Teachers+who+are+technologically+illiterate

(From: Robert Brasko) Of course it is NOT okay for teachers to be technologically illiterate. I would not beat around the bush about this either. Teachers who are not using or are illiterate when it come to technology, should be given a plan to do something about it. If they do not, they are dismissed. That is clear and simple. We are teaching students who need our expertise in our field along with using the technology they know about to understand it. We must keep up with them. We have created this techno monster and we must subdue it. If you are not willing or are unable to have dominion over some use of technology as a teacher today, pack your bags, another line of work is waiting for you. We have all had to adjust, myself included, I am continuing to keep up. I have 10 years before I can retire. I need to get and stay hip with this techno generation. That is the only way it will work for me, and all others in the educational field today.

Our prompt ( Donna Zang  and Amy Lenosky ) for discussion is:

 **Is it okay for teachers to be technologically illiterate in 2009? What should be done about those who are?**
I most certainly do not think it is okay for teacher or anyone in the education system to be technologically illiterate in 2009 or 2010. We have a responsibility to our students, parents, and ourselves to be current with the ever changing around us. Changes in our society’s expectations means that school teachers need to be able to use computers in education with minimal anxiety. Computer’s in the classroom is more than using it with the students. In today’s districts, the attendance, grades and parent communication takes place on the computer. Also, it will come across to the students the fear the teacher has for the technology and could be passed down. That is doing a great harm for the generaton we are teaching today. It’s one thin for the teacher to not do it, but for the generation we are teaching now, it is their way of life.

I think the first thing to be done with the teachers is try to understand why they don’t want to use the computer and other technology in the classroom. I can be sure it is because they just don’t know how. It is important to take that anxiety away from them by giving them the resources to learn how and why the technology is so important to use and teach. There needs to be ongoing professional development in the area of technology. It is constantly changing and unless we give the tools to help the teachers, the teachers will be unable to give the tools to help the students.

If at the end of all that the teacher still doesn’t want to use technology, then it’s time to retire!

I agree with Donna's opinion. No one in today's education system should be technologically illiterate. Although, I doubt that many are. Every school that I've been in recently has at least one computer in the classroom for the teacher. Teachers send and receive email from administrators, staff, and parents. Some schools have even eliminated using paper for attendance and send everything online. Many teachers look up information on the internet. BUT there are still teachers who resist the idea of integrating technology into their lessons. From my experience, it's the older teachers that are ready to retire. They just don't want to be bothered having to learn something new. They think, "If it ain't broke, why fix it?" I guess I can see their point of view, but today's students will relate better to lessons that can connect with their lives. It's time to look to the future of education.

I believe the two biggest factors on why teachers resist technology is 1) the time involved to learn it and 2) the fear of the unknown. 1) Yes, it will take time to learn how to use these tools, but the impact they will have on your lessons and student achievement will prove to be worth it. When you have students who are actively involved with their learning, the outcomes are greater. The students are engaged which will also help with classroom management. 2) I must admit, reading and learning about all of these different types of technology that are available is overwhelming. You don't know where to start, what to use, how to use it correctly - my mind is all over the place. It's a real fear to not know exactly how things will work. Teachers are usually very organized people who like a very structured environment. Technology throws all that out the window.

I think what would best help a teacher who is behind the times technology wise is to have a technology coach within the district or better yet within the building. Someone they can turn to when they need help but don't have the enough time to find what they need. They can have training sessions and attend seminars that teach how to use what's available. This should be done regularly since technology changes so quickly. I believe this will benefit everyone involved.

No one likes to be forced to do something they aren't comfortable with, but when it comes down to higher achievement and greater outcomes, shouldn't we as educators be doing everything we can to help our students? That's why we chose this profession, right?

TO THIS CLASSROOM


Here is a site that you may find interesting:

__Gender Differences in Teacher Computer Acceptance__ http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=LvlbRGTnDppG1XyZLpcN88DfPTcyn4LGcdy8JKx1ls1hmbsWgttg!1338458297!1547632101?docId=5002505583

[|Here is another article with some useful sites included.]