Attitude Towards Technology
When I first began teaching at this school, one of the classes I was assigned was typing…on typewriters. I asked if I could teach keyboarding on computers, simultaneously instructing the students in the fundamentals of word processing, a skill they would need in just about any direction they went after school. As the new English teacher, I wanted my students to know how to use the computer to fulfill their assignments. My request was taken to the school board, who eventually gave their approval. But this was just the beginning. Soon, my students came face-to-face with their most dreaded enemy: research papers. I explained:
- How were they to write their research papers without the Internet?
- Our school has a very small, mostly outdated library.
- Living in such a remote location makes book hunting difficult.
- Internet accessibility was crucial.
Again, the school board consented.
My experiences with the school board and staff helped me realize that it’s not that this school does not like technology, but that no teacher has ever known enough to make it a viable option.
Limitations!
The greatest limitation for this school is ignorance. What the board doesn’t know is available, they do not require to be made available for the students. As Mr. Prensky asserted in his article, the “accent” teachers have retained hinders their “technological speak” fluency. While many of them web surfed in making lesson plans using Google and other search engines, involving their students in using the Internet was something they avoided because of their own uncertainties. Their ignorance also made them afraid. They were very dubious concerning their abilities to allow the students to use the Internet while keeping them out of mischief. The use of hardware and software was puzzling to them. They did not have the time to figure it out for themselves, and there really was no one available to demonstrate the use. As teachers have purposed to learn more about technology, they have become increasingly willing to include its use in their daily class instruction.
Potential, Opportunities, & Ideas
Change here has been slow, but it has been successful. The potential for this school, getting both staff and students fully integrated into technology, is so great because of how little involved it has been in the past. I have continued going to the school board with my requests. The board has remained open and receptive to my ideas, which I find very promising. There are many grants available for the taking if some time is invested in applying to them. However, the size of our student body coupled with our private school status could prevent our receiving grants, the majority of which emphasize the number of students impacted. I plan to continue to investigate grants, pursuing any leads I find. Until then, I am continuing to request the board to allow me to use more fully what is already available. Most recently, I requested that the students be able to blog their assignments in my English class in lieu of the school newspaper I normally oversee. I made several points:
- Are we considering our students? Blogging is a fundamental skill that many colleges take for granted that incoming students know. Are we being fair to them?
- How much information is wise to share? Blogging teaches safety precautions.
- Published work is an incentive to students. It is an honor they regard highly and are willing to work for.
- It's free! Unlike publishing newspapers, there's no paper cost, no cartridge cost, and no buying costs for friends and family!
I am hoping that by continuing to make the school board aware of the technology that is available for use in the classroom and by sharing just how much the students would benefit by using it, the board will continue to approve my ideas.
Full Report Here
