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The Edutopia Poll
by Sara Ring
Is using technology a must for your students? A recent survey conducted by the National Education Association, in collaboration with the American Federation of Teachers, illustrates the varying degree to which students are (and are not) required to use technology in school.
Some schools require students to engage with technology in a range of ways, from problem solving to in-class exams to homework assignments. On the other hand, few schools regularly compel students to use technology. Should school curricula mandate technology use, or should it be up to the discretion of each teacher? We want to know!
Computers are not all there is to technology...
Submitted by Wendy B (not verified) on July 11, 2008 - 13:21.
It seems that there is still a disconnect between "technology" and "computers."
Technology comes in many forms and by limiting our thoughts to only computers, we are limiting our ability to teach our students. And, it is not a necessity that students have computers at home in order to teach them about their use. If we wait until everyone has the 'ability' to access the Internet or other technologies from home, we will never move forward. (for example: If we waited to teach typing until everyone had a typewriter at home, very few would know how to type.)
I think it is high time that teachers lose the 'technophobe' attitude and take the leap into the world of technology. That doesn't mean that you have to use it every single day, but at least be open to the idea that technology can (and does) make life in the classroom more interesting.
Technology is more than computers
Submitted by Terri M (not verified) on September 7, 2008 - 10:17.
I agree that people need to realize that technology is more than just computers. There are so many other options out there for teachers to use. And, always using the same method, though exciting and new in the beginning, if used everyday, all the time would quickly become boring.
Should schools require students to use technology?
Submitted by John Samuel Cyrus (not verified) on July 1, 2008 - 10:23.
We should use technology moderately because technology alone will not meet students needs. School needs more moral teachings (the fear of God is the beginning of knowledge). Technology will not do the function of the moral values that comes from knowing the living God. Students will become more pride if we teach things beyond their requirements and ability. What America lagging behind now is not technology but moral degradation that swallows its economy and wellbeings.
Regards,
John Cyrus
Technology Mandates?
Submitted by C. Leslie Lehmann (not verified) on June 28, 2008 - 08:13.
I am a great fan of technology as a tool in the classroom. However, when it comes to mandates in education, remember that they must be funded. Current problems with technology integration that I experience either directly or through observation of my fellow teachers are many.
1) Teachers are very often not given enough time to learn how to use the technology. A 1-3 hour training session that ends with "play around with it" is not suficient. Who has time, when we have several new programs, new pieces of equipment as well as lessons to plan and students to teach? Oh, and family obligations.
2) Adequate technology support is an absolute must. Develop the lessons, prepare to use them and then have something go wrong. Then wait from days to weeks and sometimes months for the problem to be dealt with within your organization's system. Or, get most of the components for a system and then be told you are out of money until next year. My personal favorite is when they don't order cords longer than 10 feet or a piece of furniture for the equipment to sit on. Or how about an extention cord? Speakers? Headsets? Mice? And what about bandwidth. Try having 22 8-year-olds in the computer lab and the response time within a program is minutes.
3) Not all teachers, much less all children have access to affordable high speed internet.Those of you who live in metropolitan areas, please remember that there are those of us in rural areas that have to suffer with dial-up. I have students who can't afford a t.v., much less a computer and peripherials. And theiir parents are not able to troubleshoot for them.
4) Virtual manipulatives do not give the same experience as real manipulatives. Virtual worlds do not yet appeal to more than two senses. Our students need to experience the world through all five.
These are just a few of the problems facing teachers I know. We all want to do more to prepare out students for life in a world of technology, but I'm afraid that not everyone is looking at the problem from the same angle. We have come very far, very fast, but we still have a long way to go.
I, too, am a great fan of technology
Submitted by Marna Lucillo (not verified) on July 1, 2008 - 14:08.
I, too, am a great fan of technology but mandates never work and only cause friction and dissent among the workers. Instead of "forcing" a teacher to use technology, we need to show them the possibilities and offer them the time, equipment and support in order for it to succeed.
