Forcing Change?
The time demands on teachers are immense. Lesson-plans, assessment and parent communication are only a few of the expectations that eat up a lot of hours.
However teachers, more than many professions, are expected to also continually participate in professional development activities. These ar increasingly becoming focused on using technology as a tool in their classrooms.
Understandably, many are resistant to this demand, be it for reasons of uncertainty with personal proficiency or doubts as to its effectiveness in the learning process. However, it is becoming apparent that students and administrators are expecting teachers to utilize technology in their teaching and learning.
What should be expected from teachers? Is it possible to be a good teacher without using technology? Is there a difference between good and effective? Can a teacher serve his/her students in the best way possible without using technology, or do the realities of the culture of the 21st century student demand that teachers accept and utilize technology in their teaching and learning environments?
posted by Jeff Whipple at 9:28 PM
35 Comments:
Gail said: I think teachers can only do what is reasonably expected within the time constraints that they have. Technology is something that is relatively new and has become such a world-wide phenomenon. I afraid it is very hard to avoid teaching our students this new technology. But I always like to exercise caution in all aspects. Some of this stuff is really scary. The presentation today really 'opened' my eyes about technology. Jeff, you maybe a better salesman than you think! I really feel that economics and business is the 'engine' that is driving this world-wide technology. Again, if the economic factor is what makes the world go 'round, then our students must conform to this. But, they should always exercise caution with this as well as with any other new movement because we have also seen the negative effects of previous technologies.
I think being a good teacher is different then being an effective teacher and I believe one needs to be very technologically savy to teach effectively in today's world. Many of the older generation of teachers are afraid of technology because they don't know much about it (like can't teach an old dog new tricks). Much like myself, I was never very into the computer world and (gasp) I don't even have a home computer. To me personally, its not a necessity but a luxury and more than likely at some point in my life its going to be a necessity. I really opened my eyes to the future in this particular class in knowing what my students are going to need from me as their teacher. Its kind of scary but I think I am up to the challenge.
I don't think that it is the teachers responsibility to teach our children technology. Teachers are not trained to do so, but I think that they should have knowledge about the technology and use some of it in the classroom. But they should have a person that does know alot about technology to let the students know how to use it. Because if a regular classroom teacher has to know about it and teach it they would always have to go and get upgraded every year or when something new comes. So I think that they should have a technology teachers in the schools. But I do think teachers should use technology to their students because thats what it is now and it will advance more each year.
For many years teachers have been teaching without technology, and have been very sucessful in doing so. However, today's technological advancements are adding additional pressures to teachers, in that, they feel obligated to not only utilize technology within their classrooms, but also to teach students how to utilize the stuff. I believe that if teachers are trained and their skills are updated as much as possible, many with feel more confident and, in turn, more willing to teach students using varies forms of technology. i also believe that it is necessary for schools to keep the students up to par with technology because of the conflicting fact that they will have difficulties functioning in life without knowing this stuff. I believe that teaching technology to students is, in many ways, teaching them the basic life skill essential to their survival.
Education being taught through technology has certainly impacted todays student. I think that it is important for teachers to be aware of the most recent technolgy especially in this day and age. WE are a new generation of teachers being taught with the advancements of technolgy. if we don't learn how to use or teach with technology, our students are going to think we're old school. There wouldn't be any interest or entertainment for the students if we dont learn how to use technology. It might be pressured on us to learn it but hey its a new age and we have to keep up!!!
Change is inevitable and people and teachers have to change with the times. Consider how much time the average student spends on the internet for purpose or pleasure. It would be hard for a teacher not to use techonlogy and still be able to grasp what today's youth are saying and talking about. Technology has become an integeral part of our everyday lives and it will only keep on getting more important. A teacher's work life has never been easy and it keeps on getting more detailed oriented everyday. Using some of the newer resources might help to make the life of a teacher easier. This class is an example of how much easier teaching can be, no more monotonous photocopying, all the necessary information at your fingertips. I will definately use whatever technology is out there to help make my classes as interesting and painless as possible.
