Original article: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/59198/
In his response to an article from the Epoch Times, Paul Darin, discusses the findings a study done by the Education Development Center (EDC) which found that high school felt "they were not proficient in technology and did not feel prepared for their future." http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/59198/ Despite the increase in social networking and communication skills (texting) students did not feel ready to meet the 21 century job world.
This does not shock me, except to say, rather sarcastically, that most high school students believe they know more about computers than their teachers. But the study also found that only 8% of the teachers in the study felt competent with computers and used them in the classroom. (7/21/11) This connection, I believe is at the root of the problem. We have spent an huge amount of money getting technology in the classroom and have left it up to teachers to figure out how to use it. This is a travesty that must be stopped. For better or worse, the economic hardships hitting schools forces districts to look carefully about putting in more technology without the professional development mainly because it is truly a waste of money to put in something that will not be used to its fullest potential.
Another striking finding in this study is the realization that technology is not the magic bullet that will cure the ills of the education system. It does not inherently make someone smarter. It does however, as the study found, help teachers identify individual problems students are having (by looking at data collected and analyzed through programs like Data4Success) and then develop student-centered lessons that will address these issues. It can also, the study notes, help students find resources and shift the responsibility of learning back to the student (Darin, 2011).
This was a very revealing study. Most would conclude that high school students who use technology in their every day life should feel competent to use it in the workforce or feel prepared for the future. But as this study revealed, technology is more than Facebook, Twitter, or even Google. It truly is how one uses technology to enhance learning that has the impact.
I totally agree with your comment about school districts putting technology into classrooms, but not providing any support for teachers on how to use the technology. All too often you hear about teachers who have this piece of technology or that new software, but have no idea of what to do with it! I know that money is tight within most schools districts today, but it's unfortunate that schools do not provide a instructional technology leader. Often, classroom teachers choose to take on this role (or get unofficially appointed once word gets out that they are "tech-savvy"), but the typical classroom teacher does not have enough time to provide assistance with all the instructional technology needs of a building or district. We are seeing how important technology is for our students' futures, now we need to be sure that classroom teachers are equipped to provide instruction that includes technology integration.
ReplyDeleteOur staff has taken it upon ourselves to help each other learn and use technology in the classroom . We use some of our professional development and staff meeting time to explore new ideas and equipment. It has really helped tech-shy teachers take the leap!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately putting technology into the classroom without appropriate professional development is becoming more frequent. Our school, like many others, does not have a technology integration specialist on our staff. However, we are fortunate to be housed in the same building as the Regional Educational Media Center (REMC). Our REMC has a technology integration specialist on staff that services the entire district and provides technology training and support. Each ISD and school district throughout Michigan is assigned to a REMC. I’d suggest finding your REMC and giving them a call to see if they offer technology integration assistance for teachers in your district.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the idea. Unfortunately, our tech assistance is not that knowledgeable, but he is a great resource for grants. I appreciate the suggestion.
ReplyDeleteI work in a school that implemented a 1-1 initiative last year. Students overwhelmingly told me how tech savvy they were...and they are- at finding music, youtube videos, and video games. Everything else must be developed. We work endlessly on website evaluation and research skills in an attempt to help students conduct academic research that they can use. I do think that this will all benefit students in the long run, but it is naive for anyone to think that you can just hand every student a computer and they will flourish as a result.
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