In my district, elementary students use technology, for the most part, only while they are in the technology lab. For most students, that’s about 30-60 minutes a week. I can only speak for my school when I say that technology is considered a “special” subject. Although I am thankful the teachers recognize my classes as a valuable extension of the curriculum, technology is not generally considered the key to our students’ future. In their defense, our administration uses much of our teacher’s time for professional development of core content areas. How much can we expect teachers to learn independently, when many consider themselves technology novices? On the other hand, some teachers are lax in their efforts to learn even the basic technology their students are mastering!
Lisa Thumann’s post from yesterday really spurred this idea. How do we rally our teachers behind the idea that in order to prepare our students for life in the 21st century:
- They need to teach with technology and their students need to learn with technology.
- Technology is a thinking tool.
- Technology ignites creativity and promotes intellectual, personal and social growth.
If I stood up on the table and proudly stated those heartfelt words at the next faculty meeting, the staff might brand me the new village idiot. Rather, I need the opportunity to show them that technology shouldn’t be “special” anymore.
I’m dreaming up a list of resources I will use when our administration asks me to sell the expansion of the use of technology in our district. Although I expect it to be a continuous work-in-progress, I’ll post it when it’s “finished”.
4/24/08 Thank you to Scott McLeod for posting research about educator perceptions.
