For this week, please read this award winning post by Karl Fisch, entitled: Is It Okay To Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
Your task: On your blog, please reflect on Karl's posting.
Just so we have an operational definition of 'Technology Literate" - we're not talking about using PowerPoint or a web browser in a classroom. We are talking about learning about the tools, understanding their pedagogical uses, and allowing them to be used in your classroom.
PS: Also be sure to add at least one comment to another participant's blog. That's what online professional learning communities are all about - connecting, communication, and conversation. CHEER and otherwise encourage your colleagues.
Also - if you wish to post comments here in addition to your own blog, please feel free.
Your task: On your blog, please reflect on Karl's posting.
Just so we have an operational definition of 'Technology Literate" - we're not talking about using PowerPoint or a web browser in a classroom. We are talking about learning about the tools, understanding their pedagogical uses, and allowing them to be used in your classroom.
PS: Also be sure to add at least one comment to another participant's blog. That's what online professional learning communities are all about - connecting, communication, and conversation. CHEER and otherwise encourage your colleagues.
Also - if you wish to post comments here in addition to your own blog, please feel free.
Curriculum Connections:
Idea #1: Never miss an opportunity to share and discuss issues related to technology such as Internet safety & ethics, censorship, plagiarism, copyright, and library collection development.
Idea#2: Use your digital camera for classroom day one activities. Take pictures of features of your classroom, where things your kids will visit (office, drinking fountain, etc) and make a PowerPoint of them to show in class.
Idea #1: Never miss an opportunity to share and discuss issues related to technology such as Internet safety & ethics, censorship, plagiarism, copyright, and library collection development.
Idea#2: Use your digital camera for classroom day one activities. Take pictures of features of your classroom, where things your kids will visit (office, drinking fountain, etc) and make a PowerPoint of them to show in class.
In reading Karl’s blog I very much agree with his statement regarding:
ReplyDeleteIf a teacher today is not technologically literate - and is unwilling to make the effort to learn more - it's equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who didn't know how to read and write.
My definition (as has been shared with me) of a teacher is not just someone in the classroom. We are all teachers in our daily jobs. Technology is a tool we all use daily (or should) in our jobs. We not only help teach our customers, we help to teach each other.
As Karl said, “In order to teach it, we have to do it.”
How can we prepare our children our ourselves if we do not gain knowledge of technology and it’s uses.
I agree with the author's that technologically illerate teachers should not be in the classroom. When I was going to college in the 70's, they were talking about our computer ready world in the year 2000. The computer in every house, robot teachers, and smart houses didn't happen but we are almost there. It is very frustrating to work with teachers who refuse to learn or use email, voice mail, and internet resources. Teachers need to model and set examples for their students in our tech world. Students shouldn't be training teachers.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why technology isn't assessed as we determine who is "Highly Qualified" to teach....
ReplyDeleteThat's a great question... I'm thinking that at this point in the education game, we are more concerned about core curriculum to meet AYP. It's unfortuante, because we could use many of the tech tools to increase engagement and achievement.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that teachers should be technologically literate, or at least educating themselves along some timeline. The students will be entering a workforce that is very technological and changing all the time. As a student myself, and in reentering the workforce, I have had to learn new technology weekly.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with Karl. I have been teaching for close to 25 years, and knowing something about technology is a must. I am not saying that you have to know everthing, but one must know about what the kids know and can do! Our students are blogging, playing MP3 players, Instant messaging, surfing the web etc. In order to stay on top of what they are doing, a teacher must know how to help them while on the computer, and to answer their questions. We have people on staff that figure their grades by using a calculator rather than the program that the district wants us to use to record grades etc. It is so easy to use the computer to do grades, look at how our class is doing as a whole, or just looking at one student's progress. Every teacher should do their best to learn the technology that the kids are using!
ReplyDelete