Reading the lengthy chat session, we were asked to see who essentially "got it" and who were a couple minutes late to class. My first example is someone who didn't exactly get to the loading dock on time:
Andrew Schultz, ITE Supervisor:
Why do you, "Education Week", et al, persist in calling digital technology, "technology"? It is inaccurate and distorts the public's perception. The word "technology" is obviously much, much broader and more consequential than the narrow spectrum of silicon-based stuff. Technology really encompasses all human-made tools, and techniques and this begins in pre-history 100,000 years ago. To use this term so casually and inaccurately seems almost defiantly ignorant.
Well hot dog.
Look at who is ignorant here. Isn't digital technology encompassed in the overall technology? And if that is the case (which it is) then he is clearly contradicting himself. This person does not get it. Instead of trying to contribute to the discussion with helpful, meaningful questions he is attempting to hinder the progress of those trying to obtain knowledge.
On the other hand, the woman below him, Susan Victor, does indeed get it. She asks questions that are extremely relevant to what we have been reading and discussing, what is the greatest roadblock in regards to technology? The monetary gap or the lack of knowledge on the sides of the administrators, regarding the technology? The answer given by the staff writer, answers that as more teachers are becoming accustomed to using computer technology in the classroom, that more problems arise with regards to valid information (i.e. see my earlier post on Sinbad). These are the types of questions that will help people like myself understand the problems and concerns that teachers today are faced with on a daily basis.
Another lady who gets it is Ms. LaTonya S. Garner. She asked the question about the technology grants for her elementary students. I applaud the fact that she is concerned with having her students comfortable with new technology, for it only gets more complicated from here.
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3 comments:
Great insight on who "gets it". I think you really point out some great things. I, too, am worried about my students knowing what sites and what information is accurate and how to differentiate between those sites and those pieces of accurate information from the false stuff out there. We need to be diligent in teaching them how to tell the difference, and how to check on things to make sure they are accurate.
I still think, however, teachers are continuing to struggle with the latest technology and will continue to do so until we see some SUBSTANTIAL training sessions going on in all areas of technology. Just like in 307, it's really not enough to have someone explain how something was done anymore than it is enough to have a few minutes (or even a few hours) to work on a similar technology yourself. Real skill comes from practice - the kind of practice that our students engage in outside of the classroom every single day while they go about their "digital lives".
Very clever Chris...you're right to make that distinction between digital technologies and technology in general.
Darlene, you're right. We do need lots more opportunity for practice, practice, practice.
But no one offered prof. development hours for us to learn to be sophisticated readers/writers in the "old" round world--similarly--we have to change ourselves by ourselves and then change our classrooms.
I'm browsing for new content Chris.
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