EDU707:Issues in Technology Education
Jennifer Piechocki December 3, 2012
Technology has opened doors for students and educators. We once taught in an isolated classroom, in an isolated school; technology is allowing us to connect with and explore the world virtually. It allows educators to differentiate instruction, provide hands-on activities, and allows students access to any information they can dare to imagine. It is up to us as educators to make sure that our students are engaged in meaningful and safe technology experiences. This course has allowed me to think critically about the implications of bringing the world into my classroom. It has also allowed me to take a step back and look at the responsibilities that I, the classroom teacher, have to insure that my students are able to receive all that the World Wide Web and other technologies have to offer. Providing Access for All After viewing the Jocelyn Goldfein interview, Giving STEM Roots: Fostering Interest and Overcoming Obstacles I had an “Ah-Ha” moment. I am the daughter of a computer programmer. As a “daddy’s girl” I always wanted to be a programmer just like him. In high school my dad encouraged me to take the data processing vocational track in which spent two years learning to program in COBOL. He even landed me an at home job troubleshooting an accounting software program. I never thought that I couldn’t be a programmer…I loved the logic behind it and the end result! When I first went back to college I decided that I wanted to be a computer engineer. In my first programming class, I was one of only two women in the course. I finished the class (earned an A) but immediately changed my focus to teaching. I was so intimidated that I knew I couldn’t continue. Jocelyn Goldfein is adamant that technical women need to be more in the spotlight; that we must teach girls at an early age that the computer industry as a career is not just for men. It is all about removing the stereotypes that girls are faced with at a very young age (pink, dolls, teaching, ….) and providing experiences and role models that allow them to see and explore the field of technology. I think that it is the job of the school to make sure that the extra services are provided to insure that all students can benefit from technology outside of the regular school day. We need to find creative ways to provide this access so that the families do not feel like they are being given special treatment. I have several students that do not have computer access at home. Due to scheduling conflicts, it is hard to find time for these students to complete activities during the regular school day and I don't want to "punish" them by having them miss specials or use the computer during the lunch period. It is certainly a juggling act between implementing technology into homework lessons and trying to make every child feel good about themselves and their home life. I try to setup computer lab time for the whole class to go to the lab and work so that the students that don't have computers at home can complete assignments. Using Technology to Support Student Learning The statement in the Calvin and Halversont article, “If schools cannot successfully integrate new technologies into what it means to be a school, then the long identification of schooling with education, developed over the past 150 years, will dissolve into a world where wealthier students pursue their learning outside of the public school (p.2)”, eloquently ties this week’s discussion to the Week 1 discussion. I believe that the way in which teachers implement technology into their daily instruction will also have an impact on student attendance in public schools. Many teachers have access to technology; however, they do not know how to use it. Each teacher in
my school has a Smartboard used mainly for showing videos and to write on in lieu of the whiteboard. We also have the Personal Response Systems, a video camera, and digital cameras, none of which are used by 90% of the teachers in our school. I believe the main reason is the lack of training, lack of implementation ideas, and time. Learning new technology and creating new lessons takes time, something that is hard to come by for teachers. Although I don’t think that allowing kids time to practice math facts or play educational games is a total waste of time it should not be considered teaching with technology. Developing lessons that address Common Core Standards and/or teaching benchmarks will insure that student learning is impacted. I think that if teachers applied the best practices that they use in their everyday classroom teaching such as using standards to create lessons that involve cooperative learning, differentiated instruction, pre- and post- assessments, they will positively influence student outcomes. Teachers should also listen to the ideas of their students. Many times my students have come up with great ideas on how to implement a video or create a slideshow to illustrate a science topic or reading story! If a teacher isn't comfortable with the technology then how is he/she going to implement it in a way that is meaningful to the students? Many teachers at my school don't even try to use technology with the students because they aren't comfortable using it themselves. Unfortunately, schools have trouble finding the funds to train teachers properly. I also agree with the idea of letting the students guide themselves. Technology is a very useful tool for differentiating instruction. There are many websites and computer programs that adapt to the child's ability and move them to the next level when they are ready. A wonderful gauge of a good lesson is whether or not your students are engaged, excited, and on task. We can learn so much from our students. It is also important to get verbal input from them after using a new technology....what did you like, dislike, find difficult, too easy..etc. I can remember creating a website for a previous class. I had my students critique it for me....they were brutally honest. They especially didn't like when something seemed too easy or too "under" their level. Academic Integrity and Technology Based on the video from YouTube: http:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a-g04KTYpg and articles about “e-cheating,” how would you combat this type of cheating in your classroom? How has technology changed how you would give assignments or tests? Will you change how you view technology in the classroom now that you see how clever the kids are getting? As long as there have been students, there has been cheating; the idea isn’t new, just the tools that are used. Technology is not creating cheaters it is just making it easier for cheaters to cheat. Cheating is about morality. In the Snyder article it is pointed out that we must educate children early on about the “kind of person [they] want to be”, about self-respect and integrity. These qualities must be nurtured from a very young age and plagiarism must be talked about early on as well. I talk to my fourth grade students about the seriousness of plagiarism and that they must give people credit for the work they have done. I also think that students must be made aware of the school’s policy on plagiarism and cheating and must sign a statement to that effect.
