Note: Hello EME5050 class! Welcome to my "teacher blog". I'm a huge blog lurker of others that talk about what works in their classrooms, and what cute crafts they made to use for their students... so I made this blog just before the New Year! So, if you look outside of the Learning Journal posts, you will see things specific to my classroom - maybe something I've made for them, or a lesson that we did that day, etc. There's no need for you to have to look if you don't like, but you're more than welcome to check out the other parts of my blog. :)
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There's no question that we live in a society run by technology, and yet day after day people make countless excuses to not learn/use the tech in their lives. Teachers seem to be the worst.
"It takes away from instruction."
"My students will be too distracted by the ads."
"I just don't have the time."
Principal Bill Powers made a post dealing with the very topic almost a year ago (on this particular blogger's birthday no less!). In it he brings up both sides of the argument involving technology, then poses the question "what do you think/believe?"
To answer Powers' question, you have to think about how much technology is integrated into life on a daily basis. For instance, I am currently writing on an Internet journal system (known as a blog) on one laptop, while my other laptop is hooked up to the TV and I'm streaming an episode of one of my favorite shows (Veronica Mars). I am also checking in with my students while they study for a Science test in Weather and the Water Cycle on studyisland.com. My boyfriend is next to me on his laptop doing class work/playing on Facebook. Between us, there sit two iPhones that are consistently checked. And that's just one specific moment.
During the day, the students in my class and I work with eight different laptops, a SmartBoard, a document camera, and my phone, which is constantly used to track "Class Dojo" points (if you don't know what that is, check it out here. My kids love it, and it makes for a great class management system!). Being able to put grades into a system that automatically calculates averages and has attendance automatically attached to it has worked wonders for being a first year teacher.
My team mates? Not so much. They complain often about not being able to do it just hand written, and about having to integrate any type of technology into their lessons. For them, it takes too much time to find the sources that can be helpful in the lessons.
But is that an excuse? To not have enough time?
My personal opinion is that no, it is not.
Educators these days are teaching to a room full of digital students that are used to having multiple technological outputs running data through their brains. Having the constant connection to just the Internet alone allows students to have access to a vast array of information that they can understand on their own terms. They can pull up any facts they want about their favorite singer, movie, or video game.
If students are able to work quickly to understand information they read online, why not use that to a teacher's advantage? If an educator's purpose is to ensure that all students master the material needed for that grade, why not let them learn using a tool that they don't only know but love?
When I was a student in elementary school, it was unheard of for a teacher to have a computer in their room. Now, we have eight in my classroom. Every year, technology charges through change, and students are charging right along with it.
So, is there an excuse to not join the technological movement? Is it okay to sit back and say "I just don't have the time," even if that site you could come across would be beneficial?
Not if you want your students to be given the best opportunity to learn.
Resources
Powers, B. (2013) Why 'I don't have time for technology' is No Longer Excusable. Retrieved from http://www.edudemic.com/i-dont-have-time-for-technology/
Shelly, G., et al (2012). Integrating Technology in a Connected World. Boston, MA: Course Technology, CENGAGE Learning
Hi Courtney!
ReplyDeleteYou said, "Educators these days are teaching to a room full of digital students that are used to having multiple technological outputs running data through their brains." I completely agree with you. Our students have grown up in a world where technology has always surrounded them. They walk into the classroom expecting to work with technology, and sometimes have skills that they can share with the teacher! What I think is important about this comment is that you focus on the fact that we have to know our students. They are "digital students" who learn differently, and expect to learn differently.
I've never been able to concentrate on homework and studying with the TV or radio on in the background. If I need to focus, I can't handle all the extra noise. Our students however, have grown up differently. They are used to having multiple devices and outlets running around them. They process information differently, and that is a key think to know when you're in the classroom trying to reach these learners. Traditional methods will work at times, but they're going to remember things much better if you've found a way to integrate a video or some other kind of technological resource. If you ask a child, they'd probably rather practice multiplication on an app or computer game than use flashcards.
What's so sad is that teachers use the excuse of not having time to look for resources as a reason not to incorporate them into lessons. This sounds silly to me because I know that many schools, counties and libraries have multiple links to resources that teachers could easily incorporate. If finding quality resources in a short amount of time is a problem, then why not divide and conquer with the other teachers on the team/grade level? You'll probably be teaching some of the same lessons anyways, and have to plan in advance, so try to decide together how to work something out. Split the week up by lesson, subject, or days, and then assign them to individuals Once everybody finds those resources that go along with the content, just share them with one another and start building a list of quality resources! Not every lesson has to have technology integrated. I think some teachers make it way too difficult for themselves.
If we're going to keep up with our students, then we have to start embracing the world of technology. If we don't, I think they will start to question our knowledge and teaching because what we'll be doing won't feel relevant to them. We want them to learn, and that means finding the best way to teach them! Technology definitely plays a role in that, and I don't think the issue of time is a very good argument to use when it comes down to the effort we make to reach our students.
~CH
Hi Courtney,
ReplyDeleteWell said. If nothing, digital natives are multitaskers. And they absolutely need the stimulation to keep their attention. No longer is it totally on the teacher to keep the students involved, but how the Teacher chooses to implement material within the classroom. Is it enough to rely on a printed book? And verbally deliver content to a class? I do not believe that this age old way of education is enough to hold a students attention span for a full day of learning.
It should also be said that by using the educational technology, that is so readily available, prepares the students for the future work place. It is imperative to understand that this is a reality, not just a notion or idea that the world just happens to be talking about. "Not having enough time" only hinders the growth of our young generations future.
I can understand how technology can be intimidating, to an individual who has had very little exposure to computers, smart phones, tablets, ebooks... but the number of individuals/Teachers sheltered from the computer age has to be dwindling I would think, or hope. I myself am not an educator, but I do design educational material for the K-12 classroom. I know we still create books, but with the support of digital product. So, I know that print is still in demand, but the time is coming, and soon that a printed book within the classroom will be a rarity.
One thing that kills me with my current school is our science curriculum. It has a whole virtual lab selection that goes along with the classroom from thinkcentral.com. Our school is pushing both science curriculum for 5th grade and technology usage in the classroom - but they won't buy the online component to help the students! They just have us using the print media only... which every lesson has HUGE parts on the online website (the "digital path") that the students can explore and relate to. It baffles me as well as upsets me that we can't use them at all. :(
Delete~C