I believe that the internet has and will continue to have significant impacts on K-12 education, higher education, and adult education. I remember when I first heard about the internet, many said how it would completely change the way we learn and teach. People said that you could access vast amounts of information, quicker and easier than ever before. Much of this was and is true. However, there were and are drawbacks to the amount of information available and the speed with which it can be gathered. Sorting though all of the information is extremely daunting at times. Also finding credible resources is always a problem. Teachers at every level must still deliver lessons to the students that are meaningful and adhere to benchmarks and standards, as well as teach students how to use the technology. Students cannot be trusted to search the internet for a given topic and write a report. Teachers must model for students how to effectively search for information. Teachers must also show students which sources are credible and which are not, and explain why. Teachers must help students learn how to use the technology appropriately and effectively; this may be our greatest challenge as educators in the information age.
I know that I may sound like a broken record (because I have mentioned this same point in other posts) but my school passed a bond, and in doing so we have introduced so much technology. We have smartboards, Mac Books, digital projectors, Avervision (like an elmo), and Ebeam Interact. We were never really trained how to use this technology and as a result, many of my colleagues do not know how to use it. If we do not teach people to use the technology available to them, the technology is useless.
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4 comments:
I completely agree with you about teaching students how to use the technology and how to find credible sources. One good thing I've seen some of the other teachers in my school do is to give a list of sites for the students to find their information from. I think this is especially helpful for elementary students so that they are still finding the information, but don't face the task of wading through the garbage that they may find on the Internet. Also, I believe that the purpose of technology should never be to replace the teacher, I don't think that is, or should be, possible. Technology should be used to enhance the instruction and vary the way it is delivered to the students. However, like you mentioned, this can't be accomplished unless the teachers know how to use and implement the technology. It's too bad that your staff hasn't had suitible training to use all the new technology you have available to you.
I definitely agree with your last paragraph. Just because technology is available doesn't mean it is being used... and better yet used effectively. I too have access to a lot of different technological tools, but it's crazy to see how many people, even with training, are not able to effectively use some of these advanced technologies. They could easily enhance how education happens, but there are people that tend to be stuck in their old ways and can't get out, so the new tools do no good. I have seen something very similar happen at the district I live in. It's unfortunate!
Rick - I particularly like your statement in the last paragraph. I really don't think that most teachers have a thorough understanding of technology. I find that its pretty rare that my colleagues have gone through any kind of official training on how to use the tools (webct, e-learning, etc.) that they are already attempting to use on a daily basis. Even worse though are those that chose not to use the technology, becuase of the additional training that it might necessitate.
I so agree with what you have said. Teachers can not lead the students until they have been taught what technology is out there and how to use it. Micro Soft Office is a great tool but it is not the begin all end all for technology. Where do you teach? I want to come there!!! I know how to learn technology when it is available for use!
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