I teach fourth grade so using technology to cheat is not an issue. I have to worry about wandering eyes more than anything. I guess that one way I would combat cheating at the high school level is to allow the kids to make a “cheat sheet� for the test. This not only is empowering to the student, but it takes a little pressure off, and they usually are learning the material as they make out the note card. I would think that in most schools cell phones would only be allowed to be used in the classroom if it were for a specific lesson that the instructor was doing and not allowed at other times. When I took my math endorsement exam the proctor cleared out my graphing calculator before the exam started so that I could not store formulas; this might be something that could be done. I would think that it would be common practice in this day and age for professors to move about the room when an exam is being taken and not sit and check papers behind the desk. Technology is imperative; as educators, we need to learn how it fits into our students lives and how to use it in our classrooms so that it is effective. As one article stated, students do not need to memorize information anymore, they need to learn how to find the information and to tell if it is reliable or not. Students will one day have access to one:one technology either through cell phones, iPads, laptops, etc. in the classroom. As educators, it is our responsibility to teach them the ethical use of this technology. I like the idea of giving quizzes online to students. I use personal response clickers with my kids for quick assessments. They are actually excited to take the assessment because they want to use the technology! I also agree with you...there will always be people that are trying to find the easy way out. Cheaters have always been and always will be...we just have to educate ourselves, our students, parents and faculty and then have a strong policy in place to deal with cheaters that get caught!! Technology and Professional Development If a teacher is not comfortable with the technology given to them they will certainly not use it with their students. Technology can be very frustrating to use in the classroom. I have a Smartboard in my room. I have not been formally trained on the Smartboard (I have been at my school for 7 years now and am finally going to a Smartboard professional development course in January). Everything that I do with my Smartboard I have taught to myself. Luckily, I am comfortable trying new things and enjoy it. I love technology. This is not the case, however, with the majority of the staff at my school. We have spent thousands of dollars on Smartboards for every teacher and they are only being used to show videos or visit websites that are interesting to the kids. I do not blame the teachers. Money needs to be spent on training. It is also important that the technology work properly and efficiently. How many times have you tried to do something with technology only to have the server go down or the system reject what you are trying to do? I also think that it is important for teachers to look at the technology standards for their state. I think that as teachers we think that these standards are just meant for our computer teachers. The standards are a great place to start when trying to implement technology in our classrooms.
