Why do we bother with this technology stuff?
There is a lot of resistance to change in teaching as I am of the pesonal opinon that we are all control freaks in our own ways. I know that I certainly am and like things to be done in certain ways. In my previous blog post, I outlined what I have learnt throughout this term and how the journey in my 1-1 environment has been going so far. As I am sitting here on a pupil free day, I guess the questions that many of my peers in the staff room is ‘Why are we bothering with using technology in our classrooms? Can’t we achieve quality educational outcomes without the bother? Is there any computer stuff on NAPLAN? Why bother then?’
My journey with ICT in my class has been ongoing process that is constantly evolving and changing. My answer to all of these questions come back to this key message: We need to educate 21st century kids using 21st century methods for the 21st century. If we do not do this, my opinion is that we are failing to give kids the skill set that they need to function as a productive member of society now and in the future. That certainly is a mouthful but I truly belive that this is to be the case. Our Digial Natives deserve the best learning experiences that can be delivered and they don’t know any different.
This does not mean that I think we should ‘chuck away’ all of the old methods. As a 33 year old man, I was educated in an environment that was not very technology rich. I remember the first time that I saw an old ‘Overhead Projector’ and my teacher pulled out an OHT and projected it up onto the big screen. As a 7 year old, this was the most amazing thing that I had ever seen. I remember ‘ROTE’ learning number facts etc and this whilst it was a boring experience, I still learnt. But was I an active participant in my learning? The answer to that question is ‘sort of’. I had some fantastic teachers who inspired me but I was a passive recipent of information and reliant upon the person at the front of the room providing me with the ‘stuff’ I needed to survive and thrive in the world that I lived in.
So why do I bother? I bother because I feel that I have a responsibility to the students to prepare them for the world that they live in. I feel that technology enhances the learning experiences of students and motivates them to question / reflect / investigate their environment. The reluctant students in my class seem to engage better in their learning by using technology. If technology wasn’t integrated across all key learning areas, I am positive that they would not attempt to participate in the classroom environment at all. I am sure that they would disengage and look for avenues to vent their frustrations.
Technology helps engage and empower all students (even the reluctant ones!) and we need to look after our 21st century learners to the best of our abilities.
Feel free to add a comment.
Keep bothering Ashley! Think of the children!
The fact that technology engages students is the most key for me. I’ve had many kids who were really switched off from their learning become “switched on” because of what we were doing with technology in the classroom. One of my best moments was while doing Natural Disasters with Year 6 and creating “Disaster Narrative Clay Animations” and a student turned to me and said. “Gee Mrs Mc, you really have to know a lot about earthquakes to make an animation about one.” I’m sure I punched the air and said Yes!!!!
I get a kick out of people that claim that they teach technology because the skills will help them at higher education or in the workplace. Those who are aware of their surroundings recognize the folly of that statement. The technology that students will use in the future has not been invented.
So, why teach it then?
I like your insights. You do it for the skills and attitudes. That’s where the real value exists. As Teresa notes above, it’s the engagement where the first payoff occurs. You immerse the students in the learning and good things happen. I also think that if you’re using it properly, you’re not only doing things differently, but you’re able to enrich the experience by doing different things. As she notes, the wealth of interaction and resources that are freely available enhances great teaching at levels like no other.
Stay the course and do good things!
Teaching students to be lifelong learners is the key to ensuring we have preparing them for the future they will live in. We don’t know what the future will bring for these students, but we can do our best to prepare them for anything and everything!!
Technologies give us an avenue to engage and to enthuse as well as ensure they have the ways of working, knowledge and understanding to take on the toughest of challenges the future may bring.
Keep leading by example and your students will be the proof of why we do what we do as they in turn become the leaders.
Hi Ashley,
You’ve speared some important ideas here.
Firstly is the idea around how we ‘market’ the use of digital technology to late adopters. You mention one of the primary arguments, being that students get to develop contemporary skill sets. I agree with this and I believe there are two others: personalisation and rich learning. I actually spent considerable time making “The Case for eLearning” at my previous school using these simple 1,2,3 for responding to the ‘why’ question:
http://bountyboulevardss.eq.edu.au/wcmss/index.php/learning/elearning.html
I’m interested in what you (and Teresa) mean by ‘engagement’ though. When I hear teachers mention engagement as their primary motivation for using technology they are usually referring to improvements in behaviour management and the positive ‘on-task’ behaviours. While I understand that there can be benefits in these areas in some cases, I don’t believe it can be considered as anything more than a fortunate by-product of the use of ICT.
However, if you are talking about ‘learning engagement’ and the ability for students to take charge and self-direct their own learning and develop deeper, richer understandings, then yes, I would agree with you.
Finally, in response to Dougpete, I too identify the folly in trying to prepare our students for ‘the workforce’ (10 years off for some students) but I do agree that we need to be skilling our students for living and learning in 2010!
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