In response to the post on the Fischbowl September Blog, "Is it okay to be a technologically illiterate teacher?", I am in complete agreement. I believe that it is a complete fact that teachers are now in a period where technology is a significant part of a students education. We are rapidly progressing into a time where professions and education are centered around technology. If our teachers now are technologically illiterate how will the future generations succeed? Present teaching students are required to take computer courses to graduate. Why should current teachers whose computer skills are under par be allowed to continue teaching?
I also have a problem with the fact that when new beneficial methods become available that will help a teacher in the classroom, they will host a workshop. Yet workshops cannot be provided for such a important educational resource such as computer skills? I think the schools administrators should be held responsible as well as the institute where the teacher graduated from. The course should have been offered at the institute and the administration should have this as a qualification requirement. These educators should be embarrassed about not being technologically literate. If they do not do something to help themselves,they will be found replaceable as technology makes its way even more into the classroom with the demand of someone knowledgeable in its use.
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Careful, technology does not make a good teacher any more than the lack of technology makes a bad teacher. Tech is a tool. Yes, I agree it is a wonderful tool, but still it is a tool.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many variables that make a teacher good: willingness to fail, willingness to learn, love of children, etc. You have a favorite teacher in your past that didn't use any technology with you and that is okay.
Mr. C
I agree with you also. Technology is a tool and is an option at the teachers fingertips. I believe a teacher can teach very well and have positive feedback from his or her students without its use. However, when it comes to incorporating tech into the classroom to further a lesson for the benefit of the children, then why not? If a teacher is technologically illiterate because he or she never had the training then the children are the ones being forced to make sacrifices.
ReplyDeleteThat of course assumes that the tech is the best tool for the job. If you are arguing context then it is an easy assumption. If you are arguing content then I think your position is much more difficult to defend.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to see you defend your opinion, you will need to do that often when you are in a teaching position. There is a lot of pressure to conform to the status quo.