Technology as a Teaching Tool

[Kelley Irish]

Teacher’s seem to be born with a unique skill set, or tool box that they use to manage, teach, and motivate students. The best of us know when to push a student, give them space and where that line lies in middle. This skill set is the most valuable when it is combined with best teaching practices that integrate technology. As we shift our thinking to include the uses of technology as tools for organization, communication, research, and problem-solving, we also need to examine our thoughts about content. I cannot think of a single job where employees are routinely given 2 quizzes and 1 test each week. Workers in today’s most successful companies are collaborative, innovative, and have outstanding communication skills.

I am not suggesting throwing the baby out with the bath water. Of course we teach content, study history and even memorize computation facts. I am suggesting that we do this AND move beyond those constraints. Integrating technology allows us to use content as a springboard for higher level thinking skills and including “what if… statements. Can we conclude a PowerPoint on the respiratory system with some thought provoking questions? What if oxygen levels were depleted/? What would happen to the brain? How is human respiration similar to fish??? What is we took a digital camera and took close-up pictures of parts of the human body-could students identify and knowing the function figure out how the design helps the function be accomplished?

At it’s simplest form I am suggesting a marriage of integrated information skills designed around collaborative projects. Units and lessons can incorporate technology tools to help student be more productive, create a safe environment to “simulate and test ideas”, expand content, and provide authentic publications. The computer cannot be an electronic workbook-lets face it workbooks are cheaper. It isn’t just a research tool for reports-we’ve had encyclopedias for years. Let’s use technology to do the things we couldn’t do before. For example instead or reading about medieval times and writing a report can we consider….

Experiencing history by using our avatar to visit Medieval England. (Once Second Life is secure for students) Let’s fly to England on Google Earth and look at castle ruins. How about playing the Art of Chivalry - Medieval Knight Game, to role play what life is like in that time period. Finally can we predict, research and then discover what games we play today came from that era? Is any of the architecture found in that time period reproduced today. Perhaps we could design a village using Sketch up Did they read and write? Can we locate writing from that time period? What occupations practiced back then are no longer jobs? What jobs do we have today that may not be needed in the future?

Technology should allow us to stretch-do more thinking-more producing. Let’s not just think outside the box- but consider what the box even is?

[Wendi N Bistak]

I couldn't agree with you more Kelley! The main drawback I can see is timing. Let me explain...if a teacher comes up with these great ideas at the wrong time, curriculum cannot be changed, software cannot be obtained, or the flow of a class as well as its personality may not allow for a good fit. I do not bring up these points to be negative, but to be realistic. Your ideas are awesome! However, not every district has the money, equipment or the open-ended lesson planning to fill. In my district, I do not have a dedicated SMART Board, I do have the oldest computers in the district (go figure! I am teaching teachnology and the walk-in labs have the newest computers) which are constantly having hardware issues, nor do I have digital cameras, and to top it all off, my students have very limited access on the Internet. The great thing about technology is that there are so many choices and so much to know. Experience makes technology come alive and be a potential for learning. I completely agree with your statements that technology should allow us to stretch our minds and be more productive. There are obstacles and perception divides that some must conquer first. I for one am very motivated by your drive for us to consider what the box even is.

[Kelley Irish]

I totally get the money issue- I work for a very poor school district. I use all free Open Source software. The digital cameras I have are the 10 dollars ones from Walgreens. They actually work really well because they take low resolution pictures that work great for the clay animation and slide shows I post.
I get my clay at the dollar store. I do not have a Smart board. I do have a projector. In my poorest building I Web Wack the site I want to use for instruction in case the internet is down -which is often- and hook the projector up to my personal Laptop I drag around, My other school is blessed with new computers so Believe me I do know the difference.

Before I got the projector I used to check one out from the district AV deoartment as much as they would let me. I did put my person dollars into upgrading RAM memory on a handfull of computers at one of my schools so I could run Photostory.

All of that being said -you make a good point in order to incorporate technology you actually have to have it! Doesn't it make you wonder where all the targeted NCLB funds are going that were supposed to target technology??? GRPS won't even pay for us to go to MACUL. They will at least pay for our sub so that is at least something I guess.

England is doing so much-I believe Every classroom there as an interactive WhiteBoard. I am going to try to make one of POatti's 100 dollar white boards!