Welcome back everyone; What should be expected from teachers? I believe that alot of teachers are overwhelmed, not just about technology but about all the circulumn and lack of funding for professional development and resources for the classrooms. To top that the lack of resource staff for students with special needs. Is it possible to be a good teacher without using technology? Yes, I believe one can be a good teacher without technology. A good teacher is compassionate, caring, and understanding. Is there a difference between good and effective? I really don't think there is much difference between the two, if your a good teacher then you can be effective in everything you do. It's not just teachers getting overwhelmed with technology it's some students too. But if one has a good teacher to teach them about technology it wouldn't be so hard.
Teachers just like students should be expected to learn new things, specifically in this case technology. This is the new age. However, I don’t think that technology will make you a better or effective teacher, it is how you teach and present your lessons that will have an impact on the student. Learning is a continual process and especially if you are a teacher. We must be continually be on the ball or we will be left behind in the 20th century.
Right now I am in that boat where I have been teaching for 16 years in the same Grade and have not learned much about technology, for my students to accomplish to learn their alphabets is already a big challenge. I find I am a good teacher for where I am but I know I can make it more interesting by using technology. I am very eager to learn how to use the smartboard. A teacher is always expected to upgrade themselves regularly through Professional Developments but we have never really been upgraded into technology. We do have to know about technology because small children coming in know something about technology themselves through v-smiles, xboxes and computer games. We as teachers and parents have to catch up with the times so we can help our future children with the use of technology.
It must be possible to be a good teacher without using technology since our teachers didn't use much technology in our days. But technology could help our teachers teach more effectively nowadays. Being a good teacher could simply mean just being there whereas being an effective teacher could mean to have a positive impact on the students' education. Technology is important and learning to teach with it could also teach the children that using technology is important which will benefit them in the long run. Children need to see the importance of technology and what better way to teach them then to teach yourself to use it, and use it.
Okay... we know that there are changes that occur everyday. And with all the techonlogical changes that are occuring, probably this very moment something new is being invented, we as Human Beings are adaptable/able to learn how to deal with these changes. So as teachers we should learn this new technology along side our students. Of course they will be teaching us more than we already know, but at least they won't think we are all dorks when it comes to technology.
I think that being a good teacher can be an effective teacher if he/she uses all the tools he/she can get a hold of. Such as learning how to use a computer, I think all teachers need the basic skills of using the computer, like powerpoint, word, and the internet. Along with the other tools, like the smart board and whatever else that helps all the students in there day-to-day learning environment.
I think that as times are changing, the way teachers teach, and the way students learn, all change as well. Technology helps make things easier, but for a lot of people, technology is scary at the moment. I think teachers do need to change, and learn technology to be able to be a better, effective teacher. Yes at first, everything is very over whelming, but our children, just didn't wake up one morning, and know what to do with a computer... they learned. So as teachers, we need to learned, and follow the "trend", in order to keep up with the students!!!!
I totally agree that we seriously need to learn the basics of computers. But I don't agree that technology will make us better teachers.... Overwhelming as it may be, technology is no longer a choice, it's a necessity. For many years now, I've tried to avoid even the word technology. I personally like it the "old fashion way" but my teaching career has not yet begun therefore if I want to be up there with the rest. I need to shape up!!!!
PS: There should be more Professional Development Activities throughout the year. Once or twice a year is not good enough...
Teachers should not be expected to use technology. I do believe teacher can teach without the use of technology. There are some students who have no interest in learning using technology. Teachers and students who like to teach and learn without the use of it; should be matched up with each other. Not every one is into high tech teaching or learning. Why force them into something they are not comfortable with. If they believe they can teach students without the use of technology, let them have that privilege.
Something to think about. People with epilepicy are more likely to have an epileptic seizure caused by something in the computer system. These people may benefit from learning without technology. It will decrease epileptic seizure attacks.
Because of the changing nature of information, teachers can be effective educators without "forcing" them to change. I see educators adapting to these changes and finding ways to enhance their curricula by means of technology.
