More Teachers Use Tech For Admin Than Teach With It
a new study out the other day reveals that more and more teachers are using computers, but that most are using them merely for administrative tasks . . . and, that is not surprising to me at all. i found the following snippet very interesting: InformationWeek > More Teachers Use Tech For Administration Than Actually Teach With It
Only 54 percent of respondents said they integrate computers into their daily curriculum, and more than 61 percent of teachers said they don’t have enough computers in their classrooms. More than half of teachers believe there should be one computer for each student, and nearly one third say there should be one computer for every five students, according to the third annual survey.
“In the feedback we have received, teachers have told us that when they have three or four students sharing one computer, then they start chitchatting about other things and they’re not really focused on getting their work done,” Rother said in an interview Monday. “If a school can bring in some wireless carts and teachers can check the carts out for their schedule, so the entire class can be online together, it makes class management that much easier and makes it appear that the ratio is better.”
you know, i heard many rumblings complaining about providing laptops for every student when that conversation was had here in michigan because many people feel we’ve spent more than enough on new technologies already. however, this article reveals that teachers believe that we really do need 1-to-1 computing to use technology more effectively. hmmm . . . listen to teachers or listen to state congressmen decide on funding for schools? is it really hard to figure out where my allegiance lies? ;~)
another segment of the article briefly mentions that elementary school teachers are more likely to use computers and that they are more likely to have access to computers. that surprises the heck out of me since i often hear how the high schools tend to get the newer technologies first and then the middle schools with the elementary schools last in line. so, i found that observation to be quite revealing.
More than 85 percent of teachers said they are well trained on Internet, word processing and e-mail software, but 27 percent have little or no training on integrating computers into instruction.
this is fairly discerning to me. i want my students to have the basics, but i’d really, really rather spend my time helping my students to learn how to go about integrating technology in the curriculum. i hope other ed tech professors have been on this bandwagon for some time now and we’ll hopefully see this trend start to turn around and shift to what we’re teaching. fingers crossed.
September 12th, 2005 at 8:22 pm
I think integrating technology is very important as well. As we discussed in last week’s Group 3 forum, students can learn how to use various forms of technology to their advantage in their day to day lives. The basics will be learned automatically if the student is already using the different kinds of technology. I also think we are way behind in this!
September 12th, 2005 at 9:50 pm
“more than 85 percent of teachers said they are well trained on Internet, word processing and e-mail software, but 27 percent have little or no training on integrating computers into instruction.”
I think this is true. It is sad but very true! The elementary schools that I have seen only have about 2-3 computers per room. They have a computer lab but it is only big enough to fit one class and shared with the whole school.
Many of the teachers that I know and have seen hardly ever use technology in their instruction. We need to intagrade technology ito our lesson plans and daily activities. Like it or not we are in the information era and computers are the base of the future.
I also think teachers can gain so much more from integrading technology in to the classroom. As college students, technology seems so blah or it has become such a norm that we forget how cool it is and how it really makes learning so much easier and fun! Just imagine if you gave a power point presentation to a 4th grade class. They would be so impressed and interested, it would be like they were watching a movie! With all the technology possiblities that we have, some of the everday stuff that we use as adults would knock the socks off kids.
September 14th, 2005 at 12:38 pm
Yes, I do believe that getting computers in our classrooms is a good thing. Some children don’t have access to a computer at home or any type of technology some I think by making sure that are getting access to these things in school it is preparing them or college and the future. I don’t believe that it is necessary that there be a computer for every child in the classroom, children knowing how to use them is important but there are also other things that that money could be spent on. For instance, there are kids going to school that don’t have winter jackets or the proper school supplies. However, for me, teachers incorporating computers into lesson plans was helpful for me to learn. Using powerpoint for lectures helps me pay more attention and presents the material in a clearer manner.
September 14th, 2005 at 11:42 pm
I understand why it is important to have computers in each classroom and that some students have no way of acessing one at home but let’s be realistic. I know a school that can’t even supply a box of kleenex for each classroom. The important thing is the basics then go from there.
September 18th, 2005 at 1:36 pm
I believe integrating technology into the classroom is very important, but i beleive learning to do things on your own without the internet or technology is even more important. I think that in elementary school, kids should be taught how to do things on their own the first time, or without technology because technology might not always be a resource. after learning to do things on their own, I think is when technology should be integrated. I think it’s sad today that people are so deprendent on technology because they dont know any differently, so I think that exposure without technology is very important when kids are growing up. But i deffinately agree that it should be brought into all school systems but only after things are taught to be done on there own.
September 18th, 2005 at 3:00 pm
I can relate to this post in a way because a lot of the teachers at my high school were like against computers. At least I felt that way. They would use them strictly just for administrative purposes. I remember countless times that teachers would get yelled because they wouldn’t check their email. I had a couple teachers who didn’t know how to check their email. Until the teachers learn how to use the technology that is in our society it is going to be hard to incorporate it into their classes.
September 18th, 2005 at 5:27 pm
I think it is very important to not just intergrate technology but a neccassity. I just dont see how teachers living in todays world do not see the benifet of showing how technology affects daily life. What better way to get students to understand this than by showing them. For example students may find it difficult to manager there time it is possible to teach time management through a program that uses possible excell to create a list and chart to see where the time is being spent. We have to stop looking at computers a fancy typewriters and use them for the wonderful machines they are. I do realize that technology is change and chagne is difficult but it is the reality of our world.
September 18th, 2005 at 7:31 pm
I know this is late, but better late than never. Technology is the unavoidable wave of the future. And I agree that teachers need to be technology literate…But there has to be a line drawn as far as funding goes too. There is an issue on the table today that suggests 8th grade and up should have state provided laptops…this strikes me as a kneejerk reaction to a problem that may in fact need fixing…but not by throwing money at it.
September 20th, 2005 at 1:16 am
First and formost students need to be taught the primary subjuects. If a school can not afford technology other areas that need to be funded should not sacrifice financially. However this is not all of the problem/ Teachers just do not really now how to integrate technology into lessons in a creative way and in a timly fasion. I believe that technology must be used to reach students of a technological age. It is sad that more teachers do not know how to do this.
September 20th, 2005 at 3:09 pm
new blogsome