There are different areas of need in the curriculum for my district. The most prominent in my opinion is the lack of technology incorporation. There are many teachers who rarely use any technology at all where it is not a requirement. I thought the Digital Dossier video has a key message that students are absorbed in technology even prior to their birth!
I decided to research the reason educators have not embedded technology into their classrooms and how to solve this issue. I found there were various reasons. Amongst many were that educators are fearful and not confident using the technology. They haven't had adequate training on the equipment. Principals frequently fear technology because they are afraid it will break, students will get on inappropriate websites, cyberbullying, etc. Principals need to be the leaders of this drive opposed to making anti-technology policies. The last major reason was the lack of equipment. Technology equipment should be a priority in school districts. There are various donors, grants, and programs available to support schools.
Kathryn,
ReplyDeleteYou raise many good points. Having been raised as a child who can still remember the first time we got a color tv, let alone our first 'computer', it is all a bit daunting to some to consider how quickly students can get information and pass information today. The 'older generations' are also very concerned about identity theft and leaving their digital footprint. Unfortunately, schools have to be secure as possible to secure the safety of their students, and it can be an adherence to progress. Hopefully the more good examples we see of how technology advanced education and learning, the more folks will become skeptically comfortable.