Techlearning blog

Immigrants may be amalgamated, but I declare myself an illegal alien. Once illegal, always a record!

LOL

Way to get back on the horse Terry after your electronic store eye opening experience... You have a lot of good points! I totally agree that all educators must achieve a basic level of technological capability and that they should be embarrassed, not proud, to say so in public. I find it shameful when people boast about their lack of skills.

We don't find it acceptable when kids brag about not doing well in school. This is the same thing!

And people with technological capabilities who are willing to share their knowledge should be nutured!

Terry, I am tired of the tail wagging the dog. I speak out and often get into trouble....I have reached the ripe age of wanting to speak out and if necessary apologising later ;-).
On the negative, there is not enough creativity and willingness to move out of comfort zones amongst educators. However, on the positive, a good educator will always be a good educator no matter if they take 21st learning on board or not. Have you seen the film 'The Emporer's Club' where Kevin Kline plays a traditional teacher? I cringe at the stereotypical classroom portrayed in these films but if engagement and motivation as well as respect are present then there must be something good happening.
So, yes get rid of the dead wood, raise teachers salaries and give more incentives for educational reform....I'll vote for that. Just to let you know also that I worked for a tech savvy CEO in my last school but his outdated (by current standards) knowledge was in some ways even more detrimental to progress in the school than someone who left key recommendations and decisions to those with a finger on the pulse of the world and the other teachers.

Thanks, Scott. I couldn't agree more. And we wouldn't accept boasting about an inability to read either.

Thanks Allanahk. I agree with you. But I had a shock for a second: I thought you'd written that people willing to share should be neutered!

Julie, I know what you mean. I have always thought that there is only one thing worse than a Principal who takes no interest in ed tech, and is one who takes an interest. And the really awful ones are those who know a little bit, and/or have a nephew who works in a computer store. The ideal is one who knows nothing and admits it, but who is 100% supportive of embedding it in the school.

Terry, I am so glad you finally said it! It is disgraceful that there are teachers who are so illiterate when it comes to technology and that we accept that. Enough already.

And, by the way, I work for a principal who knows nothing and admits it and it 100% supportive of everything I do. She even fights my battles when it comes to unblocking sites and/or repairing computers. In the meantime, I keep getting called in to help her find files, etc. But all in all, not a bad deal for me.

To a certain extent this is a generational problem. You're absolutely right that being a "digital immigrant" doesn't preclude you from every being comfortable with technology, or absolve you from responsibility for your own shortcomings.

However, as people that grew up using the internet begin to filter into positions of responsibility in education, they'll naturally integrate their experiences with technology into their work. That's the key difference between immigrants and natives here. For an immigrant, it requires a concious effort to become technically proficient, for a native, it's second nature.

Lisa, thanks for your comments. I think your Principal sounds great -- maybe not ideal, but support from "above" is essential, and you seem to have that in bucket-loads.

Thanks for your comments, gbabbitt. I suppose your right that, for some people, they may have had to make the effort if they didn't grow up with the internet. But I didn't, neither did most of the people whose blogs you probably read. Nor did my in-laws, who are in their late 70's/early-80s, and nor did the ancient mother of a colleague of mine who lives alone apart from a wireless network and instant messaging and email so she can stay in touch with her family -- at the age of 87. So I think that it's an attitude of mind, and that you are making excuses where there are none.

As a seasoned retired teacher in my second career, I facilitate teachers in learning a digital language lab. Everything you have stated is absolutely true and it breaks my heart.

I have noticed, though, an addition to this problem which encourages it: some 'technicians' don't understand their responsibility to students in the districts. There are still 'lines drawn in the sand' as to priorities, responsibilities and permission levels which leave teachers without support and/or access. With the loads they already carry, it gets frustrating for those who ARE trying and they give up. (Also, some technicians have an 'hourly' mindset: it's 3:30, my day is over).

Those technicians who support the systems, the teachers AND the goals of the district are to be commended. They understand their role and I express my appreciation to them. Maybe this is one place to look for more help?

