Monday

Leadership, technology and the future . . . technology of the future should benefit and improve the learning of students. Technology should take the learner to a higher level of understanding. Presently, I see it used in classrooms to replace tools that are already in place. For example, instead of encyclopedias, students google; instead of journals, students blog. It is doing the same thing in another format. While it provides alternatives for learning I don't see that it creates knowledge-isn't that the purpose of education? I realize we are moving in the right direction, however, we have a long way to go to catch up.

4 comments:

Karen Renee said...

I really like your insights Vicki. I believe you are right about catching up too!

Dr. Patrick Faverty said...

Vicki, maybe the issue is that the teachers continue to use technology tools to do what other tools have done, e.g. Google and blogs. I think that students will begin to build meaning & knowledge when we start using technology as learning tools for the students

Devon Hodgson said...

Vicki- you are right on. I think the fear of changing is a barrier created by a lack of professional development that provides such connections to the past and present rather than just technical skills training. In order to achieve culture change, leadership must get into the minds of those on the frontlines and present the conversation as "this is what you are already doing- here is a more efficient way that will benefit your students". It sounds to me, from your blog, that you could be such a leader.

Markel said...

I agree, Devon, Patrick, and Vicki. But I don't necessarily see technology needing to replace what was already there. I think it should augment what was there. We have to be careful not to get too carried away with technology that we forget the processes that are really important for our students (i.e. researching ideas).