In this article, it lays out a visual representation of what is happening in our classrooms. While, we are trying to keep up with the latest technology, it seems that most teachers are still at a loss as to what should be happening in the classroom with the technology available to them. At the moment, many teachers at our campus have a smart board, 5 student computers with internet, class response clickers, and new gadget called KINEO that our District Migrant Department has provided to out Migrant students. This apparatus is supposed to help our migrant students in leveling their knowledge on math, reading and even science skills through the program WEBACHIEVER. We have had these gadgets in our library for about two months and have been used only once because no one has been train as how to use them. I can say that Donna ISD has done a very good job at providing opportunities for us teachers to get technology savvy but unfortunate not many have taken that opportunity. We have even had the opportunity to complete technology staff development in our pajamas. As a result of these initiatives by our district, it is safe to say that our district is in the right direction as far as providing us the technology and advancing software that is available to students and teachers. Through MTT Donna Right Technology Grant, more teachers will become masters at providing the right tools so that teachers can change their attitudes towards these initiatives however more training and accountability needs to be in place in order for the students in our district develop the skills needed to compete in this technological world. In the article Top Ten Issues Shaping Today's Technology Uses in Education, we can read and make sense of how we can continue to look for a solution.
Nicely done. This is a good reflection of what is going on and what has to happen to make permanent change at the district level. What do you think it is going to take to turn things around?
Regarding the digital divide due to economics, hopefully that will change now that more affordable cable/internet packages are becoming available to lower income families. Janie, I definitely agree with you that there are several technology resources, from equipment to professional development that are available to teacher that are not getting utilized. How can we change that, I think by accountability on the teachers part. Perhaps mandate the use of hands on activities to two times per six weeks, in which the student is utilizing not just the computers, but other equipment and web 2.0 tools. Make it part of the PDAS for each teacher to provide a fully detailed lesson plans with samples of student work.
Making teachers accountable for having the students use Web 2.0 tools and other technology would be good only if the curriculum provided that time for it. With all we have to teach the students there is no time to teach any thing extra like these Web 2.0 tools. Now using technology lab time for this would be great but they want us to use that time for Lexia or other reading and math programs. I think the Administration in the District should get familiar with all these new technologies out there for them to see that we need a set time to teach them to our students so they can become familiar with them, in turn so they can use them for classroom projects.
We are in the 21st Century and every year there is a technology conference that we as teachers like to go because we like to know what is new and we are in search of greatest technology tool that we can introduce our students to, but once we have that tool we need to figure out how to integrate it and the reality is that sometimes the tool is not used to its full capacity. One of the reasons is the lack of training and the other is the lack of time. But once a teacher is trained they should practice using the tool until they can master it. We are always telling students to study so that they can master their assessments, we as teachers should practice our tools so we can master them, too.
Teachers are afraid to move their lessons into the 21st century way of learning with technology. I think a ways that we can move past these issues to it educated teachers through professional development on how these issues can be avoided with proper planning. A video example of a technology integrated lesson can help a lot as well. Many times as teachers we are told how to technology lessons, but without an example of how it should look I can understand how many teachers get confused and just decide not to do it and go back to their old way of teaching. Another item that I think can help is by putting more accountability on librarians and technology teachers. Librarians are now supposed to be considered "media specialist," and technology teachers are supposed to also be the top people who should be preforming professional development to teachers, yet many just teach their keyboarding class and do nothing for the rest of those having trouble with technology in the classroom. It is not anyone's fault, but teachers need to know that they can go to the technology teachers and librarian for technology lesson help.
Speaking to teachers on my campus, they are for the use of technologies but are reluctant to use them due to lack of support. However, as Janie mentioned, the district is on the right path. To create an innovative classroom and provide students 21st Century skills, knowledgeable staff is an integral ingredient in the process. Having Master Technology Teachers on campus will help shift the teaching process. Based on the survey created in 6342, one of the reasons teachers do not incorporate technology is that they feel is not easy to implement in the classroom due to lack of trainings. Providing teachers support and ample time not only to learn how to use the technologies but also how to integrate them into their lessons to enhance content is a must to successfully reach technology goals.
In our campus we are starting to use Kindles in the classroom. We will issue out the Kindles to the teachers this year and the 3 MTT teachers will provide trainings and strategies to implement them in the classroom. I can tell you that when we first thought of the idea, no one would listen to us but the district did and now we are working on an implementation plan and soon we will start working on the curriculum using the Kindles.
http://www.education.com/reference/article/ten-issues-shaping-today-technology/