Teachers are expected to actively participate in professional development by focusing on using technology in their classrooms. I have seen a lot of good ideas being implemented in the teachers curricula which are very effective in the classroom environment. If it was not an issue of time constraint there would be so much more that they could do. I know of teachers who are working on projects using technology on their own free time. We need to have educators who devote their time exclusively to developing curricula that involves the use of technology. The district has come up with incentives to have teachers develop lesson plans on the smart board. They post the winners every month. I see that it brings out the creativity in teachers so that they are able to come up with innovative ideas about teaching their curricula.
They could probably teach without the use of technology but they can see how effective it can be in the classroom. The children show a lot more enthusiasm about what they are learning when they are actively participating in the process of thier learning through the use of technology.
I feel that you can be a good teacher without today's Technology, but i feel it will help in future teaching. I have to admit i turned out fairly well in life Thanks to my teachers. They didn't have much to work with when i was going to school, they had some but it wasn't a big deal unlike today. To me they did an excellent job. As a future teacher i have to realize that Technology is here to stay. It has to be utilized in our classrooms. I almost forgot it isn't as hard as I thought. To me, the children seem much more interested and alert when it comes to using the smartboard and even the computer in the classroom. With that being said. Technology is here to stay so let us take advantage of it and all the possibilities it has to offer.
NSock,
There have been good teachers around for many years without technology. I think that in order to be an effective teacher in the 21st century, teachers have to be up to date on technology because wether we like it or not this is the way the world and our schools are operating.
Of course you can be a good teacher without using technology, there have been great teachers in the past when technology was not so widely used in the school system, for example; when I was going to school in the 70's and 80's, Technology was just really starting then, but I remember a number of teachers that were not in the Tec world yet, and they teached very effectively. On the other hand I have to say that if a teacher easily can use; and is able to use technology in aiding their teaching, than that is great also for the teacher, more power to them. Yes, I believe that there is good teaching, good teaching in a way where you as a teacher would have control in a classroom and have the students full attention, but effective teaching to me anyways would be on how best a teacher is taeching each individual students on their needs& strengths; on how to effectively best teach the students needs. In this day and age, we cannot escape the Tech world; especially for a teacher, a teacher to me has to balance on how much they would use computers and technology and on how much time is spent on students; one on one, for example, group work and hands on work in the classroom.
It is possible to be a good teacher withour using technology. Teachers should be expected to change the way they teach in the classroom if it requires them too. Things change everyday and i know that not everyone has a computer in there home but soon enough there is going to be a time when they come across one when they have to use it for a job or something and they need to know the basics but teachers have been teaching without technology for years and have been successful. I think that a teacher can serve students in the best way possible without using technology but i also think that teachers can come up with better ways to teach something using technoloy. People learn new things all the time and it would not hurt anyone that is becoming a teacher to learn all the new technologies and i think it would get the students attention more knowing they something new to look forward too instead of the same old things all the time.
I think that it is possible to be a good teacher without using technology. It is how you are caring ,compassionate and understanding with the children that makes you a good teacher. It is how you teach that will have an impact on each student life. We as future teachers have to know how to use technology and how to implement it in our classrooms.It will be an exciting and demanding career to be an educator in the 21st century because of all the new technology that is been invented. So we need to learn how to use the smart boards,computers,wikis,blogs,etc. so we can use it in our classrooms when we become teachers.For me personally, I didn't know very much about technology before I took this course.But know I want to learn more about technology and how I can use it in the future.
