New Technology Yesterday, Old News Today
By: Ronda Brown
Promises
We are quickly transitioning from an industrial era to an information and innovation driven era. The expectations for education are higher and require the use of technology in order to achieve academic success. It is more important now than ever to keep abreast with the new technology trends, software, and devices. The job of the teacher is to prepare students for the world they will have to work in and make sure they have all the tools they need to be productive citizens. It is becoming harder and harder for teachers to prepare students for a future we can’t even imagine as times are changing quickly from what once was to something totally new.
The hope is that the use of educational technology now will better prepare them for their future. The state of Michigan’s Educational Technology Plan is centered around one goal: Prepare Michigan students to become productive citizens in a global society. The Michigan Education Technology Plan has eight objectives to support this plan and idea that “educational technology is a powerful means of improving student learning.” (MET Plan 2006 )
Pitfalls
Unfortunately, technology use has gaps and pitfalls. Technology is not cheap and it is constantly being updated. A laptop purchased today is already out of date. Every student is not entering into my classroom with the same level of expertise when it comes to technology. So I cannot assume that they will all know how to perform the task at hand, nor can I assume that every student has access to the internet or a computer at home.
The digital divide exists and as an educator I cannot ignore it. Yoder (2001) writes that "Until we enjoy universal access to technology, the Internet, and ideas on how to use them responsibly and productively, many people will wield an unfair advantage in their learning environment, in the job market, and in their daily lives." It is a sad idea to come to means with. But there lies a pitfall of technology. This also means that if my students do have access to different forms of technology and I haven’t taken the time to learn how to operate it I am creating a divide myself as well as any other teacher.
Technology Use:
Current…
Currently my use of technology in the classroom is at a minimum to my standards. I use PowerPoint or the overhead projector to accompany my lectures. I have a SchoolCenter Webpage and a Moodle website. I use the CIMS gradebook system provided by my district to keep accurate account of my students’ academic success. I also try to take advantage of features and resources from my online textbook including but not limited to lab simulations. I use discovery’s united streaming of videos as well. As of right now I don’t feel as though what I am currently using is good enough. I am teaching the way I was taught but I have randomly added a few new pieces of software here and there. I want my classroom and my technology use to be more cohesive.
…and Future
The ISTE states that an effect teacher must “model and apply the National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS•S) as they design, implement, and assess learning experiences to engage students and improve learning; enrich professional practice; and provide positive models for students, colleagues, and the community.” All teachers are supposed to use technology to:
In the future, I want to have a classroom that has the best of both worlds, the best of the face-to-face classroom environment as well as the online virtual classroom environment. I want my students to see me not as the holder of all the right answers, but as their personal guide to achieve set goals. I want my students to be fully engaged in the learning process. I want them to take ownership of their education. I don’t want them to sit through my class and not learn anything about how to find answers when you have a question not found in the classroom textbook. I want my students to be able to use technology to produce new innovations, to be able to collaborate with students who are not their best friends, to be able to conquer thinking critically, and to be able to research information effectively. In order for my classroom to be the way I envision it, I will need a plan of attack. No, a plan of achievement.
Plan to Achieve:
Time is the most critical component to trying to enhance and increase my use of technology in the educational realm. It is unrealistic to say that by the end of this year I will be a technology guru. Nor can I predict exactly what web 2.0 programs or other technology enhancements will work for me and my students. My timeline is going to be based on me making a conscious effort to take advantage of every opportunity I get to learn more about technology. I am going to be looking to my Michigan State University Educational Technology classes, technology savvy colleagues, programs my district offers, the internet, and my students to find different resources of technology.
As stated by the article “Critical Issue: Providing Professional Development for Effective Technology Use,” it is essential for me, as the teacher, to have a well-planned, ongoing professional development program that is tied to my school's curriculum goals, designed with built-in evaluation, and sustained by adequate financial and staff support if I am to use technology appropriately to promote learning for all students in my classroom. (2000)
We are quickly transitioning from an industrial era to an information and innovation driven era. The expectations for education are higher and require the use of technology in order to achieve academic success. It is more important now than ever to keep abreast with the new technology trends, software, and devices. The job of the teacher is to prepare students for the world they will have to work in and make sure they have all the tools they need to be productive citizens. It is becoming harder and harder for teachers to prepare students for a future we can’t even imagine as times are changing quickly from what once was to something totally new.
