W2_Reading

The Role of Technology in Teaching and the Classroom

The author asserts that technology should support a new teaching paradigm of kids teaching themselves with teachers’ guidance.

- tools are now good enough for students to learn on their own

- Internet, search, research, analysis tools, creation tools, social tools all benefit students

- Teachers who adopt this will move along quickly

- Not lecturing on a subject, but “You have 15 minutes to use your technology to find_____ and then we’ll discuss what you’ve found.”

Everyone must speak the same language

The Kids Are All Right

Berkeley study of 800 students keeping diaries of online use.

- information could offer keys to closing the gap between teachers and students

- revealed “constructiveness” of time spent online

- teachers need to be more open to what students are doing on their own

Identified “genres of participation”

- hanging out

- messing around

- geeking out

- “I think the challenge for educators is to recognize the value of these levels of participation to stop seeing them as distracting from school, and to find was to exploit them in the classroom.” Heather Horst, Assoc. Project Scientist at UCI in study

The geeky level are things to promote in classroom

- teachers should take advantage of students’ abilities to do self-directed learning and digital tools

- “One of the best things that teachers can do is to have their students teach them how to navigate the technology. When teachers are willing to change the power dynamics and learn from theire students, trust is built.” Dana Boyd, author/researcher at Microsoft Research New England and Harvard Law School’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society participated in study

Technology in the Classrooms: New Designs for Learning

Learning of “new” technology being taught in same “old” way

Shift in learning processes not easy, need to change

- schools respond to learners

- pre-service teachers and school leaders are being prepared for classroom

Requires knowledge of technology as a cognitive tool

- brings learners to higher achievement

- changes way learning communities are developed

Using computers to create student-centered learning environment

- students create understanding of the world

- leads to development of knowledge

Using technology to expand teaching and learning broadens world view of both teachers and students

- Learning by experiences in real world, problem-oriented

- Design for functional learning should become reality

Steps to integration

- Design – knowledge of students and goals

- Development – plan and materials to carry out instruction

- Implementation – teaching in environment conducive to learning

- Evaluation – what you did, how you did it, what can improve – improves quality of instruction

Classroom Technology Integration

Professional Development

- Key component of change

- Link between standards and student achievement

Students need more complex and analytical skills

- Teachers must teach higher order thinking and performance skills

- 25% of $650 million for enhancing technology education

Education has failed to leverage professional development

- as more adopt effective professional development standards, technology implementation will improve

- when technology put into action, profound results for teachers and students

Teacher Leadership Project – designed by educators for educators

- intensive summer institute followed by online training sessions and immersive activities

- identified as an exemplary professional development model

- 3-day version called Teacher Leadership Seminar

- model cultivates student skills of collaboration, problem solving, creative thinking

- teachers need to see it as way to inject more project-based teaching methods into classrooms

eMINTS (Enhancing Missouri’s Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies)

- trains administrators first, then teachers

- use WebQuests, blogs, wikis, podcasts for teachers to build own webpages for inquiry based activities

- focus on problem solving skills

- “The whole 21st Century mindset is more than technology itself. It’s the confidence teachers have to effectively use it in class.” Monica Beglau, Director of eMINTS

References

Burgess, G. W. (2003, March) Technology in the Classrooms: New designs for learning. In Proceedings of SITE 2002: Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference. Nashville, TN: SITE.

Miners, Z. (2009, April). Classroom technology integration. District Administration 45(4), 35-38.

Prensky, M. (2008, November-December). The role of technology in teaching. Educational Technology 48(6), 64.

Waters, J. K. (2009, March). The kids are all right. T.H.E. Journal 36(3), 38-42.