As glitchy and scratchy technology is today, I'm sure it will be much more clarity in the near future, like when our children, well, like when my son becomes an adult. As it said in that video, a 1000.00 computer in 2049 I think it said, will have the similar computing capability as A HUMAN BEING? With that in mind, we know pretty much where technology is going. Our children will have playmates as well as calculators on one machine!! :) But I believe, yes that teachers WILL DEFINITELY need to have the same qualifications as our children, and a bit more, considering they will be the ones teaching them, with the use of technology. They will need to upgrade their learning, and technological use, because let's face it, this technology is our kid's world. Whether our own children really like to use it now, or not, doesn't mean that they won't be using it two days from now or ten years from now. Parents and teachers need to upgrade.... mostly just to understand the children now. I am interested in technology and of course I will need to be a lot more interested, but I now have a few mentors that I am watching every day and am very impressed with their tekki capabilities and how fun they make it all seem. Teachers who choose not to upgrade, who choose not to want to learn, are losing out in bonding with their kids. Whether they like computers or not, it is now a part of classrooms, like it or not. And when you no longer want to learn new things.... well... that means quite a bit. Bonding with the children not only means, hanging out with them and talking to them, it also means, teaching them new things in ways that they enjoy. If they like the scratchy old chalkboard ONE year, doesn't mean the next group will enjoy it. Especially when the next group are coming from a classroom with a bunch of interesting hi-tech equipment. Learn what you need to learn for them, and from them, and let them learn from you, and with you, and allow your students to experiment with all the technology, no matter what! You all have learned something new and have grown a bit more in the end! :) Melissa
I believe that teachers today should be able to use technology in their classrooms just to keep up with the changing times.But as we all know, some teaching still has to be done the old school way.Some teachers may also feel overwhelmed or even scared of technology if they haven't had any dealings with it.Teachers in this situation could keep in mind that they can learn along with their students.I think it is possible to be a good teacher without using technology but in todays fast paced high-tech world it is almost impossible.
Today teachers are expected to use technology in their classrooms whether they feel comfortable using it or not.The integration of technology in the classroom has created more stress on the teacher. On top of all the other duties,teachers are now expected
to keep up to datewith all the computer technology that is out there. I can see why some teachers are feeling overwhelmed in the 21st century classroom. I think teachers should be offered more computer in-services and more
computer technical support in their classrooms.
i think that teachers should use technology in there classrooms because they can keep everything on the computer instead of carrying around papers of stuff. Its more organized on there desks then having paper laying around everywheres, and also more easier to find stuff just got to look on the computer instead of files and files of the old stuff they did.
Forcing Change?
change happens everywhere! in homes, in offices, in businesses and now in the schools.we as parents,employees,business officials,and professionals also educators need to accept the change that is happening and not only to accept it but to expect more of it. with technology around that is only going to happen even more! this is the new era of technology of new information. In Distict Wide they are providing Professional Developement for teachers to utelize these days to upgrade or update their expertise or their developement, so i feel teachers are some what expected to participate in these days. i dont feel technology is always the way to become a good effective teacher but to used the technology as a tool for the lesson given or being taught by or from the teacher. by having this tool it can or may enhance the child's learning. teachers can be good teacher without using technology but im not sure if it is going to be as effective to the students. where this is their world, it is our responsibility to get to where the children are learning to help educate and guide them to enhance their learning, and i feel it is in technlogy. i do feel it is a demand for teachers to accept and utilize technology in their teaching and lesson plans as to the learning environment, its only going to become more effective to give the children what they want to learn and it is technology! but it is our responsibility to educate them about the technology out there and how to use it
appropriately! Also what to do when it is used inappropriately!
I think a lot of the point has been missed in what we have currently been going through these past weeks. I believe that we are not there to teach technology to the children. They already know it. Heck, half the time they may sometimes even know more than the teacher does, which is why professional development is necessary for the teacher in today's day and age of education.
I think what the question was asking was how do we use the technology to effectively teach the children the things they are expected to know (although not necessarily what they need to know.) Even then, what can be done to maximize the learning experience for the student that makes the material meaningful not just for them, but also for the teacher who is trying to do the best job they can for the children.
I think it would be possible to still teach a child without technology if their information is up to date and very current, and if the information is taught. It could even be considered effective since it has been done for years. Efficiently effective, however, in comparison to other schools and students who may be using technology? Probably not.
