http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-11-11/the-false-promise-of-classroom-technology
The title of this article got my attention, which is why I chose to read it and comment about it in my first post. This article was found on the business week website and was published last fall. The main point of this article is that we are in an educational crisis...again! The author of this article (Charles Kenny) mentioned that this seems to be the case every year. The difference now, is that one way schools are trying to solve the problem, is by throwing more technology into the classrooms in order to fix it. It should come as no surprise to us, as educators, that computers/tablets etc. are still no substitute for good teachers, backed by a commitment from parents and the community.
Good teachers know, that technology should be used as a tool for students to further educate themselves, to give them opportunities to delve deeper into issues, or as a way to communicate with others and their teachers. In 1996, Al Gore promised that every child would have access to technology by the new century. It has been discovered, that having access to computers (if not used properly or with a clear purpose/outcome) has little to no effect on learning. Some test scores actually were lowered among students who used computers intensively.
This article is not suggesting doing away with technology or to ban it from classrooms, but to train teachers on the best ways to use it (embedded within their plans) and to be used as a useful adjunct to teaching. I agree with this whole heartedly! We all know that technology can not or should not replace a teacher. For example, this year both of the elementary buildings I work in (Goodfield/Congerville) purchased an online reading program (leveled books) for our students to use. They can listen and read the stories at their level, and then answer questions about the stories. We haven't started using it yet, but the plan is to implement it within our reading groups at certain times and dates. Not everyday, but as a tool to get our struggling readers reading within or at their grade level. I'm excited to start using these new tools and to try new things in my reading groups and to try new activites in the computer lab. Of course, I will be there..all the way! :)
I completely agree that technology should not replace the teacher. While the technology can provide many avenues through which to teach a concept, the instruction is still guided by the teacher with students taking more responsibility for their learning.
ReplyDeleteI don't think at Dee-Mack High School that we are yet to the point of using technology to facilitate instruction. In too many classes, technology is still being used to replace traditional projects rather than being used as a tool for students to be further engaged in a topic or concept.
Finally, it does not surprise me that the newest way to "improve" education is to throw technology at the teacher and expect them to use it in a manner which benefits the students.
I also think that technology should not replace the teacher. A common theme among several of these articles seems to be that technology should not be used just for the sake of saying that it is used in your classroom but as a way to enhance what you are teaching. I think sometimes (I have been guilty of this too) we find a new tool that we think is neat and fit it in even where it might not be the most effective. I think that the objectives should be your primary focus and technology should improve upon the way those objectives are taught.
ReplyDeleteThe title of this article caught my attention too. I think most teachers understand that tech is a tool, because if it could teach the kids on its own, we would be out of a job. That being said, I am also guilty of finding a cool, new tool and throwing it in to my class wherever I can fit it in, because I was under the impression that "any tech is better then no tech." I have since realized that integrating technology with no clear purpose or reason is unnecessary, or sometimes downright bad for the class.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, for teachers who are completely new to tech, I don't necessarily believe trying something neat and fitting it in is bad. It's a good way to introduce successful integration of a new tech. However, after that success, the teacher must realize that for technology to truly be effective, it needs to be enhance student learning and teacher lessons, as well as be a communication tool.