Technology is an ever changing beast and our nation and state have tried set forth goals and guidelines for technology. I find that both plans have something to offer teachers. Technology is to be use to increase learning by both plans, however that is all they have in common. The national plan goes in to much more detail about technology use in education. I really appreciate that the national plan wants to have learning experiences outside of school. I believe that technology can connect teacher and student in ways that can keep learning an ongoing process. Incorporating technology in all content areas isn’t easy; however the national plan really does look at how to change that objective. I find it very interesting that both the national and state plan include a plan for technology used by teachers but that my district plan does not. Is a technology plan supposed to be only geared to technology for teaching and learning or is it also geared towards the productivity tools that teacher must use daily? I would expect a technology plan for a classroom to focus on what students would actually come in contact, however without an infrastructure there would be no technology in the classroom. “Develop a teaching force skilled in online instruction,” this is my favorite goal from the national plan. I feel like I am finally maybe getting to some online instruction. However, no one in my school or district is telling me that I have too. So we have these great plans, now what? If I were not in this program, I would not have seen these plans. I feel that currently in education we spend lots of time, energy, and money on ideas and plans that never make it to the classroom. When are these plans going to be truly implanted in schools?
I love your feedback about having a plan but no one knows about it. When will this message trickle down to schools? The funding issue also presents a problem - how can we require the infusion of technology and engaged learning when we can barely pay our teachers? I really liked your questions about incorporating both classroom instructional technology AND behind-the-scenes classroom and school management technology into the tech plans. I agree that both are important. It just seems that schools are already proficient at the management systems (or at least they're throwing tons of money toward it right now), yet there is less focus on classroom tech use.
ReplyDeleteAndrea-I agree with Brittany-When are all of these fabulous tech plans going to be implemented? Or, are there only purpose to be a plan-a future goal? I believe goals are important, but it would be nice to know we, at the front lines are actually seeing real evidence of those technology vision coming to fruition. It's great to have a plan, BUT if there is NO $$$, as Brittany pointed out to pay teachers, how are they going to fund these plans? However, I believe in teachers, like you and others in our class, you will make these plans happen.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and Whitney about how we are spending too much time and money on the latest technology for the classroom. A lot of these plans are just plans that are not being implemented. And yes, its amazing how many people don't even know that we have a plan for each county. We need to tell the other teachers at our school that our county has a plan and this is where we can find it. We need to tell the county that we want to implenent these plans so the students can be better prepared.
ReplyDeleteDitto again. So now to figure out the funding problem. I think we are taking baby steps toward getting there even if there are only 12 in our class. But we are just the first class and there are teachers who are trtying to incorporate more technology without being involved in a graduate program. I hope we will all be able to reach more teachers and "infect" them with the idea of incorporating technology - if even just a little at a time- into their lesson plans.
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