Today's education industry (and it is and industry because we are essentially producing knowledged students as a product) requires technology in order to effectively teach the student to keep them on par with the average standard. To show them that education can indeed be fun and exciting is easily done if an avenue of interest is utilized, and that avenue is technology for today's student - computers, video games, movies, etc.
This is a age when people have to jump on board, especially when they value their intentions and the end products of their means. We are here to teach the children, and even though it means we may be pushed momentarily out of or own learning boundaries, it's a necessary evil. Teachers, even in the past,were always required to improve their skilss and knowledge, and they did so willingly. Technology is no different.
Teachers like any other professions should be given time to get themselves use to the idea that technology is here and a part of their future. Not all teachers are prunes to learning new things. You can teach an old dog a new trick; it just takes time and patients. A good teacher is not what tools they use to teach with but what tools they have with in themselves. No matter how high tech we get a teacher is always going to need the same tool as they did years and years before. That tool is HEART the one major aspect needed to be a good teacher. Before the computer, teachers have been doing their jobs day in and day out. No one had to show them how to do their jobs using a computer. The teacher’s job will always remain the same. Reach out to your students and hope that they will reach back to them. With all the technology we have now, we have to remember that no technology will replace the heart of a teacher who really cares about their students. Most important no technology should take place of this or even try to. We as future teachers need to remember that we have the technology to help the students learn but we need the heart to help them grow.
In my opinion, teachers have done a pretty good job without the use of technology, but the world is changing and we should be open to change. Yes, there are some teachers that are afraid of technology. There are some teachers or people that know nothing about computers. I was one of those people, before I took this course. I was more or less forced to learn more about technology. I am still learning, and teachers and students have to understand that it is a learning process. If we expect students to learn what we teach them, than I think that teachers should take the initiative to learn about technology.
Mary
I think technology should be incorporated more so now than ever in the classrooms. We live in a very "high-tech" society and it seems like technology is slowly taking over. Teachers should be trained by a professional tech person so that they can use computers more in their classroom... and the department should be pushing for teachers to get the training. Even if its just once or twice throughout the schoolday a teacher be using technology, that would be a start...but the department of education should be pushing and supporting teachers to use technology in their classes/lesson plans.
A teacher educates his/her student. It is important for the teacher to keep herself up to date with her area of teaching also with the changing laws, safety issues and different techniques in teaching. A teacher can bring in and teach her students the new trends without the use of technology. I don't find there is a diff. between good and effective, a teacher can effectively teach a class and be good at it without the use of technology.
The teachers in todays classrooms should be able to use technology within their daily routines. I think that at first it all seems scary as most things can be, at least with the things that we are not farmiliar with. Learning something new and utilizing it can be very scary if you are unsure but once you have at least the basic knowledge of the task at hand, then eventually it will make things a lot easier for the teacher to organize and deliver their lesson to their students. Its just like computers when they were first introduced to classrooms, teachers were scrared of them and now look at the teachers now. None of them could imagine their classroom without at least one computer, especially for themselves.
Yes i really believe they want teachers to start using technology in our schools. Teachers in our district were givin laptops. For sure not to collect dust. They have to use winschool, eclass for attendance and report cards.
I believe there is a difference in good teacher and effective. Good teacher as i hear student is a teacher that cares, understands, and teaches the way you understand. The effective teacher is productive, meaning creative. Being creative is always thinking about change to get attention of your students. 21 Centrury is the way to be creative in teaching. If you can be a good and effective teacher then you can make a diffence in your class and even in a student.
I believe that teachers much keep with the times, and if that means that more technology is needed to be taught, then teach it. With our future, we will continue to see advancements in technology, we must teach our students in order for them to adapt properly in their environment.
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Of course you can be a good teacher without using technology but teachers can also have room for improvements. If students are learning about technology from friends and other resources teachers need to be on top of what students are learning. Shouldn't teachers learn and be on top of what is going on in our world of technology. I would personally would like my child to learn about the pros and cons of technology from a certified teacher than be learning from friends and people of the street.
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