Technology Proficiency License

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Permalink Reply by Anthony Vestyck on July 30, 2009 at 8:56am

GOOD GOD YES! ADMINISTRATIONS INCLUDED ! At least to some minimal level. How are you ever going to convince your administration what is possible when they look at you with that dumb stare because they have no clue, Then with all the confidence in the world and the indication they even know what you just explained, they deny your request. OMG if I can live to see anything ........Not that I approve of all the available products or apps but thanks to any administrators that are keeping their finger on the pulse.

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Permalink Reply by Kelly Reierson on July 30, 2009 at 9:31am

Yes! Although I think schools need to provide the training free for teachers who they employ who do not have the training. We wouldn't let teachers who couldn't read or write teach---isn't being technologically literate just as important?

Kelly

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Permalink Reply by Kiwi Commons on July 30, 2009 at 2:58pm

I agree that this is indeed a pertinent topic. It is vital that we bring teachers up to speed with today's ever-evolving technological challenges and their benefits.

A document released by the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organizations on ICT Competency Standards for Teachers cites;

"Schools and classrooms, both real and virtual, must have teachers who are equipped with technology
resources and skills and who can effectively teach the necessary subject matter content while
incorporating technology concepts and skills. Interactive computer simulations, digital and open
educational resources, and sophisticated data-gathering and analysis tools are only a few of the
resources that enable teachers to provide previously unimaginable opportunities for conceptual
understanding.
Traditional educational practices no longer provide prospective teachers with all the necessary skills
for teaching students to survive economically in today’s workplace."
(for the full .pdf, please see; http://cst.unesco-ci.org/sites/projects/cst/The%20Standards/ICT-CST...)

As educators, what do you feel the minimum requirements for being 'technologically competent' should be?

Does anyone have any ideas as to what they would like see on the teachers' curriculum?

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Permalink Reply by David McGavock on September 14, 2009 at 6:55am

Our district is sifting through various documents that specify what teachers should know to be deemed tech proficient. ISTE's document is good but way too broad. Other documents are simply a shopping list of skills. We need a target of skills that are realistic -> moving from basic to advanced. Teachers need to see the relevance for technology in their daily lessons but first they need to understand how to start a web browser.

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Permalink Reply by David McGavock on September 14, 2009 at 6:49am

What states require this? I would like to inspire teachers to meet tech proficiency rather than hand them one more hurdle to complete in their busy day. That said, people might not push themselves to become proficient without some concrete requirement. The benefit of a license is that it would provide a tangible target for them to work toward.

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Permalink Reply by David Warlick on September 14, 2009 at 8:16am

I guess I'll go against the grain and say, "No!" I do not believe that teachers should have to earn a "drivers license" for technology. First of all, what skills should they learn? Should all teachers learn the same skills? Does a history teacher need the same skills as a science, math, or kindergarten teacher? If we are just thinking about the most basic and common skills and focusing on them, then many teachers will go no further.

I think that it is far more important for schools, administrators, and their communities to come to expect that their students are learning with and within a contemporary information environment. They (students and teachers) should all be using and constructing digital, network, and abundant information/content.

The answer is simple -- I think! Simply say, "No more paper." No more paper into your classroom. No more paper out. All student work will be delivered digitally and via networks. All instructional materials will be digital and networked (an mostly teacher produced).

To teach in this environment, teachers will have to adapt -- and they will learn that it isn't nearly as difficult as 25 things they are already doing every day, and that it opens up possibilities that they hadn't even imagined.

My 2¢ Worth

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Permalink Reply by David McGavock on September 17, 2009 at 2:36pm

Sounds nice in theory. If we assume that everyone is inspired (willing to look at this as an opportunity), self reliant and persistent in their desire to learn an edict like "no more paper" will be enough. I find this applies to 1/3 of our teachers. Another 1/3 are asking what we expect them to know. They want more direction. This group and the even less motivated 1/3 need some structure AND appear to need a lot of support. I'm not saying we need to be draconian in our requirements. But some people need more. My experience with a laissez-faire training is that it doesn't happen. We are asking teachers to change their methods. They deserve some support for making this easier.

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Permalink Reply by David Warlick on September 17, 2009 at 3:25pm

I agree with your break down. It's probably pretty close. But for those very reasons, I do not see a lot of success in requiring the first, second, and other thirds of the teachers to take some workshops and then pass a test. It shows that they've learned the skills with almost no assurance that their students will learn in a way that is any more relevant than what's happening today. That's why I suggest that we change the environment. Saying, "No more paper." would be only one of the changes.

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