In reading the article Beyond Technology Integration, I find myself agreeing with it not being the use of technology but how to teach it. In the conclusion it states "These changes highlight the need for us to go beyond technology integration with teaching to technology transformation of teaching and learning."
I feel that there are teachers out there that need to change the way in which they are teaching a class and focus more on the method of attainment-based instead of time-based. I am not saying that teachers aren't willing to do this but perhaps there are those out there that don't understand the difference and they themselves need to be trained in a different teaching method.
When I was in school it was totally standardization and like the article states it needs to be more customized. Certain students can not learn as fast as others and that in turn holds back the students that can. So, yes some customization needs to be done in the schools. I think once that is corrected students will be able to learn more and at the correct pace for that individual.
I am sure that is a lot of work for the teachers and they don't get paid nearly enough for the work they do and that is a totally seperate issue! But, I know that there are those excellent teachers out there though, who are willing to go above and beyond for the sake of the student and those are the teachers I hope will eventually be teaching my children.
Now as far as the Luddites article, I disagree with him for the most part. I understand the views on why do we need to keep updating technology and how it puts old technology out of business but he needs to understand that the world is ever changing. And part of living is to change with the times. The way he acted towards the car salesman about the cruise control and power locks just shows his resistance to technology changes. I work with several people who are not willing to learn the new technology trends and they are very hard to work with. They feel if it's not broke than don't fix it but, I say why not improve it? I don't feel that technology changing is a bad thing and I do feel that we need to have our K-12 students learning from the latest technology.
The fact is that our environment, our world runs on technology and if we don't educate the generation coming up from K-12 then what will happen in the world. Will the students graduating from the schools here be able to compete with those across the world. Our schools need to have technology in them and we need to figure out the best way to teach this to them so they can have prosperous and successful lives of their own someday. We are preparing them for the world of tomorrow and you need technology to do that!
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4 comments:
"The fact is that our environment, our world runs on technology and if we don't educate the generation coming up from K-12 then what will happen in the world."
I agree completely! I did a month exchange program to Germany when I was in High School. They brought "the Americans" in to meet the 5th grade class and they were working on math that was beyond my knowledge and spoke almost perfect English. This experience really got me to buckle down during my last year of high school because I saw what my competition was.
I think technology can really help this too for example if our students do a video conference with students elsewhere in the world, they will see that they are doing more advanced this and be inspired to do the same.
I agree, Melissa, that times are constantly changing. We should be able to role with it. Unfortunately right now, my students know more than me when it comes to technology--and I'm only 30. I didn't realize how old that made me technologically!
Any way, it's not a bad thing learning from my students. And you are right that more teachers need to be taught how to teach and use technology as a useful tool. We must be using it wrong in my school because right now all it feels like is that I am babysitting these kids from going on sites they shouldn't be on.
km's reply to you is a great idea of how to use technology. Maybe a video conference would light a fire under some of my students when they see what other students are doing.
I completely agree that students need a more individualized plan. A student's typing speed actually makes a big difference in what the can accomplish in a computer classroom. Our courses are set assuming most students at least type 30 words a minute since students should have already take typing twice if they have stayed within our district. I have had a couple that type 80-90 words a minute. I don't have much of a choice but to let them work ahead otherwise what are they going to do? It creates a lot more work for more making sure I have everything ready and it takes a lot more time grading. However, I still think it is worth my time and effort. If a students finishes the course early, they must pick something else computer related to study and then are graded our their progression and class work ethic.
I agree, I strongly believe in customized plans for our students. But now with the new cookie cutter requirements from state I feel that customization and individual plans are going out the window.
In my classroom I try to make projects reach out to all different types of learning styles and interests of the students. With customization and personalization students tend to be more energized and focused on their learning.
I also agree with your analysis of the Luddites article. We are as educators refuse to get with the times and learn the technology of today, then who is going to teach our children and students the possibilities of technology integrated in education. This is also important because students today love technology and they are going to abuse it right under our nose without us evening knowing about it, unless we know and understand what is out there. Technology is here to stay, I would rather get on board than behind in the dust.
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