatever it takes. We are educators and we have the power to do something to effect change. Do something!
I agree that many teachers
Submitted by Amy P (not verified) on October 1, 2007 - 13:52.
I agree that many teachers are afraid that something will go wrong and do not want to deal with learning something new. What they do not understand is that if they would try new technology they would be amazed by how much easier it makes teaching. Not only does technology make teaching easier but it helps keep students engaged. I have learned many different concepts and lessons from an Intel training last year that helped create lessons to bring students to a new level of learning. This certification was over a couple of months but taught how to create brochures, web sites, and power points. These were just some of the wonderful ideas I received from this training. I strongly believe that if teachers would be willing to open up the idea of technology and learn how to use it they would be really impressed. It is sad that some teachers do not see the benefits of technology in the classroom. If anything maybe they should allow their students to help them understand how to use it. Many times I have taken advice from students and have allowed them to help fix problems when something has gone wrong.
I'm still trying to find a
Submitted by Marva Richards (not verified) on October 18, 2006 - 18:02.
I'm still trying to find a way to get both my students and their parents to post comments on the brand new blog I created this semester for reflecting on the learning they are doing in our out-of school-science enrichment program. The blog contains lessons, questions, assignments, and is chock full of information and relevant resources.
The parents who have visited have praised and thanked me profusely for this "new resource". I have promised them the following: Here is an opportunity to learn how to do scholarly searches (not Googling). Here is an opportunity to publish their work to the world (not to one teacher who may award a grade but never have the time to help them critically analyse their writing). Why are they then not using it to respond to and expand the curriculum through collaboration and discourse?
We are a program that advocates strongly for parent involvement in their children's education! We are a program that touts student activism in education -that is to say- to have a say in what they learn and how they learn it. Yet, the blog is whisper quiet.
These are students who have been plied with the latest gadgets by their parents (cell phones, ipods, PS IIs). They use these social and entertainment gadgets even in the classroom (one has to remind them to "tune out" of the music and "tune in" to the class activity.) But when it's time to use technology for learning and meta-learning, the idea is met with an icy cool reception.
I am seeing many digital divides here. There is the digital divide between students who own technology and parents who merely fund it, but never master it themselves. There is a digital divide between me the educator who sees so much potential for new ways of learning and the students who refuse to stretch beyond the limits of 20th century learning methods. One divide I am yet to see is of students who do NOT have access to technology.
Marva R
New York
I am an elementary school
Submitted by Donna Montgomery (not verified) on October 18, 2006 - 17:42.
I am an elementary school principal. I write a weekly newsletter to parents. I am wondering if I could reprint "What Does 'THe World is Flat' Mean for Education" 10/17/06. I thought it was an excellent summary of the importance "learning to learn". I recommended the book last year and will do it again this year. This article might inspire people to read it as well.
We need interactive
Submitted by R. H. Richardson (not verified) on October 18, 2006 - 17:03.
We need interactive technology where students and teacher can interact in real time. This means much more than connections. It requires multiple non-keyboard modes that are quick, flexible, transmittable. Suppose we have an image/audiio-video from a field trip (or on the way to class) to share and discuss. It needs to be addressable with a pen, colored "ink", and ideally, audio. Think of a biology class where I may have seen a behavior of relevance on the walk earlier in the day. I could show it, mark on it and have students ask questions or make additional comments while in class. This isn't equivalent to a field trip or outdoor project, but it gives a way to use more senses, stimulate curiosity outside of class, and also have a record for future observations to build on. The more senses involved, the better the example. Pocket cameras with limited video create important new options. Now, if we had the other senses, like touch and smell, we might really get somewhere ... virtually.
Even though I use technology
Submitted by Matt (not verified) on October 18, 2006 - 19:23.
Even though I use technology quite frequently in instruction, the biggest obstacle that I see facing technology integration right now is school policy. I'm right now working in a rural school district that constantly bans material that individual teachers catch students working/interacting/viewing.
For example, last week the district decided to restrict Google video because one student saw an inappropriate web video.
And yet, research coming out in the past two weeks suggests games and videos are valuable tools to help facilitate learning with our kids.
So, when we read comments that the real digital divide these days are more about addressing education and entertainment resonates in the educational realm - especially with administrators who simply have blinders on what learning is and maintain that what was good 30-40 years ago is still good enough today.
If the "glitches" didn't
Submitted by Tiffany (not verified) on October 18, 2006 - 19:34.
If the "glitches" didn't take up so much teaching time. Glitches: computers freezing, bumped off internet, not enough memory, not the right downloads...... Give me a break!
Teachers would use
Submitted by Joan K (not verified) on October 18, 2006 - 19:49.
Teachers would use technology regularly and freely if equipment were permanently set up in the classrooms. In our building, many devices that would make technology palatable to use, such as projectors and white boards, need to be ordered ahead and then set up before a class to use it. If projectors were ceiling mounted and connected to computers at all times, or if Smart Boards were in every room and already calibrated and cabled up, it would make a big difference in the ease with which teachers would use it.
Sure, I'd love to use a TON
Submitted by Julie Effertz (not verified) on October 22, 2006 - 16:56.
Sure, I'd love to use a TON more technology....if I could just get my hands on some equipment! Teaching at a small, urban public school of about 300 (and yes, that's tiny in our school district), the funding just isn't there. For example, this year, I have a science class of 35 students, and 2 working microscopes. So how can I teach cellular biology? The solution is simple...just use a computer to project what cells look like under a microscope. The problem? NO projector...and no decent laptop to use with a projector if I had one. A smartboard? Would love one of those too...but begging for the past 3 years hasn't worked. I'm working on my master's degree right now and the university has all these amazing document cameras that work like an overhead projector but project anything...what I wouldn't do for one of those!
Before you say it, I've looked for grants. There are 'programs' available by manufacturers that offer discounts for technology for classrooms...but even at 50% off, I can't get my hands on the 50% that I have to pay! As for other grants the problem is most grants want some amazing, revolutionary educational project...I don't need funding for a project...I need funding for just some basic equipment! Heck...I'm still trying to find a way to get a class set of goggles for my science lab!
Although I'm in a major metropolitan school district (about 100K students), the funding just doesn't seem to ever filter down to the classrooms. With so many teachers techologically-phobic, you'd think the ones that weren't would be able to get their hands on the technology they're willing to use. Well, it's a nice dream anyway (sigh). So I'll just keep looking for grants...and playing the lottery.
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