Why is the Ed. Tech Community so far behind the "Real World" with technology adoption? - Classroom 2.02024-03-28T11:00:47Zhttps://www.classroom20.com/forum/topics/why-is-the-ed-tech-community?commentId=649749%3AComment%3A312804&feed=yes&xn_auth=noOur district used to be a lea…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-03-29:649749:Comment:3173292009-03-29T15:50:48.040ZGary Millerhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/GaryMiller
Our district used to be a leader, I was one of 17 Instructional Technology Specialists to help teachers. We did that for 6 years, then they cut us because after that amount of time they decided the teachers should know everything they needed to know. We saw a dramatic drop in computer usage over the next 2 years.<br />
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It takes an entire community to understand and tackle the problems. It does begin with the money to stay updated, but teacher training is a paramount piece of the puzzle. It doesn't…
Our district used to be a leader, I was one of 17 Instructional Technology Specialists to help teachers. We did that for 6 years, then they cut us because after that amount of time they decided the teachers should know everything they needed to know. We saw a dramatic drop in computer usage over the next 2 years.<br />
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It takes an entire community to understand and tackle the problems. It does begin with the money to stay updated, but teacher training is a paramount piece of the puzzle. It doesn't matter how good your infrastructure is, if teachers aren't comfortable with it, it will not be used effectively.<br />
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Using hand helds and cell phones are a good example of your trickle up theory. Right now, few schools are leveraging this technology. I believe within 10 years, every student will be required to bring their cell phone (hand held computer). And I think parents and students will be the drivers on this issue. Today, schools are afraid because of the safety issues.<br />
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The good thing . . . things can only get better from here! I agree with all of the state…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-03-29:649749:Comment:3172212009-03-29T13:11:32.833ZRoland O'Danielhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/RolandODaniel
I agree with all of the statements being made, but wonder, what can we do about it? We have a significant number of educators involved in this discussion who have power to bring their schools/districts a little closer to a system that empowers students to use technology more effectively. What are we each willing to commit to? How can I make a difference in such a large system?<br />
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Complex systems take time to change and then the system has to prioritize and commit to that change. We know the…
I agree with all of the statements being made, but wonder, what can we do about it? We have a significant number of educators involved in this discussion who have power to bring their schools/districts a little closer to a system that empowers students to use technology more effectively. What are we each willing to commit to? How can I make a difference in such a large system?<br />
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Complex systems take time to change and then the system has to prioritize and commit to that change. We know the education system does not have a cohesive plan nor a single vision of what those priorities should/could be, but that doesn't mean that we can't affect change on a small scale.<br />
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Steve started this group to bring early implementers together to give 'us' (I'll assume most if not all of us are that group, yes I know it's an assumption) a voice to organize our thinking, devise cohesive approaches to incorporating and making our classrooms 2.0 enabled. My challenge/question is how can we not only make our classrooms web 2.0 enabledbut bring at least one other classroom along with us? Anyone want to focus this conversation on possible approaches? or am I off base? Perhaps it goes back to two f…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-03-28:649749:Comment:3167992009-03-28T22:33:26.975ZJ Blackhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/JBlack
Perhaps it goes back to two fundamental educational philosophies that have shaped our system -- essentialism vs. progressivism. With NCLB the pendulum has unmistakenly shifted back towards the essentialists. Both philosohpies have great merit and it'd be nice to see each understand the other. Technology integration in education is not curricular kitsch.
Perhaps it goes back to two fundamental educational philosophies that have shaped our system -- essentialism vs. progressivism. With NCLB the pendulum has unmistakenly shifted back towards the essentialists. Both philosohpies have great merit and it'd be nice to see each understand the other. Technology integration in education is not curricular kitsch. "Our students are more prepar…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-03-28:649749:Comment:3167922009-03-28T22:18:29.963ZGary Millerhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/GaryMiller
"Our students are more prepared for the industrial revolution than any generation in history"<br />
"Only 2 entities forbid the use of cell phones, The Taliban, and US Schools!"<br />
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Are we behind? YES! Why? Lack of Leadership is a good place to start. Our Superintendent doesn't know how to use email, that is what he has a secretary for. Our IT dept leader came from the business world, doesn't understand the first thing about education.<br />
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I really don't believe things will ever change under the present…
"Our students are more prepared for the industrial revolution than any generation in history"<br />
"Only 2 entities forbid the use of cell phones, The Taliban, and US Schools!"<br />
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Are we behind? YES! Why? Lack of Leadership is a good place to start. Our Superintendent doesn't know how to use email, that is what he has a secretary for. Our IT dept leader came from the business world, doesn't understand the first thing about education.<br />
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I really don't believe things will ever change under the present educational system. Do our students really need to know penmanship or multiplication tables? Do we need to teach them programs like Word and Excel?<br />
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My thought is that we need to teach them how to THINK and LEARN on their own. I really do not believe we can do that with our present system. Will it ever change? I don't think so, because the powers don't want it to. Look at the risk/reward payof…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-03-26:649749:Comment:3154852009-03-26T18:37:24.818ZMitch Weisburghhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/MitchWeisburgh
Look at the risk/reward payoff for decision makers. If you do something that's better, you get a small pat on the back. If something goes wrong, you are in danger of losing your job because you have affected kids.<br />
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The systems reward safe decisions, go with the established vendor, don't rock the boat, stay in your position and you'll reap tenure and big retirement packages. Take risks, and the first time you fail, you lose a lot.<br />
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Add this to the fact that, in any environment, change is…
Look at the risk/reward payoff for decision makers. If you do something that's better, you get a small pat on the back. If something goes wrong, you are in danger of losing your job because you have affected kids.<br />
