When I first read this question I immediately separated the words “we” and “us” into to different categories. When I first thought of “we” I thought of the entire educational system. I believe that as an educational system, we are not doing what is best for our students. If you look at any number of key components that make up our educational system, from how it is funded to the way standardized testing has consumed the way a lot of schools are managed, you can see that we are not doing what is best for our students. I believe that a lot of things need to change in order to make learning better for the students. I always ask myself what can be done to help change the system into a more student centered educational system. As we read in our textbook, Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom, students learn more effectively with hands on activities especially if computers are used. (Gunter, Gunter, & Shelly, 2010) If more teachers took the time to incorporate hands on activities in their classrooms, maybe Florida’s graduation rate would be better than 58%, which is what it was in 2005-2006. (Alliance for Education, 2009) But it is difficult to incorporate hands on activities when one of the educational goals is to have students pass a standardized test and make an A for the school.
I next thought of the “us” as the individual teacher and what they do in their classroom. At my school, I would say that we do a good job of doing what is best for the students. The teachers at my school strive to help each student learn to their potential and that might mean having to think outside that box and spend a lot of time planning for each class, instead of using lesson plans from ten years ago. Our class textbook mentions, “Ridgedale High School home of the Fighting Tigers.” Ridgedale has three computer labs and all the classrooms have five computers each. (Gunter, Gunter, & Shelly, 2010) That would be an ideal setting for any school, however that is not the case in all high schools. At my school we do not have access to that many computers. In fact, I only have one computer in my room. In order to get into the computer lab at my school, you need to sign out the computer lab months in advance because most of the computers are used for testing students to see how they are progressing on reading or math benchmarks. Since the computers are not available, I need to plan months in advance in order to have access to them. Planning months in advance might require a lot of time and effort on my part, but that is ok with me because I am doing what is best for my students. Some teachers at my school would rather not do that and instead just print out worksheets because that is what is easiest for them. That brings me back to another failing of the educational system that allows bad teachers to keep their jobs.
References
Alliance for Education. (2009). Understanding high school graduation rates in Florida. Retrieved August 28, 2010, from http://www.all4ed.org/files/Florida_wc.pdf.
Gunter, G. A., Gunter, R. E., & Shelly, G.B. (2010). Integrating technology and digital media in the classroom (6th ed.). United States: Course Technology, Cengage Learning.
McLeod, Scott. (2007). Dangerously irrelevant. Retrieved August 30, 2010, from http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2007/05/well_whats_your.html.
I wonder we are relying too much on the school systems. I wonder if that has become our crutch that keeps us as educators from growing. “The school system can’t afford it”, “There is no funding for that, so I guess we will keep with the old way.” The title of our book is Integrating Technology and digital media in the classroom. Nowhere does it say computers in the classroom but that seams to be the thing that our minds focus on when we think of integrating technology into the classroom. What about blackberries, ipads, music players, lights, cameras, digital media of all kinds? Those are all things that could be incorporated into out lectures to make them more stimulating. As educators we are the facilitators of learning, and if we can find ways on the ground level to make that more exciting than we have done our jobs. If we as educators grow wont the systems have to follow no mater how far behind it may be?
ReplyDeleteI posted 3 times here and it lost every posting but the one i didn't proof read!!!
ReplyDeleteI see what you mean, but if I can't get my school to give me a few computers for my classroom, I can't expect my school to get me, " blackberries, ipads, music players, lights, cameras, digital media of all kinds."
ReplyDeleteJonathan (busmanager02)
You would actually be surprised as to what you can get for your school. I do agree with Rick that often teachers associate technology with computers. I have 5 computers in my classroom, and honestly that is sometimes that last resource the students will use. I have a variety of other resources that I incorporated into the lesson that has little to do with them sitting in front of the computer.
ReplyDeleteRF active response systems are fairly cheap and can be shared amongst a department. These little handhelds will drive your students crazy, and you will be pushing to get them out the door. IPADS are great, but I am still working on trying to “up sell” administration that we should have some. A computer installed in a classroom with all its software can run from $800-$1,000; while an IPAD can come ready for around $650. That is a pretty big difference when you look at the portability of the IPAD. Also the use of cell phones can be very fun, I know there is a website you can sign up for free, ask the students a question and they can text their answer to this number. Ideas like this incorporate technology without taking time out to trek down to the computer lab. You should also consider looking at some of the grants available for technology; there is a lot of free money up for grabs.
I agree with the comments stating that many educators think computers as soon as they hear the word technology. It reinforces the thought that many teachers stay with what they know. Most educators have learned to use a computer or have retired from teaching. They plan projects for the students using the technology that they are familiar with because they don't want to admit they don't know an answer when a student questions them. This is unfortunate because some of the most innovative teachers I know have sat down in their classrooms and become a student when learning new technologies. By showing their students that they don't know all the answers and that they are willing to learn from their kids; they free their students to try new things without being afraid to do the wrong thing.
ReplyDeleteStacy Anderson (PageTerner)
I completely agree with you about the overall education system failing today's students. It hasn't mattered when I was teaching at an "A" school or a "C" school - it was always the same - data, data, data. How are the students doing on the latest benchmark assessments. My students get to the point that they are completely burnt out from taking assessments during the school year that some don't even try when it comes to the FCAT. Sadly, our students are being cheated because of this data driven, accountability oriented education system that we have today. Most teachers are forced to teach the test and nothing but the test, therefore leaving them no time to teach to the "whole" student.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that you are unable to use technology more with your students. You, or a committee (gasp!) at your school should look into trying to get a technology grant for your school, or at least for your classroom.
It is helpful to me when you explain the situation at your school because I haven't had a wide exposure to the technology that is (or is not) out in our local school districts. Please continue to use real-life examples in your future posts. I commend you for all your efforts to do the right thing for your students. With the cost of Netbooks down to a few hundred dollars, explore the feasibilty of writing a grant.
ReplyDelete