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In this video, there is a lot to take in around the use of digital media in the classroom and outside the classroom. I appreciate the digital based schools approaches and ways they leverage digital media to teach, however is it realistic for us as a country, this article addresses the broken structure we have to fund public education. A few things I never heard mentioned by the anyone interviewed and would like to know:
- Are these public or private schools?
- Who is purchasing the technology? Schools? Tuition? Parents?
- How are they able to afford the maintenance of software and stay up with current cutting edge technology?
- What are their staff's backgrounds? What is their required trainings to keep up with 21st Century Learning?
Based on what I saw and listening to those interviewed, I don't think the technology is what we need to teach or structure curriculum around. It is the ability to be problem-solvers, learn how to work with others and become life-long learners, that will be open to change, and find ways to adapt to our ever-changing technological landscape. One recent article I came across Programming project comes to primary schools, discusses establishing coding clubs for elementary students to help teach about computer programming. I agree that it is important to expose students to the technology, how its used and works, but it is not necessarily going to be the only driver to keep students as life-long learners.
I think the biggest concern for public educators, is how can we facilitate the same problem-solving skills with limited technology, out-dated software and lack of resources. Currently, we fortunate to have paper until the end of the year, let alone supplying laptops for an entire classroom to use, even as a mobile computer lab. We can't assume that regular use of the latest technology is the answer to an improved education but making sure that our students have the desire to be life-long learners and ability to adapt to the technology as they grow.
I loved the article you referenced that mentioned the various fads that have promised to "save" education with technology being the latest. I am almost at the end of my degree and in many of my classes teachers have been taking classes because technology was "dumped" into their rooms/buildings and they had no idea what to do with it. No tool, no matter how wonderful will help unless it is implemented with good training and sound educational principals. I take my hat off to an administrator who can bring in something new, convince staff to jump on board, find the funds to pay for it, provide the training for staff, and get results from students. It is a huge task.
ReplyDeleteReading your post tonight, I can feel your frustration. Here is a resource to find grant money to bring technology into the schools Grant Information. Also, I understand that technology is not the answer to fix the problems in education at the moment. Technology is a way to engage students, offer differentiated learning opportunities, teach digital citizenship, foster collaboration as well as foster the love of learning to encourage life long learning. Jeff Utech is a good friend of mine who is a technology integrator at the International School in Bangkok. Here is just one post that came to mind when reading your reaction to the PBS video. Working with the Willing . Technology Integration is about the learning. It is about engagement and achieving the standards that are being taught. Using technology in the classroom is the opportunity for students to show what they know in another format that is creative and challenging to them. It offers opportunities to explore and "play" with programs and tools in order to achieve understanding. I feel your frustration and I understand the lack of technology available to students in the city. Starting small is one way to begin. Writing grants for banks of iPads or signing up for donors choose is another way to obtain technology for the classroom. Check out Maria Knee's Kindergarten classroom in Deerfield, NH Maria Knee , or a first grade/now fourth grade teachers classroom wiki first grade wiki . It is about twenty first century literacy skills and it is also an initiative of the Department of Education for the state of New Hampshire. <a href="http://nheon.org/ictliteracy/kit1.html> Ed 306.42 Technology Standards </a> I hope we can figure out a way to help bring technology to your school so you can see the benefits first hand.
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