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The systems reward safe decisions, go with the established vendor, don't rock the boat, stay in your position and you'll reap tenure and big retirement packages. Take risks, and the first time you fail, you lose a lot.<br />
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Add this to the fact that, in any environment, change is difficult. Blogs, wikis, podcasts......O…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-03-22:649749:Comment:3128042009-03-22T01:06:30.148ZDenise Jeanne Foures-Aalbuhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/DeniseJeanneFouresAalbu
Blogs, wikis, podcasts......Oh my...unfortunately the Wizard of Oz can not help us! Here we all are in this together trying out our "collective wisdom" as Roland O. has mentioned in his reply. Yes, "change and inclusion is happening" faster than we are accustomed to but we are in a global commUNITY that can have an impact on the k-12 Ed Tech Community to catch up with the "real world".<br />
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I am fascinated and overwhelmed by the multitude of technological choices and can see the creative potential…
Blogs, wikis, podcasts......Oh my...unfortunately the Wizard of Oz can not help us! Here we all are in this together trying out our "collective wisdom" as Roland O. has mentioned in his reply. Yes, "change and inclusion is happening" faster than we are accustomed to but we are in a global commUNITY that can have an impact on the k-12 Ed Tech Community to catch up with the "real world".<br />
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I am fascinated and overwhelmed by the multitude of technological choices and can see the creative potential of these combined as mobile broadband is rapidly growing but the potential of asynchronous blogging is steadfast in my opinion. We are witnessing the globalization of the future technologies that are mentioned in the 2008 Horizon Report. Implementing content delivery we need to remain learner focused but reaching our teachers has got to be a priority. Al Gore mentions teacher training, H. Clinton mentions that teachers need peer consulting and more recognition, T. Friedman mentions teacher mentoring and teachers need teachers!<br />
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Trends may come and go but we still need to organize learning space for thoughts, concept mapping, virtual collaboration and reflection. Teachers need to learn technological literacy as well as the students. With new web based tools and new handheld devices our technology skills are constantly challenged but we are collectively in charge and the blogging must continue......<br />
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I too applaud Arne Duncan as he is faced with state versus national standards and the NCLB but teachers need<br />
answers because the future of the US lies in the hands of the next generation and we are all their teachers. When tiny children begin by l…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-03-22:649749:Comment:3127862009-03-22T00:03:36.368ZThomas T. Pantohttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/ThomasTPanto
When tiny children begin by learning about the history of living things, fish, frogs, mammals, and the formation of families... growing into tribes... and growing into villages... inventing languages, alphabets, numbers and sharing their questions and their answers with the next generation... then much of what is taught afterwords makes more sense... there is a reason for inventing and learning letters and numbers.. a reason for learning to count... not just ''Because''.
When tiny children begin by learning about the history of living things, fish, frogs, mammals, and the formation of families... growing into tribes... and growing into villages... inventing languages, alphabets, numbers and sharing their questions and their answers with the next generation... then much of what is taught afterwords makes more sense... there is a reason for inventing and learning letters and numbers.. a reason for learning to count... not just ''Because''. Perhaps those teaching miss t…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-03-21:649749:Comment:3127832009-03-21T23:52:38.256ZThomas T. Pantohttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/ThomasTPanto
Perhaps those teaching miss the good old days ? Viet-Nam was such fun ;) .<br />
People tend to teach what they themselves were told.<br />
Advanced is taught by the advanced... By the exception.
Perhaps those teaching miss the good old days ? Viet-Nam was such fun ;) .<br />
People tend to teach what they themselves were told.<br />
Advanced is taught by the advanced... By the exception. Schools are low-tech environm…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-03-21:649749:Comment:3127222009-03-21T21:35:48.733ZLynn Marentettehttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/LynnMarentette
Schools are low-tech environments, so educators don't have the opportunity to see good technology in action.<br />
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My school district adopted a "new" on-line database this school year. It stores evaluation data and generates IEP's. It was initially created in 1999, and that is how it looks and feels.<br />
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The program does not allow me to import data files from the test scoring applications I use as a school psychologist on a regular basis. I must manually enter things in, and the test dates I enter do…
Schools are low-tech environments, so educators don't have the opportunity to see good technology in action.<br />
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My school district adopted a "new" on-line database this school year. It stores evaluation data and generates IEP's. It was initially created in 1999, and that is how it looks and feels.<br />
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The program does not allow me to import data files from the test scoring applications I use as a school psychologist on a regular basis. I must manually enter things in, and the test dates I enter do not automatically fill in the blanks. I even have to enter in the test date next to each SUBTEST!<br />
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If I had not returned to school to take computer courses, my feelings about computers would be very negative, given this sort of experience. If "productivity" software is this difficult and time-consuming to use, why would I want to explore technology any further?<br />
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By the way, TeacherTube is blocked from my high school. We are behind when our school…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-03-21:649749:Comment:3126412009-03-21T19:08:32.112ZAnnette Siemssenhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/AnnetteSiemssen
We are behind when our school boards block us from using new technologies. It use to be because of budget constraints, now it is because of 'safety' concerns. How can we prepare the students for safe use of technologies without practice? I wouldn't give my kids the keys to the car without practicing with them first, why do we do this with social networks and other technologies?<br />
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I agree that we need to practice with the technologies ourselves before using them in our instruction. By practicing,…
We are behind when our school boards block us from using new technologies. It use to be because of budget constraints, now it is because of 'safety' concerns. How can we prepare the students for safe use of technologies without practice? I wouldn't give my kids the keys to the car without practicing with them first, why do we do this with social networks and other technologies?<br />
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I agree that we need to practice with the technologies ourselves before using them in our instruction. By practicing, we learn the potential pitfalls and benefits. Then again, I am preaching to the choir.