Many teachers who do use technology are caught in one type of technology. My experience in schools is perhaps only a quarter of the teachers use all three kinds of technology:
If you were a parent, would you want to keep your fingers crossed that your child was in a class whose teacher uses technology? As a nation, don't we want ALL students technology literate?
There are award-winning schools in the nation where every teacher on campus integrates technology appropriately. What can we learn from these schools?
Hence, the (current) focus of my doctoral research:
"What administrative policies and practices affect classroom technology integration?"
Levin and Schrum (2013) researched 12 technology award-winning schools (ISTE, Apple awards, etc), and found these common factors which need to be implemented simultaneously. The researchers and administrators suggest that failure to develop even one of these factors impacts the entire system and universal integration is less likely.
- a clearly stated vision cross-checked with all school initiatives,
- distributed leadership,
- a school culture consisting of an expectation to trying new technology and an acceptance of trial and error,
- a technology implementation plan and technical support,
- professional development,
- teacher-developed technology-instruction infused into the existing curriculum,
- funding from creative sources, and
- partnerships with families, local businesses, and higher education institutions
Post a comment about your experiences in high school with the three kinds of technology and possibly what you know about the administrative system.
Levin, B. B., & Schrum, L. (2013). Using systems thinking to leverage technology for school improvement: lessons learned from award-winning secondary schools/districts. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 46(1), 29-54. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA349903220&v=2.1&u=tall85761&it=r&p=EAIM&sw=w&asid=bb584ca3411e36808325d72455e28274
Both my parents are teachers, and I know that at both their schools, technology is becoming demanded more and more not only by the administrators, but by the students' natural learning habits. At my dad's high school, for example, they now have "BYOT" or bring your own technology classrooms to help students adapt their materials to learn. I went to this high school, so this was my experience as well.
ReplyDeleteIn my high school, we rarely used any technology minus our smart phones and when we would occasionally go to the computer lab. All of my friends went to a private Catholic school and right when we all graduated, the school started MAKING the students buy iPads for classroom use. I think that is crazy because a lot of people don't have enough money to do that. I think technology is very important but it should be provided.
ReplyDeleteAt my high school the teachers mainly used PowerPoint as their only source of technology in the classroom. More technology was readily available around the school but you would have to sign up for those classes separately and they never seemed to fit in my schedule. If I had more time available I would've gone after school to talk to the technology teacher, Dr. Percival, but I had after school sports so I could never find the time.
ReplyDeleteThrough high school I was in both public school as well as home schooled. In the public high school we rarely used technology at all. There would occasionally be a project which required us to use the internet and so of the Microsoft Office programs but other than that most of the class was using books pencil and paper. This was completely the opposite of our administration because they all used iPad's and other technology to communicate and help the school run. With being home schooled it was basically virtual school so all of our work and projects were done online. We communicated with others in my class by blogs, discussion boards and video chats. Everything we did involved technology.
ReplyDeleteMy teachers LOVED PowerPoint. They also liked using presentations made by either other teachers or the textbook, which wasn't always the most informative and relatable. Some teachers would use other websites like quizlet to support their lessons, but most would primarily use the county school website called Portal, which is similar to FSU's blackboard. In many of my classes, I was not allowed to use my laptop during class.
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