The hope is that the use of educational technology now will better prepare them for their future. The state of Michigan’s Educational Technology Plan is centered around one goal: Prepare Michigan students to become productive citizens in a global society. The Michigan Education Technology Plan has eight objectives to support this plan and idea that “educational technology is a powerful means of improving student learning.” (MET Plan 2006 )
Pitfalls
Unfortunately, technology use has gaps and pitfalls. Technology is not cheap and it is constantly being updated. A laptop purchased today is already out of date. Every student is not entering into my classroom with the same level of expertise when it comes to technology. So I cannot assume that they will all know how to perform the task at hand, nor can I assume that every student has access to the internet or a computer at home.
The digital divide exists and as an educator I cannot ignore it. Yoder (2001) writes that "Until we enjoy universal access to technology, the Internet, and ideas on how to use them responsibly and productively, many people will wield an unfair advantage in their learning environment, in the job market, and in their daily lives." It is a sad idea to come to means with. But there lies a pitfall of technology. This also means that if my students do have access to different forms of technology and I haven’t taken the time to learn how to operate it I am creating a divide myself as well as any other teacher.
Technology Use:
Current…
Currently my use of technology in the classroom is at a minimum to my standards. I use PowerPoint or the overhead projector to accompany my lectures. I have a SchoolCenter Webpage and a Moodle website. I use the CIMS gradebook system provided by my district to keep accurate account of my students’ academic success. I also try to take advantage of features and resources from my online textbook including but not limited to lab simulations. I use discovery’s united streaming of videos as well. As of right now I don’t feel as though what I am currently using is good enough. I am teaching the way I was taught but I have randomly added a few new pieces of software here and there. I want my classroom and my technology use to be more cohesive.
…and Future
The ISTE states that an effect teacher must “model and apply the National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS•S) as they design, implement, and assess learning experiences to engage students and improve learning; enrich professional practice; and provide positive models for students, colleagues, and the community.” All teachers are supposed to use technology to:
- Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
- Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
- Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
- Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
- Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
In the future, I want to have a classroom that has the best of both worlds, the best of the face-to-face classroom environment as well as the online virtual classroom environment. I want my students to see me not as the holder of all the right answers, but as their personal guide to achieve set goals. I want my students to be fully engaged in the learning process. I want them to take ownership of their education. I don’t want them to sit through my class and not learn anything about how to find answers when you have a question not found in the classroom textbook. I want my students to be able to use technology to produce new innovations, to be able to collaborate with students who are not their best friends, to be able to conquer thinking critically, and to be able to research information effectively. In order for my classroom to be the way I envision it, I will need a plan of attack. No, a plan of achievement.
Plan to Achieve:
Time is the most critical component to trying to enhance and increase my use of technology in the educational realm. It is unrealistic to say that by the end of this year I will be a technology guru. Nor can I predict exactly what web 2.0 programs or other technology enhancements will work for me and my students. My timeline is going to be based on me making a conscious effort to take advantage of every opportunity I get to learn more about technology. I am going to be looking to my Michigan State University Educational Technology classes, technology savvy colleagues, programs my district offers, the internet, and my students to find different resources of technology.
As stated by the article “Critical Issue: Providing Professional Development for Effective Technology Use,” it is essential for me, as the teacher, to have a well-planned, ongoing professional development program that is tied to my school's curriculum goals, designed with built-in evaluation, and sustained by adequate financial and staff support if I am to use technology appropriately to promote learning for all students in my classroom. (2000)
Works Cited
MET Plan 2006
NETS-for Teachers Standards 2008 http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_for_Teachers_2008.htm
NETS-for Students standards 2007 http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForStudents/2007Standards/NETS_for_Students_2007.htm
Rodriguez, Ginger. 2000. “Critical Issue: Providing Professional Development for Effective Technology Use.” North Central Regional Educational Laboratory. Retrieved on November 23, 2009. http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/te1000.htm
Yoder, M.B. (2001). The digital divide: The problem and its implications. Learning & Leading with Technology, 28(5), 10-13, +50-1.
