Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Tips for Effective Technology Integration?
I have put three or four posts out on Twitter asking for fellow educators to give me just one important tech integration tip ... one that I will then share with fellow teachers in a PD class (Information Literacy Meets Web 2.0). I phrased my request as 'best practices' or as 'tips' and so far have gotten only links to various (really good!) apps to use with kids. As useful as those will be, they are not what I was looking for. I wanted to find some succinct, concise, bullet-pointed list of those very basic 'have-to' bits of knowledge or attitude or strategy that every tech-using teacher just must put into practice to be effective. I've searched the Internet, searched through Delicious, joined two new Nings, looked at web sites for various ed tech organizations, and so on ... and my quest has not yet produced the desired list.
So ... maybe I'm looking for something that does not exist? Perhaps I'm seeking to over simplify tech integration to the point that my little list would be meaningless, useless, and not reflective of the intricate, messy, confusing, and ultimately satisfying process that will help students learn. Or ... the other possibility is that I just haven't found the right key words yet or the exact right source! So I will keep looking. Or ... maybe I'll have to create that list myself!
So ... maybe I'm looking for something that does not exist? Perhaps I'm seeking to over simplify tech integration to the point that my little list would be meaningless, useless, and not reflective of the intricate, messy, confusing, and ultimately satisfying process that will help students learn. Or ... the other possibility is that I just haven't found the right key words yet or the exact right source! So I will keep looking. Or ... maybe I'll have to create that list myself!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Frustration!
How does one make a difference faced with overwhelming opposition to what is known to be the right path? Specifically I'm talking about technology and it's use within a school.
My building has used Macs for the past 14 years and the staff has developed considerable expertise with the operating system, networking, software, and troubleshooting. In fact, other than major network issues, the district tech support people rarely have any need to even come to our building. But ... all of that is going to change. We have been told that our current Macs will be eliminated - sold off (even though they all WORK and are used daily for even high end apps!) - and new PC-Windows computers put in their place. The replacement of comparable software to the iLife apps will not be an option. All that will really be loaded is Microsoft Office and whatever else comes as part of the OS.
The thing is, the facts of our own usage seem to make no difference - our need for tech support being so low or the longevity of our Macs - all deemed to be insignificant. Our expertise and even our staff's insistent public statements of preference for the Mac ... ignored. Instead we are told vague things about "standards" and consistency and equity. For me and the other teachers in my building this simply means our technology will be reduced to the lowest common denominator - we all will get exactly the same, almost unusable, technology equipment.
What is really worse though, and not a platform issue at all, is the incredibly limited vision (lack of one) there is for technology use with students and for instruction. The new computers will be locked down with Deep Freeze - even the teacher laptops - preventing any loading of apps or alteration to the basic install. I know this is a reality for many teachers everywhere but it is not something we have ever had to deal with at my school. For many of us the idea of a locked down computer is almost unbelievable. Why would I spend any time at all using such a limited machine? Our tech department is so small that any need I have for adding software or an app will take weeks - or it will never happen. It is an unworkable situation.
Beyond the limitations imposed there is no plan for wireless access. So ... we will all be given laptops that must be tethered to the wall with ethernet cables. I can just see a team meeting now ... no one will bring their computer to the room because there will be only one - or no! - drops. Easy solution to that of course will be to get a small hub ... but even that sort of thing will be outlawed! Only district-issued equipment (printers, scanners, projectors, etc.) will be allowed! I cannot bring a computer or laptop of my own and plug it into the network. If I have a printer of my own that I want to use for my classroom ... no chance!
Where is innovation supposed to happen in this environment? How will integration and increased student use be facilitated? Is "technology" to be defined as the Office Suite of apps and we should just be happy for the newest version of that? Who is helped by all of these restrictions and limitations? How is ignoring teacher voices - many advanced tech users - an acceptable option for administration? And how can any one person impact this path that clearly has a number of problems? Right now I feel like I'm watching a train wreck and have no power to stop it.