I have been in the training industry (yes industry) for 30 years now, and I believe it is a trend. Even with the use of filmstrips and board of education television, there have been teachers and teachers aids that had never taken the time to learn the 'new' technologies. Forget about setting the clock on the vcr, we are talking about the basic turning on and navigating of any program or piece of hardware. Learning these new technologies should be a requirement. Instead of a teachers workday where they paste pictures of the seasons on their walls, they should be sitting in a class to become familiar with the advances in educational technologies.

PALEEEEZ! Perhaps if the author looked down off of her high horse for a minute she would realize that learned should be used in the place of learnt. Maybe we should go back to more grammar development and training rather than digital training. I have taught for 30 years now and feel as though I can handle basic technology, including Microsoft office and all of its components. However, if the administration does not support digital training either financially or with release time maybe the author would have some suggestions as to how I can fit this training and practice in while teaching 180 students per day with four separate preps and yet still find time and money to support my own 4 children at home.

Deb,

Just so you know, Terry is a "he" and lives in England, where I imagine "learnt" is correct usage. You might be more careful next time with your assumptions.

You're right, it is awful that your administration is not supporting you. And it is tough to teach four preps, 180 students, and still have a life outside of school. But those are all the "yeah, buts" - they don't change the fact that this is what we need to do for our students. So we need to find a way - demand the support and the training and the time - because it's what's necessary if we're going to meet the needs of our students.

I really enjoyed reading your article. I totally agree with you. Our school has a Technology Compentency chart for teachers- Levels 1 through 5. You have to increase by at least one level per year, or your contract may not be renewed. It has gotten some of the more "seasoned" teachers who were ignoring technology to "wake up and smell the coffee".

Thank you all for a colourful discussion. I train teacher´s in Finland. Same situation here. Too much work too little time for learning so important technological skills. What I always address to teachers is that "hey, open your eyes. You have 20-30 students in your classroom who really can handle those techthings. Use them and stop being an idiot. You might learn something from them"

The other perspective is that technology changes teachers role radically..and it´s not a bad thing at all. It engages students for sure... better than sitting in a lecture-hall passively > It is all about how technology will improve your teaching methods and acquiring new models of teaching and learning! Once again thank you for a inspiring post :)

'Ms Terry', you are righh#t about the need for technician support for what I call the real business of the school. In an article I wrote in 2005 (http://www.terry-freedman.org.uk/artman/publish/article_325.php), I said:
"Once you stop
thinking about technical support as a matter of dealing with
hardware and infrastructure like cables and hubs, and start to
view it from a customer perspective, the concepts of a service
desk and a service level agreement suddenly don't seem quite so
strange."

Gary, I agree. There was some research done (about 30 years ago) which found that the single most important factor in a teacher's good use(or otherwise) of technology was the teacher, not the technology. But I do think other factors are important, like the attitude of the senior management team and the support systems in place in the school

Deb:

1. I take my use of grammar very seriously. According to the Oxford Style Manual, either "learned" or "learnt" is acceptable; however, according to Fowler's Modern English Usage, the latter is preferable because of the use of the former as an adjective.

2. If you re-read my post you will see that I have said nothing that conflicts with your point of view. Indeed, if you knew anything about my writing at all you would know that I am constantly harping on about lack of management or admin or technical support for teachers.

Thanks, Karl :-)

Anna, sounds like a good idea to me. We'd probably have teachers going on strike if we tried it in the UK!

Teemu, I agree with both your points. Thanks

This all has to start with leadership. Our superintendant doesn't know how to turn his computer on, but expects teachers to be able to take the time to learn the technology. If it doesn't come down from the top, it will not happen. And the leaders should not ask teachers to do things they are not willing to do themselves!

I enjoyed reading this post, and have to say that before I started my graduate, technology in education class, I was that person who didn't know anything about technology. This has class has empowered me to think about teaching in a different way. The collaboration, learning, and support can know be global. I look forward to reading more about this topic and addign what I can, when I can.