Technology can be so overwhelming and is ever-changing. I think this can be frustrating for teachers. The standards can help a teacher focus on what is important (today) for students to learn about technology. Training needs to fit the skill level of the trainee. We have all sat through professional development meetings, doodling in our notebook because we are not hearing anything that we didn't already know. I have been to a couple of technology related professional developments in which I ended up helping the other "students" and giving the instructor more ideas than I was being given. Our teachers are required to maintain a blog page. This task was assigned without giving any thought that the teachers may not know how to do this. Many of them were getting reprimanded in meetings for not updating the blog. After many "gentle" hints my principal finally setup a professional development in which I could help the teachers navigate through and add content to the required blog. Sometimes it can be as simple as a one hour mini training to help teachers gain confidence and understanding of the technology - and this professional development was free!! Teachers need to take some responsibility as well. We know, as educators, that we have to integrating technology into our classrooms because our students are using it on their own and will probably be using it much more than we can even imagine in their future schooling and employment. We are responsible for educating our students and must be doing all that is possible to give the students what they need to be successful. Teachers are always researching and finding new ways to reach all learners, why should this be any different? The Importance of Teachers being Knowledgeable about Technology In my experience as a classroom teacher, I have to agree with the report’s findings. Although there are parents that do a wonderful job of immersing their child to many different learning experiences, including technology; I think for the majority of students this is not the case. The classroom teacher must teach students how to be contributing members of society. The three R’s are essential; however, students must know how these core subjects relate to their everyday lives as a student and future contributor to our nation’s economy. They must be taught how to think critically, problem solve, and work with others. The world has gone digital and will continue to do so exponentially. Students must be equipped with the tools they need to communicate on a global basis and to do so responsibly. It is important that teachers not just use technology to teach but allow students the opportunity to use technology to learn and to communicate ideas. I know this can be difficult when resources are limited but teachers are creative and must find ways around these limited resources. Using multimedia resources such as video, mp3, wikis, blogs, etc. allow students the opportunity to see first-hand that technology is more than just video games and drill and practice activities. Once again, however, the teacher must be willing to learn how to use these devices effectively and must seek out the knowledge if it is not provided to them. Social Networking There are several different issues at large when we start talking about kids and social networking. First, there are the issues of cyber etiquette and cyber bullying. Although the network can
include a larger community than the face-to-face school community that the kids are in, the lessons are the same and should be talked about, modeled, and addressed just as it has always been in schools. We must teach our children the proper way to talk to people on-line, discuss private issues, and how to treat others with respect and dignity. These lessons may take on a slightly different look in the virtual world; however, the message is the same. We must monitor and address inappropriate behavior much as we would if it happened face to face. The next issue is also very similar in the virtual world as it is in the “real” world – how to recognize and protect ourselves from virtual predators and people that want to cause us harm. We teach the “Think First, Stay Safe” program at our school and it includes cyber predators in the lessons. We cannot expect our children to live in the bubble of protection; they must learn the tools that they need to stay safe, regardless of the environment. Just as we cannot lock our children in a safe house until they are 18 in order to protect them from bullying, pornography, and pedophiles, we cannot deny them the opportunity to learn and experience the wonderful attributes of the internet because they may encounter danger. We must teach them right from wrong and provide as “safe” of an environment for them as possible. I created a type of “chat room” on my wiki page for my students to post fun videos, chat with their friends, etc..; this is just one of hundreds of ways to include social networking for students. Classroom Ethics Teaching children about plagiarism and pirating is something that must be taught at an early age. In my fourth grade classroom I teach my students how to do research and how important it is not to copy information directly from on-line sources. Modeling how to create an outline with bulleted points helps them to organize the important points which they then can write in their own words. I then teach them how to cite (at an elementary level, of course) where the information came from. Providing them with very simplistic examples of taking credit for someone else’s work really hits home with fourth graders. They always want to receive the kudos for work that they have done and never want someone else taking credit for their accomplishments. It is also important that they understand how serious pirating music and/or videos is. Again, relating the act to them personally drives home the concept. I am also very careful to cite any pictures that I use for clipart or Smartboard lessons so that I am modeling appropriate use. They also need to understand what the consequences are for plagiarizing and/or pirating. There can be serious consequences when they get older for doing these things and they need to understand that. It doesn’t hurt that I teach in a religious school and I can bring the Ten Commandments into my discussion! References: American Society for Engineering Education. (2010). Kids on computers. Creative Commons. http://www.flickr.com/photos/51567618@N06/5148274153/sizes/m/in/photostream/ Collins, A. and Halverson, R. (2010), The second educational revolution: rethinking education in the age of technology. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 26: 18–27. Goldfein, J. (Oct 2011). Giving STEM Roots: Fostering Interest and Overcoming Obstacles from http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7lQruH79y6Y#!