Last night’s chat began with a discussion of sending laptops to school with kids. My take on it is that it doesn’t do any good unless the kids use them. It sounds stupid but that’s what happens to technology in classrooms all the time. The apocryphal story is about an elementary school classroom where the teacher was given a computer to use with his class without any instruction, training, or even encouragement to use it. At the end of the year the principal asked, “So, did it help?”
The teacher responded with, “Oh, yes!!. The monitor was just the right height!”
“Just the right height?” the principal asked, confused.
“Yes. It’s just the right height for a plant stand! We put the coleus on top of it so the students could see the phototropic action of the leaves over the course of the day. It was quite successful!”
On the one hand, you have to wonder if there was a more cost effective way to achieve the lesson goal, and on the other hand, it demonstrates how technology can be used in unexpected and useful ways. I have to wonder if the teacher got full marks for “incorporates technology into the classroom.”
For more on tools and distance education, see On Tools.
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September 11th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
I teach technology; my husband teaches sixth grade. I see where technology is useful; he states “it’s more trouble than it’s worth”. I think this provides a perfect example of what you are saying above. I am very knowledgeable when it comes to technology and usually never have to depend on anyone when there are technical problems (I teach computer maintenance and repair/networking). My husband on the other hand, doesn’t have this knowledge base and when something technical goes wrong he has to send in a request and wait for someone to fix the problem. I can understand where he is coming from when he states that technology is more trouble than it is worth.
The sad fact is that on more occasions than not, teachers are given this wonderful technology (top of the line) and expected to use it because their supervisiors say so, but where is the training? I have yet to see teachers not only be trained on how to use equipment but it is my opinion that a troubleshooting session may help with empowerment for teachers.
It also aggervates me when those who will be using the technology are not included in the decisions being made regarding what should be purchased! We need to rethink how things are done at an administrative level and they need to ask themselves: why is the “top of the line” technology not being used? Instead of just complaining about buying the “stuff” and it never being used!
September 11th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
This is a funny subject at our school. We have a huge debate going about this same subject, laptops. Our board technology people don’t want students to be able to come to school and use their laptops, well they can use them, but they can’t have access to the internet. Isn’t that crazy. They think that they shouldn’t even have the web access code for whatever reason. They won’t even give me the code, which is such a joke to me. What am I going to do, sell it to the mob?
I know I teach technology and I still don’t feel like I utilize it to it’s fullest potential. I know that there is so much out there that I don’t know. That is why I will always be a student.
September 13th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
We have lots of tools to use, but the problem is no trainning and access. We have had a minor trainning on smartboards and it has been enough to get us through using it twice a year (what is required for observations). I have had a little more experience, but still don’t feel like I know enough. Last year we got airliners, projects,and screens for each grade level. Problem is that you have to arrange to use it with the teacher who has it in their room. Also, not everyone go the trainning, only the ones who have them in their rooms. We are getting lots of new tools and that is wonderful, but I agree we should be getting more trainning on how to use it and troubleshooting.
September 16th, 2007 at 10:51 am
I have mixed feelings about laptops in the classroom. The thought of every student having a computer in front of them when I’m trying to teach scares me to death. I just have no idea how you would keep their attention ALL the time (or when you needed it). When working on a big project, it’s nice to have access to a computer lab where every student has their own computer. I like this arrangement better simply because the computer isn’t in front of them for the entire class period of everyday.
That’s why I’m a huge fan of the SmartBoard. I think this is a perfect way to engage students in technology….together. The teacher is still in charge of where they go and what they see, keeping everybody on the same page. With the available accessories, students can actively participate in using the SmartBoard as well. I know that SmartBoards are expensive but that cost would have to out-weigh a laptop for every student and the shear hassle of keeping up with what they are doing.
Merely my opinion.