I am fortunate to work in the Lake County School District in Florida. I am one of 22 teachers - Innovative Learning Specialists (ILS)- that work at 1-2 schools. Our job is to help teachers integrate technology into the classroom with the use of Staff Development, modeling lessons in the classroom & working with teachers to develop lesson plans. The main stumbling block I have found is that the schools have computers but not much else. Over the past 3 years (since our inception), many of us have found creative ways to bring technology into the schools. It has been a slow process, but slowly the teachers are starting to see that adding technology can enhance what they already do.
ILS's not only help with the teaching aspect, but also act as a bridge between the schools and our technology department. When problems arise, we help locate the issue & fix it without having to wait for someone to come out. This has helped our tech department in resolving more critical issues and not wasting "manpower" hours coming out to a school for a simple 5 minute fix.
Other county departments, i.e. ESE, Curriculum and Staff Development, have become more flexible in working with us to help bring new ideas, software & technology into the schools & classrooms. This has really helped all departments & schools to bring a sort of "standardization" into the classrooms. It's not perfect yet, but it is getting there.
Like always, the critical needs are money & time, not mandates!
Technology in Schools
Submitted by Gloria Contreras-Holguin (not verified) on June 27, 2008 - 07:43.
During my tenure as an elementary teacher, I intergated technology into the curriculum. I also mentored teachers in my campus and was a previous Technology Coordinator in our district. During the school years, 1994-2005, my students not only posted their work on the web, but also did presentations using the skills they had acquired in technology (such as Hyper-Studio, Web Pages, PowerPt, using the internet)for the Socorro ISD, the University of TX in El Paso and at the International Technology Conference in San Francisco, CA. These students are now attending school at various Universities, and continue using their technology skills/knowlege they learned while in my classroom in the 3rd/4th/5th grade. I am a firm believer in schools requiring students to use technology and teachers at all grade levels integrating technology into the curriculum.
(See Edutopia Fall 1999 magazine) and UTEP NOVA Magazine UTEP GRADs:Preparing)
Gloria Contreras-Holguin
Assistant Principal
Bill Sybert School
Soccorro ISD
El Paso, Texas 79936
Finding funding for technology
Submitted by yvonne garcia (not verified) on June 30, 2008 - 06:55.
Hi,
I recently read your article on the technology you used in your classroom. I'm a firm believer that technology is needed for students to progress in their current and future educational experiences. My question, do you know of any grants or programs that would help me (for myself and my campus) get ELMO's and projectors for our classrooms?
Yvonne
Technology motivating rather than mandating
Submitted by Angela E. Arndt (not verified) on June 27, 2008 - 04:56.
What I see as an educator is that given the opportunity through adequate resources, innovative instruction and appropriate support for development of self-efficacy, there is not a need to mandate technology use for students or teachers. Technology is an interesting and welcome component of the instructional mix.
Teachers have complex and competing priorities with increasing restrictions and requirements that stifle their ability to implement innovations. Lack of choice in designing instruction is increasing in the current climate, mandating is the method of implementation that is most often the default. Unfortunately mandates are not always supported by resources and again teachers are put into the difficult position of meeting unrealistic requirements while attempting to create innovative learning environments comprised of multiple modes of instruction. Not surprisingly, teachers resist and become jaded when additional mandates, however well-intentioned, are implemented.
Moving from mandated to motivated is the challenge for supporting expanded technology implementation in the classroom.
Mandated use of technology
Submitted by LaVenia Clark (not verified) on June 26, 2008 - 08:20.
Yes teachers should require the use of technology. It is part of the standards in my state and many others. Technoogy while a tool is also a valuable resource that most students will use to a greater degree in the future.
balance
Submitted by Shei (not verified) on June 26, 2008 - 07:51.
There is no doubt that we are amidst the age of technology and it seems that students in the First World are more adept at it than adults. But what if the classroom or school doesn't have access to technology? I think there should be a balance.
Technology should not be the center of education but a tool that can enhance learning. As a teacher, I have used technology for certain topics. But it was not a necessity for my students. What I wanted them to do was communicate -- and not just through email or power point. They used their words and their creativity.
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