Even though I love my Mac and am dismayed at the loss of this platform because I believe it is a superior computer, the real issue here is about a lack of vision and the absence of understanding of how tech is used effectively to impact education. In a time when the world is exploding with so many options for creativity and collaboration and learning through the use of technology, my district is moving backwards in time and making novice mistakes in its implementation. How long will it take for us to climb back out of this black hole of tech mis-steps?
My building has used Macs for the past 14 years and the staff has developed considerable expertise with the operating system, networking, software, and troubleshooting. In fact, other than major network issues, the district tech support people rarely have any need to even come to our building. But ... all of that is going to change. We have been told that our current Macs will be eliminated - sold off (even though they all WORK and are used daily for even high end apps!) - and new PC-Windows computers put in their place. The replacement of comparable software to the iLife apps will not be an option. All that will really be loaded is Microsoft Office and whatever else comes as part of the OS.
The thing is, the facts of our own usage seem to make no difference - our need for tech support being so low or the longevity of our Macs - all deemed to be insignificant. Our expertise and even our staff's insistent public statements of preference for the Mac ... ignored. Instead we are told vague things about "standards" and consistency and equity. For me and the other teachers in my building this simply means our technology will be reduced to the lowest common denominator - we all will get exactly the same, almost unusable, technology equipment.
What is really worse though, and not a platform issue at all, is the incredibly limited vision (lack of one) there is for technology use with students and for instruction. The new computers will be locked down with Deep Freeze - even the teacher laptops - preventing any loading of apps or alteration to the basic install. I know this is a reality for many teachers everywhere but it is not something we have ever had to deal with at my school. For many of us the idea of a locked down computer is almost unbelievable. Why would I spend any time at all using such a limited machine? Our tech department is so small that any need I have for adding software or an app will take weeks - or it will never happen. It is an unworkable situation.
Beyond the limitations imposed there is no plan for wireless access. So ... we will all be given laptops that must be tethered to the wall with ethernet cables. I can just see a team meeting now ... no one will bring their computer to the room because there will be only one - or no! - drops. Easy solution to that of course will be to get a small hub ... but even that sort of thing will be outlawed! Only district-issued equipment (printers, scanners, projectors, etc.) will be allowed! I cannot bring a computer or laptop of my own and plug it into the network. If I have a printer of my own that I want to use for my classroom ... no chance!
Where is innovation supposed to happen in this environment? How will integration and increased student use be facilitated? Is "technology" to be defined as the Office Suite of apps and we should just be happy for the newest version of that? Who is helped by all of these restrictions and limitations? How is ignoring teacher voices - many advanced tech users - an acceptable option for administration? And how can any one person impact this path that clearly has a number of problems? Right now I feel like I'm watching a train wreck and have no power to stop it.
Even though I love my Mac and am dismayed at the loss of this platform because I believe it is a superior computer, the real issue here is about a lack of vision and the absence of understanding of how tech is used effectively to impact education. In a time when the world is exploding with so many options for creativity and collaboration and learning through the use of technology, my district is moving backwards in time and making novice mistakes in its implementation. How long will it take for us to climb back out of this black hole of tech mis-steps?
Monday, January 11, 2010
Twitter & PD
I've been using Twitter for a few months now and have been thrilled with the quality of sources, discussions, links, and news related to education specifically as well as the world at large. Like many people I started out thinking, "what's the big deal?" and "I don't get this ... at ALL!" But then I started finding people who tweeted (and honestly, I do NOT like the whole 'tweet' terminology ... still sounds a bit silly!) content I was interested in ... information literacy, teaching, technology use in education, books, Macs, film, and even a little music. I love the short format of 140 words - I can get in and out quick! - and the ability to retweet in order to share good stuff with the people who follow me. Most of all I am amazed at the caliber of the information that I have access to through the people I follow. Their expertise is providing me with ongoing personal professional development that I can in turn share with my colleagues. Twitter gives me a window to view and study my profession and topics that interest me in a way that is immediate and dynamic. The only downside ... I'm becoming even more of an information junkie!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)